Nordica Unleashed 106 — Review

The Unleashed 106 is Nordica's 106 mm all-mountain freeride ski built around Drift Lock Metal — a single strip of titanal tailored to the waist rather than a full sheet — for the 26-27 season. Verified sidecut varies subtly per length: 134.5-106-123.5 mm at 157 cm through 139.5-106-128.5 mm at 190 cm. Available lengths are 157, 164, 171, 178, 185 and 190 cm. Weight is 3200 g per pair at 164 cm (≈1600 g per single ski) with a stated 1900 g/ski overall. Rocker profile is Nordica's Freeride Flow Shape.

At 106 mm with Drift Lock Metal, the Unleashed 106 sits between full-titanal chargers like the Head Kore 106 Ti and lighter carbon builds like the CA sibling — it holds an edge on hardpack better than pure-carbon 106s but drifts and releases more easily than a full titanal-plate ski. Off piste the wide tip and moderate radius handle both float in soft snow and stability at speed in tracked-up chop. On piste the 14.7 m radius at 164 cm is unusually short for a 106 mm ski, which lets it carve tighter arcs than the segment norm.

Core: Lite Performance Wood (paulownia+ash) with Drift Lock Metal — a single strip of titanal tailored to the waist width rather than a full-width sheet — plus carbon stringers running through the tip and tail. ABS sidewalls, factory 0.9°/87.5° edges. True Tip technology extends the wood core through the tip taper rather than using ABS filler. Per-length sidecut varies with tip/tail width scaling: 134.5-106-123.5 mm at 157 cm up to 139.5-106-128.5 mm at 190 cm. Rocker profile is the Freeride Flow Shape — early rise at both tip and tail with camber underfoot.

Compared to the Nordica Unleashed 108 that it broadly replaces, the 106 is slightly narrower with a lower-swing-weight Drift Lock construction. Against the Head Kore 106 Ti it is heavier and more damp — the Kore uses a full carbon layup while the Unleashed 106 keeps some titanal for damping. Compared to the Blizzard Rustler 10 it is more directional and less surfy; the Rustler surfs more, the Unleashed charges more.

Pros

• Drift Lock Metal combines damping with lower swing weight than a full titanal sheet.
• Wide length range (157–190 cm) covers most adult skiers.
• Per-length dimensions scale properly rather than being flat.
• 14.7 m radius at 164 cm is unusually accessible for a 106 mm shape.

Cons

• Heavier than pure-carbon 106s in the segment.
• Not built for touring — resort-oriented weight and construction.
• Freeride Flow Shape limits pure short-turn piste use.
• Longer lengths (185, 190 cm) push weight past 2000 g per ski.

Verdict: A titanal-strip all-mountain freeride 106 that keeps damping without going full-plate. Best for advanced skiers who split time between piste and off-piste terrain and want an accessible directional shape.