Montero aw review

Overview

The Montero AW is Stöckli's women's all-mountain ski — AW stands for All-mountain Women — and the second-generation model (article 41040327) sits in the 26/27 range at 1,199 EUR, the same price as the men's 80 mm Montero AX it is derived from. The shape is 122-80-106 mm with radii of 12.6 m (150 cm), 14.2 m (158) and 16.0 m (166), and the build combines Stöckli's Allmountain Core with Tip & Tail Flex technology, Softflex, Adaptive Contact Length and an extended Tail Rocker. It is a flat ski: Stöckli offers the Strive 11D binding as a matching set for 280 EUR extra, but no plate.

On-snow performance

Stöckli describes the AW as agile and comfortable "whether on freshly groomed slopes, new snow or challenging spring snow", and the geometry backs that up: 80 mm underfoot is narrow enough for quick edge changes on the piste, while the 122 mm tip and the tail rocker give some support in soft and chopped snow. The Tip & Tail Flex technology softens the ends so that, in Stöckli's words, entering and exiting the turn is easy; together with the Adaptive Contact Length shovel, the construction suggests a ski that hooks up progressively rather than abruptly. Full Edge Contact geometry lengthens the engaged edge as the ski is tilted, which is where the brand's grip reputation comes from. At 1,565–1,750 g per ski it is lighter than the men's AX (about 1,855 g at 173 cm), so it should be easier to swing in bumps and trees, and owners reviewing it on Stöckli's site call it light but stable and good in moguls. It is not a powder ski: expect help in a few centimetres of fresh snow, not on deep days.

Construction & specs explained

• Construction: Sandwich System, made in Switzerland.
• Core: Allmountain Core.
• Tip & Tail Flex technology: softer shovel and tail for easy turn entry and exit.
• Softflex (SF) + Lady: thinner layers for a softer flex that suits lighter skiers.
• Adaptive Contact Length (ACL): forward widest point with a slight shovel rocker.
• Full Edge Contact (FEC): longer engaged edge when tilted.
• Tail Rocker (TR): longer, flatter rocker at the tail.
• Edges: Solid Metal Edge Light; base: Racing-Graphite; surface: Polyamid/TPU.
• Sidecut: 122-80-106 mm for all lengths (Stöckli's page prints the tip as 112 mm, a typo; the AW Classic page and retailers list 122 mm).
• Radius: 12.6 m (150), 14.2 m (158), 16.0 m (166).
• Weight: 1,565 g (150), 1,640 g (158), 1,750 g (166) per ski; Stöckli lists 3.13–3.50 kg per pair.
• Binding: flat ski; Strive 11D purple F80, GripWalk compatible, offered as the matching set.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Montero AW is for intermediate to advanced women who spend most of the day on the piste but want one ski that stays composed in cut-up snow, spring slush and the occasional powder morning. The men's Stockli Montero ax is the direct sibling, with 13.5–17.5 m radii in 163–183 cm and about 100 g more per ski. Among women's all-mountain skis near 80 mm, the Blizzard Black Pearl 84 (about 1,590 g at 164 cm) is the mainstream rival and a little more off-piste oriented; the Volkl Blaze 82 w is lighter (about 1,350 g at 159 cm) and softer, for those who prefer ease over edge grip; and the Kästle Sublime 83 is the other premium women's carver in this width. The budget route to the same shape is Stöckli's Montero AW Classic, the previous construction at 899 EUR in 150 and 166 cm.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• 122-80-106 mm shape with 12.6–16.0 m radii covers short and medium turns.
• Tip & Tail Flex and Softflex make a Stöckli easy to initiate.
• Lighter than the men's AX at 1,565–1,750 g per ski.
• Flat ski: free choice of binding, Strive 11D offered as a set.
• Swiss sandwich construction with the Racing-Graphite base.

Cons

• 1,199 EUR before the binding; the Classic version costs 300 EUR less.
• Only three lengths, topping out at 166 cm.
• 80 mm is a frontside width; deep powder needs a wider ski.
• Firmer and more precise than most women's all-mountain rivals, so it still asks for technique.

Verdict: A light, precise women's all-mountain ski for piste-first skiers who want Stöckli grip with forgiving ends. Buy the AW if you want the newest construction and the 158 cm length; buy the Classic if price matters more.