ON3P Kartel vs Wrenegade

Wrens will go faster and charge harder than a Kartel any day. Kartels are less locked in and more playful.

If you go hard, get a Wren.

The Wrenegade series have longer radius sidecuts, more traditional binding mounts, less rocker on the tail and are stiffer than the Kartel series. They are better at speed and on harder snow but are not as playful as the Kartels.
If you’re an aggressive charger that doesn’t ski as much park, go Wrens.

If you want a more fun/playful ski that performs great in the park AND very well all mountain, go Kartels. The Kartel still can carve a turn and perform at speed outside the park but just not quite as well as the Wren.

Both amazing skis and can’t go wrong with either.

Kartels are the SHIT basically just as stable as the wren just in a MUCH more fun package

The wren likes to go straight and fast. The Kartels will pivot easier and give you a more surfy feel. Wouldn't say one is much better than the other. IMO Wrens are sick unless you're trying to land/ take off backwards. 98 is going to be quicker edge to edge and the 108s are a bit stiffer in both lines.

I'm not planning on getting new skis since I already did this year. I was just curious if there were any big differences between the two. Everyone's all about the Kartels, but I never see much talk about the Wrenegade (maybe that's because it's NS and not TGR?). Like park aside, which ski would you rather take all mountain?

IsitWinterYet17I'm not planning on getting new skis since I already did this year. I was just curious if there were any big differences between the two. Everyone's all about the Kartels, but I never see much talk about the Wrenegade (maybe that's because it's NS and not TGR?). Like park aside, which ski would you rather take all mountain?

I mean ones a directional charger while the other is more of a jib ski so yeah i'd say there are some pretty big differences.

If I only had one ski, kartels or something like it. Quiver, i'd go wrens.

Shameless self bump. Curious on other people's thoughts. So I've got a pair of wrenegade 96, 179cm and kartel (jeffrey) 108, 186cm.

I love the wrenegades 96's so much. They're literally the perfect ski for me and punch way out of their width class for performance in powder. I've found this ski to be pretty boss for skiing tight lines or in sketchy trees. It's pretty easy to maneuver but it also loves to go fast as fuck. They're really fun to set an edge and carve. I can only imagine what 108 in 189cm feels like...

The kartels I only have 2 days on them. They do ski completely different and command a more upright stance. I do find that they're super playful for soft snow and fantastic in the air. They eat crud for breakfast. Literally. Even better than the wrenegades I have. Is this perhaps because they are a bit longer and wider and heavier? Probably but it's really noticeable. I do notice they're not as easy or fun to carve on groomers with versus the wrens tho.

yes, probably. Mass/weight will improve stability and improve a ski's ability to punch through stuff.

Kartels do chop/variable well (and as you say are best skied with a centered stance), but wrens devour it - at least as long as you drive them through the tips and have a bit of speed.

So a 184 or better yet 189 wren 108 is even stronger in variable&chop than your Kartel10s, or newer Jeffreys. Wrenegade tis aka wrenegades with titanal strips bumps up the stability and charginess to a new level again compared to regular layup wrens. In deeper snow BillyGoats and SuperGoats also do a superb job at obliterate variable/chop.

I can only speak from my experience of riding Kartel 98's 176 the past 3 seasons and know they do eat any form of crud/chop snow, bumps, park, while allowing me to charge hard and feel in control at any speed. They also have that playfulness feel to them which helps me look at every run as a playground. I have not ever ridden the Wren so I cant give you any input there but I could imagine the length and width of your Kartel is giving you the feel of the Wren in the crud snow but with a more playful feel. Sounds like you have a super badass set of sticks OP ready to conquer any conditions thrown your way!

I think at this point the Wren is really niche. Not many people look for a ski like it these days. That is where the Woodsman fits in. I DD a J108, and use a BG for my pow ski. But I'll probably end up with a Woodsman next year just because it probably fits my skiing style a little bit better.

I did ski a Vicik some years ago, and it was a ripper. I also had an OG Wren, and it kicked my ass.

i kind want a pair of Wrens just to get the shit scared out of me with some speed haha.

Scott said something along the lines of "pick a Wren or Kartel based on where you want to ride on the ski" in a Blister podcast, aka, if you want to be more centered vs. far back. I'm paraphrasing hard but I thought that was a nice simple way to look at it.

Never skied Wrens but have been on K108's for 5-6 years now and fucking love em. I'd consider myself on the chargier side of freestyle skiers and I've never wished for something more directional/stable. That being said I've never been on a ski like the Wren