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KilaTsunami
October, 2024

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Is durability subjective?

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BlueVillain
Posts: 405 - Karma: 2,398
I know this is a hot take. I know faction's durability was dogshite.

These days I hear people say that ON3P's are not durable at all and they break easily yet some people preach the opposite.

During my time as a skier I've heard multiple opinions on multiple brands regarding durability. It seems that it comes down to everyone's own experience. Style of riding and weight definitely play in the balance but it seems that overall the durability of a said brand or model of ski depends for everyone.


What does NS think?
Nov 23 2022 7:21PM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6598 - Karma: 69,840
Durability isn't subjective. People's small sample anecdotal opinions are.
Nov 23 2022 7:29PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6419 - Karma: 74,049
in a nutshell, yes. I consider a ski durable not by if the edges crack or “stay in the ski longer”, but on how long the bases will last before they wear out from sliding shit and start to expose the core of the ski (after edges obviously fall out). Other people base it on how many edge cracks a ski gets or how bad tips and tails get chewed up. all depends on how you ski. All depends on how you use your ski. for Example you’re not gonna want something that Delaminated easy in the tip if you like to do nollies quite often (your shit will get snagged up in the snow).


also all depends on how you slide rails. Some people are more flat footed, gentle while sliding. Others are harder and always have the ski on edge while sliding, cracking/ destroying edges way easier.
Nov 23 2022 7:47PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6394 - Karma: 69,424
I know for a fact most people abuse their skis when not skiing them and this probably causes premature delam and edge pullout. I try to always bring my skis inside at night and keep them dry and I've never had serious problems with those things. Only snapping skis when they probably should snap or else maybe my fibia would snap
Nov 23 2022 7:56PM
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jps2.0
Posts: 474 - Karma: 2,391
there is so many factors to attribute to durability
-skier weight
-how hard they ski
-what they ski eg. rails , rocky runs
-quality control from the factory - same brands like blizzard have skis made in austria and skis of the same model saying made in ukraine
-storage of skis
-binding mount quality
Nov 23 2022 8:13PM
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Schoess
Posts: 2079 - Karma: 24,839
ASSholebomber22Durability isn't subjective. People's small sample anecdotal opinions are.


Best and shortest answer to this question right here ^

Basically people don't always know what they are talking about.
Nov 23 2022 9:27PM
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NutsToRail
Posts: 80 - Karma: 741
What's considered good storage?
Nov 23 2022 9:55PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
I feel like there are some skis that are objectively dog shit. Atomic infamous comes to mind.
Nov 23 2022 9:57PM
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jps2.0
Posts: 474 - Karma: 2,391
270on420outI feel like there are some skis that are objectively dog shit. Atomic infamous comes to mind.


and line afterbang
faction candides for a few years
Nov 23 2022 10:05PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6394 - Karma: 69,424
NutsToRailWhat's considered good storage?

Above freezing and dry as possible
Nov 23 2022 10:14PM
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Kyguyy
Posts: 580 - Karma: 6,363
Skiers will go through the most bare woods, slide the rustiest rails, land hella backseat all the time, or run into things and blame it on the manufacturer. Makes no sense
Nov 23 2022 11:31PM
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Slowbro
Posts: 3857 - Karma: 21,273
I think it depends on the skier a fair amount, I ski fairly hard in the park and all of my skis last like 1.5-2 seasons but I know others who don’t ski so hard and snap skis like nothing. There has to be some luck at play too
Nov 24 2022 12:25AM
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jompcock
Posts: 1529 - Karma: 11,288
I know a 130 lb guy that definitely shreds but managed to crack 2 pairs of ski boot shells and goes through about 5 pairs of skis a season. I know people that ski just as hard that weigh 80 lb more that go through 1 pair sometimes 2 and have never busted a boot shell.

Gotta be smoov and maintain your shit
Nov 24 2022 1:50AM
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bsurf
Posts: 181 - Karma: 1,937
Nov 24 2022 11:01PM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,405
jompcockI know a 130 lb guy that definitely shreds but managed to crack 2 pairs of ski boot shells and goes through about 5 pairs of skis a season. I know people that ski just as hard that weigh 80 lb more that go through 1 pair sometimes 2 and have never busted a boot shell.

Gotta be smoov and maintain your shit


This brings up another good point. The durability stories never touch on the care equipment receives off the hill. $20 says first guy treats his gear like shit when he's not using it.
Nov 25 2022 12:21AM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3024 - Karma: 28,754
Durability is NOT subjective?? Who tf wants to replace their skis all the time? Nobody. People want them to last for years so they can start having a collection of them (or my least favorite word in skiing… their “quiver”)
Nov 25 2022 11:09AM
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CT_CREW
Posts: 668 - Karma: 3,481
If you slide rails regularly, at an advanced level (spins on, switch ups, and especially sliding though kinks) your edges are eventually gonna crack no matter what. The speed at which they degrade is the durability for me. Paying attention to your edges and bases, and epoxying/JB welding edges cracks/Delmas/ core shots to keep water out will vastly extend your park ski life. Also storing them dry like homie above said. Some ski edges and side walls just blow apart too quick to even try and stay on top of “repairing” and those are the shit skis to me.


skill level/riding style also makes a big difference… the smoother the slide the less edge damage….If you are Jamming through donkeys, disasters etc. prolly gonna crack em quicker.

and one of the biggest things, fucking up… if you happen to hit your edge straight sideways into the corner of a box/rail while spinning on or off, it’s gonna dent the edge in, bubble up the base, and send your skis to an early grave. Don’t matter who makes em, skis just aren’t meant to take force on the edge in That direction. Dont ask how I know.
Nov 25 2022 11:39AM
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BlueVillain
Posts: 405 - Karma: 2,398
KilaTsunamiDurability is NOT subjective?? Who tf wants to replace their skis all the time? Nobody. People want them to last for years so they can start having a collection of them (or my least favorite word in skiing… their “quiver”)

You're missing the point
Nov 25 2022 2:59PM
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bogust
Posts: 687 - Karma: 7,074
The new line blends are objectively not durable. The speed at which the edges and bases wear may be reliant on the skier but when 4 out of the 5 people I know with post 2021 blends have snapped them you gotta assume its an issue with the ski design, especially since the older ones didn't share the same issue.
Nov 25 2022 4:58PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
I don't think durability is subjective, but peoples' experiences on certain skis may differ due to skiing styles and luck.

I think there are some easy ways to predict durability.

You can look at things like the quality of steel used to make edges, the thickness of that steel, quality and thickness of base material, etc. Some geometric properties also seem to produce stronger products (full sidewall versus half-cap).

But then there is the construction factor - how all these physical properties are attached together. That can be harder to judge without a season or two on the skis. Although small batch and time-tested factories are less likely to give you 'disappointing' defects like delam or layer separation.

I think materials and design give a good starting point for guessing at durability. Next I look at a manufacturer's reputation within the past few years - have they changed ownership or switched factories, changed designs, introduced a new lineup, etc. I read as many forum posts across forums as I can for candid reviews from disparate skiers. Then by that point I usually have a good idea of what's gonna last.
Nov 25 2022 10:27PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3024 - Karma: 28,754
BlueVillainYou're missing the point


Idc anymore buy whatever u want
Nov 27 2022 12:07AM
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