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It's been called "the best ski ever" ( http://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/760007/ ), and it certainly lives up to the hype. The Jeffery is ON3Ps ultimate quiver of one, all-mountain shredder. Ridiculously versatile, it's designed to handle anything, from morning pow laps to post lunch groomers to after noon park laps, this guy can really do it all. At 110mm underfoot it's really stable off jumps and BC booters while offering float in the powder and the elliptical sidecut and virtually infinite turning radius helps you hold and edge no matter how you want to turn. The rocker steamrolls through crud and mush, and the super thick base and edges will withstand anything you slam them into, whether that's rocks, rails or trees. For days when you're just not sure what kind of skiing you want to do or for when you can't figure out what to throw on the roof rack, the Jeffery is the ultimate go to.
Background Information:
As of the writing of this review, the 2012 Jeffrey is the best ski I’ve owned and also one of the best I’ve skied. It’s difficult to adequately sum up my relationship with these skis in a succinct review. The pair of Jeffreys that I own was built with ON3P’s ‘Tour’ core layup, which the company gave me the opportunity to purchase around April of 2012. This layup produced a pair of skis that were both 200-300 grams lighter and slightly softer. From ON3P’s site: “A thinner core profile supported with additional layers of full-width carbon fiber…†They also used the graphic from the 2012 Cease and Desist, which is why the skis look different in my photos. The only binding mounted on these skis was the Dynafit Radical FT12 using inserts. I have used these skis 78 times over 3 seasons (57 touring/21 lifts).
Ski Design and Construction:
The Jeffrey embodies an ideal shape for a ski intended for all conditions and terrain types. The rocker/camber profile provides great pop coupled with good flotation in deep snow. I estimate about 20% tip/15% tail rocker, with 4mm camber (combined) in the middle. They won’t measure up to a dedicated pow ski or even my 2011 Caylors, but I have been very satisfied with their performance in everything so far. The 25m turning radius is a good compromise for both speed and agility.
The Tour layup coupled with Dynafit bindings produced a setup that was lighter than most other touring setups I have encountered. Did I accurately weigh everything to compare? No, it was always just the ‘hand test.’ The layup also created a slightly softer and more playful ski, yet the skis remain stable and comfortable at higher speeds. The flex is medium.
Dynafit bindings are akin to riding a hardtail bike and transfer more feedback to the user and are less elastic than traditional alpine bindings. Yet I still remained very happy with the setup even in hardback. I attribute that largely to the ski. Sadly, I have not skied Jeffreys built with the standard core nor with alpine bindings for comparison.
Terrain:
These skis have been my primary touring setup for 3 years, although I also used ON3P Caylors with the same Dynafit bindings (via inserts) occasionally. Given that, the skis have mostly been used in softer snow and variable conditions often found out of bounds. The skis were outstanding in all categories. They are nimble in tight trees, stable on big lines and cliff landings, and light for skinning and hiking. I can’t say that I have stood at the top of a line and wished for something else on my feet…ever.
Durability:
The durability of ON3P skis is already legendary amongst the ski community so I can keep this section pretty short. Terrain encountered in the backcountry can be extremely variable, especially on the East Coast, and these skis have been in quite a few questionable places. Yet the skis remained completely intact. I touched up the edges and waxed the bases a few times each season. At the start of the ’14/15 season, they received a base grind and looked almost new afterwards. They have not sustained any core shots to date, despite everything.
Complaints:
It is important to be critical of your gear, but I can’t honestly find many things wrong with the Jeffrey. I fully support ON3P’s decision to make them wider (114 vs 110 waist), and that is the only thing I would change about mine. I have also evolved as a skier over 3 seasons, and I would make them a little stiffer as well without sacrificing the lightness of the Tour core.
Overall: 10/10
These skis have brought me to some of the most amazing places and allowed me to experience things few others have; I cannot understate their excellence. These skis have served as a benchmark for me when I demo anything else, and few pairs measure up adequately. I understand that ON3P has updated the Jeffrey (I was able to try a 122 waisted pair at SIA) and I think it was a great progression, but given the durability of ON3P, I will still keep my eyes peeled for some of these at ski swaps and on forums; I encourage everybody looking for an all mountain or touring ski to do the same.
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