Powder Review: Volkl Revolt 114

Cy Whitling
·5 min read

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In a nutshell

Volkl could have made another Revolt that shared the same character as the 121 and 104, just in another waist width. Instead they made something different, something more capable and powerful, that takes the Revolt line in an exciting new direction.

  • Length Skied: 184 cm

  • Weight: 2285 g

  • Stated Dimensions: 146-114-128 mm

  • Stated Sidecut: 25/19/22 m

  • Recommended Mount Point: -7.5 cm

The Volkl Revolt 114 is available now.

Intro

Volkl’s Revolt line is home to their most playful, freestyle oriented skis. And the Revolt 114 is a new model designed to bridge the gap between the Revolt 104 and 121. The 121 is a dedicated powder weapon and the 104 is a wide, softer, all-mountain park ski. Volkl is positioning the Revolt 114 as a more “fall-line oriented” addition to the line. Reading between the lines of Volkl’s description, and the list of athletes involved in its design, the Revolt 114 sure looks like a film segment and Freeride World Tour ski to me. An insubstantial jib twig this is not.

So, let’s get into the all-new Revolt 114.

Length and Mount Point

I skied the 184 Revolt 114 and got along with it really well. With plenty of skis in this class, I’m tempted to size up to a 192, but I didn’t ever feel that need with the Revolt 114. It’s substantial and stable.

Volkl’s Revolt line is unisex, but I do wish they offered the wider Revolts (104 and up) in shorter lengths than a 172. Smaller people deserve wide skis too!

The Revolt 114’s recommended mount point of -7.5 cm is significantly further back than that of the 104 or 121, which hints at its freeride intentions. Looking for a center-mounted jib noodle? Look elsewhere. That said, I think you could bump the 114 up a centimeter or two if you’re used to more center mounted skis but want to get a taste of what it has on tap.

Where does the Revolt 114 shine?

Let’s just get this out of the way. There have been maybe four or five skis I’ve reviewed this spring that I’ve really wished I could keep, for myself, after the review period. The Revolt 114 tops that list. This ski is really cool.

On that note, we’re going to detour a little from our typical review format on this one. I often take notes on my phone on the lift while reviewing skis, jotting down thoughts I have about them in the moment, to be translated into a coherent review later. Here’s what I wrote about the Revolt 114, thumb typos and all:

“DUUUUUUUDE This ski is gonna make so many folks so happy heavy, but doesn’t feel as heavy in the air as the M Free 108. Its like Going the Distance by Cake on my feet.

weird at start to carve with that narrow tail wider tip, but when you find the right balance point on a soft groomer, real fun. Real fun and loose in powder way easier to slash and play on than the M-Free 108. Easier to spin as well. Not as balanced. Doesn’t f**k you up for under rotating. Doesn’t ski switch as predictably. This is the Revolt for masses.

SO much suspension. Almost Mantra level suspension ability to make inconsistent snow feel consistent. It’s the anti-Bent. Fuggggin RIPSSSSS”

That word salad is why writing reviews takes time. You’ve got to polish the turd.

In any kind of soft snow, the Revolt 114 made me feel like a superhero. Like I could make any size turn anywhere I wanted, jump off anything I wanted, and plow through anything I wanted. I have had nightmares where I’m dropped at the top of a FWT venue, forced to ski it in front of a crowd. If I had to do that, this would be the ski I’d pick.

It’s nimble enough and pivots easily enough that you can pick your way through pepper and billy-goat most terrain just fine, but when it comes time to open it up, the Revolt 114 is ready to run.

This is not your typical twin tip all-mountain ski. Sure, it can ski switch, but it feels like it’s down to survive the occasional switch run-in or landing, not arc switch turns in pow.

On soft groomers it took me a second to adjust to the wide tips and narrower tails, but once I found the balance point, I felt like I was laying train tracks with the Revolt 114.

In deep, fresh snow, the Revolt 114 floats really well, but it’s not as loose and slashy as more symmetrical skis. You can throw it sideways with ease, but it brings a different feeling than skis like the Moment Deathwish. The float is less evenly distributed over the length of the ski. If you want to noodle around in deep pow, the Revolt 121 is your ski. If you want to ski aggressively, in a manner tailored to impress potential romantic partners, go for the 114.

Where does the Revolt 114 make some compromises?

If you prefer slower speeds and smaller airs, something like the Moment Deathwish or Atomic Bent 110 might make more sense for you. The Revolt 114 is sort of wasted if you never push yourself to its top end. That’s not to say that it will punish you for skiing with a more laid back energy, just that you don’t buy a Ferrari to only drive it in second gear. And, if you, like me, like to throw lots of small, frantic spins, the Revolt 114 is harder to get around than lighter skis. That just left me feeling more motivated to go bigger and give myself more time to complete the rotation.

And of course, in truly terrible conditions, this is not the ski to choose. If you want to bash cruddy snow, something like the Mantra 102 will treat you better.

What would a perfect day on the Volkl Revolt 114 look like?

Bootpacking with friends to inbounds terrain. There’s fresh snow on the ground, and your buddy just got a new camera. Time to step up your game, go a little bigger than you meant to, test out that alternate entrance to a consequential chute, and stomp that mandatory air before you throw a huge three off the roller at the bottom.