Review: 2027 Dynastar M-Free 94 Open

The product of Dynastar’s collaboration with French freeride legend Richard Permin, the M-Free line has grown and evolved since its release in 2020. Over the last six seasons, the brand has toyed with different widths of skis for the line as well as the ski’s construction. This year, the brand has kept the M-Free 100, 112, and 108 as well as added a new, narrower player to the game in the form of the M-Free 94 Open, in place of the M-Free 90. Although the M-Free 94 Open isn’t too dissimilar to the M-Free 100 and replaces a ski only 4mm narrower than it, there’s no doubt a mid-90s waist ski has a place in a freeride line up.

Similarly, Dynastar replaced the M-Free 99 Open with the M-Free 100 last year and although the differences were pretty small, they were there. Changes like this are either deeply intentional from a design standpoint or an easy way to market a new ski that’s not that different from old models. In any case, it takes a fair bit of thought that definitely piques our interest. Although we’re not sure “M-Free 94 Open” rolls off the tongue just yet, the level of consideration put into the line already has us hopeful they’ll come up with something else one of these days.

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2027 Dynastar M-Free 94 Open Specs

• Lengths skied: 171cm, 188cm
• Lengths available: 156cm, 163cm, 171cm, 179cm, 188cm
• Sidecut: 125mm-93mm-115mm (179cm)
• Radius:15m (179cm)
• Profile: Rocker-Camber-Rocker
• Weight: 1700g (179cm)

Shape, Flex, and Construction

One of the more notable pieces of construction in the Dynastar M-Free 94 Open, and many of the brand’s more recent ski designs, for that matter, is what they call the Hybrid Core 2.0. In an effort to make a greener product, Dynastar has worked to find ways to build skis that reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials needed and and lessens the overall energy consumption and waste in the process. The Hybrid Core 2.0 uses wood layered in three directions, rather than only longitudinally as is done in most traditional ski design, to reinforce and dampen the ski. 

In the case of the M-Free 94, Poplar pieces are laid together longitudinally and vertically to create a solid sheet, which is stacked on top of three more layers of poplar woven together transversely to create a sturdy core in a process almost reminiscent of timberframe construction. Dynastar has a very helpful video to illustrate this on their YouTube. The wood core is then surrounded by polyurethane, which eliminates the need for machining along the ski’s length and wastes less wood. While poplar is generally known as a fairly soft and playful wood, a layer of Titanal reinforcement combined with the Hybrid Core 2.0 actually makes this ski plenty damp and pretty stiff, while remaining lightweight. 

As you’d expect from a freeride ski, the M-Free 94 Open has a fair bit of tip and tail rocker, although it’s fairly progressive. The tips and tails are similarly rounded, making the possibility of skiing switch a no-brainer. It also has what Dynastar calls Adaptiv Sidecut, which combines the progressive rocker lines with a pretty seamless transition between the ski’s underfoot width and tip and tail shape. The result is a short-mid turn radius of 15m and a pretty snappy yet smooth feel. The sidewall of the M-Free 94 also runs along the entire length of the ski’s edge, which contributes to nice edge grip. 

On-Snow Performance

Some lighter-weight skis tend to compromise on performance when it comes to trenching turns and performing at high speeds, however, the Dynastar M-Free 94 Open is not one of those skis. Call it the sturdy wood core construction, sheet of Titanal, snappy sidecut, but even in the firmest and iciest conditions, this ski wanted to go fast and charge hard. On some of the steep, icy groomers that greeted us in the first half of our ski test at Grand Targhee,  the M-Free 94 Open held an edge and remained stable throughout high speed turns. The ski’s propensity for speed and ability to make GS style turns well encouraged testers to let ‘er rip in wide open terrain.

As much as the M-Free 94 Open shone while cruising fast on open runs, it also performed remarkably well on moderate terrain. The ski’s relatively short turn radius and low weight meant it also performed well on mellow groomers and in bumps. While conditions kept testers relatively at bay when it came to exploring, the combination of stability while at speed and intuitiveness of the ski’s shape made it stand out as a particularly multifaceted all-mountain ski. “You can jump right on it and don’t have to think too hard,” said one tester, although another noted that it might not be the best for a beginner skier. Rarely do skis have certain aspects that stand out in different terrain, but the M-Free 94 Open proved to be wonderfully multidimensional. 

Lastly, one tester noted that the responsiveness of the ski through the tails made mounting at or close to center a good option for this ski, and that they felt fairly true to size.

Comparisons

The Nordica Enforcer 99 seems a worthy comparison to the Dynastar M-Free 94, with its poplar/beech core, Titanal laminate, and similar all-mountain shape. These two skis are fairly similar in that they reward (and even require) good technique and a confident skier. The Nordica’s core construction has a bit more metal, as well as a sheet of elastomer, making it the less forgiving of the two skis, but similarly stable and edgeable in firm conditions and at high speeds. The Enforcer 99 is also significantly heavier than the M-Free 94 and has a longer turn radius, which doesn’t lend itself quite as well to a good experience in mellow terrain and at lower speeds as the weight and shape of the M-Free 94.

Another mid-90s width, all mountain ski to contrast the M-Free 94 to is K2’s Mindbender 96. Although lighter than the Enforcer 99, the Mindbender 96 still comes in a couple hundred grams heavier than the M-Free 94 and with a much longer turn radius in a relatively similar length. Like the M-Free 94, the Mindbender 96 stays locked in and responsive, even at lower speeds, and has a nice edge grip on steeper groomers. The Mindbender 96 skied a bit shorter than its length and in chopped up bumps and 3D snow, tended to need more input from the skier and be a bit less forgiving. Overall, when compared to the Mindbender 96, the M-Free 94 is likely a bit more forgiving and intuitive.

What type of skier is the Dynastar M-Free 94 Open best for?

With a range of lengths available and its versatility, the M-Free 94 casts a pretty wide net for skiers. Testers suggested that the M-Free 94 Open would be a great first freeride ski for someone looking to grow into a more aggressive construction and that for an advanced skier, it would unlock a new level of fun while ripping groomers.