Kastle MX98 Review: A Burly All-Mountain Ski That Leans Frontside

Introduction

The Kastle MX98 is a burly all-mountain ski built in a wider-bodied format, with an all-mountain shape and construction that still leans noticeably toward the front side of the mountain. That combination is the interesting part. At this width, most skis are designed around freeride priorities, but the MX98 keeps its personality closer to a precise carving tool.

The result is a ski that blends all-mountain and frontside construction into one package: a mixed wood core, two sheets of metal, prepreg fiberglass, and a vibration-damping carbon inlay in the shovel. This review walks through what that construction actually does on snow, who it suits, and what to weigh before committing.

Who the Kastle MX98 Is For

The MX98 is aimed at skiers who spend most of their time on groomed runs and firm, variable snow but still want a wider platform underfoot. It is a strong, stable, precise ski with a lot of material running tip to tail, and it rewards a skier who likes to stand on the edge and let the ski run.

If your priority is a playful, surfy feel or maximum flotation on deep days, this is not the ski to reach for first. The MX98 is a carving-first design that happens to be 98 millimeters wide, rather than a freeride ski that happens to hold an edge.

It also suits confident intermediates through experts who ski at speed and want a consistent, planted feel underfoot. The heavier construction is the source of that stability, so the ski makes the most sense for someone who can drive it rather than someone still building basic edge control.

Construction and Materials

The core blends poplar and beech. Kastle runs stringers of both woods through the central section of the ski and uses poplar stringers on the outer portions, which lets the flex and stability through the middle be tuned separately from the snappier poplar on the outside. It is a genuine mix of all-mountain and frontside thinking, and it stays burly.

Two sheets of metal are paired with two sheets of prepreg fiberglass, new for this year. Because the fiberglass is pre-made and then laid on top, there are fewer variables in the layup, which makes the finished flex more consistent, more energetic, and more responsive.

Hollowtech 3.0 with a carbon inlay handles the shovel. By reducing the mass that has to move, it calms and quiets the front of the ski faster than a conventional build would, which contributes directly to the precision the MX98 is known for.

Stability and Edge Grip

This ski runs nearly true tip to tail camber, with rocker only in the shovel. That minimal rocker up front is deliberate: it keeps the effective edge longer, so the ski feels smoother and grips harder through the turn. With this much material in the build, a little rocker up front also adds a useful degree of user friendliness.

The tail is a different story. There is effectively no rocker, just a slightly turned-up portion that provides minimal splay to help you release from a turn. Taper is minimal as well. Combined with a solid metal piece in the tail, the ski holds its edge from tip to tail, and the extra material and slight bend keep it from feeling as demanding as a completely flat tail would.

Underfoot, the MX98 feels solid and stable regardless of conditions or terrain. Once it is up on edge, it cruises, and the amount of metal in the layup is exactly what produces that calm, planted character.

Turn Shape and Speed

The 178 centimeter length carries a 20.9 meter turn radius, which is longer than you would find on the narrower skis in the range. Longer lengths push that radius higher still, so the MX98 is naturally at home with longer arcs and higher speeds.

That geometry is a big part of the ski’s appeal. It is a design for skiers who like to let the ski finish a turn and carry momentum out of it, rather than for those who want a tight, short-radius feel at low speed.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The most important caveat is flotation. There are considerably better floating options in the 98 to 100 millimeter class, and the MX98 is not trying to compete on that front. Its trade-off is deliberate: few skis in this width carve as well as it does. If powder is your priority, look elsewhere. If grip on firm snow is your priority, this is the trade you want to make.

The build also carries weight. Two sheets of metal, a dense mixed wood core, and minimal taper add up to a ski that is strong and precise but not forgiving in the way a lighter, more tapered design would be. The turned-up tail section and modest taper soften the edges of that demand slightly, but the MX98 still asks for a skier who is comfortable committing to the edge.

Finally, think honestly about how you actually ski. A ski this stable at speed is best matched with terrain and conditions that let you use that stability, rather than with slow, cautious laps where the construction never comes into play.

Where the MX98 Sits in the Range

Within the same family, the MX98 carries a more rockered shovel than the narrower 88 and 83 models. That additional rocker is a practical choice: with this much material in the ski, a little more help up front makes the ski easier to manage and nudges it slightly toward softer snow. It does not change the fundamental character of the ski, which remains a frontside-leaning carver in a wider body.

Buying Advice

The MX98 makes the most sense for a skier who wants one wider ski that still carves with precision, holds an edge on firm snow, and stays composed at speed. It is a strong, stable, precise build, and that quality carries through the whole ski from tip to tail.

Pay attention to length when you choose. The 178 centimeter version measures a 20.9 meter turn radius, and stepping up in length increases that radius further, which shifts the ski even more toward long, fast arcs. Match the length to the turn shape and speed you actually ski, not to the number you are used to.

If your days are mostly groomed and firm, the MX98 is a confident choice. If your days are mostly deep and soft, the flotation trade-off will show up quickly, and a more freeride-oriented shape in the same width class will serve you better.

Conclusion

The Kastle MX98 is a burly all-mountain ski that behaves like a frontside carver in a wider body. The poplar and beech core, two sheets of metal, prepreg fiberglass, and the Hollowtech 3.0 carbon inlay in the shovel all point in the same direction: a ski that is consistent, quiet up front, and locked in from tip to tail.

It is not the floater of the 98 to 100 millimeter class, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers instead is stability, precision, and edge grip for skiers who spend their time on groomed and firm terrain and want a wider platform without giving up carving performance.