Couloir Magazine: "When you make skis this light, there's no question there will be some compromise. The question is whether or not it's worth it? For the FreeRide, it all comes down to purpose. It hardly matters for a morning lap, but for longer backcountry trips or just long days where there's lots of vertical to be earned, I think you'll find the compromise worth it. The FreeRide came up a little short in the inconsistency of heavy resort crud and frozen groomers to start the morning, but as soon as the snow smoothed out and softened a bit - a mere common backcountry condition - the compromise made sense. When considered for BC alone, indeed, Stelvio does make easy, reliable turns."

Skiing magazine: "Designed by the European randonnee crowd, the Stelvio has great edge hold on hardpack and hugs the snow in turns. 'Light and natural', said one tester. 'A great hard-snow ski for your one-ski quiver.' Gripes: Sinks in soft snow. Props: A superlight climber that'll go downhill well."

Backcountry magazine: "'The Stelvios are like a time machine'...'They have a retro look with wood-grain graphics and traditional feel.' Making its mark with medium-to long-radius turns, the Stelvio pleased testers mostly on groomers and hard snow.' Light and well balanced on packed powder'...Testers though the overall stiffness didn't lend itself to floating in soft or deep snow, but 'they rely on strong skier input to make them turn in tight woods and bumps, and they respond predictably.'