Powder
Despite a relatively low-snow winter in Alaska, I’ve found plenty of untracked (and often steep) skiing since I started touring in early December, and I also snuck in a great trip to Sun Valley where I had some amazing sunny powder days of touring to test the BMT 122. I’ve also had the opportunity to ski a bunch of other 120 mm+ powder skis during more than 40 heli days I’ve guided so far this year, averaging around 20,000 vert of powder per day, so I have a lot of relevant experience for comparison.
Being 122 mm underfoot and fully rockered it shouldn’t be surprising that the BMT 122 is good in powder. Despite being a bit shorter than most of my favorite powder skis (and not even close to the fattest skis I regularly ride), the 122 planes up quickly even in soft snow, and stays there easily even when moving slowly or in less steep terrain.
With more speed, the BMT 122 provides excellent float for my ~200 lbs (plus pack) and stays on top of all but the deepest, lightest snow. In super deep and super low-density snow, the 122 will submarine a bit compared to superfat pow skis like the DPS Lotus 138 and Spoon, but the 122 still feels loose and easy to ski in those conditions.
On big, steep terrain with fins and spine-like ridges, the 122 is among (and might be ‘the’) most confidence inspiring powder ski I’ve ridden. Its relatively long sidecut, long progressive rocker, stiff flex, and low swing weight facilitate the quick, athletic skiing that these lines often require with a mix of quick slash turns, long drifted grinds and fast runouts. While I’ve been testing several powder skis mounted with touring bindings lately (e.g., Salomon QST 118, Moment Exit World, Salomon MTN Lab, Whitedot Carbonlite Redeemer ) I’ve taken the BMT 122 every time I left home with the intent to ski bigger or more consequential lines.
In comparison to more dedicated powder shapes like the Lotus 138 on which I’ve toured many, many days, the 122 is definitely less surfy and playful but the longer effective edge and more supportive tail inspires more confidence anytime I think that there’s a good chance I’ll hit firm snow on the run or in the runout.
In big open bowls or faces, the BMT 122 is easy to noodle into tight turns when desired, but it is a super fun big turn pow surfer. In slightly more moderate terrain, the limitations of the BMT’s surfiness and ability to break free into long, drifted turns becomes more apparent when compared to skis like the Lotus 138 Spoon, but it can still be feathered into relatively loose skids and drifts even in deep snow.
On big faces in deep snow, I also sometimes wish for a little bit longer ski, although the 186 cm 122 provides plenty of float in any circumstance as long as I stay more centered on the ski.
When skiing denser snow or in places where the base is palpable, the BMT also rewards a more forward stance and offers good support from the shovels.
Chop
Even when touring, chop is sometimes encountered on the way back to the car or in particularly popular confluence areas in the backcountry. These conditions are often where I find myself being a little more careful if I’m out on super fat skis (especially with lighter boots like the Salomon S-Lab X-Alp or Dynafit TLT7). Compared to other fat pow skis, the BMT 122 does well, and I think this is largely due to the stiff flex and long effective edge. In this way, the 122 is similar to the BMT 109 and 100Eight providing better chop performance than their lower weights might suggest.
Crud
True crud skiing is something that I rarely experience while ski touring, and is not a realm where lightweight ~120mm-wide skis usually do well. I took the 122s out for a powder day at Alyeska Resort to see how they would work for all-around inbounds powder riding and, similar to above, was surprised by how well they did in firmer, bumpy conditions. They’re not as stable and predictable as heavier, damper skis I’ve ridden lately (e.g., the DPS Lotus 124 Alchemist and Liberty Schuster Pro quickly come to mind in this waist width); compared to those skis, the BMT 122 falls short and gets knocked around quite a bit more, but it is still much more versatile inbounds than I expected.
Windcrust
We had a big wind event in January and then another one in early February that created fairly widespread wind crust in many areas around the state. The eastern Kenai area of the Chugach was spared more than most of the state, but there was still plenty of windboard, wind-crust, and sastrugi out there to negotiate en route to powder skiing. As described above, and consistent with my experience on the BMT 109 and the Volkl 100Eight, the BMT 122 did exceptionally well in these more challenging conditions, providing a reliable and predictable platform for skidding and hopping around, and even carving smooth hardpack turns when needed.
When the crust became breakable, the BMT 122 continued to do as well as most skis in this waist width. Sometimes breakable crusts are actually pretty fun on reverse-sidecut shapes like the DPS Lotus 138, but I am currently more inclined to choose a shape like the BMT 122 if I know I’m going to encounter a fair amount of wind-affected snow because they are generally a bit more predictable.
Bottom Line
The Volkl BMT 122 is an excellent powder touring ski. It has become a staple in my ski quiver, and has been my go-to touring ski of the season so far in Alaska this year. I also wouldn’t hesitate to take it to work with me heli skiing, since the BMT 122 has proven to be capable of living up to it’s “Big Mountain” name.
If you’re looking for a ~120mm-wide touring ski, the Volkl BMT 122 should be high on your list. So far, it’s one of my favorites ever in this class of skis.
As always, great review. Did you use their glueless skins while touring?
Also, just a heads up that the “Salomon MTN Lab” hyperlink goes to the MTN lab boot, whereas from the context it seems like you were referring to the MTN lab ski. Will Blister be putting out a full review of that ski at some point?
Hi Mike, We have discussed their clueless skins in the buyers guide a few times. Overall, mixed feeling but I would not recommend them for general use. I’m not sure about a forthcoming review on the MTN Lab ski but will try to make that happen.
Have long lusted after these and they are on sale now. Any thoughts on how they would work as replacements for my G3 Empire carbon 127? Main concern would be step down in length from 193 to 186. I’m 210 / 6’3″ so 186 feels like barely enough for a ski that will definitely be called on to charge as well as tuck thru tight trees.
I haven’t skied the empire series so can’t provide a direct comparison. You’re a bigger guy than I am and I’m glad that the 186cm 122 isn’t any shorter. They may feel small for you.
Hey Guys,
Great review as always!
I’ve been looking at getting these as my dedicated touring set up on British Columbia.
I’ve got the line on a set of these in 186 length. However, I’m a little worried 186 might be a bit long for me. I’m 5’11” 205lbs and an intermediate skier. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Trev
Hey Trevor, I think these would suit you quite well. The 186cm 122 doesn’t feel like a big ski, especially in powder. At your size I think you’d be pretty happy. If you’re used to a much shorter ski the 186 might feel a little long I tight spots but the full rocker makes them pretty pivotable. Depending on your experience with powder skis they might also feel a little unruly in firm or cut up snow compared to a shorter, narrower ski but overall I think they’d be a great choice for what you’re describing. let us know how it goes!
Hey man,
Marker specific binding mount seems to rule out NTN mounting. Any beta on similar ski for tele charging in the backcountry?
Thanks,
Patrick
Taos
I’ve been on the Kingswood Rocketype for the last three years and have skied the Liberty Double Helix in Niseko this season. I’ve loved the DH even though it seems a bit more surfy than I usually like. How would the BMT compare to the DH?
I demoed the BMT 122 , 186 cm for 2 days in 4″ to 18″. Temp range 12-25 degrees. Day one I felt the tips loaded up a bit but overall liked the predictable way they skied. Day two it snowed 6″ more (6″-18″ total) based on store recommendation I moved the demo Kingpin toe back one setting so centerline on boot was about 1/2 centimeter behind ski center vs. day before 1/2 centimeter ahead of ski center. Completely eliminated tip loading, I had a great day. the ski made very predictable medium to long radius turns, with more aggressive leg flexing to avoid bad spots or trees it easily made a shorter radius turn. My first 2 runs the 2nd day my thieghs burned a bit but after that they were OK, I guess I adjusted to compensate by pulling my feet back some. I bot the skis.
I bought the BMT 109, 186 cm last yr. and have skied it about 20-25 days. I like it but will use the bmt 122 on deeper days. I experienced the same tip loading on the 109’s so I will move the demo toe back on those to see if that eliminates tip loading. As expected the 109 ski better on groomers, especially with a slight weighted release and not over turning them. They are actually fun to ski on soft groomers.
I have skins for both, but I was wondering if the 109 skins would work OK on the 122?
Hi Paul – with the end of season drawing near, I am interested in taking advantage of some end of season sales on equipment. Specifically, I am looking for a pair of dedicated powder skis for heli / cat skiing, and I would like some guidance. First about me: 6’4″, 220 lbs, 47 years old, advanced / expert, west coast.
To calibrate, here is my recent experience on skis:
(1) Volkl Katana V Werks (184) – this is my go-to ski for resorts and side country. I love almost everything about this ski within the context of how I use it.
(2) Volkl Deacon 74 Pro (178) – love this ski, but it’s pretty narrow use for hardpack-y / icy groomers.
(3) Volkl Twos (191) – this used to be my ski for heli / cat trips, and I thought it was fine, but was too “smeary” for me to fall in love with it.
(4) Rossi Black Ops 118 (186) – i like this ski as a resort “powder” ski, but it’s mounted much too center for someone my size to enjoy in the bottomless snow you find on heli trips (see me comments in the Blister review) – way too much tip dive, even when mounted -2 of rec.
(5) Rossi Super 7s – only tried on a heli trip for a day, and I did not care for these skis in deep snow – too hooky / poppy for my taste.
Based on my experience + reviews I have read, I think I have narrowed things down to the following options for a new heli ski:
(1) Volkl BMT 122 (186) – this is sorta where I am leaning right now. this seems like a wider and slightly longer version of the katana v werks, which i love. except: (i) i don’t think i will tour on it, so am i looking at something “too light” given how I intend to use it; and (ii) is it long enough to avoid the tip dive i hated on the black ops?
(2) DPS alchemist lotus 124 spoons – honestly these were not on my radar until i started seeing the comparisons to the BMT 122s. and i see some comments that they are the “go to heli ski” for Blister (or at least Paul). my only reservation here is that this is a cambered ski, so i worry about that same “hooky / poppy” feel that i didn’t like in the Rossi Super 7 in powder. i think i might want a reverse camber ski here. but maybe my reservations are ill-founded.
(3) Volkl Katana V Werks (191) – this is the same ski i have today, but longer. i love this ski, but i do worry that it may not be the best option / wide enough for heli skiing, so a guy my size might just sink, even with the extra length.
(4) In a separate thread, Jonathan recommended I look at the Head Kore 117. i have the same concerns here about camber, and this ski is even narrower than the DPS, so i am not jumping on this in maybe the way i should. i’m also not sure in retrospect that i was sufficiently clear in my original post that i am looking for a dedicated heli / cat ski, so i wonder if that would have changed Jonathan’s rec.
so that’s where i am. any thoughts / guidance is appreciated.
after a few weeks of heli skiing on 118ish skis I finally swapped back to my Lotus 124’s today and was glad to be back on them. that extra float/support really helps in certain kinds of snow and big terrain and they’re not that much sketchier when things get firm/weird. Even with the small amount of camber the shape is really conducive to being tossed sideways when needed. I’m a obviously a big fan.
I agree with most of your sentiments on the above skis. The BMT 122 is a great ski. I wonder a little if you’ll find it too short in the 186 and it’s a little light for going fast in weird snow compared to heavier skis.
One other ski you should look at is the Black Crows Nocta. I had a bunch of heli guests on them today and while I still haven’t skied a pair in any meaningful way, they seem to check a lot of your boxes. I can’t wait to heli ski on a pair. hopefully soon!
the last option is the limited release of the Moment Chipotle Banana. no sure if any still available but I also want to try a pair badly.
Best of luck! Let us know what you settle on.
Thanks Paul. I checked out out your suggestions and spoke with a few other people. I ended up going with my gut here on the BMT 122s. Ordered them with Kingpin 13s, which I have some reservations about since I will tour very little on these skis, but I figure that setup will give me the most optionality with touring. Right now my touring set up is Rossi Soul 7s with frame bindings – which is to say bad. So maybe this step-up will encourage me to enjoy the uphill more than I do today. I just hope that with my size I don’t see pre-release issues, or worse, no release issues. Will try to post more once I get on the snow, but may be next year at this point. Thanks again!
What’s Blister’s opinion of the BMT 122 versus the Bent Chetler 120? Will you all do a Deep Dive on those skis? Do you know anyone who has mounted the shift mnc binding on the BMT 122s?
For touring on the CO Frontrange the Atomic Bent Chetler 120 is recommended in one of your two ski quiver lists. What about the BMT 122? Or would the BMT 109 be a better option due to the consistency of variable snow?
Thanks! Love the great reviews!