2024 Blizzard Bonafide 97 - SkiEssentials.com Ski Test

[@JoseBattig]

I have the Bonafide 2021 @ 171 (I'm 169cm and 75KG) and absolutely love these skis! Best skis I ever skied, period. As the reviewer says (and other reviewers I've seen/read) the ski is incredibly fun to ski carving on any conditions, hard packed, icy, powdery, crud. The ski loves to be on its edges, I would push from edge to edge even when traversing to get to the next lift at low speed. In contrast with some reviewers, I like the Bonafide on moguls, maybe they are not as "nimble" as other skis (I had a pair of Brahma before these), but if you drive them, and I mean pull/push your legs to control the ride and not being thrown around by the moguls, they are great skis. I think the fact they softened the tip and tail make them usable and fun on bumps. On powder they are still great skis, yes, they may not float as true powder skis, yes, you need to drive them, but they do perform well on powder. I have not skied true fat powder skis other than an occasional ski-swap with a friend on crud conditions, so I don't know what I'm truly missing, but I've had tons of fun navigating deep snow (over knee deep) on very tight tree lines with the Bonafides. I keep researching if there's the next "perfect" ski for the stuff I typically do and I keep arriving to the Bonafide. Maybe I would like to demo some time the Volkl Mantra or the Nordica Enforcer as a comparison.

[@ramaananda5035]

The testers for ski essentials deliver extremely accurate & truthful information. You can confidently rely on them to edify you regarding skis, as they definitely know what they are talking about. I have listened to the for years & skied many of the skis tested. We come to the same conclusions!

[@SkiEssentials]

Thank you!

[@MarkoTraveler]

Damn. I just bought this ski, based on my brother's recommendation. But he's a strong fast skier and I haven't skied much at all in 20 years, was looking for a forgiving, easy ski to carve and build confidence. I think I'm going to sell them without even trying them.

[@BroDuke1]

Been skiing Bonafide since 2014. Great skis except the top layers chip off and had one pair fully delaminate. You do have to be a seriously above average skier and pretty strong to even lug them around the mountain. They are very fast with no chatter if that’s your thing. Watch out in slush, though. They build momentum. If they catch an edge it will break your ankle at speed.

[@browtinehunts5323]

good description. my top's are almost completely delaminated.

[@Steve-yr5vi]

I agree with you, when I first started skiing them I took some falls due to sloppy turns. I soon learned to practice good form the the reward they deliver in return is as you know, insane. As he said "it's hard to put into words" tears of joy have come to my eyes on these skis so many times...

[@1241falcon]

I have a Bonafide 97 177 from 2 years ago. I am 59 6feet 225lbs. former racer mainly downhill. demo this ski loved it and loved the solomon stance as well but is was not fun under 25mph. Stance at high speeds blew my mind how stable it was. I got the Bondafide ski to short and find is squirrely at high speeds. I am wondering if i should just get the Stance or get a longer Bonafide. I do not ski a lot of bumps like it did but can still rip the shuts with a stable ski up here in Taos.

[@SkiEssentials]

Sounds like you had a nice time on the Stance, and I'm not comfortable talking you out of it. Experience counts and if you felt the Stance the way you did, I'd go for it.

[@StanOfArabia]

I'm looking for a ski to replace my 2018/19 Blizzard Bushwackers, which I realy love and sad that I need to replace them (and for Blizzard to discontinue them). I'm not sure which ski in Blizzards lineup would replace it 1:1 best. Thiniking about the Ruatler 9 or the Bonafide. Which one would you recommend?

[@SkiEssentials]

What size are you looking for? If you're a 177 or below, the Blizzard Black Pearl is basically a Bushwacker. That's as close as you're getting to a 1:1. If not, the 2025 Blizzard Anomaly 88 is the new more metallic version of the Bushwacker, so that's a current ski that holds up well.

[@lakermagic1]

Can't say enough about the videos! My question is: I have a Rustler 9 and I have a QST 106. Love them both for different reasons. I was thinking about adding a third ski, for no other reason than I love skis, and was looking at the Bonafide. I don't need anything wider than the QST. I will never get into anything that requires a wider ski. I'm 230 pounds and skill wise I think I can handle a demanding ski. I was thinking about the Rustler 10 but that will be close to the QST. Bonafide would certainly be different, right?

[@SkiEssentials]

Yes, the Bonafide will feel quite a bit different from the Rustler, which is amazing that they're so similar in width, and from the same company. The carving power and stability of the Bonafide is amazing.

[@Steve-yr5vi]

The Bonafides are truly upper echelon skis; yeah on one hand there is a minimum level required to ski them; on the other hand I do not believe there are too many skis if any that can deliver the experience they provide. IMO everyone should clip into these on at some point in their skiing career, just do it with a fresh set of legs and focus.

[@SkiEssentials]

I agree! It'd be awesome to see what everyone thinks who hasn't skied these before.

[@aramilarantrial2493]

Hello i had the bonafide in the 187 2017 version and i loved the ski i skied it a lot and their life is coming to an end i'm planing to upgrade to the new 189 version . I see everywhere people that says that their are stif , not flickable and not playful. I always thought that these ski are very fun to ski and quite playful did somthing change from the old version or are they stil very similar.

[@SkiEssentials]

When they first came out back around 2017, a lot of skis were like the Bonafide. Others have fallen off, or have been diluted in terms of performance, but Bonafide has stayed the same. As a result, it feels like the Bonafide is very stiff and demanding, but that's relative to other mid-90's all-mountain skis these days. The industry has moved to a more approachable and friendly market.

[@aramilarantrial2493]

@@SkiEssentials i wanted to know it compare to the mantra 102 and the m6 do you have a comparison somewhere

[@jackgrover5252]

If replacing a 180 2017 version, is it best to go with the 177 or 183? 6' and weight ranges from 200 - 210. Athletic ski-style and am able to move my current bones pretty well. Only thing that really gives me any issue is deeper snow off piste. Would be curious to hear what you think would make sense on the newer lengths.

[@SkiEssentials]

I kinda like this ski a bit longer, so I'd recommend the 183 based on your stats and history with the ski. It's a bit easier to turn than it used to be, and pair that with more surface area for deeper snow, and I feel that the 183 makes good sense.

[@jackgrover5252]

@@SkiEssentials Thank you! Order placed for a 183.

[@BushmanCanuck]

I just picked up the 2022 at a massive discount...now I'm afraid it might be too much ski from what you're saying 😐 Oh well we'll just have to wait for the snow to fall and see. (advanced skier just getting back into it after 30 years 😅)

[@SkiEssentials]

Good luck!

[@Steve-yr5vi]

I have the bonafide and love them, I will say I have learned they are not the ski to click on the first day of the season, last year I waited until the 3rd day and was reminded of my love for them all over again. Give yourself time to adjust to their demands, now they are my preferred ski for just about any terrain other than soft deep snow and tight trees, though they are competent in that scenario, more effort will be required. If they have a preferred terrain it's corduroy, steeps, packed snow or less than 5" of fresh snow on top of packed snow. It will take you time to adjust your expectations to the new limits the Bonafide provide, which are considerably further out than you are now comfortable. Yes they will make you feel like a beginner again, once you really start to feel them, you're skiing at another level but it won't take that long. The Bonafide is definitely not a "1 quiver ski", having specialized skis vs. a one quiver ski can be rewarding, you'll just need to plan your day appropriately for the ski's you clicked into that morning.

[@BushmanCanuck]

@@Steve-yr5vi Thanks for your experience on the ski! I love railing high bank angle fast long carves. I think my tree skiing and mogul bashing days might be over but it's encouraging to know that you can make it work. Especially since I was led to believe that the Bonifide was a good all mountain ski. Might just get a older pair of more playful poppy skis if I can't manage the Bonifide on fresh snow days.

[@Hardwayadventures]

I'm an x racer and I'm 400 pounds this ski is was build for dudes like me!

[@SkiEssentials]

Nice!