Review: 2026 Dynastar M-Free 100

Dynastar M-Free 100 Specs

• Size skied: 185cm
• Lengths available: 162, 170, 178, 185, 192 (in cm)
• Sidecut: 130mm-100mm-122mm ( 178cm) 
• Radius: 18m (178cm)
• Profile: Full Sidewall, Progressive tip and tail rocker
• Weight: 1800g (178cm)

Shape, Flex and Construction

As one might guess when a manufacturer updates the waist of a beloved ski by a mere 1mm, the differences between the M-Free 99 and the M-Free 100 are quite small. While the M-Free 100 is certainly not a complete overhaul of its predecessor, Dynastar has made some welcomed updates. 

First, and perhaps most dramatically, Dynastar’s biggest update to the ski is that the M-Free 100 features the brand’s new “Hybrid Core 2.0,” a layup that can be found across other popular skis in their lineup, including the M-Pro 100. To me, core construction is a conversation that can quickly turn into marketing nonsense. But here’s the high level. This new “Hybrid Core 2.0” is a hybrid polyurethane/poplar wood core. If you look closely, you’ll see the PU layer running along the sides of the ski underfoot. The poplar component of the core is a three-piece construction, with a solid poplar sheet stacked with two woven poplar sheets on top.  What this results in is a ski that is quite a bit lighter than previous iterations, but ends up being stiffer underfoot. 

Another slight update is that the ski features a longer section of sidewall extending to both the tip and tail, which I’d hedge was added to increase the skis overall durability and add some additional edge grip.  

Minor sidecut updates and new core technology aside, most shape elements stay the same on this ski. The M-Free 100’s ample camber and thoughtful rocker lines remain unchanged. What this ultimately all results in is a ski that is lighter, a bit damper underfoot, and a touch more durable than its predecessor. 

I will issue a word of caution here. Unless you are extremely confident in your preferences or have access to demo bindings, I would mount this ski on the recommended line. Funny enough,  this goes in direct opposition of our 2023 review of the M-Free 99. I see Cy’s point here. It’s a really playful freeride ski that is mounted farther back than several of its peers in the category. Maybe bumping it up a few cm’s would make the ski even more playful? 

But I’m speaking from experience. I have a pair of M-Free’s sitting in my closet with a few too many sets of holes, all because I decided to get a little cheeky with the mount point. And after quite a bit of cursing, the skis are back at the recommended line. Maybe, when a ski manufacturer recommends a mount point, we should consider that this was decided by an engineer who put quite a bit of thought into that decision. 

On-Snow Performance

For a 100 underfoot ski, the M-Free 100 surprised reviewers with its fun surfy feel and easy-to-release tail in deep snow.  With an 18 meter radius, and sitting on the lighter side of skis of the category, it’s also no surprise that reviewers found this ski to be a blast in trees and in tighter terrain. 

Where things get interesting is that reviewers called out how impressed they were with the skis capability at speed. Typically, if a ski slarves in soft snow, is quick in tight terrain and can be described as “fun” and “poppy”–it lacks performance on-piste and at speed. But not here–our testers felt the M-Free 100 was the “perfect blend of playfulness and stability.”

But as a long time fan of this ski, I’ve always found myself in amazement at the opposing terms I’ll use when describing the M-Free during the course of a day. On one lap, I’ll find myself appreciating its dampness, and on the next, loving its playful character and pop. So, I guess this does all make sense. 

Comparisons 

As skis get better, it seems that the variance between skis gets tighter. Nothing exemplifies this point more than the way the M-Free and the M-Pro have grown in similarity over the years. 

While these skis look similar on the surface (come on Dynastar, get a little more creative with your topsheets), when you look under the hood, you’ll find that these two skis are quite different in their offerings. With a titanal layup and frame, the M-Pro 100 is almost double the weight of the M-Free 100. Where the M-Pro and M-Free also differ is out back towards the tail. The M-Pro features a traditional flat-ish tail, while the M-Free features more tapered lines, and a progressive tail that comes more or less stock on skis in the playful big-mountain category.

If you’ve found yourself deciding between these two skis, I’d ask–-what is more important to you, dampness or playfulness? And while both skis offer a bit of both, the M-Pro swings more in the damp, charger direction, while the M-Free offers more of a work the whole mountain and pop-off-everything kind of experience. 

Another ski that draws comparison to the M-Free 100 is the newly released Rossignol Sender Free 100. Testers found that the Unleashed 98 was perhaps a bit more capable edge-to-edge on firm snow, while the M-Pro 100 was shockingly fun and loose in soft snow. 

What type of skier is the Dynastar M-Free 100 best for? 

I hate to do this, but this ski is perfect for…me? Okay, hear me out. As a Colorado skier who spends most days on the snow-barren but steep and craggy slopes of Arapahoe Basin, I want a ski that’s stable at speed but not such a rocketship that it’s hard to hang onto. I also want something playful with a slarvy tail—without sacrificing day-to-day performance. And really, that’s the M-Free 100.

I chase powder a couple times a year to places like Jackson and Alta, and if I found myself clicked into the M-Free 100, I might be a bit undergunned in the morning, but I’d still be in for a hell of a day. And, once things get a little funky in the afternoon, the M-Free 100 will take far better care of me than whatever powder-specific tool I wish I’d grabbed for the morning.

At 6’2” and 190 pounds, I’d grab the 185 and mount it on the recommended line, swapping some playfulness for the extra speed I might find in the 192. Sure, saying this ski is “perfect for me” might seem like a cop-out, but I suspect many of you share these preferences. If you do, the M-Free 100 is definitely worth considering.