Top Pick for Smaller Skiers: RMU Valhalla 107

RMU Valhalla 107 Specs

• Size skied: 172cm
• Lengths available: 162cm, 172cm
• Sidecut: 135mm - 107mm - 124mm
• Radius: 18.5m
• Profile: Rocker (25%)-Camber(55%)- Rocker (20%)
• Weight: 1790g (172cm) 

Shape, Flex and Construction 

Like other all-mountain skis on the market these days, the Valhalla 107 has a pretty traditional freeride/all-mountain shape to it with a rocker-camber-rocker shape, and modest sidecut that results in an 18.5m radius. A healthy amount of tip rocker (57.5mm, to be exact) keeps the Valhalla 107 afloat in powder, and a shorter and lower 40mm of tail rocker helps the ski to maintain a softer, more playful feel. Nothing too crazy for a mid-width all mountain ski. 

New for this year is the ski’s full poplar core with a beech mounting plate. On top of the ski’s wood core is a layer of pre-preg heavy duty fiberglass, providing torsional stability and strength to the ski. In order to dampen the ski’s poplar core, the Valhalla 107 utilizes ABS rubber inserts in the tip and tail, an extra thick 8.5mm ABS sidewall, and is fully wrapped with rubber VDS to provide ‘superior dampening,’ according to the brand’s description. In other words, the only metal in this ski is in the edges. Instead of metal, it relies on a full sheet of carbon fiber and extensive rubber components to dampen and provide stability. The end result of all of this is a light ski. The 172cm length in this ski comes in at only 1790g which is significantly lighter than other skis in the all-mountain 107ish underfoot width category.

The Valhalla 107 also notably has two recommended mount points with a more traditional mount falling at -6.5cm and the freeride mount point at -4.5cm. Testers found the ski felt more alive and fun at the more forward -4.5cm line. 

On-Snow Performance 

The general reaction from other testers was that they found the Valhalla 107 pleasantly easy to turn and were impressed with how well it stayed on the surface in powder for a 107mm underfoot ski. There was a fairly 50/50 split amongst testers on the aggressiveness of the ski and some noted how well they thought it did on hardpack whereas others were more excited about its performance on soft snow. Across the board, testers noted the ski’s stability, noting that it was almost too stable at times, but still pivoted and buttered well. “This ski was super fun for charging on and carving, we had a bit of snow in the morning which was awesome to test these in. The ski still is very fun for how controlled it is!” said one tester. 

I skied the Valhalla 107 in a variety of snow that included what I’d call variable conditions (read: ice chunks with fresh on top), some chilly slush, a fair bit of ice and hardpack, and a little bit of softer, fresh snow. They weren’t optimal conditions by any stretch of the imagination, especially compared to some we had later that week at Sunshine Village, but I definitely got a feel for how the ski performed on a variety of surfaces. 

The Valhalla 107 turns easily and quickly and its lightweight construction makes it a great pick for lighter skiers who don’t want to be weighed down by a super-heavy ski. While I didn’t really get to ski it in powder or super soft snow, the little bits of softer snow I did find confirmed that this is really a soft snow ski. They were nice and smeary in spots of slush and stayed afloat in those soft patches I did find. 

I’d echo the sentiment of some of our testers that this ski desperately wants to stay in control. All the rubber dampening components layered in definitely do their job and keep this thing from chattering, although they’re arguably too damp for my liking and felt a bit dead, especially underfoot. Personally, I also didn’t love this ski on hardpack or icy conditions. While very damp, I found it pretty difficult to get on edge and when I did, I had the perpetual feeling I was going to wash out and lose it. In short–not my favorite all-mountain ski but I’m generally more inclined towards heavier, metal skis. 

Comparisons

The first ski I thought of to compare this too is the Faction Dancer 3 given they share a similar waist width and shape. Other skis in the same mid-width all mountain category that come to mind would be the Armada ARV 106ti, Salomon QST 100, and even the Atomic Bent 110. 

It turns out that while the Valhalla 107 and the Dancer 3 share a pretty similar sidecut profile and radius, they are NOTHING alike. The lack of metal in the Valhalla 107 makes it a less aggressive ski, and in my opinion much less carvable. In contrast, the Salomon QST 100 also has no metal and is similarly damp to the Valhalla 107, but due to the basalt stringers it uses to dampen it, it’s a whole heck of a lot heavier and creates much better edge hold. The Valhalla 107 definitely feels a bit more nimble than the QST 100 with less weight and were I someone that could do a 360, I’d imagine they’d be a bit easier to spin. Of all those skis, the Valhalla 107 probably feels most similar to the Bent 110s, but they remain a lot more damp and controlled on hardpack with all that rubber to chill things out. 

What type of skier is the RMU Valhalla 107 best for? 

“I’d recommend this ski to any skier seeking a highly responsive all mountain ski that can also rip,” said one tester, which just about sums it up. The all-mountain skier who likes a light, nimble ski to cruise around on fresh snow and venture off-piste would likely enjoy the Valhalla 107. The ski only comes in a 162cm and 172cm length and with how lightweight it is, it’s clearly geared towards smaller, lighter skiers that want a playful, everyday ski.