Kästle TX88 Skis

Austrian mountain guides tend to be discerning about their quiver. The TX88 is what a lot of them reach for when the objective is long, the terrain is technical, and the descent still needs to be skied well. That's a reasonable brief to write a ski around.

At 1,300g per ski in the 175cm, the TX88 is the lightest ski in Kastle's TX touring line, and it stays under 1,400g at every length. The carbon-fiberglass wound paulownia core keeps it there without giving up the stiffness and torsional strength needed to ski consequential terrain on the way down. Progressive Rise technology blends subtle camber underfoot into early tip rise, giving the ski edge grip on firm spring snow while staying manageable in variable conditions. The tighter turning radius makes it quick to pivot in a couloir and easy to steer on a traverse in a way that a wider, longer-radius touring ski can't replicate.

The Hollowtech Evo tip is worth a mention: cutouts in the shovel reduce swing weight and damp vibration, and the tip is luminescent for visibility on night tours. It's a small detail that shows someone thought about how this ski actually gets used.

One honest note: 88mm in soft or deep snow is a ski doing its best, not its finest work. The TX88 earns its stripes on firm alpine terrain, spring tours, and technical lines where float is less important than precision and weight. For skiers who regularly ski powder or softer conditions, the TX94 or TX99 is the more honest choice.