Rossignol Soul 7 HD Review

Rossignol has been a leading ski manufacturer for…well, for forever. They've been cranking out high-performance skis since your grandpa was slaying the gnar. The Soul 7 HD is no different, and after reading raving reviews about them, we decided to give the Soul 7s a shot ourselves.

This ski is by far the widest underfoot in our review lineup. Measuring in at a whopping 106mm underfoot, it is just one step shy of being considered a true powder ski. We tested it in a 188cm length, but it has a progressive sidecut and short turn radius, so our testers felt it deserved a shot in our all-mountain category.

The Soul 7 HD proved itself to be a great all-mountain ski with an obvious soft snow bias. Our testers found themselves fighting each other for them when we picked up fresh snow, and they tended to be left on the racks as conditions firmed up on the hill. Despite being tied for 6th best out of all the skis we tested, it has the potential to be one of your go-to skis when Mother Nature delivers.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

Rossignol uses their Air Tip 2.0 in the Soul 7 HD and claim that it reduces weight while delivering stability. Our testers found the skis were lightweight, but once they got up to speed on them, their confidence in the ski dropped.

The unique tips began to chatter when ramping up speed, but our testers did find some stability underfoot, due in part to a carbon-alloy mix used in the core of the ski. If you're on a groomer and the snow is soft, feel free to open it up on these skis. If it is firm or variable, proceed with caution.

Carving Performance

The Soul 7 HD came in right in the middle of the pack regarding it's carving performance. Our testers felt confident laying them on edge in the soft snow, but when the snow surface was uneven or firm, the Soul 7 seemed to lose a bit of edge hold.

This Soul 7 also excels at short radius, and quick carving turns. Rossignol racing background is evident in this ski, although not quite like its on-piste inspired cousins, which we also reviewed. Plenty of fun can be had when these skis are on edge. You just need to be a little more picky about the conditions.

Crud

While not the worst ski in this category, the Soul 7 HD was far from the best. We saw, felt and heard aggressive tip chatter when the snow refroze overnight after a full day of sun and warm temperatures.

The saving grace for the Soul 7 was that some of the chatter felt in the front of the ski was not felt underfoot. The skis felt damp underfoot and were capable of absorbing some vibrations.

Powder

This is what the Soul 7 HD lives for. Everything in the design of this ski comes together to deliver a performance on par with our top skis. The wide rockered tip provides the initial float, the fat waist (106mm) is a wide enough platform for most pow days, and the slightly rockered tails allow you to release out of the turn, even if its thick Sierra Cement.

We had a blast in the soft snow on these skis. Some of our testers even preferred them over our other skis in the line up because their soft and consistent flex was ideal for big powder days. Skis with smaller waists scored just as well, though.

Playfulness

What makes the Soul 7 fun in the powder translates pretty well to our playfulness category. It is lightweight, which makes the skis easier to swing and spin in the air.

The skis have just enough tail rocker to ski switch, but shouldn't be compared to a true twin tip. As long as the landings were soft, our testers had a great time playing around in our testing zones on the Soul 7.

Bumps

The Soul 7 HD is not a bump skier at heart. Sure, they can get you down any moguled-out run you choose, but they probably won't be your first choice if you live to bash bumps.

The Soul 7 skis a bit long and feels clunky in the troughs. It does have a low swing weight, which may be its saving grace, as that allows you to get your tips around if the moguls aren't too deep or close together. The width underfoot is also not ideal for navigating bumps. All that said, if your bump line gets coated in two feet of fresh, this may be the right tool for the job.

Value

The original MSRP of this ski is quite high, but can definitely be found on sale if you look hard enough. However, this price is still at the upper end of cost. They have the potential to be a fun ski, but maybe at a steep cost.

Conclusion

This ski performed like a top ski when the snow was soft, but we hold these skis to a high bar and demand they have ALL MOUNTAIN capabilities. If they suffer in one area, as the Soul 7 does on firm snow, they tend to slide down our rating chart. That is not to say that the Rossignol Soul 7 HD isn't a well-designed ski, because it is, and our reviewers enjoyed them in the right conditions. Make sure you bring them if you expect to be slaying pow.