REASONS TO BUY
Soft enough to bend easily
Can handle light powder
REASONS TO AVOID
Inconsistent flex causes bumpy ride
Doesn’t instill confidence at speed or in crud
Dynastar M-Pro 98 W Review
Neither buttery nor burly, this ski requires too much work for not enough reward
Fun in certain conditions, the Dynastar M-Pro 98 W is overshadowed in our review by much more capable all-mountain skis.
Credit: Marc Rotse
By Renee McCormack ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 14, 2025
RELATED: The Best All-Mountain Skis for Women
Our Verdict
Our testers found that the Dynastar M-Pro 98 W did not deliver a stand-out experience. Despite performing decently in 6 inches or less of fresh snow, it failed to really impress us in any metric. When pushed to higher speeds, it feels rattly in the tips and doesn't have very tenacious edge hold. In chunky conditions, it feels jittery along the entire length of the ski and doesn't instill confidence. It feels neither playful nor powerful, and requires a fair bit of effort to get the edge to grip. One of our testers said, “it left me working harder than I'd like to find the fun.” That being said, it isn't a terrible option for intermediate skiers looking to dip their toes into powder skiing; if you've found this ski for a great price and it's your first ski purchase, the Dynastar is pretty forgiving at slower speeds and in a little bit of fresh snow.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Dynastar M-Pro 98 W | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best All Mountain Ski for Women (under 100 mm) | Best All Mountain Ski for Women (over 100 mm) |  Most Playful All-Mountain Ski for Women |  Our Choice for Intermediates | |
| Price | $850 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $800 List Check Price at REI | $899 List Check Price at Backcountry | $800 List Check Price at REI | $750 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Neither buttery nor burly, this ski requires too much work for not enough reward | A true all-mountain powerhouse, this ski transitions seamlessly between all types of snow conditions, terrain, and turn shapes | An excellent choice for any skier looking for a one-ski quiver, especially if you spend more time in soft snow | A polished, versatile all-mountain ski that is exceptionally fun for any level skier | A playful, confidence-building ski best for intermediates to advanced skiers who prioritize fun and versatility over high-speed stability |
| Rating Categories | Dynastar M-Pro 98 W | Nordica Santa Ana 97 | blackcrows Atris Birdie | Blizzard Black Pearl 94 | Elan Ripstick 94 W |
| Stability at Speed (20%) | |||||
| Carving Ability (20%) | |||||
| Powder Performance (20%) | |||||
| Crud Performance (20%) | |||||
| Terrain Playfulness (15%) | |||||
| Bumps (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Dynastar M-Pro 98 W | Nordica Santa Ana 97 | blackcrows Atris Birdie | Blizzard Black Pearl 94 | Elan Ripstick 94 W |
| Length Tested | 170 cm | 173 cm | 172 cm | 170 cm | 175 cm |
| Waist Width | 98 mm | 97 mm | 105 mm | 94 mm | 94 mm |
| Dimensions (Tip-Waist-Tail Width) | 133-98-123 mm | 129-97-117 mm | 134-105-122 mm | 132.5-94-114.5 mm | 129-94-109 mm |
| Turn Radius | 16 m | 17.5 m | 19 m | 15.5 m | 16.8 m |
| Available Lengths | 154, 162, 170, 178 cm | 150, 155, 161, 167, 173, 179 cm | 166, 172, 178 cm | 152, 158, 164, 170, 176 cm | 147, 154, 161, 168, 175 cm |
| Camber Profile | Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot | Rocker tip, camber underfoot, mild tail rocker | Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot | Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot | Amphibio Rocker tip, camber underfoot, tail rocker |
| Manufacturer Claimed Weight per Pair | 7.8 lbs | 8.8 lbs | 7.8 lbs | 8.1 lbs | 6.6 lbs |
| Core Material | Hybrid Core 2.0 (Poplar Tri-Directional) | Performance wood, terrain-specific metal, Pulse Core | Poplar and fiberglass | TrueBlend All Mountain Woodcore (beech and poplar), titinal | TubeLite Woodcore with carbon tubes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Without standing out from the pack in any one metric, the M-Pro 98 W also misses the mark for true versatility. It feels more like a forgiving ski for cruisey runs than a confident partner for aggressive all-mountain skiing.
Performance Comparison
This isn't a bad ski; it just doesn't perform at the level of other skis we tested. However, as a first-time ski purchase, it could be a viable option if you find it for a deal. Credit: Renee McCormack
Stability at Speed
At first, our testers were pleased by the easy turn initiation allowed by the M-Pro 98's soft, forgiving tip and short effective edge. However, when they pushed it to accelerate on firm snow, the ski felt floppy and unsettled, particularly on firm snow, which shook their confidence. The push and pull between stability and easy transitions tips far in favor of ease. Because there is so much rocker in the tip and tail, the effective edge is quite short, giving you the feeling that there isn't much ski beneath you. While the rocker profile makes it easy to start a turn, if you want to crank up the volume, the tips can't provide enough leverage for a stable turn.
The large amount of rocker on the tip and tail make the turn feel very short, and the edge grip is mediocre. Credit: Marc Rotse
Carving Ability
While it's always a bit more challenging to make a 98 mm ski grip tenaciously and arc a clean carve, the M-Pro 98 W doesn't make it any easier. Our testers agreed that this ski required more work to achieve edge engagement. Once they got it to grip, the effective edge felt too short, which made it difficult to cut long carves.
The large floppy tips on the M-Pro 98 W make it feel heady to move forward on the ski at speed. Credit: Marc Rotse
The M-Pro 98 W also prefers to pivot rather than dig trenches; its flat profile is more prone to skid than slice. Our testers felt that the turn radius was tight, but this was primarily due to the small effective edge rather than the hourglass shape of the ski. Once they put in the effort to get the ski to grip, it offered such a short carve that the ride didn't seem worth it!
With a bit more depth, like springtime slush, this ski was able to carve a bit more easily. Credit: Marc Rotse
Powder Performance
Fresh snow is where the softness of this ski is a help rather than a hindrance. It is easy to flex, allowing the ski to build a platform of soft snow beneath it from which to bounce back to the surface. However, given its relatively wide base, combined with its fairly extreme rocker, one might expect even greater flotation. The M-Pro 98 W offers just enough buoyancy to cruise through a light powder day, but it's not suited to much more than six inches of fresh snow. It also doesn't adapt quickly to changing conditions, so when moving between two different snow depths, one of our testers popped a ski and had to hike to retrieve it. Another tester noted that with the short effective edge between rocker zones, she needed to stay very centered on the ski to keep it balanced in deeper snow.
The M-Pro 98 W is a bit too squishy to inspire confidence in challenging terrain. Credit: Marc Rotse
Crud Performance
The M-Pro 98 W really falls short in inconsistent snow – it feels noticeably less stable and quite floppy in crud. One tester used the expression "loosey goosey"; another used "soft and squirmy"; another mentioned the “ski never felt entirely settled”. In variable snow, it requires more effort from the skier to achieve clean edge engagement, which can feel demanding. Even once it is on edge, it isn't stiff enough to slice through the chunder. It gets bounced around, and hence, so does the driver.
The inconsistency of the flex made it difficult to trust our feet in anything but smooth snow. Credit: Marc Rotse
Terrain Playfulness
The softer nature of the M-Pro 98 W lends itself to a certain sprightliness. However, the flex is a bit uneven, making its playfulness a bit unnerving. One tester felt that while it was springy, the softness in the tips translated to a lack of precision. Since it's tough to stay on edge, you have to work too hard to find the fun in carving.
This ski is soft and pliable, but the flex is a little too inconsistent to be truly fun while carving. Credit: Marc Rotse
Another tester who skied them primarily in a small amount of fresh snow found them to be quite light and nimble and therefore fun in those relatively consistent conditions. However, this was the outlier experience and could be attributed to “hero snow” that would make any ski feel great.
While the weight and flex profile should have made the M-Pro 98 W a fun bumps ski, our experience speaks otherwise. Credit: Marc Rotse
Bumps
Our testers were a little surprised the M-Pro 98 W didn't perform better in moguls. Given its slightly softer flex, they expected it to be a bit more nimble. Unfortunately, the inconsistency of the flex makes them feel erratic in the moguls. It didn't absorb bumps well, and it felt skittish when pushed in rough conditions.
As long as the bumps aren't too big and the snow isn't too choppy, the M-Pro 98 W can guide a newer skier through some more challenging terrain at moderate speeds. Credit: Renee McCormack
Should You Buy the Dynastar M-Pro 98 W?
Unfortunately, we can't highly recommend it for any one type of skier. However, it's worth noting that we are only selecting the best skis on the market for this review, so simply making the cut is quite an accomplishment. Up against so many other exceptional skis, the relative rankings make it appear as though it's an unworthy option. But if you found a killer deal on the M-Pro 98 W, it would still serve you well enough as a lightweight, easy-going all-mountain ski. That said, we don't suggest it as a good option for aggressive skiers who regularly find themselves skiing off-piste.
What Other Women's All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider?
The Elan Ripstick 94 W is the ski that most directly compares to the M-Pro 98 W. It's lightweight and easy for intermediates to maneuver, but it performs far better across the board, plus it's more affordable. If you like the sound of something lightweight and springy, but with a more reliable flex pattern, the Blizzard Black Pearl 94 is a fun option. If you're always hunting for freshies, the Black Crows Atris Birdie and the DPS Wailer 100 both outperform the M-Pro 98 W by leaps and bounds.
—Renee McCormack
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