Faction La Machine Mega Ski
It may come as no surprise, but there aren’t many groomers in the backcountry. While this sentence appears to be silly at first glance, many manufacturers seem to design their backcountry skis to excel in the front country, not the backcountry. Combating this silly trend is Faction, who with the La Machine Mega, has created a ski made to excel off-piste, not on it. The Mega is a soft snow-oriented beast that is happy whether you find yourself in steep and deep trees, fast runouts, or billy-goating through rocks to get to the entrance of your favorite chute. This off-piste shrewdness can be attributed to the minimal camber and healthy rocker profile of the Mega, which encourages slashing, slarving, and effortlessly pivoting between obstacles. With the environmental crisis that we are facing, Faction, with their use of biobased resigns, sustainable wood cores, and durable construction, is doing as much as possible to mitigate their impact. For a soft-snow ski that has an emphasis on maneuverability and fun, you’d be best to grab the La Machine Mega.
- Austrian construction is built with an emphasis on durability, increasing the useable lifespan of the ski.
- Biobased resin is kinder for the environment than traditional resin.
- Faction recycles scrap base, sidewall, and top sheet material.
- Full Carbon Layers help keep things light on the up.
- Made with 100% renewable energy.
| Specifications | |
| Lengths (cm) | 172, 178, 184 |
|
Weight |
1460g [172] 1520g [178] 1610g [184] |
| Weight (pair) | 2920g [172] 3040g [178] 3220g [184] |
|
|
132-109-126 [All sizes] |
|
Turn |
19m [172] 20m [178] 21m [184] |
|
Skin |
Round tip and tail |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
tip rocker, minimal camber, tail rocker |
|
|
Elliptical sidecut |
|
|
Full strength sidewall, carbon layers, mustache flex |
|
|
Paulownia wood core |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Powder laps |
| Notes | Mustache flex gives support just in front and behind the binding area with progressively softer towards tip and tail |
| Bottom Line | Smearing and slashing powder eater |
| Compare to other Excess-fat Skis | |
Related Products
Questions & Reviews
10/1/2024
Would you recommend these or the 117 version in the Wasatch? As well do you have any knowledge about the Zag Uback or Bakan 112s? Im trying to decide between the two of them. Thanks!
10/1/2024
Hi Talmage,
Most powder days in the Wasatch, we find that the 105-110mm width is plenty! The wider you go, the clunkier and heavier the skis are to skin with, so we tend to air on the side of narrower when we can. Certainly there will be a few chest-deep days where you might wish you had the 117s. But on average, I think the 109mm option is more practical, and still floats well!
After surveying a few folks around the shop, we weren't huge fans of the Ubac skis, but didn't have any reviews of the Bakans. The Factions are fun skis, pretty damp and stable for their weight. The Mega would be a very versatile powder ski.
Most powder days in the Wasatch, we find that the 105-110mm width is plenty! The wider you go, the clunkier and heavier the skis are to skin with, so we tend to air on the side of narrower when we can. Certainly there will be a few chest-deep days where you might wish you had the 117s. But on average, I think the 109mm option is more practical, and still floats well!
After surveying a few folks around the shop, we weren't huge fans of the Ubac skis, but didn't have any reviews of the Bakans. The Factions are fun skis, pretty damp and stable for their weight. The Mega would be a very versatile powder ski.
Answer this question:
These are so fun!
Toured on these all winter in the Tetons and have had endless fun on them in very deep powder all they way to pretty variable/spring conditions. I find them to be super playful and nimble even in tight situations - which I was surprised by given the length I got and the rocker profile.
Have even skied groomers/resort on these a number of times and was surprised how stable they were at speed and through crud. Likely, the skis will be more up for the challenge than whatever lighter boot/binding they are paired with!
I'll be coming back to these for years to come.
Toured on these all winter in the Tetons and have had endless fun on them in very deep powder all they way to pretty variable/spring conditions. I find them to be super playful and nimble even in tight situations - which I was surprised by given the length I got and the rocker profile.
Have even skied groomers/resort on these a number of times and was surprised how stable they were at speed and through crud. Likely, the skis will be more up for the challenge than whatever lighter boot/binding they are paired with!
I'll be coming back to these for years to come.
Comment on this review:
5/29/2024
Howdy! I’m curious how you’d compare these to the 4frnt Raven? I’m debating a new daily driver to replace my elan ripstick tour. While I really like those, I find they struggle in crusty snow as they want to hook into the side cut of the ski rather than more easily releasing the tail in weird snow. Will also probably be replacing my BD cirque 84 with a low 90 underfoot so I’ll have a secondary option for ski mountaineering. Cheers!
5/29/2024
Hi Chris, compared to many touring skis, the La Machine Mega has less camber and more rocker. It's trending towards the shape of 4frnt Raven in that respect, with all the smeary and surfy goodness the shape provides. Do note the La Machine Mega is much lighter than the Raven and will feel less damp in variable conditions. If you haven't already, detuning from the contact points forward and back on your Ripsticks may help them feel less hooky. But the Ripsticks do have a propensity to get on edge and carve.
Answer this question:
3/7/2024
Curious how you compare these to Black Crows Corvus Freebird, or Navis Freebird, if anyone has skied both or all three.
3/8/2024
Hi Thomc,
I've owned the Navis Freebird and I skied the La Machine Mega at a demo this year! They are pretty different skis. The La Machine is a bit lighter despite being bigger. It is much more rockered than the Navis, and a straighter shape. The Navis Freebird is shaped more like a mountaineering ski, but blown up to powder ski proportions - the La Machine is much more like a modern freeride ski that went on a diet.
Overall, the La Machine scrubs speed and holds out drifts much easier than the Navis, and I think it's more stable. The Navis skis like a cambered ski - needs more deliberate weight transfer and more input, and wants to ski its sidecut more.
I have not skied the Corvus, so can't comment there, but objectively the Corvus is the biggest, heaviest, and stiffest of the three. It is a directional charger.
I've owned the Navis Freebird and I skied the La Machine Mega at a demo this year! They are pretty different skis. The La Machine is a bit lighter despite being bigger. It is much more rockered than the Navis, and a straighter shape. The Navis Freebird is shaped more like a mountaineering ski, but blown up to powder ski proportions - the La Machine is much more like a modern freeride ski that went on a diet.
Overall, the La Machine scrubs speed and holds out drifts much easier than the Navis, and I think it's more stable. The Navis skis like a cambered ski - needs more deliberate weight transfer and more input, and wants to ski its sidecut more.
I have not skied the Corvus, so can't comment there, but objectively the Corvus is the biggest, heaviest, and stiffest of the three. It is a directional charger.
Answer this question:
12/13/2023
Reed
(downright abused product)
I toured on these all season long in the Wasatch last season and I will use them again this season. They rip. They float very well and handle whatever I throw at them. Whether rappelling down the NW couloir of the Pfiefferhorn, or blasting hard down superior, these skis are surfy and charge hard. Stoked on the La Machine Megas!
Comment on this review:
4/17/2023
Curious on Skimco's comparison on how this ski will compare to the Atomic Backland 107 182cm. I am currently on the backland 107 182cm and have enjoyed them. However, these keeps catching my eye and have made me Faction curious...if you know what I mean. Any insight would be much appreciated.
4/17/2023
Quinten,
These are a very unique ski! They're damper and less energetic than the backland, and take a bit more effort to turn. At speed they were very fun, I felt like they were a bit boaty at slower speeds.
These are a very unique ski! They're damper and less energetic than the backland, and take a bit more effort to turn. At speed they were very fun, I felt like they were a bit boaty at slower speeds.
Answer this question:
2/8/2023
Any updates on the rocker profile for these? Really curious if this is a true, de-cambered ski or just a rocker/camber mix.
2/8/2023
Hayden,
There is in fact a bit of camber to it. Here's a photo.
There is in fact a bit of camber to it. Here's a photo.
Answer this question:
11/3/2022
Do you guys have these in the shop yet? 184
11/3/2022
Not yet! We're hoping to see them mid-November, let us know if you'd like us to set up an email notification for you!
Answer this question:
9/18/2022
How would this compare to a DPS Pagoda Tour 106 in terms of stiffness. Is it softer? My Pagoda Tours like to lock into longer turns, will these ski release faster? How do you think the rocker profile will ski on a supportable crust or harder snow? The full sidewall is encouraging, thinking the flat camber might still work, but not deliver as much energy as something with camber. Kinda intrigued to be honest. Especially as I know how picky you are about what “fat” skis you sell.
9/19/2022
Hey Travis, the Mega is pretty close in stiffness compared to the Pagoda 106 and has pretty close turning radiuses so they will want to ski similar turns. Since the Megas have a bit more tail rocker they will release easier than the Pagodas. Being they are a flat ski they won't have the energy some cambered skis can bring, but we never thought the Pagoda 106 had that energy either since it's so damp. During testing, we enjoyed them so much that we had to bring them on.
Answer this question:
8/24/2022
Do you guys have any photos of a side view to see the rocker profile? I'm curious if these are more true banana like a 4frnt renegade, or more like a v werks katana or 4frnt Raven which are more flat without super extreme rockers even though the rocker does extend quite far.
8/26/2022
Hey Anthony! Unfortunately, there are not any side view images available, and we haven't actually received these skis yet to get an idea of the profile. Hopefully we'll be getting these in October!
Answer this question:
Earn store credit by writing reviews. Learn more.
