Ski Trab Mistico.2 Skis

The new Mistico.2 skis have a new geometry and advanced technologies to improve their control and performance. These skis are an upgrade from the previous Mistico Skis that were last in production a few years ago. The Mistico.2 Skis are designed to optimize performance on the ascent/descent and to be able to tackle any condition. The Mistico.2 has one standard flex profile and top sheet design for both female and male skiers.

The Mistico.2 is available in four lengths to accommodate a wide range of skiers - 157, 164, 171, and 178cm, with a turning radius of 19.1, 21.2, 21.5, and 23.6m respectively. Each pair comes in at just over 1000 grams ranging in weight from 1020g for the 157 cm length to 1150g for the 178cm length, making them the ideal choice for long or steep missions

Ski Trab’s ‘14 layer control’ technology wraps 14 different layers around an ultralight core to provide a desired flex, while maintaining stability. The Mistico.2 core is made from an Aramid honeycomb Aero core and mixed wood that contains air ducts to keep the ski light. Aramid is a synthetic fibre used in many high-performance applications where resistance is needed, but staying light is essential. Ski Trab used a micro-mesh carbon cage wrapped around the core to reduce torsion. This provides a higher torsional stiffness while allowing the skis to flex. The bases are made of high-density polyethylene and to help withstand impacts, the steel edges are bridged within the skis. The top sheet is finished off with a scratch-proof protection layer to help protect them and keep them looking new for years to come.

At 90mm underfoot the Mistico.2 is the widest ski in Ski Trab’s Light Pro Touring lineup, which also includes the Maestro.2 and the Magico.2. The  Mistico.2’s sidecut measures 130 mm at the tip and 109 at the tail.

The tail has a small notch that is used to securely attach Ski Trab’s pre-cut climbing skin via a lightweight plastic fin which is an elegantly simple, yet effective design.

• 14 layer control
• Super lightweight honeycomb core in aramid and wood
• High module carbon cage
• Bridge between edges to better withstand impacts

Ski Trab’s Brand 100% Mohair Skins use an “Attivo” attachment system which uses a metal hook that wraps around the tip of the ski which provides a secure attachment point that doesn’t move or easily catch on branches. Under the metal hook there is a flexible pull tab to aid with removing the skins without having to take the skis off.

The tail of the skins has a lightweight plastic fin that snaps into a notch in the tail of the skis creating a secure attachment point. The skins come pre-cut so they fit the ski’s profile perfectly and the 100% Mohair fabric provides an excellent level of glide and grip. Ski Trab includes a zippered mesh skin bag for storage as well.

The Ski Trab Brand 100% Mohair Skins are priced at $229CAN / $184US and come in lengths of 157/164/171/178cm and as the name suggests they are made with a 100% Mohair plush.

Ski Trab’s Mistico.2 Skis stay true to their intended purpose—they are designed to be a strong descender in the lightweight touring class. I like to move uphill efficiently so that I have more time to ski whatever terrain is on the menu for the day - from deep pow in the Backcountry to firm snow on steeper lines at Rogers Pass, to groomers at Whitewater Ski Resort, and soft spring snow wherever I can get it.

On the groomers, the Mistico.2 Skis were a lot of fun—surprisingly responsive and stable for their weight and width underfoot. There was no tip chatter at speed providing a smooth consistent turn and I felt secure and confident in Ski Trab’s TR1 Binding and even tested their holding power and strength with some fast GS turns on groomers and even a few jumps. The skis absorbed the landing fluently as they reconnected to the snow and I felt confident with the TR1 Bindings.

Off the groomers, the skis handled hardpack and variable broken snow well with minimal torque. In steeper and narrower lines, their 171cm length felt shorter as I was able to move them around with ease. In deeper pow, I could feel these skis working to try and keep me afloat but given their 90mm dimension under foot, they held up better than I expected.  Given how much snow we get here in the Whitewater Ski Resort backcountry I was left wishing I had more ski underfoot to thoroughly enjoy it, however, this is not what these skis are designed for.

The Mistico.2 Skis are ideal for some of the steeper skiing missions I have on my bucket list. They are great for longer spring missions, or a morning at the resort followed by a ski tour where I am not expecting 20cm+ of pow. When I am descending on my Ski Trab ski mountaineering race skis, it can get super spicy! That is part of why I like ski mountaineering racing - I have to stay super focused to maintain my balance and select the fastest/smoothest line. If I lose focus or get in the back seat, I get tossed around and have to work really hard to stay on my skis. Skiing the Mystico.2 skis were a lot of fun and a nice mental break. I could just focus on enjoying the skiing and relax a little on the descent. I felt like the skis had my back if I hit some unexpectedly rougher snow.

I enjoyed the feel of the Ski Trab TR1 binding with my more traditional touring boot (the Dynafit Radical Pro). For steeper or longer missions, I most often want to use my carbon Pierre Gignoux Mountain Boots due to their amazing walk mode, minimal weight, and full gaiter. Unfortunately, these technical boots are not compatible with the Ski Trab TR1 binding. For that reason, I would consider pairing the Mistico.2 with a compatible pin binding like the Ski Trab Titan Vario 2 for an ultimate long-mission setup.   

I am a big fan of Ski Trab’s Brand 100% Mohair Skins because the tip and tail attachment stay in place for the entire tour, they come pre-cut to perfectly match the ski profile, and they have great glide and grip performance on the skin track.

Are you thinking about ski mountaineering or alpine racing? Then I would say that the Mistico.2 is more of a race ski than the Neve Ski which we reviewed here.