Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    Tailgate Industries
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
        • Gear of the Year Winter 2024-2025
        • Gear of the Year Winter 2023-2024
        • Gear of the Year Archives
      • Best New Summer Gear
        • Best New Summer Gear 2023
        • Best New Summer Gear 2024
        • Best New Summer Gear 2022
        • Best New Summer Gear 2021
        • Best New Summer Gear 2020
      • Holiday Gift Guide
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2024
          • Holiday Gift Guide 2024 Base Layers
          • MSR Explore Revo Snowshoes
          • Fieldsheer Backcountry Heated Jacket
          • Fieldsheer Premium 2.0 Merino Heated Socks
          • MEC Hut Booties and Slippers
          • Arc’teryx Kopec GTX Shoe
          • Arc’teryx Kragg Insulated Approach Shoes
          • Gregory Verte 18 Backpack
          • Grundens Deck-Boss Ankle Boot
          • MEC Northern Light Vest
          • Montec-Scope-Ski-Goggles
          • Mountain Hardware Kor Airshell Hoody
          • Mountain Hardware Kor Alloy Crew
          • Arcade Atlas Belt
          • Dynafit Ridge Dynastretch Jacket
          • Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones
          • Buff Merino Move Multifunctional Neckwear
          • Bootdoc Foot Warmer
          • Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Pack
          • DPS LastBag
          • DPS PHANTOM Glide At-Home Kit
          • DPS Mission Quiver Roller
          • Dragon Amped sunglasses
          • Dragon DX3 Plus OTG photochromic goggle
          • Fuse Lenses Anclote Flashback
          • Garmin Fenix 8 Solar Sapphire Watch
          • Gregory Alpaca Gear Tote 30
          • Hotronic Boot Dryer
          • MEC Aluminum Pot Set
          • Gnara Go There Pants
          • Grundens Shackleton 2.0 Duffel
          • Jones Deeper 19L Backpack
          • Le Bent Core Midweight Crew base layer
          • Leatherman ARC
          • Montane Nordes Hooded Softshell Jacket and Pants
          • Helly Hansen Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket
          • Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket 2.0
          • Montec Fawk Ski Jacket
          • Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Skins
          • Rab Glaceon Pro Down Jacket
          • Rab Khroma Converge GORE-TEX Ski Jacket & Pants
          • Smith Squad MAG Goggles
          • Stellar Guide Aerogel Hybrid Hood 2.0
          • Stellar Ultralight Down Hood 2.0
          • Arms of Andes Alpaca Half Zip & Wool Leggings
          • Cotopaxi Allpa 70L Duffel Bag
          • Giro Taggert Mips Helmet
          • Loonr Hi Flyer Boots
          • Paka Mountain Crew
          • Roll Recovery SUPERPLUSH Classic Shoes
          • Smartwool Smartloft Hooded Jacket and Pants
          • Ortovox Switchback 32 Ski Touring Backpack
          • Cotopaxi Allpa X 3L Hip Pack
          • Giro Sagen Ski Goggle
          • Icebreaker Ski+ Over the Calf Socks
          • MEC-Fireside-Fleece-Snap-Pullover
          • Montec Roast Mittens
          • Mountain-Hardware-Sunblocker-Hoody
          • MSR Titan Kettle 900 ml
          • Tailgate-Industries-The Gondom-Goggle-Cover
          • Wild Country Rope Tarp
          • Bootdoc Race Merino PFI 50 Socks
          • Remind Soles Destin Impact Insoles
          • Kari Traa Rose Baselayer Half Zip Top and Pants
          • Le Bent Midweight Quarter Zip
          • Ombraz Dolomite Sunglasses
          • Ortovox Fleece Rib Hoody
          • Ortovox Merino Thermovent Base Layer
          • Smartwool Intraknit Merino Tech Half Zip
          • Suunto Wing Bone Conduction headphones
          • Sweet Protection Adapter Mips Helmet
          • Sweet Protection Connor Rig Reflect Goggles
          • Zeal Optics Selkirk Glacier Glasses
          • Norrona more flex1 Pants
          • Norrona Octa Zip Hood
          • Norrona Lyngen Alpha100 Zip Hood
          • MEC Deluxe Pillow
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2023
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2022
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2021
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2019
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2018
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2017
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2016
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • NEWS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
      • Newsletter
      • Contest
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
      • Holiday Gift Guide
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • NEWS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
      • Newsletter
      • Contest
    Newsletter Signup

    TOP VIDEOS

      HOTTEST REVIEWS


      Hagan Boost 99 POW Skis Garmin inReach Plus Scarpa 4-Quattro Pro 130+ Top Ski Reviews Ortovox Ravine Jacket Scarpa Maestrale RS Boots

      Ortovox
      North Valley Huts
      Avalance Canada
      ROAM
      Fritschi Swiss Bindings
      Search
      • Home
      • »
      • Voile Charger Skis and Voile Charger BC Skis

      Voile Charger Skis and Voile Charger BC Skis

      Voile Charger and Voile Charger BC SkisDespite a name that incorporates an accent aigu, Voilé is not from France. In fact, they’re a small company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they’ve been making backcountry specific hard goods since 1980. Today, they manufacture five different kinds of skis and three splitboards and in this review, we’ll be looking at two of their offerings – the Voile Charger and the Voile Charger BC skis. A slimmer version of their award-winning Drifter design, the Voilé Charger adheres to the company’s ethic of light but strong. It has an aspen core with a cap construction, a traditional sidecut and camber underfoot. Its tip is tapered and rockered as is the tail, although less so. (The dimensions of the 181cm model are 137mm, 112mm, 126mm.) The only difference between the company’s Charger and Charger BC skis is the latter has an extruded fish-scale pattern on the base which allows you to ascend slight rises without the need of skins.

      Features:

      - Rockered and tapered tip
      - Traditional camber underfoot
      - Tapered tail with a slight rise
      - Wide-radius sidecut
      - Aspen core with a cap construction
      - Waxless, extruded base underfoot on the BC model for skinless climbing

      The Voile Chrager Skis with plenty of camber under foot.
      Voile Charger SkisVoile Charger Skis

      Plenty of early rise on the tip and a bit less on the tails.
      Voile Charger SkisVoile Charger Skis

      Cap construction.
      Voile Charger Skis

      The tips.
      Voile Charger Skis

      The tails.
      Voile Charger Skis

      The Voile Charger BC Skis with identitcal tip early rise and camber as the Voile Charger Skis.
      Voile Charger BC SkiVoile Charger BC Ski

      The Voile Charger BC Ski tips. 
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      The Voile Charger BC Ski tails.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      Same tail rise as on the regular Voile Charger skis.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      Once again, the same cap construction.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      The big differnece and really the only difference, the scales under foot.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      Voile Charger BC Ski

      Fritschi Diamir Eagle and Freeride Pro Bindings:

      We mounted the Voile Charger and Voile Cahrger BC Skis with the Fritschi Diamir Eagle bindings (which recently won the Backcountry Magazine - Editor's Choice Award) and the Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pro bindings. The Eagles feature 'Diamir Gliding Technology' which places the pivot point on the toe piece 23mm behind the toe of your boot. This, combined with the moving baseplate, allows you to raise your foot until it is completely perpendicular to the ski, resulting in a more natural stride when skinning. The Fritschi Diamir Eagle Bindings are 2kg or 4lb 7oz – not the lightest on the market by any means. The Eagles have a DIN setting range of 3-10 and are $50US cheaper than the Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pros. The bindings work well with the Bigbend, which is a fairly beefy ski to begin with. Together, they make for an excellent lift area/slackcountry combo. The Fritschi Diamir Freeride Pro bindings have a DIN range of 4-12 and weigh in at 2.2kg or 4lb 8oz. With four height adjustments at 0°, 3°, 9° or 13° of lift they provide lots of choice while climbing. The new wider base plates allow for better transmission of power more evenly across todays fatter skis. The Freeride also incorporates 'Gliding Technology' with a price point of $499.95 US.

      Verdict:

      The Volié Charger is accurately named – these things love to go fast! They remind me of a 9” downhill-specific mountain bike – basically you just have to hold on and they’ll do the work for you. If you’re into hippy dippy turns, or you’re fat and lazy, these are not for you: they are very stiff for a backcountry ski and they love big GS turns. Even on the groomers the Charger performed amazingly well with just a tiny amount of chatter from the rockered tip. I’ve spent about 20 days on these so far this season and have had them in all kinds of snow conditions from deep powder to crust to schmoo to hardpack and all I can say is they’re fun in everything. The shovel tip ensures you don’t submarine and the stiff tail helps bail you out of most dodgy landings. This is not a “freestyle” ski, though, as the stiffness makes it challenging to dump speed but what it lacks in quick maneuverability it makes up for in charge! The only flaw I can point out about the Charger is that the top sheet is prone to nicks and chips – but that’s the case with most cap-construction skis.

      The Voilé Charger BC (Backcountry) version is exactly the same as the Charger model but it has an extruded pattern on the base directly underfoot. The technology has been used on waxless cross-country skis for decades but it’s relatively new technology for the alpine. A 30 inch-long fish-scale pattern is stamped into the base under your bindings to allow you to ascend slight rises without the need for skins. The Charger BCs shone on gentle slopes and along mellow access tracks thanks to the full glide of skinless skis. But the second the gradient rose past 15 degrees things got more difficult, especially in the hard pack. Therefore, these skis are a great fit for quick, low-angle ups and rolling traverses – they’ll save you time and gain you some speed on the downhill portions of a traverse. But the fish-scale bases are definitely not meant to replace traditional skins.

      Struggling to maintain traction on the Voile Charger BC Skis with out climbing skins.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      Ah, much better.
      Voile Charger BC Ski

      SPECS:

      Price: $595 US
      Size: 171 / 181 / 191cm
      Weight: 171cm: 7 lb3oz; 181cm: 8lb 2oz; 191cm: 8lb 12oz
      Dimensions: (Tip width, Waist, Tail width, Radius )
      171: 134/110/123mm 21.7m
      181: 137, 112, 126mm 23m
      191: 140, 114, 128mm 25.4m

      PROS:

      - Lightweight yet stiff
      - Great in all conditions from groomers to powder to crust
      - Affordable at $595

      CONS:

      - Top Sheet Durability
      - Not very playful – they just want to charge

      Rating: 9/10

      Powder Performance         2/2  
      Groomer Performance       1.5/2     
      Stability                           1.5/2
      Weight                              2/2
      Value                                2/2

      buy backcountry skiing gear

      This is only our opinion. Do you disagree? Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Join the discussion in the forums here, and let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation.

      Back to the rest of the reviews.


      Ortovox
      North Valley Huts
      Avalance Canada
      ROAM
      Fritschi Swiss Bindings
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy

      Copyright © 2023-24 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.