Stockli Nela 88 - Women's Review

When our testers first skied the Stockli Nela 88, they knew there was something special about it but couldn't quite put their finger (or toes) on it. But once they brought it into a mogul field, they realized this terrain is where these skis are most at home.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

With its rich history of landing racers on podiums, Stockli is known for making high-quality, stiff skis. The Nela 88 certainly upholds this reputation, but it didn't completely blow us away with its stability at speed. This was the first Stockli ski for many of our testers – the price point of these skis is often prohibitive – and many had imagined that this ski might feel a bit like a freight train with edges. It is, in fact, more delicate than that – maybe more like a Porsche with edges.

This gave our testers a feeling of confidence when they brought the Nela 88 up to high speeds – confidence, but not exhilaration. The lack of energy in the ski makes it feel a bit dead underfoot. Stockli's “Soft Flex” technology has made their traditional heavyweight skis more accessible for lighter-weight skiers. The Nela 88 is much easier to flex compared to the skis given their Olympians, which means that this same high-speed confidence is now also within reach of us mere mortals.

Carving Ability

Given Stockli's reputation for building skis known for their fast and accurate turns, Nela 88 wasn't quite as perfect at carving a clean arc as our testers hoped it would be. However, transitions from edge to edge feel relatively quick compared to other similar skis.

The edge hold is decent when actively engaged, mainly when you really tip the ski up on its edge to arc a carve. But the Nela walks a surprising line between preferring to carve and preferring to skid. But the point is a bit moot because the Nela 88 can really do both with some facility – it can arc clean lines on a groomer about as well as it can smear a turn around a mogul.

Turn Radius

The advertised turn radius of the Nela 88 in the length we tested (168 centimeters) is nearly 17 meters, sitting in the middle of the range for all-mountain skis. Some testers felt like it was a bit longer than advertised, as it took a little longer to come around when set on edge. However, without the energy in the ski to spring back towards the next turn, the Nela 88 felt more sluggish moving from edge to edge than we expected based on its skinny, 88-millimeter waist.

On groomed runs and in hard snow, the 168-centimeter length (the longest Stockli makes) didn't feel too short. The Nela 88 features much less tip rocker compared to most all-mountain skis. The ski doesn't start arching away from the snow until farther from the toe piece than most skis in this category, so the effective edge is still decently long and feels appropriate to the length.

Powder Performance

Since the low-profile rocker in the tip is not very prominent, our testers were not surprised that the Nela 88 had the tendency to nose dive. But they were still a little shocked to feel the entire ski submarine beneath the powder. In 6 inches of fresh snow, the Stockli can manage, but anything deeper is a day for a different set of skis.

Waist Width

Our testers don't often have high hopes for powder performance for skis under 95 millimeters underfoot, and the Stockli Nela 88 did not surprise them. At only 88 millimeters at its waist, the Nela 88 simply doesn't have the width to provide the flotation necessary for deeper snow. Additionally, the longest manufactured size for this ski is currently 168 centimeters, which felt very small for our larger ladies.

Crud Performance

The Nela 88 manages to strike an impressive balance between often opposing strategies for handling crud: floating and slicing. It is lightweight enough to feel like you're sailing across the top, yet powerful enough to drive through chunks much like a hot knife through butter. Stockli's patented “Polywall” sidewall construction is intended to dampen their skis, and our testers agree that it provides a decently smooth ride through choppy conditions.

This is yet another metric where our testers feel like the lack of length is a detriment to this ski. The longest version, only 168 centimeters, feels way too short to adequately ski cruddy conditions – especially for our taller testers.

Terrain Playfulness

A playful ski should impart a feeling of energy, and often, a good indicator is the rebound of a ski at the end of a turn. But the Nela 88 just doesn't give us the feedback we were anticipating from an otherwise powerful ski. When we flex a ski through a higher-speed turn and then release that pressure, we expect to feel at least some response from the ski. The expected kick-back isn't there on the Nela 88. But that doesn't mean that this ski isn't any fun, either.

By combining a variety of layers – like titanal and a thin glass laminate, among others – Stockli designers have figured out how to maintain power while shedding some weight, giving the Nela 88 a very light, freewheeling feel. Despite its sturdy construction, it is also nimble and agile, an unusual combination that makes it inherently fun to ride.

Bumps

A magical combination of factors come together for the Nela 88 in the moguls: the lightweight tech, a skinny waist, the shorter length, a stable core matched with a predictable flex pattern, a natural agility, and the distinct lack of rebound. They all add up to a winning strategy for an outstanding bumps ski. Whether you're a novice in the moguls, a zipper-line fanatic, or simply want to survive when you accidentally end up at the top of a field of chopped-up snow, let the Nela 88 be your guide.

We tested the Nela 88 side-by-side with all of the skis in our lineup in an ultimate mogul test. Our testers count how many monster bumps they can make it through in the zipper line before they get pitched out. The Nela 88 nearly doubled everyone's success rates – even folks who don't particularly love bump skiing.

The technology in the Nela 88 allows you to absorb undulating terrain without feeling like you're being dragged down into the troughs. The skinny 88-millimeter waist allows for efficient edge transitions, and the 168-centimeter length is a welcome respite within the confines of a mogul field. The Nela 88's strong, balanced nature and reliable flex pattern generate confidence in the bumps – it is just soft enough to flex when necessary but also stiff enough to withstand the jolting ride.

The Nela 88 feels like a well-trained teammate through the moguls – it reacts quickly to your movements and follows your lead around every bump. Our testers actually found the Nela 88's lack of traditional “playfulness” to be a boon in this terrain because they were never bounced into the backseat. Instead, they could stay in the driver's seat for the joyride.

Should You Buy the Stockli Nela 88?

The Nela 88 is the ideal ski for folks who either already love to ski bumps or those who are looking for a ski to practice the art. Alternatively, if you aren't planning on skiing powder and really appreciate a predictable ride, then this is a solid choice for an all-mountain ski. At many resorts, skiing on a Stockli is a bit of a status symbol, and the unique brushed titanal topsheet certainly stands out in a crowd. However, we must note that it is a very expensive ski. Unless you're buying a specialty ski specifically for moguls, then the Nela 88 doesn't outpace the other skis commensurate with the cost difference.

What Other Skis Should You Consider?