Line Outline or SFB

[phatlip]

Hi, I am seeking some advice regarding which ski would be best. I currently own the SFB and the Sakana. At the moment I can get a good deal on the Outline and have a potential buyer for the SFB, so I will not have to pay any extra if I decide to swap.

My thought is that the Sakana and SFB might be a bit similar, and if I get the Outline I have a broader range to ski on. The Outline might not be as versatile as the SFB, but maybe the sakanas can fill the gap?

I have Atomic Shifts on the SFBs and had them planed for a trip or two into the backcountry each season. How will the Outline be as a backcountry ski? And is it mostly a ski for the big occasions when the snow is perfect?

Any thoughts?

 

[Twig]

Honestly, I'd say they are equally versatile but in different ways. Yes the Outline is fatter, but it's also significantly stiffer. I wouldn't ride it in the park size wise and it's slower edge to edge, but I'd say it skis as well as the Bacon for most stuff, and definitely floats better. I'd rather ride the Outline in mixed/cruddy conditions, even inbounds and they have a longer turn radius so they charge more naturally.

Touring wise, the Bacon is a bit lighter and you can use a narrower skin, saving weight there, but they are both so huge in the tip/tail that the width doesn't make a whole lot of difference, to me at least. I actually see these skis as handling the same sort of thing for different people. I'm not such a big guy, so I don't need a ski as fat as the Outline or the stiffer flex. So I wouldn't bother sizing up for myself, even for purely pow skiing because it comes with more costs than benefits.

In your case the Bacon has a lot of Sakana DNA, it's basically a twin tip Sakana but softer. If you love the Sakana/Bacon, (they are two of my absolute favorite skis), I'd guess you likely won't like the Outline as much (I don't). It does feel a bit more of a 'traditional' ski to me and a bit less like the older Bacons/EP Pros. But it is definitely way more 'different' feeling from the Sakana than the Bacon, and maybe that will work for your quiver better.

 

[phatlip]

Thanks a lot for your reply! I really love the feeling of the Sakana and SFB but have not had the chance testing the SFB in any deep snow yet. I am 5.10 and weigh 163 lbs, do you think the Outline will be a bit too much?

Honestly, I'd say they are equally versatile but in different ways. Yes the Outline is fatter, but it's also significantly stiffer. I wouldn't ride it in the park size wise and it's slower edge to edge, but I'd say it skis as well as the Bacon for most stuff, and definitely floats better. I'd rather ride the Outline in mixed/cruddy conditions, even inbounds and they have a longer turn radius so they charge more naturally.

Touring wise, the Bacon is a bit lighter and you can use a narrower skin, saving weight there, but they are both so huge in the tip/tail that the width doesn't make a whole lot of difference, to me at least. I actually see these skis as handling the same sort of thing for different people. I'm not such a big guy, so I don't need a ski as fat as the Outline or the stiffer flex. So I wouldn't bother sizing up for myself, even for purely pow skiing because it comes with more costs than benefits.

In your case the Bacon has a lot of Sakana DNA, it's basically a twin tip Sakana but softer. If you love the Sakana/Bacon, (they are two of my absolute favorite skis), I'd guess you likely won't like the Outline as much (I don't). It does feel a bit more of a 'traditional' ski to me and a bit less like the older Bacons/EP Pros. But it is definitely way more 'different' feeling from the Sakana than the Bacon, and maybe that will work for your quiver better.

 

[phatlip]

And that the wise choice would be sticking with the SFBs?

Honestly, I'd say they are equally versatile but in different ways. Yes the Outline is fatter, but it's also significantly stiffer. I wouldn't ride it in the park size wise and it's slower edge to edge, but I'd say it skis as well as the Bacon for most stuff, and definitely floats better. I'd rather ride the Outline in mixed/cruddy conditions, even inbounds and they have a longer turn radius so they charge more naturally.

Touring wise, the Bacon is a bit lighter and you can use a narrower skin, saving weight there, but they are both so huge in the tip/tail that the width doesn't make a whole lot of difference, to me at least. I actually see these skis as handling the same sort of thing for different people. I'm not such a big guy, so I don't need a ski as fat as the Outline or the stiffer flex. So I wouldn't bother sizing up for myself, even for purely pow skiing because it comes with more costs than benefits.

In your case the Bacon has a lot of Sakana DNA, it's basically a twin tip Sakana but softer. If you love the Sakana/Bacon, (they are two of my absolute favorite skis), I'd guess you likely won't like the Outline as much (I don't). It does feel a bit more of a 'traditional' ski to me and a bit less like the older Bacons/EP Pros. But it is definitely way more 'different' feeling from the Sakana than the Bacon, and maybe that will work for your quiver better.

 

[SoAnG]

Curious for your thoughts on the Sakana's? I'm eyeing them right now but the 2020 SFB also just caught my attention.

 

[phatlip]

I am not the most experienced skiier, and I have only had a the chance of trying the Sakanas inbounds, but so far I love them! They are super easy to carve and so much fun jumping on nuckles and bumps. It gets a bit shaky at high speeds, but thats to be expected. But if your not looking for a hard charger I dont think you can go wrong.

Curious for your thoughts on the Sakana's? I'm eyeing them right now but the 2020 SFB also just caught my attention.