SkiKitInfo.com has the full run-through of the Faction Agent ski touring range.
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We test and review so you can get the best information available about the kit you’re interested in, to help you make informed decisions. Hey, we all want a massive smile on our faces when skiing, and the right kit helps.
FACTION AGENT TOURING SKIS
Faction Agent skis are aimed at the adventurous tourer, freetourer and freeride skier that wants to skin. Introduced last winter, the range originally included only the Agent 1.0 / 1.0 X at 86mm underfoot and Agent 2.0 / 2.0 X at 96mm.
Even though these models were designed for touring, they work great as freeride skis and this is exactly what most people ended up buying them for; really light yet performance orientated freeride sticks.
Dictator moulds
This is not too surprising when you realise that the Agent skis comes out of the same mould as the Dictator skis. Check out our test of the Faction Dictator 3.0 to see how that model skis.
You can think of each model as a lighter and slightly easier flexing version of the Dictator ski of the same number; Dictator 3.0 is a beefier version of the Agent 3.0, for example.
Faction X models
Across the Faction skis line-up, models are often duplicated with an X option, such as the Agent 1.0 and Agent 1.0X. The X models are the same as the men’s, but with different graphics and a slimmed down size range for women.
Wider range
The Agent 1.0 / 1.0X and Agent 2.0 / 2.0X models remain for 20/21 but the range has increased, with two new wider waisted options. The extra width on the new models gives a greater range of conditions, terrain and users that the Agent skis can work for.
The two new larger waist width options include the Agent 3.0 / 3.0X at 106mm and Agent 4.0 with an über floaty 116mm waist. There’s no X version of the Agent 4.0.
Bec de Rosses
The top sheet artwork on the Agent range depicts the Bec de Rosses mountain above Verbier, the birth place of Faction skis.
Woodcores
All of the Agent range, except the fat 4.0, use super light karuba woodcores. The Agent 4.0 uses paulownia wood, rather than karuba.
Carbon
Fibreglass, along with the core material, is a mainstay of ski construction. Faction boost this by weaving carbon fibres into the glass matt, on either side of the woodcore, improving strength and stiffness. This is designed to add stability without a weight penalty, unlike when you add metal for stability. It also enhances the rebound in the ski.
Adding carbon to a ski is not that simple though. It can leave the skis too light and too stiff. They can be skittish and harder to predict than a traditional laminate ski.
See our test of the Agent 2.0 to see if Faction’s been caught out by this difficult juggling act or if they’ve managed to nail it.
Rocker
All of the Agent skis have rocker front and back. The length of the rocker depends on the model and the length of the ski. For example, the 178cm Agent 1.0 has a 310mm tip rocker and 180mm tail rocker, where the 180cm Agent 3.0 has 380mm front and 230mm rear.
This also means the wider skis have a more pronounced rocker; the tip/tail is further off the ground, when the ski’s lying flat a unweighted.
This profile helps the skis perform in the terrain and snow they’re designed for. Wider skis will offer easier flotation, with narrower skis giving enhanced grip on compact snow.
Sidewall
All of the Agent skis have a strong sidewall for almost the full length of the ski. This provides excellent drive through the edge, improving grip on firmer snow and when traversing.
They’ve used cap at at the very tip and tail, to resist the chips and dinks you can get there (lift queues are a nightmare for damage to these areas of the skis).
Binding mount reinforcement
These are flat-mount skis. This means the skis need to be drilled, then self-tapping screws mount the bindings to the skis, whether you’re using regular downhill or touring bindings. The load these screws come under can be huge, and especially when in tour mode using a touring binding.
It’s great that Faction’s put a Titanal metal plate under the binding mount area, as this can significantly improve screw retention and binding mount strength. It also adds power across the ski directly underfoot, improving grip in the apex of the turn.
Tail skin clip notch
All of the Agent skis have a little notch cut-out in the tail protector. This is for location of the tail strap and clip of a touring skin.
However, the test ski we used didn’t have this and just had a flat area in the middle of the tail protector. This still works absolutely fine with skin tail clips, so it’s not something to worry about if the ski you get doesn’t have the actual notch.
1% for the Planet
1% of all sales of Agent skis goes to Protect Our Winters, through the commendable 1% for the Planet programme.
It’s worth your time to check out both of those organisations; we all need to act now to protect the beautiful outdoor spaces we love and this fine planet we call home.
Faction also tries to source materials for all of their skis from Europe, to reduce the carbon footprint of transporting materials large distances. Faction was born in Verbier, Switzerland, and the team responsible for their skis is now led from Innsbruck, Austria, so it makes sense to source from Europe, wherever possible.
They go all-out to make the products as hard wearing as they can, therefore having a longer life, rather than ending up in landfill at the end of the winter.
At SkiKitInfo.com we’re all for ski brands doing their bit to help the environment, so we applaud the way Faction’s thinking, and look forward to seeing further planet-positive initiatives in the seasons to come.
Faction Agent 1.0 / 1.0X
Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 186cm
Sidecut: 120-86-110mm in all lengths
Radius: 19.0m in 178cm
Weight per ski: 1,570g in 178cm
Price: £549 / €599 / $649
A classic touring ski width and the lightest in the Agent range. The Agent 1.0 and 1.0X models are ideal for quick and light ascents. While they’re not the lightest skis available, they provide a good mix of grip, float and ski-ability for their weight.
Lengths: 154, 162, 170cm
Sidecut: 120-86-110mm in all lengths
Radius: 15.0m in 162cm
Weight per ski: 1,390g in 162cm
Price: £549 / €599 / $649
They’re ideal if you’re not so focussed on accessing deep, soft snow, where the wider models will provide more fun.
The Agent 1.0 / 1.0X, at 86mm, work as light all-mountain skis too.
Faction Agent 2.0 / 2.0X
Lengths: 163, 171, 179, 187cm
Sidecut: 127-96-117mm in all lengths
Radius: 20.0m in 179cm
Weight per ski: 1,660g in 179cm
Price: £599 / €649 / $699
The Agent 2.0 / 2.0X models sit at a really sweet spot, in terms of width, for free-touring. When chatting with Sam Anthamatten last season, this was his ski of choice from the Agent range. This season he’s gone onto the wider Agent 3.0.
Lengths: 155, 163, 171cm
Sidecut: 127-96-117mm in all lengths
Radius: 16.0m in 163cm
Weight per ski: 1,410g in 163cm
Price: £599 / €649 / $699
They have a load of stability, are easy to control and a lot of fun to ski. Their low weight means you’re left with plenty of energy from the skin up to really enjoy the shred when you head back down.
Check out our test of the Agent 2.0 to see just how good these skis are.
TESTED: Faction Agent 2.0
We were fortunate enough to blag a pair of Agent 2.0’s from Faction for the day, and got to give them a good going over.
The Agent 2.0 we had was pretty short for us, at 171cm, but it still kept up with longer, much stiffer skis others were on. This is testament to the construction of the Agent range.
Faction has nailed the Agent range, and the 2.0 is a ski we’d happily have on our feet for a lot of our skiing, from all-mountain to multi-day tours.
Firm snow performance
At 96mm, with a strong sidewall and decent camber, it provides more grip than you might expect, performing well on groomed slopes. It actually works well as a general all-mountain ski.
Variable snow
Take it into some chopped up snow off the sides and it’s really easy to handle, with enough rocker at each end to float nicely. This rocker and low weight keeps them nimble, so even when the snow’s lumpy and heavy they’re still a joy
Powder
Most of us dream of our powder days, and the Agent 2.0 makes those days dreamy. Excellent flotation, and even though some may think they’re narrow at 96mm underfoot they float up as well as some wider skis.
Touring
They are not the lightest skis out there (a Blizzard Zero G95 is 1,250g in 178cm) but they’re pretty much the same as many (Salomon MTN Explore 95 is 1,520g in 177cm, for example).
This low weight and rocker up front means breaking trail doesn’t take much effort. The 96mm waist also allows decent bite when traversing, something which can be compromised with wider skis.
You could easily use this ski for hut-to-hut tours, confident you’ll love the descents.
Binding choice
They were mounted with a pair of Salomon Shift bindings, so the whole rig was light. This is a great binding if you want the convenience of pins for touring yet want the locked-in feeling of a full-blown freeride binding.
This ski benefits from keeping the whole set-up light, so don’t stick a heavy binding on it.
Faction Agent 3.0 / 3.0X
Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188cm
Sidecut: 134-106-124mm in all lengths
Radius: 21.0m in 180cm
Weight per ski: 1,740g in 180cm
Price: £649 / €699 / $749
The Agent 3.0 and Agent 3.0X are new models for winter 20/21, and a great choice for those seeking a really light freeride ski. At 106mm underfoot these are more about flotation than racing uphill as fast as possible. The width is still OK for traversing, although the 2.0 is better if you’re considering any longer flat or traversing sections.
Lengths: 164, 172cm
Sidecut: 134-106-124mm in all lengths
Radius: 16.0m in 164cm
Weight per ski: 1,580g in 164cm
Price: £649 / €699 / $749
Even if you don’t plan on skinning a ton, but want a ski that’s light for hiking and easy to throw around in tight terrain and steep couloirs, the Agent 3.0 and 3.0X skis are a solid choice for advanced and expert skiers.
If Sam likes them, they got to be pretty darn good.
Faction Agent 4.0
Lengths: 171, 179, 185, cm
Sidecut: 141-116-131mm in all lengths
Radius: 23.0m in 185cm
Weight per ski: 1,800g in 185cm
Price: £699 / €749 / $799
The big kid of the bunch, the Agent 4.0 is all about deep, soft snow. Despite this, it’s superbly light for such a wide ski. If you’re planning on skinning for freshies and want a fat pair of planks, the Agent 4.0 is an incredible option at 116mm underfoot and only 1.8kg; far lighter than most of it’s peers.
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Quoted Prices
*Prices quoted here can be a mixture of recommended retail price from the brand and prices that you can currently get the skis for from retailers in that territory. The prices may therefore be less or more than you can find in-store / online and are only intended to give you a guide as to what you may expect to pay for the skis.
Always ensure you do adequate research when buying ski equipment to ensure you’re getting the best service and advice from the retailer, combined with a price that works for your budget. Don’t always assume that cheaper means better value.
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