Faction Candide 3.0
Level: Advanced
Brand: Faction
Model year: 2021
Measure (Tip/Waist/Tail): 140/112/134 mm Turning radius: 20.00 m Weight: 2090 gram (178 cm)
Lengths: 169,178,184,190 cm
Recommended price: 899 $
Manufacturers description
A freestyle-inspired shape makes the CT 3.0 easy to press and wash out when you want to jib, but also hold a strong edge when you ask more from it. This is the perfect one ski quiver for the rider who is always on the lookout for fresh goods and needs a lightweight, versatile ski to rip up the whole mountain.
5
4
3
2
1
Strengths:
Great ski for Big Sky and trees & steeps
Weaknesses:
Top sheet chips
Summary:
These replaced my Volkl Gotamas after a back binding pulled out on a double black diamond run leaving me tomahawking down and ended up with only one ski. These skis had to have a metal binding plate which they do have. I love these skis and am very particular as ski strolled for 16 years. Tried 12 pairs and these were 1st and Fischer Rangers were 2nd. Love my Factions. Bought them in 192 lengths
Model year: 2018
Riding style: Powder as often as I can and often in glades.
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 181 cm
Great ski for Big Sky and trees & steeps
Weaknesses:
Top sheet chips
Summary:
These replaced my Volkl Gotamas after a back binding pulled out on a double black diamond run leaving me tomahawking down and ended up with only one ski. These skis had to have a metal binding plate which they do have. I love these skis and am very particular as ski strolled for 16 years. Tried 12 pairs and these were 1st and Fischer Rangers were 2nd. Love my Factions. Bought them in 192 lengths
Model year: 2018
Riding style: Powder as often as I can and often in glades.
Length on the ski: 192 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 181 cm
Strengths:
Off-piste, park, slush, shape/profile
Weaknesses:
Candide and Faction ended partnership. No more skis to come :(
Summary:
If you want the most versatile ski this is it! CT 3.0 makes you so stoked! :D
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Piste / powder / park / slush
Length on the ski: 178 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 178 cm
Off-piste, park, slush, shape/profile
Weaknesses:
Candide and Faction ended partnership. No more skis to come :(
Summary:
If you want the most versatile ski this is it! CT 3.0 makes you so stoked! :D
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Piste / powder / park / slush
Length on the ski: 178 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 178 cm
Strengths:
Super Stable, awesome edge hold, playful, damp.
Weaknesses:
None
Summary:
incredible resort ski. Stiff directly under foot but softer tip & tail. Hard charging but playful. Great in the steeps with perfect side cut. Stable at high speeds makes it easy on the legs.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Steep powder
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
Super Stable, awesome edge hold, playful, damp.
Weaknesses:
None
Summary:
incredible resort ski. Stiff directly under foot but softer tip & tail. Hard charging but playful. Great in the steeps with perfect side cut. Stable at high speeds makes it easy on the legs.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Steep powder
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
Strengths:
Playful, float, style, edge grip
Weaknesses:
Top sheet durability
Summary:
I’m giving this ski a 5 star because it is a solid ski and does everything I want it to do. I’ve skid on hard pack and powder and it handles both (it’s unreal in the powder). Easy to take flight and easy to land, limited chatter in the speed. The ONLY issue I have is that the top sheet on my skis has chipped a decent amount. Annoying? Very. But it doesn’t affect the ski, that’s the way she goes.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: All but touring
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 83 kg
Riders length: 183 cm
Playful, float, style, edge grip
Weaknesses:
Top sheet durability
Summary:
I’m giving this ski a 5 star because it is a solid ski and does everything I want it to do. I’ve skid on hard pack and powder and it handles both (it’s unreal in the powder). Easy to take flight and easy to land, limited chatter in the speed. The ONLY issue I have is that the top sheet on my skis has chipped a decent amount. Annoying? Very. But it doesn’t affect the ski, that’s the way she goes.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: All but touring
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 83 kg
Riders length: 183 cm
Strengths:
Super stable. Go anywhere. Available in 204cm
Weaknesses:
No longer available in 204cm
Summary:
The best ski (for me) I’ve ever ridden. Super versatile. Amazing in the steep and deep, lots of fun edge to edge on groomers, rad in the park
Model year: 2018
Riding style: Everything but touring
Length on the ski: 204 cm
Riders weight: 100 kg
Riders length: 200 cm
Super stable. Go anywhere. Available in 204cm
Weaknesses:
No longer available in 204cm
Summary:
The best ski (for me) I’ve ever ridden. Super versatile. Amazing in the steep and deep, lots of fun edge to edge on groomers, rad in the park
Model year: 2018
Riding style: Everything but touring
Length on the ski: 204 cm
Riders weight: 100 kg
Riders length: 200 cm
Strengths:
Hold edge well, light, stable at high speed and off cliffs, flips and spins work well. Great in any snow condition and also steep. Perfect for couloirs and rappelling.
Weaknesses:
Make sure to mount at candide centre not all mountain (just more fun)
Summary:
Sick skis
Model year: 2018
Riding style: freeride
Length on the ski: 182 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 179 cm
Hold edge well, light, stable at high speed and off cliffs, flips and spins work well. Great in any snow condition and also steep. Perfect for couloirs and rappelling.
Weaknesses:
Make sure to mount at candide centre not all mountain (just more fun)
Summary:
Sick skis
Model year: 2018
Riding style: freeride
Length on the ski: 182 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Riders length: 179 cm
Strengths:
+ Stable at speed and good edge grip
+ Light in the air
+ Rigid yet playful
+ Stable in driven piste
Weaknesses:
No!
Summary:
I bought the ski as a replacement for my K2 Pettitor 120mm which are comparatively very soft compared to the CT3.0. Experience the ski as very stable at speed and surprisingly good edge grip with long steel edges! A ski for someone who likes to play on the mountain not afraid to push and for the more jib free skier.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Powder/Piste/Park
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 77 kg
Riders length: 177 cm
+ Stable at speed and good edge grip
+ Light in the air
+ Rigid yet playful
+ Stable in driven piste
Weaknesses:
No!
Summary:
I bought the ski as a replacement for my K2 Pettitor 120mm which are comparatively very soft compared to the CT3.0. Experience the ski as very stable at speed and surprisingly good edge grip with long steel edges! A ski for someone who likes to play on the mountain not afraid to push and for the more jib free skier.
Model year: 2021
Riding style: Powder/Piste/Park
Length on the ski: 184 cm
Riders weight: 77 kg
Riders length: 177 cm
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Strengths:
+ Good edge grip (for its width)
+ Easy
+ Versatile
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes awkward "tail"
Summary:
I was looking for a versatile ski that I could bring with me in the piste / park in the morning and then do shorter trips in the afternoon.
I have so far enjoyed the best on playful and lively skis with relatively short turning radius and have thus been prepared to renounce stability. I most recently come from a pair of Nordica Soul Rider 95mm and a couple of Line Mr. Pollard's Opus 122mm, both with a turning radius of about 18m, the latter with quite pronounced loses both front and rear and only a smaller span under the foot while the Nordica ski did not have any really lose and very discreet "early rise".
Of these two skis, Faction CT 3.0 (hereinafter CT) is similar to most Nordican. Both have long "effective steel edge" with good edge grip thanks to very discreet taper. The CT is wider and is perceived more slowly edge to edge and has a noticeably longer turning radius. When it gets messy, alternately soft and hard, I think Nordican feels safer / more subdued than the CT, probably an effect of the latter being, despite its width, some 100 grams lighter than Nordican. The flex pattern is similar to each other. Relatively stiff under the foot but softer in "tip" and "tail" - both with a lot of poop.
For me, the CT feels and looks like a bloated park ski. I have a Salomon Shift binding mounted 4cm behind true center which feels right for me who never went on fully centered skis (Nordican -4cm, Line -2cm).
I find myself getting the most I wanted - a ski that can do a little of each. Most preferably, I had had a shorter turning radius and more "damping" in the ski, but since I then had to sacrifice both edge grip and weight I do not see it as actual weaknesses without expressing my own naivety who want a ski that is best at all.
For me, instead, the ski's biggest disadvantage is the wide "tail" (only 0.5cm difference between front and back). Firstly, the "tail" has a lot of bearing capacity in the off-piste which, in combination with a rather discreet rocker profile, is perceived to be worse (or at least change) flowing a little slightly. With the bindings "just 4cm" behind the center line, you also have quite a lot of skid behind which, in combination with its width, makes me experience it somewhat clumsy when it is messy / pucky. But with that said, I really do not experience the ski as "chopped / hooky" (cut fast etc) - it is easy to make speed checks, wrap around in rotations etc without getting "chopped".
As for length, I am satisfied that I chose my "regular length". It is made in a 204cm length and is light which could indicate that one would prefer to choose a size larger than usual but if you value playfulness and wit of the ski do not go up in size. The ski is playful but no super-soft BC ski, and thanks to minimal taper you have a good edge grip even in shorter sizes. In addition, the ski's wide rear will not be less reminiscent of longer sizes!
Model year: 2019
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 82 kg
Riders length: 184 cm
+ Good edge grip (for its width)
+ Easy
+ Versatile
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes awkward "tail"
Summary:
I was looking for a versatile ski that I could bring with me in the piste / park in the morning and then do shorter trips in the afternoon.
I have so far enjoyed the best on playful and lively skis with relatively short turning radius and have thus been prepared to renounce stability. I most recently come from a pair of Nordica Soul Rider 95mm and a couple of Line Mr. Pollard's Opus 122mm, both with a turning radius of about 18m, the latter with quite pronounced loses both front and rear and only a smaller span under the foot while the Nordica ski did not have any really lose and very discreet "early rise".
Of these two skis, Faction CT 3.0 (hereinafter CT) is similar to most Nordican. Both have long "effective steel edge" with good edge grip thanks to very discreet taper. The CT is wider and is perceived more slowly edge to edge and has a noticeably longer turning radius. When it gets messy, alternately soft and hard, I think Nordican feels safer / more subdued than the CT, probably an effect of the latter being, despite its width, some 100 grams lighter than Nordican. The flex pattern is similar to each other. Relatively stiff under the foot but softer in "tip" and "tail" - both with a lot of poop.
For me, the CT feels and looks like a bloated park ski. I have a Salomon Shift binding mounted 4cm behind true center which feels right for me who never went on fully centered skis (Nordican -4cm, Line -2cm).
I find myself getting the most I wanted - a ski that can do a little of each. Most preferably, I had had a shorter turning radius and more "damping" in the ski, but since I then had to sacrifice both edge grip and weight I do not see it as actual weaknesses without expressing my own naivety who want a ski that is best at all.
For me, instead, the ski's biggest disadvantage is the wide "tail" (only 0.5cm difference between front and back). Firstly, the "tail" has a lot of bearing capacity in the off-piste which, in combination with a rather discreet rocker profile, is perceived to be worse (or at least change) flowing a little slightly. With the bindings "just 4cm" behind the center line, you also have quite a lot of skid behind which, in combination with its width, makes me experience it somewhat clumsy when it is messy / pucky. But with that said, I really do not experience the ski as "chopped / hooky" (cut fast etc) - it is easy to make speed checks, wrap around in rotations etc without getting "chopped".
As for length, I am satisfied that I chose my "regular length". It is made in a 204cm length and is light which could indicate that one would prefer to choose a size larger than usual but if you value playfulness and wit of the ski do not go up in size. The ski is playful but no super-soft BC ski, and thanks to minimal taper you have a good edge grip even in shorter sizes. In addition, the ski's wide rear will not be less reminiscent of longer sizes!
Model year: 2019
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 82 kg
Riders length: 184 cm
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Strengths:
Excellent all-round ski for the Alps, perfect "know-not-what-I-should-go-but-be-good-yet" ski. Goes steadily in speed (despite its relatively low weight), and moved well for me in up to knee deep. Funny and poppy ski to bounce around in the drive up with, and smooth for a little easier leveling (no rails)
Weaknesses:
Unfortunately, the topsheet feels a bit meager - after 8 days of use, my couple have more small skins than my Bentchetlers from 2013 that I have battered properly over the years.
Summary:
Mounted mine with Pivot 18 and appreciated them incredibly much so far after a week's skiing in really good alps snow and 4 days Hemsedal in December. According to me, perfect for anyone who wants to get away with having a couple of skis that work well for everything - especially in the Alps. I myself take a couple of 123mm skis for the deepest days, but this winter I promised myself to give these a chance even in the deepest.
Going to Åre in winter v.4 and going to be interesting and continue to see how they get in Scandinavian conditions, was really fun in Hemsedal last year.
If I had thoughts of doing so, I think that a Shift binding / other spinning had covered another category pretty much, especially if you are a little skeptical about the very easiest hiking trails.
A great compromise between most different categories of skis, and really fun to drive on!
Model year: 2017
Riding style: General piste / pillows (preferably pillows), minimal with park and no touring
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 80 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
Excellent all-round ski for the Alps, perfect "know-not-what-I-should-go-but-be-good-yet" ski. Goes steadily in speed (despite its relatively low weight), and moved well for me in up to knee deep. Funny and poppy ski to bounce around in the drive up with, and smooth for a little easier leveling (no rails)
Weaknesses:
Unfortunately, the topsheet feels a bit meager - after 8 days of use, my couple have more small skins than my Bentchetlers from 2013 that I have battered properly over the years.
Summary:
Mounted mine with Pivot 18 and appreciated them incredibly much so far after a week's skiing in really good alps snow and 4 days Hemsedal in December. According to me, perfect for anyone who wants to get away with having a couple of skis that work well for everything - especially in the Alps. I myself take a couple of 123mm skis for the deepest days, but this winter I promised myself to give these a chance even in the deepest.
Going to Åre in winter v.4 and going to be interesting and continue to see how they get in Scandinavian conditions, was really fun in Hemsedal last year.
If I had thoughts of doing so, I think that a Shift binding / other spinning had covered another category pretty much, especially if you are a little skeptical about the very easiest hiking trails.
A great compromise between most different categories of skis, and really fun to drive on!
Model year: 2017
Riding style: General piste / pillows (preferably pillows), minimal with park and no touring
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 80 kg
Riders length: 180 cm
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Strengths:
versatile, stable and playful
Weaknesses:
Summary:
Pork skid. Was able to drive hard while playing playful and poppy. In my pist I pressed on and challenged it as much as I could and the ski was going well. It went well in the snow. Had been super cool to test in really deep snow. A good allround ski. Rating 5.
Riding style: Powder
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 183 cm
versatile, stable and playful
Weaknesses:
Summary:
Pork skid. Was able to drive hard while playing playful and poppy. In my pist I pressed on and challenged it as much as I could and the ski was going well. It went well in the snow. Had been super cool to test in really deep snow. A good allround ski. Rating 5.
Riding style: Powder
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 75 kg
Riders length: 183 cm
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