2024 Line Bacon 115 Skis Review

The Lowdown

The new Line Bacon 115 is a playful but powerful ski designed for intermediate-to-advanced skiers who favor soft snow and progressive shapes. Unlike past Bacons and previous Eric Pollard designs I’ve skied, I found these to have a stiffer, beefier, more stable feel, but without sacrificing versatility. At 115mm under foot, they come alive in powder and crud, but could pass as a daily driver for those who mostly ski when conditions are relatively soft - their firmer-than-expected flex and wood core dampness are extremely capable in chop, bumps, and PNW mank. A progressive mount point (even at factory recommended) puts the rider in a centered stance with plenty of tail for those looking to spin or ski switch and their relatively short 18.4m turning radius locks them in on groomers and enables simple turn initiation, a pleasant surprise for such a big ski.

Ride Impressions

When I first saw the Bacons, I was immediately struck by how much shovel and tail they had – with 115mm under foot and a short turning radius, the sidecut makes for a whopping 148mm tip and 138mm tail. With their green splatter-paint graphics and 188cm length, they are an imposing-looking platform.

Once I got them mounted up with Salomon Warden MNC 13s, they had a substantial heft that matched their imposing looks. Part of this is the Wardens, which weigh a chunky 1135g apiece – a fair trade for a buttery smooth ride and welcome peace of mind for aging knees. Despite the weighty addition of the maple block cores and double sidewalls, Line has concentrated most of the mass under foot, slimming down the tip and tail to reduce swing weight for jib-friendliness.

Even with their imposing dimensions, they surprised me with their nimbleness, quick turn initiation, and edge hold on cruisers. Their feel is much more centered-mounted and progressive than my Fischer Ranger 108s, more akin to the Armada ARV 116s and Atomic Bentchetler 120s I’ve had in the past with much more tail to consider and manage as I completed turns. However, unlike those two skis, these had a much more locked-in, carvier feel, thanks to the aggressive sidecut, 18.4m turning radius, and stout flex under foot. It didn’t take me long to feel like I could really trust them to rail on the groomed trails.

On that first day out, we received a 3-5" windblown refresh on top of variable conditions, so my first stops off-piste were more crud than powder. The Bacons did great in the crud, inspiring confidence and plowing through variable snow without much tip deflection or chatter, even at speed. I had to get used to the notable increase in tail surface area – the Bacons tended to hook up more in situations where I threw them sideways to scrub speed, sideslip, or slash, making them a bit more challenging in tighter chutes, bumps, and trees.

Over the next few days, we got more snow, and I had a chance to experience the Bacons in true powder conditions - did not disappoint. They charged in the 12-15" of powder, supplying enough floatation to keep the tips from diving, but plowing stably and confidently, beckoning me to step on the gas. I can only imagine the fun if I had some new school moves in my trick bag – guessing these things nose butter and stomp switch airs with the best of them.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Who Is It For?

The 115mm Bacons are ideally suited to intermediate-to-advanced skiers in search of progressive skiing in soft snow, especially for the type of skier who is demanding of their equipment. Ideally, they would slot into your quiver as a powder ski but could pass as a daily driver if you prefer a wider platform and are choosy about your ski days. There are likely better choices if you need a true all-mountain ski, you’re looking to do a lot of alpine touring, or you’re a strictly-directional skier with no interest in any Pollard-esque moves.