Kästle RX12 SL review 2020
PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments
The Kästle RX12 SL focuses on fun and accessibility. All the testers appreciated its ease of use. The word “enjoyable” appeared on five out of six test cards. That says a lot...
The ski “is easy to control from the get-go” and is very docile for this category. Turn initiation is almost spontaneous and requires minimal effort from the skier. The ski is snappy, responsive, and stable.
It is a little less comfortable in long turns but can transition smoothly between carved and skidded turns.
As a tradeoff for this accessibility, the ski shows its limitations earlier than some of its competitors in this category, especially at high speed and when you’re trying to create big edge angles. It is also less at ease in long arcs.
The RX12 SL is an excellent ski for recreational carving and as an introduction to high-performance skiing. We recommend it to strong intermediates and advanced skiers who want the liveliness of a slalom ski, but don’t want to sacrifice versatility, comfort, and accessibility.
Review: Pros
- Very accessible
- Lively and snappy ski
- Super fun
- Great at carving
- Skidded turns
- Intuitive turn initiation
- You don’t need to be too aggressive
Review: Cons
- Mediocre performance compared to the Dynastar/Rossignol and Völkl skis
- Less comfortable in long turns
The ski review scores
| Turn initiation | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 16.5 |
| Stability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.7 |
| Stability/turning performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.2 |
| Grip | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.3 |
| Short turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 17.5 |
| Long turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.8 |
| Skid turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 16.0 |
| Handleability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 17.0 |
| Comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 16.8 |
| Snow contact | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.8 |
| Soft snow fluidity | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 15.8 |
Who's it for?
Manufacturer's remarks
The RX12 SL is hard to beat with its race-inspired sidecut and lively character. The trusted sandwich construction combined with the Hollowtech 2.0 technology offers a smoother ride and better edge hold in fast turns. Fans of groomed runs will love the RX12 SL with its perfect edge grip and explosive short turns. A must for avid skiers looking for a high-performance piste ski that is awesome in short-radius turns.
Features of the RX12 SL
| Brand : | Kästle |
| Model : | RX12 SL |
| Year : | 2020 |
| Family : | Slalom |
| Size tested : | 165 cm |
| Tip size : | 118 mm |
| Waist size : | 66 mm |
| Tail size : | 100 mm |
| Radius for the size reviewed : | 12 m |
Your review
Reviewed by PROSKILAB™
in La Clusaz, France, March 2019