Faction Dictator 2.0 Review

This ski lends itself to being one of the more accessible in our lineup. The Dictator 2.0 has solid scores across the board and is perfect for intermediate-advanced skiers. Its softer tip doesn't have to be a negative quality in every situation, especially when factoring in skier intent.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

Despite the two titanal layers, the Dictator 2.0 behaves like skis with much less metal. There is a considerable rattle at high speeds, especially on firm snow. We found more of the Dictator 2.0's sweet spot when dialing the speed back a notch. This ski's preference is to flow over the terrain rather than blasting through it.

If you are looking to straight-line through big rock drops, the Dictator 2.0 may not be the best ski for you. Other skis in this review are better suited for strictly going fast. While the Dictator 2.0 is no slouch and can handle the whole mountain, we found ourselves dialing back the speed back just a hair to find this ski's comfort zone.

Weight

Tipping the scales at only 8.2 pounds per pair, we too are surprised that the Dictator 2.0 is laid up with two sheets of titanal. Despite the addition of this dampening material, the chatter we experienced at speed lines up with the weight of this ski. We tested several other skis at 96 millimeters underfoot that are both heavier and much more stable at speed.

Carving Ability

The Dictator 2.0 is a blast to carve on. Especially in softer corn or pristine groomers, this ski likes to dig in and turn. With firm edge grip and smooth edge release thanks to its blended rocker/camber/rocker profile, we found the Dictator 2.0 was able to retain its playfulness even while carving.

The softer tip requires a good pilot to move quickly and stay balanced, but we enjoyed the process. The Dictator 2.0 doesn't offer a true GS ski carving feel, but that's ok with us, thanks to its versatility and playfulness.

Turn Radius

The turn radius for the Dictator 2.0 is listed at 19 meters at the 179-centimeter length that we tested. Even though this turning radius comes in at about 1 meter longer than other skis we tested at 96 millimeters underfoot, the Dictator 2.0 is snappy and agile. We found this ski to be at its best when we bent it into shorter and medium-radius turns, making it a perfect companion for dedicated bumps skiers.

Powder Performance

While not our first choice for a heavy snow day, this ski showed us its liveliness once more in deeper snow than it should be able to handle. The tip rocker provides decent float, and the Dictator 2.0's overall nimbleness allowed our testers to explore tighter terrain with plenty of confidence.

Generally, for big powder days, one of the wider skis in our review would be a better pick. However, our testers found they could float through wind drifts and such with ease. The Dictator 2.0's combines a softer tip with enough rocker to get it up on top of the snow. This design requires more fore-aft precision – staying centered while skiing through the pow was harder than our review's wider skis.

Waist Width

At 96 millimeters underfoot, the Faction Dictator 2.0 still earned a very respectable score for powder. The overall ride quality pleasantly surprised our testers in soft snow, considering its relatively narrow waist. We enjoyed making quick turns, rolling with the terrain, and sliding both softer and firmer snow alike on this versatile ski.

Crud Performance

The Dictator 2.0 makes us nervous in crud and chop. Due to its softer tip, our testers found they needed to stay very centered to not fly over the handlebars. We found more success when dialing it back and going with the flow in more difficult snow conditions.

In firmer crud conditions, we experienced considerable vibrations as to be expected for such a soft ski. The good thing about this ski is that although it can rattle in the tip, the firm edge hold translates well and can get you through the rough stuff when needed. The tip rocker and overall ski profile help the Dictator 2.0 not hook up when the snow gets ugly.

Terrain Playfulness

"Playful" was the phrase most associated with the Dictator 2.0. While not the fastest ski, our testers appreciated Faction's efforts to create a more forgiving ski to explore the whole mountain. We found it light enough for swinging through the air while also stable enough for deep mogul troughs. Not designed as a true park ski, we wouldn't hesitate to spend an afternoon session exploring rock drops or jumps on these.

Playing all over the mountain is in this ski's DNA. The softer tip comes through as an asset in some cases and helps absorb impacts in deep bump troughs. The Tip Rocker/Freeride Flat Tail blend also promotes moving from arcing turns to skidded ones very smoothly. These are nice qualities to have in rolling terrain where you might not see what is coming at you next.

Should You Buy the Dictator 2.0?

The Dictator 2.0 is a skier's ski – it is nimble and energetic, with just enough power to make it responsive and fun to ski in various conditions. This ski is perfect for the advanced to expert skier who looks at the whole mountain as a playground. The Dictator 2.0 is also competitively priced, making it the best bang-for-your-buck option out of all the skis we tested.

What Other All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider?

The Faction Dictator 2.0 is an ideal all-mountain ski for those coming from a freeride or freestyle background. For the ex-racer crowd, a more powerful ski like the Nordica Enforcer 94 is more likely to feed your need for speed. The Dictator 2.0 may also be a little too lightweight and soft to hold it down in variable conditions. For intermediate skiers, something damper like the Volkl M6 Mantra is a better option. Or for bigger and burlier skiers, something more powerful like the Black Crows Justis may be the ticket.