Grippers are currently the best OEM pow ski. Weaknesses - They are rigid. Their saddle design is dumb. The keel will wash on the trail ride in and out without something like shapers (most say, so what). They drive impact energy (rocks) into the arms.
Their overall performance design for pow is really good - tapered width, light, float, short and rounded tail, aggressive head for lift, boot grips. Not expensive to replace. They really are a great OEM pow ski. All OEM pow skis have shortcomings. There are better all-around skis, like trails and pow, and skis for specific conditions, none of them cheap. Depends on how and where you ride, how much you just have to tune, and how much $$$ you want blow. Just beware of the rubber bump stops. With all of the patents on ski designs, the OEMs kinda have their hands tied right now, without buying someone else's design for ajillion dollars, working within their own patents or incremental improvements. Don't think any OEM will be paying ajillion - unless they are found guilty of patent infringement like BRP was - avg buyers just won't justify any cost increase. It is what it is.
