If your ski gear is even a few years old, theres new technology out there that will help make good days on the snow even better. Notable tweaks to the design, including greater use of carbon fiber and a lighter-weight front end that features less plastic and more wood, increased versatility. Blizzards Brahma and Bonafide have been mainstays in their lineup for their aggressive performance on hardpack, but we have to admit preferring the softer Rustler for true all-mountain use. Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity, Stability at Speed. Salomon. Price: $730 (Buy Now) With springy rebound thanks to 5 millimeters of camber underfoot and fast edge-to-edge transitions for making powerful, tight turns, the Pioneer performs well all over the mountain but truly shines on the frontside, where its quick to pivot on hardpack and through the bumps. All-mountain and freeride skis commonly come with 1 and 1 or 1 and 2 bevels, while an FIS race . In the end, the right skis might only come to your chin or they may reach the top of your head, so all length should do is give you a good ballpark. While the 96-millimeter Pioneer is the most versatile option in the collection, this ski also comes in 86- and 109-millimeter widths. K2 fit boa - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Waist Width. Key to this upgrade in performance is their unique hybrid core, which relies heavily on polyurethane (it covers a large section of the outer edges) for dampness and stability. And reality isnt that far off. Read more about our policy. Theyre typically easy to control and grip well in the turns but are prone to getting bogged down in powder. Importantly, members get 20% off shop services, and youll also receive a discount if you purchase the skis, boots, or bindings from REI. Category: All-mountainAbility level: Advanced to expertDimensions: 127-96-117mmOther widths: 86, 106mmWhat we like: Stable at speed and powerful through crud.What we dont: Itll sink on deeper days. However, wide all-mountain skis sacrifice edge performance, so skiers who care about making precise turns and carving on groomers occasionally should look to narrower all-mountain skis. The K2 is undoubtedly a solid ski, but its "master of none" personality pushes it down our rankings. Length Range. Like most of DPS ski models, the net result of all their R&D is impressive capabilities with a level of refinement and quality thats hard to match. While theyre still versatile all-mountain skis, they cater more to soft snow and powder and less to groomer skiing than slimmer all-mountain skis. The QST 106 is the widest in the bunch, allowing for exceptional soft snow capabilities in a daily driver ski for higher snow regions. On the other hand, the ski is a bit wide and rocker-heavy to be a daily driver on groomers if you go long stretches between storms. In what region Rossignol has shaken up their ski offerings a fair amount over the past couple years, starting with the release of the Black Ops freeride line and now a big revamp to the Experience collection for Nordicas Enforcer (and womens Santa Ana) is a leading all-mountain design that excels in everything from firm snow to moderately deep powder. You won't find a better selection or range of ski and snowboarding . In comparing the two skis, both are flickable and excel both on- and off-trail, in a wide variety of conditions, and for a broad range of abilities (from intermediates to fun-seeking experts). A good number of the major ski brands make an entry-level modeloften its a toned-down version of their core all-mountain designand we think Rossis Experience 78 checks all the right boxes. Growing use of carbon fiber has kept weight down while improving stiffness and responsiveness. But don't limit yourself by setting too many parameters. Armada is a core brand with an offering for every type of skier on the mountain, and its Declivity 102 Ti is a directional charger with a robust build. All that said, buy a skinny ski that's good on groomers and ice and a 2021/22 Qst 106 off facebook marketplace or craigslist or w/e you have instead and thank me later. The M-Pro still is easy to control in tight spots and at lower speeds, but its now more capable across a wide range of snow conditions. Still, as a one-ski quiver for resort and backcountry use, the Impulse 104 presents an inviting option for those who prioritize skiing soft snow over any other criteria. The Elan Ripstick 106 is happy to devour hard-packed groomers and firm, variable conditions, with tester Gabe Glosband describing it as a chilled-out race ski that he felt could possibly be a daily driver for the West Coast skier. In the shorter lengths, the Ripstick 106 is a more nimble, energetic, and balanced ski, while testers on the longer versions identified it as more of a bruiser that wants to power down the fall line. So Salomon QST 99 tends to get more favorable reviews than Blizzard Rustler 10, as seen on the chart below. This ski definitely prefers playing in soft snow, though it allows you to push the speed limit with confidence in all conditions. But where the Rustler really comes alive is popping on and off trail where its playful, easy-to-manage nature shines. That said, strong intermediates who arent afraid of putting in some work will find it a very dependable and confidence-inspiring all-mountain ski. Combined with a sidecut thats fairly narrow at the waist, you get a ski that feels quick underfoot, pivots nicely in the bumps, and is easy to control all over the mountain. Category: All-mountainAbility level: Intermediate to advancedDimensions: 131-96-118mmOther widths: 86, 109mmWhat we like: Pivots very well through the trees and bumps.What we dont: Lacking in high-speed stability. All Mountain skis are built to be the one ski that can do it all. Pictured here right to left: Sam Cox, JF Bruegger, Tommy Flitton, and Kelly Klein, all testers assigned to the All-Mountain Wide category. Camber underfoot and tip rocker paired with a flat tail enable the Declivity 102 Ti to flow through broken terrain while providing a stable platform that powers through crud. Price: $829 (Buy Now) The downside of a pure rocker ski is the flat surface underfoot has a tendency to be more skittish when carving on hardpack. As more skiers look to explore beyond the confines of the resort, there is a movement to find just one ski for both inbounds and backcountry use. But we cant help but miss some of the flickability thats lost with the latest design. The ski is easy to break free and slide through the turn, remarked Sexauer. To be fair, the ski is more forgiving and less of a hard charger than alternatives like the Blizzard Cochise 106 or Volkls Mantra 102, but you do lose some of that user-friendly feel. IMO they were very similar with the 92's being a little easier to ski and felt a bit lighter. Its definitely dependable at high speeds, though, and I trusted it when arcing big GS turns.. I'm 5'7", 165 lbs and have the 180cm R11 (+1cm mount) and 178cm QST Blank (+1.5cm mount) btw. With so many exceptional all-mountain-wide skis on the market, to have the Mantra 102 be such a standout is a testament to Vlkls commitment to their craft. Most major retailers offer free and surprisingly fast shipping, which makes it a very attractive option. Like the Daemon, the ski has a lot of tip and tail rocker, so it floats well and is easy to turn. The 100mm waist is the slimmest of the lines offerings (hop on the ZX108 or ZX115 for deep days), with a lively poplar and beech core, rockered profile, and stiff yet springy fiberglass reinforcements that increase responsiveness, particularly when youre steering through tight trees and bumps. Salomon QST 98 or Blizzard Rustler 9 . To help guarantee you end up with a proper match, our ski binding and downhill boot recommendations breakdown the categories in a similar fashion as all-mountain skis: tailoring picks to ski conditions and ability level. When Rossignol announced the discontinuation of their legendary 7 line, it was met with obvious surprise. Shop for All-Mountain Wide Skis at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Category: All-mountain backAbility level: Intermediate to advancedDimensions: 146-106-128mmOther widths: 86, 94mmWhat we like: Lightweight and playful; a fun all-mountain/powder ski or mixed touring option.What we dont: So-so edge hold and prone to chattering on hardpack. But the real techy stuff is hidden underneath, where DPS sandwiches two layers of carbon fiber between two separate horizontal layers of wood (both unique concepts) in attempting to marry dampness and stability with soft-snow performance. This isnt a hard-and-fast category and has trended wider over the years, but generally encompasses skis from 80mm to 105mm underfoot that are best for the front side of the mountain and skiing in bounds (at least most of the time). We cover these important considerations below. Cork inserts in the tip & tail eliminate chatter, offering a smooth, playful ride. This ski is for a strong skier who likes to rail turns and tackle ski big faces, said Harkins. Price: $799 (Buy Now) Ultra dependable, solid, and predictable are the Enforcer 104 Frees signature qualities. Price: $900 (Buy Now) Category: All-mountainAbility level: Advanced to expertDimensions: 133-96-119mmOther widths: 86, 106mmWhat we like: Hard-charging experts rejoice: metal is back with the latest model.What we dont: Loses a little of the flickable and friendly nature of the prior version. Carving: Less than 16 metersAll-around: 16-20 metersWide and sweeping turns: 20+ meters. Radius (m): 21 But for a ski that just puts a smile on your facein both its unique look and child-like personalityThe Allplay is an absolute winner. Pros: Stability at Speed, Responsiveness Within the all-mountain market, youll find options ranging from approximately 75 millimeters up to about 110, and everything from your skiing style to local terrain and snowfall will dictate your ideal range. This allows all-mountain wide skis to perform on hard-snow and be able to carve more easily than true freeride skis. Overall score: 7.74/10 So dont just look at a skis scoreread our testers feedback to understand the nuances of each ski and who its best suited to. And aggressively priced at $600, it's arguably one of the best values on the market. In short, an all-mountain front ski is best for tackling groomed runs. 2 colors. Weights with the source listed as "evo" were recorded with a MyWeigh 7001DX digital scale using an actual product sample. This seasons model picks up from previous iterations and continues to provide an experience tailored around effortless turn initiation, liveliness, and a flat-out good time. Picking an all-mountain ski can be a daunting task. As a last step, we wanted to do a head-to-head Salomon QST 106 vs. Blizzard Rustler 9 comparison of their review performance but, unfortunately, weren't able to find any review ratings on either product. But despite the complaints, the Maverick is a quality build that mixes a tree-dodging personality with a legitimate backbone for groomer days.See the Atomic Maverick 95 TI See the Women's Atomic Maven 93 C. Category: All-mountainAbility level: Intermediate to advancedDimensions: 119-98-117mmOther widths: NoneWhat we like: A very fun all-mountain ski thats also at home in the park.What we dont: More playful than buttoned-down and fast. 10. You can thank the skis lightweight poplar core and fiberglass laminate construction for that springy responsiveness. The wood core, carbon reinforcement, and full-length sidewalls churn out horsepower, while significant effective edge, subtle tip rocker, and camber give it a refined feel that powerful skiers will find particularly enticing. As expected, the 86-millimeter Pioneer provides better edge-to-edge performance on groomers, making it a great choice for East Coast skiers (especially those who love the bumps). 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