 |
| If you ski stuff like this, you may need a new pair every year. |
We've compiled a list of backcountry touring appropriate skis (all under 9lbs) for your review.
Undoubtedly, someone is going to ask, "Which ski do you recommend?" The unsatisfying, but truthful answer is that each person has a different style, and goal, so you'll need to figure out what best suits you. The best way to start is where you'll be doing most of your skiing and narrow down the choices on the ski width from there. This chart should help get you started. Step two is to go talk to the people that know these skis, have tested them, and can explain how the different materials and camber will affect your skiing. Step 3, if possible, is to get out on a pair.
Or you can do it like most folks and just skip all the steps, pick the skis with the coolest graphics, best marketing and cheapest price tag and roll the dice. That's how I've done it.
What little thought I've put into buying skis can be summed up as follows: I don't ski particularly fast and prefer a ski that can turn easily to one that draws a long steady slow arc down the mountain. Given that I also ski primarily in the East and in the Mt. Washington bowls come spring, I sacrifice weight for skis that are a little thinner and heavier so they can hold an edge and blast through cruddy snow. The ski pictured above, the K2 Backlash, is just about perfect. It is just about 90mm underfoot but with a wide shovel that comes close to 130mm. It has a wood core with a titanium layer which adds weight and stability. Unfortunately they were discontinued, but there are certainly plenty of similar skis out there. Especially ones with better graphics.
Listed from slimmest underfoot to widest, I've included a link to where you can find more information and pick up a pair. The women's specific skis are indicated with a "W" after the name. The listed sizes are what I (a 5'9", 160lb guy) would pick.
|
Manuf.
|
Ski Name
|
Wt/ #'s
|
Length/ cm
|
Front
|
Mid
|
Back
|
Camber
|
Construction
|
Link
|
|
Madshus
|
Eon
|
4.4
|
175
|
83
|
62
|
70
|
Camber
|
Wood
|
|
|
Ski Trab
|
Race Aero World
|
4
|
164
|
96
|
64
|
78
|
Camber
|
Carbon/ fiberglass
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
Dyna
|
6.3
|
161
|
99
|
65
|
80
|
Camber
|
Paulownia/ Carbon
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
PDG
|
3.5
|
161
|
99
|
65
|
80
|
Rocker
|
Paulownia/ Carbon
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
RSR
|
3
|
160
|
97
|
65
|
77
|
Camber
|
Wood torsion box
|
|
|
Elan
|
Triglav
|
3.2
|
161
|
89
|
66
|
80
|
Camber
|
Wood/Carbon Fiber
|
|
|
Madshus
|
Epoch
|
5.6
|
175
|
99
|
68
|
84
|
Camber
|
Waxless track
|
|
|
Elan
|
Sierra
|
5.5
|
170
|
114
|
76
|
102
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
Tip Rocker/ Camber
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
RST
|
4.6
|
167
|
116
|
77
|
106
|
Camber
|
Karuba wood core
|
|
|
Ski Trab
|
Freerando Light
|
5.2
|
171
|
112
|
79
|
96
|
Camber
|
Carbon
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
|
4.4
|
171
|
116
|
80
|
104
|
Tip Rocker
|
Wood /Carbon Laminate
|
|
|
Ski Trab
|
Tour Rando XL
|
5.2
|
171
|
113
|
80
|
99
|
Camber
|
Fiberglass
|
|
|
Elan
|
Alaska Pro
|
5
|
177
|
110
|
80
|
100
|
Camber
|
Wood/ Carbon Fiber
|
|
|
Elan
|
Alaska
|
5.8
|
177
|
110
|
80
|
100
|
Camber
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Elan
|
Karakorum
|
5.9
|
178
|
120
|
80
|
108
|
Tip Rocker/ Camber
|
Wood/ Fiberglass/ Carbon
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
Baltoro-W
|
5.6
|
167
|
115
|
84
|
102
|
Tip Rocker
|
Paulownia/ Fiberglass/ Carbon
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Current
|
6
|
175
|
118
|
86
|
106
|
Rockered
|
Paulownia
|
|
|
Dynastar
|
Cham 87-W
|
7
|
166
|
127
|
87
|
103
|
Rocker Tip, Camber, Flat Tail
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Dynastar
|
Cham High 87
|
7
|
178
|
127
|
87
|
103
|
Rocker Tip, Camber, Flat Tail
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Parlor
|
Harrier
|
6.9
|
170
|
128
|
87
|
110
|
Camber
|
Customizable Wood / Carbon
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Amaruq
|
6.2
|
177
|
127
|
88
|
109
|
Camber
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Ski Trab
|
Ripido
|
6.1
|
171
|
123
|
88
|
109
|
Camber
|
carbon mesh
|
|
|
G3
|
Spitfire
|
6
|
177
|
120
|
88
|
111
|
Tip Rocker
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
|
Wayback
|
6.5
|
174
|
124
|
88
|
108
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
G3
|
Zen Oxide 88 Carbon
|
5.2
|
177
|
120
|
88
|
111
|
Tip Rocker
|
Poplar + Paulownia/ Carbon
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
GT
|
6
|
177
|
125
|
89
|
111
|
Camber
|
Wood/ fiberglass core
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Kendo
|
8.1
|
177
|
127
|
89
|
110
|
Tip Rocker
|
Wood/ titanium
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Stigma
|
6
|
176
|
115
|
89
|
105
|
Semi Rocker Tip
|
Paulownia
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Aspect
|
6.4
|
176
|
127
|
90
|
113
|
Camber + Semi Rocker Tip
|
Paulownia/ Carbon.
|
|
|
Ramp
|
Chickadee-W
|
7.4
|
169
|
126
|
90
|
113
|
Tip Rocker
|
Bamboo core
|
|
|
|
Sideshow
|
8.4
|
174
|
132
|
90
|
115
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood core, metal laminate
|
|
|
Ramp
|
Woodpecker
|
8.2
|
179
|
130
|
90
|
115
|
Tip Rocker
|
Bamboo core
|
|
|
Lucid
|
Cannon
|
7
|
177
|
125
|
92
|
110
|
Camber
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Lucid
|
Trip
|
6.6
|
177
|
125
|
92
|
110
|
Rockered Tip, Camber
|
Wood/ fiberglass core
|
|
|
G3
|
Saint
|
6.7
|
177
|
123
|
93
|
112
|
Rocker Tip, Camber, Flat Tail
|
Wood core, torsion box
|
|
|
G3
|
Zen Oxide 93 Carbon
|
6.2
|
177
|
122
|
93
|
112
|
Tip Rocker
|
Poplar + Paulownia/ Carbon
|
|
|
Voile
|
|
6
|
170
|
118
|
94
|
107
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Waxless track, wood core
|
|
|
Atomic
|
Drifter
|
7.4
|
173
|
130
|
95
|
119
|
Slight Tail/Tip Rocker
|
Titanium/ Light Wood
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Ember-W
|
7.5
|
168
|
128
|
95
|
116
|
Camber
|
Poplar
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
Lo 5
|
6.3
|
178
|
125
|
95
|
115
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood, fiberglass, carbon laminate
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
Manaslu
|
6.6
|
178
|
122
|
95
|
108
|
Tip Rocker
|
Wood Core
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Revert
|
7
|
180
|
122
|
95
|
109
|
Tail/Tip Rocker & Camber
|
Poplar
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Warrant
|
8.8
|
178
|
130
|
95
|
118
|
Camber
|
Poplar
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Nanuq
|
7.1
|
177
|
131
|
96
|
114
|
Rocker Tip, Camber
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Salomon
|
Q98
|
7.8
|
172
|
131
|
96
|
117
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
Wood core, Carbon stringers
|
|
|
Dynastar
|
Cham 97-W
|
7.9
|
166
|
133
|
97
|
113
|
Rocker Tip, Camber, Flat Tail
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Dynastar
|
Cham High 97
|
7.9
|
172
|
133
|
97
|
113
|
Rocker Tip, Camber, Flat Tail
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Kastle
|
TX97
|
7
|
177
|
128
|
97
|
117
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood/ resin core
|
|
|
Elan
|
Himalaya
|
6.4
|
177
|
127
|
97
|
114
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
|
Annex 98
|
8.2
|
177
|
131
|
98
|
119
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood/ titanium
|
|
|
|
Hardside
|
8.7
|
174
|
131
|
98
|
119
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood core, metal laminate
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Mantra
|
8.8
|
177
|
132
|
98
|
118
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
Wood/ titanium
|
|
|
Nordica
|
Nemesis-W
|
7.8
|
169
|
135
|
98
|
125
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
wood/ poly core
|
|
|
Rossignol
|
Saffron 7-W
|
8.5
|
170
|
128
|
98
|
118
|
Low Tail/Tip Rocker, 1/2 Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
DPS
|
Nia 99-W
|
7.2
|
168
|
125
|
99
|
111
|
1/2 Rocker Tip, 1/2 Camber
|
Carbon/ Fiberglass/ Bamboo
|
|
|
Ski Trab
|
Volare
|
6.3
|
171
|
129
|
99
|
116
|
Camber
|
carbon/ fiberglass
|
|
|
DPS
|
Wailer 99
|
7.2
|
176
|
126
|
99
|
110
|
1/2 Rocker Tip, 1/2 Camber
|
Carbon / Fiberglass /Bamboo
|
|
|
Atomic
|
Access
|
8
|
171
|
129
|
100
|
121
|
Tail/Tip Rocker & Camber
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Ramp
|
Beaver-W
|
6.5
|
169
|
136
|
100
|
121
|
Tip Rocker
|
Bamboo core /Kevlar Veil
|
|
|
G3
|
Cake 100-W
|
6.6
|
166
|
132
|
100
|
123
|
Rocker Tip & Tail, Camber
|
Poplar + Paulownia /Titanium
|
|
|
Parlor
|
Cardinal
|
6
|
178
|
136
|
100
|
126
|
Reverse Camber
|
Customizable Wood/ Carbon
|
|
|
Atomic
|
Charter
|
7.6
|
176
|
130
|
100
|
122
|
Tip Rocker/ Camber
|
Titanium/ Light Wood
|
|
|
G3
|
District 100
|
7.5
|
177
|
132
|
100
|
123
|
Rocker Tip & Tail, Camber
|
Tonic design with lighter core
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Drift
|
6.8
|
176
|
136
|
100
|
122
|
Semi Rocker
|
Paulownia/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Ramp
|
Groundhog
|
8.8
|
179
|
136
|
100
|
121
|
Tip Rocker
|
Bamboo core/ Kevlar Veil
|
|
|
Icelantic
|
Oracle-W
|
7.6
|
165
|
138
|
100
|
120
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Poplar Wood Core
|
|
|
G3
|
Tonic
|
7.9
|
177
|
132
|
100
|
123
|
Rocker Tip & Tail, 1/2 Camber
|
Wood/ Fiberglass
|
|
|
Armada
|
TST-W
|
7.3
|
165
|
130
|
100
|
121
|
All Mtn Rocker
|
Wod core
|
|
|
RMU
|
CRM
|
7.8
|
175
|
138
|
101
|
128
|
Camber
|
Poplar wood core
|
|
|
Armada
|
TST
|
8.3
|
174
|
118
|
101
|
122
|
All Mtn Rocker
|
Wood core
|
|
|
|
Coomback
|
8
|
174
|
135
|
102
|
121
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood core, carbon web
|
|
|
Salomon
|
Stella
|
7.7
|
165
|
130
|
103
|
122
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
Salomon
|
Q105
|
8.2
|
174
|
133
|
104
|
125
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Convert
|
7
|
172
|
132
|
105
|
116
|
Rocker Tip & Tail + Camber
|
Paulownia/ Composite
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
Hi 5
|
7.6
|
178
|
135
|
105
|
125
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
wood, fiberglass laminate
|
|
|
G3
|
Zen Oxide 105
|
5.8
|
178
|
131
|
105
|
123
|
Tip Rocker
|
Poplar + Paulownia/ Carbon
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
|
7.4
|
182
|
130
|
106
|
120
|
Rocker Tip
|
Carbon/ Bamboo
|
|
|
Rossignol
|
Savory 7-W
|
7.7
|
170
|
136
|
106
|
126
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
wood core, fiber laminate
|
|
|
Rossignol
|
Soul 7
|
8.1
|
180
|
136
|
106
|
126
|
Rocker- Low Tip tail rise
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Gotama
|
8.9
|
178
|
139
|
107
|
123
|
Rocker Tail & Tip
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Nanataq
|
7.9
|
178
|
139
|
107
|
123
|
Full Rocker
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Parlor
|
Sparrow
|
7
|
172
|
142
|
107
|
117
|
Reverse Camber
|
Customizable Wood/ Carbon
|
|
|
Kastle
|
TX107
|
7.1
|
177
|
135
|
107
|
124
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
karuba wood core
|
|
|
|
Annex 108
|
8.6
|
177
|
139
|
108
|
127
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
Wood/ titanium
|
|
|
LIne
|
Sir Frances Bacon
|
8.8
|
178
|
140
|
108
|
136
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
Wood & Composite
|
|
|
Atomic
|
Blog
|
8.3
|
177
|
132
|
110
|
124
|
Slight Tail/Tip Rocker
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Surface
|
Live Free
|
8.6
|
181
|
146
|
110
|
130
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
Poplar Wood Core/ Kevlar
|
|
|
Icelantic
|
Shaman
|
8.6
|
173
|
160
|
110
|
130
|
Camber
|
Poplar Wood Core
|
|
|
|
Backdrop
|
8
|
174
|
142
|
112
|
121
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
G3
|
District 112
|
8.2
|
174
|
140
|
112
|
130
|
Rocker Tip & Tail, Camber
|
Tonic design with lighter core
|
|
|
Dynafit
|
|
7.8
|
177
|
134
|
112
|
123
|
Tail/Tip Rocker/ Ice Design
|
Paulownia/ Bamboo
|
|
|
Volkl
|
Katana
|
8.5
|
177
|
143
|
112
|
132
|
Full rocker
|
Wood/ titanium
|
|
|
Voile
|
V8
|
7.3
|
176
|
141
|
112
|
123
|
Tip Rocker & Tail, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
Rossignol
|
Star 7-W
|
8.1
|
170
|
140
|
116
|
130
|
Low Tail/Tip Rocker, 1/2 Camber
|
Wood core
|
|
|
Rossignol
|
Super 7
|
8.5
|
180
|
140
|
116
|
130
|
Rocker Tail & Tip, Camber
|
Wood fibro/ metal
|
|
|
La Sportiva
|
Hang 5
|
8.3
|
178
|
145
|
117
|
135
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
wood/ fiberglass /carbon
|
|
|
Voile
|
Buster
|
7.7
|
176
|
139
|
118
|
127
|
Tip Rocker, Camber
|
wood core
|
|
|
Black Diamond
|
Megawatt Carbon
|
7
|
178
|
145
|
120
|
127
|
Full rocker
|
Paulownia / Carbon
|
|
|
DPS
|
Lotus 120
|
8
|
178
|
140
|
122
|
126
|
Spoon
|
Carbon
|
|
As always, this list a work in progress so if you see something I've left out or gotten wrong, feel free to let me know and I'll update it.
a few suggested corrections:
ReplyDelete"If you ski stuff like this, you may need a new pair every year."
Incorrect.
- Source: I ski a lot of stuff like that, many days/year, and I get many years out of skis. Most skis are a lot more durable than we think, and Ptex repairs are really easy. Every year people ask me if I "ruined" my skis by sliding of rocks and dirt in pre/post season. The answer every time is an emphactic NO.
Core = "carbon" or "carbon and fiberglass"
not true. There may be fiber-composite stringers in many skis these days, but those are not the "core". Those are strengthening ribs. There is still a core made of wood, foam, or honeycomb in every ski. A solid carbon ski (as is implied by a "carbon core") would be stiffer than a steel crow bar and useless as a ski.
- Source: more than 5 years as a composite engineer in sporting goods, and a year as a ski tech actually drilling into many of the skis on this list.
Good point on the use of the word "core". I've gone ahead and changed it to "construction". As for your first point, I'm sure you've seen bony, but nothing compares to the boneyard in Eastern Gate when there's only four inches of fluff. I'm no stranger to the smell of Ptex in the morning, and my skis were totaled. Now nod your head in agreement before my wife hears us and starts questioning this year's ski budget.
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