Few areas in the world can rival North America’s East Coast in terms of number of ski options and variety of terrain and conditions. For example, New York has more ski areas than any other state — almost twice as many as California, despite being one-third the size. From the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, which rely mostly on man-made snow; to Jay Peak and Stowe in the northern Green Mountains in Vermont, which rivals many Western resorts for annual snowfall, conditions can vary greatly depending on where you typically ski, and even from one day to the next.

Picking the best ski depends on each person’s unique situation and ski style, but there are some common attributes and themes that I can help you navigate and keep in mind while looking. I learned to ski in New Hampshire almost 40 years ago, and I continue to ski all up and down the Northeast every year. As a Curated Skiing Expert, I would be happy to help you find the best skis to make the most of the Beast Coast.

Factors to Consider When Picking a Ski for the East Coast

• Terrain and Snow Conditions

Ask yourself, “What are the snow conditions for the majority of my ski days?” If most of your time skiing is on groomed man-made snow, then you’re going to want a narrower frontside ski for nimble turns, usually under 90 mm waist width. If you have the opportunity to ski natural snow often, either ungroomed moguls or tree runs (often called “glades”), a slightly wider ski (90-110 mm waist width) will provide increased surface area for stability and all-mountain versatility. Anything wider than 110 mm is usually meant exclusively for powder, and even at the snowiest East Coast resorts, more times than not it will feel out of place and have you wishing for a more well-rounded ski.

• Skiing Style

What kind of skier are you? Most people will respond with “all-mountain.” That might be true, but it doesn’t reveal how they ski. Are they a hard charger, preferring big turns and building lots of speed; or are they a more playful skier, preferring lots of little turns at slower speeds and possibly finding some features to incorporate on their way down the slopes? A skier who likes to go faster generally wants a stiff, strong ski that’s more stable at high speeds and in mixed-snow conditions, while a more playful skier would prefer a softer ski that is easier to flex in and out of turns.

One important thing to keep in mind when considering these options is that it’s not an all-or-nothing choice but more of a spectrum of stiffness and playfulness, where every ski will exhibit some qualities of each. Where the rubber meets the road, as they say, is how much of each is suitable for you.

Best Skis for the East Coast

On-Trail Playful / Forgiving

1. Line Pandora 84

The Line Pandora 84 is a great ski for intermediate skiers to start to venture out of rentals and start exploring the whole mountain. Its simple construction keeps things light and lively, while also being easy to ski in a wide range of conditions.

2. Atomic Maverick 86C / Maven 86C

The Atomic Maverick (or Maven for women) is an easy-going ski that’s nimble for carving groomers but still wide enough for some fresh snow. It has a carbon fiber backbone to provide stiffness and grip on firm snow but stay fairly light, and, thanks to Atomic’s HZN tips where the ends of the ski are rounded like the hull of a boat, they float and turn in soft snow much better than their width belies.

On-Trail Strong / Stable

3. Rossignol Experience 86 W Basalt

The Rossignol Experience 86 W Basalt is a ski that’s meant to mostly stay on marked trails, but it won’t throw a fit if you take it out on a light powder day or end up in a mogul line. It’s a stable ski that can make big, fast turns, but unlike its stiffer sibling, the Ti, it forgoes metal in the construction to keep things more casual and accessible.

4. Volkl Kendo 88 / Kenja 88

A favorite of intermediate and advanced skiers, the Volkl Kendo (or women’s Kenja) has been a staple all over the East Coast ever since they debuted over a dozen years ago. It’s nimble, holds an edge on firm snow, and is stable in slush, crud, and boot-deep powder.

5. Blizzard Black Pearl 88 / Brahma 88

Similar to the Kendo/Kenja above, there isn’t a type of terrain or snow condition in the East where the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 feels out of place. The Brahma adds two layers of titanal metal to ramp up its stiffness and stability.

All-Mountain Playful / Forgiving

6. Salomon QST 92 / QST 98

The Salomon QST is a unisex lineup (women’s skis differ only by length and graphics) of skis that have an incredible range of attributes for all abilities. A beginner or intermediate can hop on and find them helpful to unlock parts of the mountain they have never skied on before. An advanced and even expert skier could find them a capable ski that can be skied casually or aggressively, depending on their mood.

7. Elan Ripstick 96

The Elan Ripstick is notably lightweight and is one of the best carving all-mountain skis on the market. That makes them stand out on the East Coast, where even in the snowiest regions we’re occasionally forced by Mother Nature to spend a lot of time on groomed runs.

8. Line Blade Optic 96

New for last year, the Line Blade Optic is a playful ski that is stable and capable across the whole mountain. While they feature a metal construction for stability, unlike many other skis, the metal is cut into segments that allow the ski to flex naturally and maintain its playful character.

All-Mountain Strong / Stable

9. Head Kore 93

A top seller ever since its debut seven years ago, the Head Kore 93 is a lightweight and precise ski that utilizes graphene rather than metal to provide stiffness and dampening properties. That saves a lot of weight, making the Kore one of the lightest skis in its category, but it can also make it more demanding to ski.

10. Nordica Enforcer 94 / Santa Ana 93

If the Volkl Kendo is an East Coast favorite for firm snow, the Nordica Enforcer (Nordica Santa Ana for women) is the favorite for off-trail adventures. The Enforcer, and the Volkl Mantra below, can be found all over New England, where there’s enough snow to dip in the trees but you still need a strong ski that won’t leave you floundering when the only things open are icy groomers.

11. Volkl Mantra M6 / Secret 96

One of the most precise all-mountain skis available, the Volkl Mantra (or Secret for women) can carve and hold an edge on the iciest trails yet is stable when the snow is cut up, choppy, and inconsistent — which is often, given the number of people skiing in the East.

Freestyle

12. Faction Prodigy 1

The Faction Prodigy is a do-it-all, twin-tip ski, from jumps and rails to groomers, bumps, and trees. Lightweight and balanced in the air but still strong enough to rail icy groomers in between park runs.

13. Icelantic Nomad 95

Featuring a soft and forgiving flex, the Icelantic Nomad is most comfortable in the park or playing off natural features around the mountain. However, its shape makes it an excellent carver, easy to tip over and engage the edge of the skis.

14. Armada ARV 94 / ARW 94

Armada has always been a freestyle-focused brand, and the ARV (ARW for women) has been their flagship model for years with no signs of slowing down. Available in a wide range of sizes, depending on how much soft snow you typically enjoy, it’s a capable and reliable ski in just about any condition.

Find the Best Skis for You

As you can see, there’s a wide range of skis that shine on the tried and true slopes of the East Coast. Once you’ve picked out the ones that sound like a good fit for your style and goals, the final thing to keep in mind is sizing. Generally it’s a good idea to size down for the East Coast, as the trails tend to be much narrower and generally more crowded than the mountains out West. A shorter ski will be more nimble and easier to turn quickly, all other things being equal.

If you have any questions on the skis presented here, or you’d like a personalized recommendation of the best skis for you, chat with me or chat with another Skiing Expert here on Curated.