At Curated, we don't believe that there is a single "best" pair of skis. We believe that there is a best pair of skis for you. Our unbiased experts have recommended thousands of pairs of skis across all the best brands – from Rossignol and Salomon to K2 and Blizzard – to customers of all sizes and skill levels who are seeking to hit the ski resort with the right skis catered to their needs. Check out this list of the top most recommended skis, but note that we don't believe in "best of" lists here at Curated – everyone is different and we believe in finding the best skis for you and not generally for the masses.
Whether you're looking for skis for high speed or bumps, for in the resort or out in the backcountry, do you need a frontside ski with grip on hard pack or a twin tip to land switch, are longer skis or shorter skis right for you, wondering if your skis are the right stiffness, curious how different women’s skis are from men's skis, or are you looking for a one-ski quiver? Chat with a Ski Expert here on Curated to find the perfect skis for you!
- Salomon QST 92 Skis · 2022
- Head Kore 93 Skis · 2022
- K2 Mindbender 85 Skis · 2022
- Salomon Stance 90 Skis · 2022
- Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2022
- Salomon QST LUX 92 Skis · Women's · 2022
- K2 Mindbender 85 Alliance Skis · Women's · 2022
- Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis · 2022
- K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2022
- Head Kore 99 Skis · 2022
Salomon QST 92 Skis · 2022
The QST 92 is the second narrowest in the line, and does perform very well on front side carving but its features make it a good all-mountain option. It uses a less rockered tip and tail compared to the other QST models and combines it with a longer active edge to create a smooth entrance into carves. This along with the poplar core, cork damplifier, and Solomon's unique carbon and flax material create a damper more powerful feel than many other carbon skis. They are not particularly heavy weighing in at 1850g in the 177cm size and they maintain a bit of that rockered tip to help with the ski floating and making it a great all-mountain option.
Head Kore 93 Skis · 2022
Very popular over the last few years. Super lightweight, easy to maneuver quickly, 93 underfoot means you can get edge to edge quickly but still float in a little bit of snow. The construction of this ski makes it light but stiff so it will go fast and cut through the crud.
K2 Mindbender 85 Skis · 2022
The K2 Mindbender 85's combine a forgiving design but still offer the edge hold and carvability that most entry-level skis don't. This ski is perfect for shredding groomers at Alfton Alps but will also be a great asset to your quiver when you're skiing out west. With all-terrain rocker these skis will truly perform great in all conditions. The short low rise in the tail will also help add extra control when you're in variable snow. The aspen core is lightweight but still resilient enough to dampen the chatter at fast speeds. Once you realize the capabilities of this ski, you'll wonder how you were ever riding those crusty old rentals.
This is the perfect all-mountain ski for progressing your skills from intermediate to advanced! Break beyond the groomers and explore the trees, bumps, and even the fresh soft snow with control and confidence. A strong edge hold and great carving ability make ripping groomers super fun, while the all-terrain rocker is designed for versatility in variable conditions.
Salomon Stance 90 Skis · 2022
High performance skiing mostly on groomed trails. This ski has a metal laminated construction similar to the ever-popular Nordica Enforcer line, but with a strategic design that reduces the overall weight, making the ski more friendly for all-day riding and a little easier to maneuver. This ski has a ton of power in it, but in a package that is accessible to a solid intermediate and up.
It's a ski for the one who enjoys groomers, but also likes to adventure into the slop on the sides of each run. Since it has metal laminate, it holds a solid edge when needed, but its also a bit more forgiving than something like the atomic vantage 90ti.
Great for ripping up the groomers and getting into some fun little pow laps here and there.
Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis · Women's · 2022
One of the best all-mountain skis year in and year out! A really versatile ski that can truly handle all conditions. The combination of a poplar/beech wood core, carbon and fiberglass laminates, and minimally tapered tip and tail rocker make for an all-mountain performer with a really intuitive feel. They excel at carving strong turns and being strong and lively in varying snow conditions, but they are surprisingly fun and capable in softer conditions as well.
This is a GREAT resort ski that will serve you at Stratton when the conditions get firmer. This ski will have awesome edge hold on harder snow. However, the slightly wide waist will allow you to venture into fresh snow and more variable terrain as well when you take those trips to Colorado!
A classic for a reason! Really versatile all-mountain ski that loves skiing groomers but is also capable in softer conditions. They feel precise and have great edge control on groomers, and they have a bit of rocker for that welcome few inches of fresh snow!
Salomon QST LUX 92 Skis · Women's · 2022
Just about anything you throw at it and is one of the most approachable skis for a wide range of skiers. The QST line is impressive in its versatility: hard snow groomers? Check. Want to jump off into the trees? Check. Moguls? Check. At 92 underfoot, this ski works well on both coasts, the Rockies, and the midwest.
K2 Mindbender 85 Alliance Skis · Women's · 2022
K2 uses an 85mm waist width with their All-terrain Rocker (giving a gradual rise in the tip with a short, low rise in the tail) to produce an incredibly versatile ski for the intermediate to advanced skier. The ski's shape provides versatility for both easy turn initiation on groomed snow, and floatation in soft snow when you travel out west. They also have an Aspen Veneer Core for lightweight and long life. K2 uses a short turning radius on this ski, for a skier who prefers controlled, shorter turns.
The K2 Mindbender 85 is a quick turning all-mountain ski for the woman looking for a lightweight responsive ski spending 70% or more of the time on groomed terrain or exploring some trees and side hits. It's not going to excel in powder but how many powder days are you really skiing this year?
Blizzard Bonafide 97 Skis · 2022
Crudbusting. These are bulldozers. They have 2 layers of metal in them and just want to charge. It takes a competent pilot to maneuver these things, but when driven well, they take no prisoners. Point these downhill and blast through anything that's in your way.
All mountain skiing! From chop to powder - wider waist on these guys can handle boot to knee deep powder if it comes and still be a contender on the groomers with the best carving skis!
Better on the front side than a lot of other all-mountain skis. Blizzard has a racing background.
K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2022
Someone who wants a lively ski with some snap to it without the extra weight that is added from the Titanal laminate and for those who have got their technique down that they don't care for the extra stability to sacrifice their versatility. Constructed instead with a carbon boost braid, the woven-in stringers add in more pop and rebound - these feel quite energetic, but without lugging around all that metal so they don't feel sluggish or heavy at all. A great all-terrain rocker is found in the front and when that is parlayed with a 90mm waist and a rocker/camber/rocker profile you just need to know that these will do amazing in dumps of fresh snow and will feel float lifting you right above the powder. Again, these come with a graciously short turn radius that is quick edge to edge and will be a natural to take through the trees for you.
This is a powerful all-mountain ski. It has an aspen wood core which really reduces the weight of the ski, while not affecting its performance. It has a super precise initiation of turns, allowing you to really control the length and type of turn you want to create with it. This ski will be quick and nimble. It will perform high on groomers as well as everywhere on the mountain! The camber underfoot will allow the ski to grip the snow and feel stable and in control throughout turns. The 90mm underfoot will also allow the ski to have a bit of surface area and control on a snowy day when the trails may be a bit more variable.
The K2 Mindbender has been a staple for the brand for years and with good reason! This ski is an all-mountain machine that likes to rip up the groomers and slash through any chop that might get in your way. At 90mm underfoot, this ski is pretty quick from edge to edge and can float through a bit of the fresh stuff. Stiff through the tips and the tails with the flagship carbon fingers running through the ski from the bindings, the Mindbender 90c is great for a growing beginner and intermediate skier!
Head Kore 99 Skis · 2022
Lightweight and charging. This is for the aggressive skier to get the most out of the mountain. The Kore 99 will let you ride anywhere. Griping on groomers, straight-lining moguls, slashing around in the powder this is a superb all-mountain, put a smile on your face ski!
At 99mm underfoot they will be great for just about any condition! Narrow and stiff enough to rail down groomers, but playful enough to have a blast in the pow, and maneuverable for trees, bumps, and steeps.
Salomon QST 98 Skis · 2023
Just in for the 2022 season the QST's have been a super popular and very approachable lineup of skis over the years! With a new modern tip/tail rocker shape for easy turn release and a 98mm waist this ski is meant to handle a plate full of different skiing types. A double sidewall design helps to transmit power on the turn while the cork damplifier and C/FX help keep the ski damp and predictable. Also, they made this ski slightly lighter than the 2021 99mm QST.
Rossignol Black Ops Sender Skis · 2022
The Sender is a new lightweight 104mm underfoot ski from Rossignol. Compared to the metal-laminated Sender TI, the Sender has a more forgiving flex and is considerably lighter, making for a more playful and maneuverable ski. With its wide tips and tails this ski initiates turns easily and is a blast to carve, and the balanced flex pattern provides a smooth ride and good stability at speed.
Awesome brand new ski from Rossignol that performs incredibly well in all conditions. Not too heavy, but has enough weight behind it to feel very stable with no tip chatter at high speed. Carves extremely well on groomers and hardpack while also charging in post-storm powder and leftover soft stuff.
High speed long turns or tight tree pivoting. Very capable even at slow speeds—as long as you're thinking of where you'd like to be, the Senders will go.
Salomon QST Spark Skis · 2022
A tremendous all-mountain ski that is prime for the east coast conditions and cruising over groomers. A great ski to step into and get your footing on skis and getting your turns linking up nicely. This ski is a great twin tip to cross the whole mountain and jump into the park for a bit if you want. This ski is light and a great offering from Salomon.
Line Pandora 84 Skis · Women's · 2022
A groomer-oriented ski. A softer top initiates turns easily while a stiffer tail provides power and stability at higher speeds. Line uses a 5CUT Multi-Radius sidecut, meaning there are 5 different radiuses blended into the ski's sidecut offering a wide variety of turn shapes. Carbon material stretches from tip to tail for added stability. A thin core and sidewall in the tip make it 100g lighter for reduces wing weight. In addition, Line used an Aspen core for the lightest and most agile feel!
K2 Mindbender 90C Alliance Skis · Women's · 2022
An amazing all-mountain ski built around fun, balance, and performance! The versatile 90mm and all-mountain rocker shape provides decent flotation in powder, holds an edge well in variable conditions, and is a good length for your height. Easy to turn, and designed for the more aggressive skiers on the mountain!
Great for intermediate to advanced skiers who like to ski a bit on groomers and a bit off trail. At 90mm underfoot these skis will be nice and quick edge to edge, but their shape also offers pretty good float in fresh snow!
K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis · 2022
This ski is engaging, stable, and powerful. Their construction using a maple and aspen core with a Y-beam made from titanal gives this ski an exceptional feel on groomers and when you're carving. The front of the skis has a very engaging leading edge due to the metal over the edges. While the lack of metal over the tail edges makes the ski a bit more playful in the rear. Overall this ski is one made to charge through the chop and crud you'll find on the mountain and while it can handle the soft powder due to its width, its is less of a freeride ski compared to an all-mountain ski.
K2 has been classic in the all-mountain scene forever. These have a solid sidecut to allow for easier turn initiation, while the oversized tips create ideal floatation on the pow pow. The added Titanul is great for stiffening up the ride a bit so you can charge through the chop and crud.
K2 Mindbender 90Ti Skis · 2022
These are a 2022 version of an amazing ski! The K2 Mindbenders are a solid ski from a great manufacturer. The 2021 version of these skis sold out fast! They do have a titanal layer that will make them strong and stable on groomers and icy conditions, so they'll be a bit heavier than the options above. However, these are a much more intuitive ski vs. the Enforcers. These skis won't have you in the backseat as they're much more forgiving. 177cm, 90 waist, these will be a great intermediate-advanced ski that will feel strong and stable, but still forgiving. These will be heavier than the options above.
A slightly more piste-oriented all-mountain ski that likes to get on edge and go fast. At 90mm underfoot this ski is exceptionally quick edge to edge. With titanal metal in the core its a stiff and stable ride that rips hard and fast. Slight rocker in the tip gives it off-piste chops and float in softer snow. The stiff flat tail however is great for finishing turns and propelling you into the next.
Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2022
Amazing powerful turns on groomed terrain, and at 96mm underfoot this ski can hack the cruddy and the soft when the skies open up. This ski has a double sheet of metal, so it really grabs those groomers for an incredible turn. It is surprisingly light and can hack pretty much anything you throw at it!
Two sheets of metal gives more playfulness and maneuverability. The built-in tail rocker gives playfulness. More leaning on the freeride side but has a lot of power and energy. A great blend of power and playfulness.
A 96 waist will get you through all but the deepest days on the mountain. The construction reduces weight while maintaining strength and stability at speed or in the crud.
Rossignol Black Ops Holy Shred Skis · 2022
Versatility, these things do a bit of everything without the old stigma jack of all trades master of none. They're just plain fun. It's capable at all speeds without the demanding nature of some more traditional metal laminate options and you can feel good about the purchase because Rossi is using a good chunk of recycled materials though the entire Black Ops Line.
All mountain/park oriented ski with twin tips, medium turning radius, and 98mm underfoot. Pretty stiff. Good for people ripping down the mountain at hair whipping speeds.
98mm. A great all mountain twin tip that blends power with playfulness. Amazing compression damping and great edge grip.
Line Sick Day 94 Skis · 2022
A really fun all-mountain ski that isn't afraid of ripping through the park! Early rise tips help keep you afloat in powder while the directional flex lets charge hard through any conditions. Thin tips take 100 grams of weight out of the tips for easier maneuvering and rotations if that's your thing. 5-cut side radius allows for varying turn sizes and shapes with ease! Top it all off with a partial twin tip so you're unstoppable in any direction!
Edge hold, crud busting, and float is what this all-mountain ski is about. You can ride groomers or explore off-piste and charge as fast as you can. The Sick day will be a one ski to do it all no matter where you go! For 2022 they reinforced it with Magic Finger carbon filaments to make it that much more responsive!
Fischer Ranger 90 FR Skis · 2022
Standard wood core construction with plenty of camber since there is no metal in the ski. The camber profile makes it snappy and energetic upon turn initiation. At 90mm underfoot you're getting a decent amount of floatation on powder. This is a twin-shaped ski as well which is another playful feature in the ski for those who are curious about freestyle!
Atomic Maven 86 Skis + M 10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2022
Brand new ski from Atomic for 2022 that they released early. This was developed in North America and built in Austria. Made for on-trail riding and off-piste exploring. They are balanced with a blend of power and maneuverability. This will be a solid intermediate ski that experts will enjoy too!
Atomic Bent Chetler 100 Skis · 2022
This surfy sender belongs to those who crave a well-rounded approach to the mountain that includes a good mix of everything! Whether it's powder, groomers, jumps, trees, bumps, or even the backcountry - this ski answers the call and then some - it's impressively lightweight yet super-durable at the same time!! The light poplar wood core is outfitted with wear-resistant edges, sintered bases, and a structured topsheet (2022 is the year for the best graphics too!) which ensures you won't be looking for a new pair in 3 years.
This has a 20/70/10 rocker/camber/rocker profile to give your carves energy and power but also give your tips some lift in the powder. It has a poplar wood core that optimizes weight but also has shock absorption characteristics. With a medium turn radius and the classic Atomic steel edges, this ski has all the performance characteristics you'd want in an all-mountain ski.
The Atomic Bent Chetler 100 skis designed by pro skier Chris Bentchetler has been one of the most popular freestyle do-it-all skis in recent seasons. With a lightweight wood core and full sidewall construction, the Bent Chetlers are made to charge, spin, drop, and jib the entire mountain. Atomic's signature HRZN design is made to cut through powder and choppy conditions by increasing the surface area an extra 10% in the tip and tail.
Atomic Maverick 86 C Skis · 2022
Atomic combined a wood core, metal laminate, and carbon fiber to produce a ski with excellent energy out of the turn and a smooth, damp ride. Camber underfoot with rocker and early taper in the tips and tails give you easy turn initiation and a ski that won't hook in softer snow.
The true all-mountain skier looking for a quick ski edge to edge in a lightweight package that is very responsive under foot.
K2 Poacher Skis · 2022
The poachers are back again! K2's flagship park model has made the return for 2022 with a steezy graphics update. For years this ski has made its way through parks and to podiums. The Poacher is a great all-mountain/park ski for someone looking for a nice 96mm waist width that isn't too expensive and has a great flex pattern for all the butters with its carbon stingers and well-blended wood core.
The K2 poacher is a great option for the above-average to advanced skier. It uses carbon stringers over top of the ski to help with energy transfer for a playful yet sturdy feel. This Fir and Aspen double-barrel core is going to be light and nimble but still has that full sidewall construction for performance on trail.
Völkl Kenja 88 Skis · Women's · 2022
These skis are great for that on-piste carver who likes to do a little bit of exploring during the day. They are lightweight, energetic, and versatile but not as forgiving as the other skis in this list as they are a little more high performance but they give back tenfold what you put into them.
Atomic Maverick 88 TI Skis · 2022
The Maverick 88 is a true all-mountain ski for those who want to spend the majority of their time off-trail but still want a strong ski on the groomers too. This is a fun, dependable, and balanced ski. They can dampen the crud on the mountain and have the stiffness and flex to put some power in your carves due to the two sheets of metal in them. The rocker and taper in the tips and tails as well as the HRZN tech in the tip give the ski a more maneuverable, versatile, and user-friendly feeling in softer snow and off-piste terrain.
The Maverick lineup from Atomic is a great all-around ski. It absolutely RIPS on the groomers at high speeds and is maneuverable enough to bang through the trees and bumps all day long without sacrificing energy. Its rocker profile allows it to stay afloat in the powder.
Völkl Blaze 94 Skis · 2022
Lightweight performance ski that's happy everywhere from ice to powder! A solid hybrid touring ski or happy just as a daily driver. Volkl's 3D radius for intuitive and easy turning at any speed, wide enough to float.
K2 Reckoner 102 Skis · 2022
With rocker camber rocker, these are a one ski weapon. They have carbon stringers that stiffen the ski up slightly from previous years' designs. You can rip this ski on and of the groomers and will be pleased. They have K2's signature Aspen core but with added carbon stringers you can see. A durable sidewall construction provides a responsive burly ski that will last many seasons. One of the best parts of the K2 Reckoner is the Spectral Braid Tech. This creates precision-tuned torsion and flex by altering the fiber orientation along the length of the ski. Poppy, electric, and most definitely playful. This ski is recommended for the jammer that jibs every side hit and genuinely loves skiing any type of terrain in any snow condition.
People who like to have fun no matter the condition. The K2 Reckoner is amazing. I "reckon" you'll love it. Ha! Starting with a midfat width of 102, you get good performance on groomers and a ski nimble enough to duck into the trees, while still having plenty of width to keep you on top on most powder days. The fir and aspen wood core is reinforced with a carbon braid, so you get some added strength without the added weight. It's a full twin tip, too, so you can hit things switch.
Völkl Blaze 94 Skis · 2021
This is a new ski from Volkl this year and it's getting rave reviews!! Light enough to tour on but still has Volkl's quintessential edge hold and precision feel. Stable and damp with titanal underfoot this ski carves on groomers!! It has the new 3D radius technology so it intuitively and easily makes variable radius turns depending on speed and terrain!! Absolutely great and versatile ski!!
This is an all mountain ski at 94mm underfoot. It'll handle the tight spots, bumps, trees etc. very well. Light, poppy, and playful!
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