Curated experts make thousands of recommendations to skiers every season taking into account key factors, such as skill level, preferred terrain, and skiing style. This list brings together their most recommended all-mountain skis under $500. Note, however, that we don't believe in "best of" lists here at Curated – everyone is different and we believe in finding the best gear for you and not generally for the masses. Don't forget to chat with a Ski Expert here on Curated for free, personalized advice and recommendations on finding the best all-mountain skis for your needs.
- Salomon QST 92 Skis · 2022
- K2 Mindbender 85 Skis · 2022
- Salomon Stance 90 Skis
- Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis
- K2 Mindbender 85 Alliance Women's Skis · 2022
- Salomon QST LUX 92 Women's Skis · 2022
- K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2022
- Rossignol Blackops Sender Ski
- Salomon QST Spark Skis · 2022
- Line Pandora 84 Women's 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.
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
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
A highly rated and reviewed ski. Loved by many for a reason! Great carve-ability and awesome performance across the mountain. These feel right at home on the groomers but have just a bit of rocker for when the fresh snow starts falling or when you want to tackle the bumps or trees. Stable in the hard stuff but playful when you want it to be. You really can't go wrong with this ski!
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!
K2 Mindbender 85 Alliance Women's Skis · 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?
Salomon QST LUX 92 Women's Skis · 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 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!
Rossignol Blackops Sender Ski
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 Women's Skis · 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 Women's Skis · 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 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.
Rossignol Blackops Holyshred Ski
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 Women's Skis · 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 Blaze 94 Skis
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.
Völkl Blaze 94 Skis · 2021 · 186 cm
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!
Atomic Vantage 75 W Women's Skis with M10 Gw Bindings · 2022
The frontside carver who is just starting out or getting back into their adventures on the slopes! An all-mountain rocker can be found in the front of the ski for truly easy turn initiation, this ski is forgiving and good at making you feel capable with its increased edge to snow contact. The capped sidewall included here means that they are durable without feeling stiff. They are a great confidence booster for a first-timer who wants something to escape the rental nightmare with!
This ski will help beginners feel more comfortable on the mountain. It has a lightweight and forgiving design, helping new skiers feel confident in their turn initiation, while not worrying about their control or stability on the mountain. This is a great ski for someone looking to progress further in their abilities.
Head Kore 105 Skis · 2022
Coming in around 1850g per ski at this length, the Cochise and Mantra are around 2300g, but due to Head's unique build construction, these perform more like those heavier skis. They obviously will deflect and chatter more than heavier skis, but these are very impressive for their weight. Easy on the legs too!
This is an ideal one ski quiver for powder, resort chop, or side country and backcountry laps! It's light, maneuverable, playful and fun! A real top favorite for doing it all!!
Head Kore 93 Skis · 2021
Really popular ski in the past 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'll go fast and cut through the crud.
The narrow waist and substantial build will allow you to rip anything from cord to crud. It has a layer of metal in it that will offer stability while the 14m turn radius provides a quick turn engagement.
Hands down the standout ski from 2019! Kind of a unicorn ski because of how light but stiff it is! Totally rips hardpack, but is relatively light for the uphill!
Dynastar Mens M Pro 90 Skis · 2021
Going to be on the narrower side of all-mountain. These are part of Dynastars new free-ride line and are going to be super maneuverable hard charging skis that would excel in the trees.
Fantastic all-mountain ripper that loves to carve on groomers and get into the trees!
Rossignol Blackops Escaper Ski
An energetic spring out of your turns will be complemented by rocketing you right into the next one - this ski knows how to lead a line! Has a Diago fiber carbo pleating that reduces the weight while improving its responsiveness underfoot. This one is going to be ideal for someone who wants a step up in maneuverability in trees, moguls, and other tight spaces without sacrificing any other qualities. Truly a one-ski quiver for someone with big powdery dreams and a demand for quality build.
The Black Ops is a ski you are commonly going to see on "experts only" lifts and then out into the Backcountry, the fact it has a narrower neck will help with the turns, but still wide enough to rip it down the hill.
Line Blade Skis
A carver with a freestyle attitude! This is a unique ski that can be hard to classify, but it is essentially a carving ski with a more forward mount point, softer flex, wider waist width, and tighter turn radius than many of our more "traditional" carving skis. The Blade is made to rip tight, quick turns with large amounts of rebound to rocket you into the next one! It's a "Fun Carver", versus a "Race Carver". A great option for everyone from beginner to advanced skiers (who have an understanding of carving) to zip, zoom, dart, and dodge their way down the mountain! A truly unique ride!
Line is not known for having good carving skis, they are much more in with the freeride crowd, but these are going to help change that reputation. Responsive, great on edge, but can also handle anything thrown at them!
This ski is super responsive and awesome on edge, its unique metal core lends itself nicely to tearing up groomers but isn't afraid of the occasional dive off piste.
Dynastar M-Menace 90 Open Skis · 2023
The Dynastar Menace is a great all-mountain ski that will perform in a variety of conditions! At 90mm underfoot and a rocker/camber/rocker profile, there's enough floatation for the occasional powder day, but it's still narrow enough for versatility and performance on groomers, packed snow, trees - you name it!
Great all-mountain, a resort-focused ski that will hold up in any conditions and offer a very versatile ski. A poplar wood core which will have you feeling like this ski can handle anything: will absorb any sort of crud on the trail, be elastic enough that you can really push its turning ability, and won't be too heavy in general. The cap construction on this will make it feel lighter while not giving up any of that stability and control you will find in a heavier ski. It will initiate turns well and go from edge to edge with ease.
Atomic Maverick 95 TI Skis Black Red
The Maverick 95's are very fun inbounds and can hold an edge very well on piste, but can also be nimble in the sidecountry with decent floatation in powder for a 95mm-underfoot ski. This is partially thanks to Atomic's HRZN tip and tail technology, which makes the skis more forgiving and floaty. The Titanal inside the ski helps keep the ski damp, which means it feels smooth and stable in rough snow. Good for intermediate - advanced skiers, east coast skiers, groomers, side country, high speeds.
The Atomic Maverick 95 is a master class in all-mountain perfection. Titinal Top sheet gives this ski a super powerful response over ice and crud, quick edge to edge, and plenty of surface to float with in deep snow. For those who like tight hard charging lines but don't want to be limited in where you can go.
Salomon Stance 84 Skis · 2022
This is a strong ski that likes to lay down trenches on the groomers. Its shape and layup give it an amazing amount of versatility for skiing styles and terrain. Salomon used a single sheet of titanal with carbon in the tips and tails to combine strength with a low swing weight. This makes these skis extremely easy to ski, yet provides stability in carved turns. The camber underfoot with slight tip/tail rocker aid with versatility for those days when the snow turns softer.
These are as at home carving the icy steeps as they are on perfectly groomed corduroy. The Stance 84 excels regardless of conditions. A progressive sidecut coupled with a lively wood core is agile and reliable, while all-new titanal and carbon construction grips the snow, making for a smooth, enjoyable ride.
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