Choosing the right skis
Buying guide: how to find the right skis
Choosing skis isn't easy in today's jungle of ski types, models and brands. On top of the different ski types, there are different turning radii, stiffnesses, widths and plenty more that come into play when you're picking skis. In this guide we'll walk you through choosing the ski type and length, so you can find the perfect skis for you and the way you ski.
The first step towards the right choice is to have a clear picture of where you'll use them most. If a hard, freshly groomed slope is your idea of heaven, a dedicated on-piste ski is the obvious choice – and you probably don't need to worry much about how it handles soft, chopped-up snow or terrain off the piste. If all you do is chase powder, the choice is just as easy: buy a pair of skis with a wide waist.
Usually, though, it isn't quite that black and white. Many of us want something that works for everything – a ski that performs well on the piste but is also fun off it, or when the slope gets chopped up later in the afternoon. This is where all-mountain skis come in. What this large category has in common is that the skis work all over the mountain, and there are all-mountain skis for every type of skier.
If you love making your own way up the mountain, there are ski touring skis. They're designed to be as light as possible without compromising downhill performance. The choice is often about striking the right balance between weight and ride. Lighter skis make the climb easier but can feel less stable at higher speeds or in hard snow. So it's worth thinking about what kind of tours you'll do most. Long tours with plenty of vertical, or shorter ones focused on the descent?
Another thing to consider is your skiing style – not just your ability, but what you enjoy. Of course we all mix it up, with big and small turns depending on how we feel. But are you a skier who loves speed and uses that power to drive through chopped-up snow? Or do you prefer finesse, a calmer style and staying light on your feet? The more you know about this, the better choice you can make.
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On-piste skis
On-piste skis are for you if you love skiing groomed slopes and want proper edge grip. They're easy to ski on firm snow but sink more easily in powder. The narrower the waist, the quicker the skis are from edge to edge. A slightly wider waist, on the other hand, makes the skis a little easier to ski and more forgiving on softer snow. When the piste is soft and chopped up, many skiers benefit from a slightly wider waist.
Put simply, the narrower a ski is relative to its tip and tail, the shorter its turning radius. The turning radius is the natural arc the ski wants to make in a turn. A ski with a shorter turning radius (12 to 15 m) encourages short turns and can sometimes feel a little nervous in longer ones. A ski with a longer turning radius (18 to 22 m) is better suited to long turns and slightly higher speeds. It takes a bit more power and technique to bring it into shorter turns, so it can feel a little hard to turn.
Which sidecut you should choose therefore depends on what you want from the ski and on your skiing style. If you like short, quick turns at moderate speed, a shorter on-piste ski with more sidecut suits you best. If you prefer high speeds and longer turns, a slightly longer ski with less sidecut is the right choice.
As a general rule, on-piste skis are chosen 5 to 15 centimetres shorter than your height. A shorter ski is easier to handle and suits beginners or more cautious skiers. A longer ski is for those with more experience, and it's also more stable at higher speeds. So make sure you choose the right skis to get the best possible skiing experience.
All-mountain skis
All-mountain skis are for you if you love skiing both on and off the piste. They often perform just as well on groomed runs as an on-piste ski. It's a very broad category, and it isn't always easy to draw sharp lines between all-mountain and on-piste or off-piste models. They simply cover a wide range of skis, which is why all-mountain skis suit so many skiers.
How wide a waist should I choose?
When you're working out which skis to choose, you might also ask yourself: how wide should the waist be? It depends on what you want from the ski. Do you mostly ski the piste but still like to take a run off it now and then? Then you might want a ski that isn't too wide underfoot. If skiing off the piste is your priority, a ski with a slightly wider waist is preferable. One quality that's often appreciated in this category is that the skis work really well on chopped-up pistes and in slushy spring snow.
The waist – the narrowest part of the ski – gives you a general idea of the ski's character. All-mountain skis typically have a waist of 90–110 mm. Skis closer to 90 mm have more on-piste qualities, while those with a slightly wider waist give extra float in powder.
A ski's dimensions are often given as three figures, for example 122-95-114. The first figure, 122, is the width at the widest point at the front (the tip). The second, 95, is the ski's waist, and the last figure, 114, is the width at the back (the tail).
It's also worth thinking about where you'll be skiing. Do you mostly ski in Scandinavia, where there's usually a bit less snow and denser forest, or in the Alps, where more snow tends to fall and the terrain is bigger? A slightly narrower, easier-turning ski can be the better choice for Scandinavian conditions, while a ski with a slightly wider waist is preferable in the Alps.
The length of an all-mountain ski depends on your weight, skiing style, the type of ski and, for example, how much rocker it has. As a general rule, anything from just below your own height to slightly longer than you is a good choice.
Off-piste/freeride skis
Off-piste/freeride skis are the perfect, obvious choice if you love skiing off-piste and in powder. To choose skis that suit your purpose, it's important to think carefully about your needs. These skis are wider than all-mountain skis, which means they ask a bit more of the skier to hold them on edge on the piste.
Off-piste doesn't always mean bottomless, fluffy powder – it can just as easily mean spring slush or wind-packed mountain slopes. So wider isn't always better; it depends on the conditions. It's worth asking yourself how much loose snow you'll realistically be skiing. You may still want a ski with good on-piste qualities, but with the focus on off-piste.
Generally speaking, the slightly wider off-piste skis give even better float in loose snow, at the cost of some on-piste performance. That said, there are now quite a few wide-waisted skis that also work well on the piste! They can't be compared with a piste racing ski, of course – but that isn't the point.
A ski with a waist over 110 mm is generally defined as an off-piste ski. In the borderland with all-mountain skis, which have waists up to 110 mm, many of the wider all-mountain skis naturally have strong off-piste qualities.
All off-piste skis have some degree of rocker in the tip & tail, which means they always want to rise and float well in loose snow. Because the ski has a lot of rocker and you'll be heading into powder, it's a good idea to choose a slightly longer ski than you would for, say, a pure on-piste ski – around your own height or a little longer.
Twin tip/park skis
Twin tip/park skis are for you if you love hanging out in the park and doing tricks on your skis. With a pair of twin tips you can do tricks in both the park and the trees. They also make it easy to land and ski switch, as the skis are turned up at the back too. This ski type comes in several models and widths, so it can be perfect on the piste as well as in the park or off the groomed runs. Bear in mind that the skis should have a wider waist if you want to ski a lot of powder.
Many of the better park skis have thicker steel edges and reinforced sidewalls to increase durability. That's worth keeping in mind when you buy skis, especially if you know there'll be plenty of jumps and rails. Jumping and hitting rails is great fun, but it also takes its toll on the skis – so make sure you buy a ski that's built for the job.
If you mainly want a ski for the slopes, with the occasional jump, you probably don't need to be as fussy about reinforced sidewalls and thicker steel edges. As we said: think about what the ski will be used for when you choose.
When choosing the length of your twin tips, it's also worth remembering that you lose around ten centimetres of effective edge because of the turned-up tail. This makes the ski feel a little shorter, as you aren't using its full running length. So choose twin tips that are at least your own height, or a little longer if you're a stronger skier. That corresponds to a ski roughly 10 cm shorter than you.
Ski touring skis
Ski touring skis are the choice for you if you want to climb the mountain under your own steam and enjoy the ride on the way down. They're built to be light, efficient and reliable, both uphill and downhill.
First and foremost, the choice comes down to the balance between weight and ride. A lighter ski makes the climb smoother and less tiring, while a slightly heavier model gives more stability and control on the descent. So think about the kind of tours you do most. Long tours with plenty of vertical, or shorter ones focused on the descent?
The width of the ski affects both float and weight. A narrower touring ski with a waist of around 80–90 mm is best for longer tours and harder snow. A wider model, up to around 100–110 mm, gives better float in powder but weighs a little more. Think about what you're after and choose what feels right for you.
Most ski touring skis have rocker in the tip, sometimes in the tail as well. This makes the ski easier to turn and gives better float in loose snow. A flatter ski with less rocker, on the other hand, grips better on harder snow. The core is often made of light wood such as paulownia or poplar, sometimes reinforced with carbon fibre for extra stability without adding weight.
The length depends on your skiing style and experience. A slightly shorter ski is more agile on the way up and easier to handle in tight spots. A longer ski gives better stability and float in deep snow. A good rule of thumb is to choose a ski that's roughly your own height, or slightly shorter if you prioritise the climb.
Pair the skis with lightweight tech bindings if you prioritise comfort on the way up, or a hybrid binding if you want the downhill feel of an alpine binding. And don't forget climbing skins – they're essential for getting uphill!
In short, choose ski touring skis based on how you ski and where you most like to be. If long tours are your priority, go light. If you want more power on the descent, choose a slightly wider and more stable model.
Choosing the right skis: length
Choosing the length of your skis isn't always as easy as you might think. There's no simple answer to the question: I'm 175 cm tall – how long should my skis be? We've already covered a few things to consider about length for each ski category. Generally speaking, the better the skier, the longer the ski they can handle. That said, it doesn't mean an advanced skier has to have a long ski. If you're after a quick slalom ski, it doesn't need to be that long. Here are some general factors that can determine whether you should go for a slightly longer or slightly shorter ski:
The ski should reach roughly to your nose if:
- You mainly enjoy short, slightly quicker turns.
- You're a beginner or an inexperienced skier.
- You're on the lighter side.
- The ski will only be used on the piste.
The ski should be your own height or a little longer if:
- You're on the heavier side.
- Your skiing style is powerful and aggressive.
- You spend a fair amount of time off the piste.
- The ski has a lot of rocker.
- Stability at speed is something you value highly.
Choosing the right skis: stiffness (flex)
The stiffness (flex) of the ski is important to consider based on your weight and how skilled and experienced a skier you are. The stiffer the ski, the more power you can transfer to the snow. This gives better edge grip and more acceleration. However, you need to be a really strong skier to get the most out of it.
Slightly softer skis are more fun for most people, and here the focus is on being able to ski – and having the energy for – long days. You don't need to go too soft, though; what people like is very individual. Things to consider when choosing flex are technique, weight, skiing style, where you ski and, above all, your personal preferences. For example, a lighter skier with good technique may experience a ski's flex the same way as a heavier skier with weaker technique.
Today some skis have become a little softer thanks to modern materials and construction. They can be softer without losing too much performance, which also makes them a bit more versatile. Many people say a ski has to be very stiff lengthwise to give good edge grip. That's a misconception. Of course it plays a part, but it's torsional stiffness that contributes more to edge grip.
What is rocker?
For some years now, some form of rocker has been more or less standard on all skis that aren't pure race-style on-piste skis. Generally speaking, rocker tends to make skis easier to ski and more versatile at the same time.
On most all-mountain and freeride skis you'll find some form of rocker in the tip and tail, combined with traditional camber underfoot. This helps the skis float better, makes them quicker into the turn on hard snow and, overall, more versatile. Which rocker profile you choose depends on what you want from the ski. A rocker that starts early but isn't very high gives more drive and, for example, helps the ski push through chopped-up, uneven snow. A rocker that starts a little later but has a stronger rise will want to ride over obstacles in its path; it's slightly better suited to short turns and somewhat lower speeds. The camber helps the skis retain energy and edge grip.
Glossary
We know it isn't always easy to keep up with all the different terms when you're choosing the right skis. That's why we've put together a short glossary explaining the most common terms you'll come across:
Rocker: The parts of the ski that are turned upwards.
Turning radius: Indicates how short- or long-turning the ski is, and how large a radius it needs to make a turn. Short turns: 10-13 m. Medium turns: 14-17 m. Long turns: 18 m and above.
Tip: The front part of the ski.
Waist: The narrowest part of the ski.
Tail: The rear part of the ski.
Flex: Lengthwise stiffness.
Torsion: Torsional stiffness across the ski.
Camber: Means the ski has conventional camber underfoot, which you have to press down into the snow.
Full camber: Means the camber you have to press down runs along the whole ski, not just underfoot.
Reverse camber: Means the ski has no camber and the whole ski curves upwards.
Early rise/tip rocker: Means the tip of the ski is turned upwards and the ski has a set direction of travel.
Directional rocker: Means the ski is turned up more at the front than at the back.
Full rocker: Means the ski is turned up at both the front and the back, with no camber underfoot.
Still not sure which skis to choose? Give us a call or send us an email – we love talking skis and are more than happy to help!
