Many days in springtime, the snow will be frozen sheets of ice in the morning and then forming giant slush waves by the mid-afternoon. You ever cruise down a cat track like Snowbirds Road to Provo and dream of whipping cork 10s into the steeps like Karl Fostvedt? The Icelantic Riveter 95 has an even snappier, tighter feel than we expected from its 16-meter turn radius. There's no better sight than a wide-open groomer when you have a powerful ski like the Volkl Secret 96 underfoot. The new Origin 101 is a great freestyle option for skiers who are still looking to go fast and carve clean turns. Most skiers have a love or a hate relationship with them, but regardless, moguls are a fact of life while resort skiing. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. The rebound and tighter-than-stated turn radius made simple short turns on groomers feel fun. Playfulness can also be a fairly simple measurement do you have fun on this ski? A new addition to the Foundation line, the Koala 103 will challenge any preconceived notions you might have about DPS. Editor's Note: We updated this review for the Icelantic Riveter 95 on March 6, 2022, with our unbiased take on product value and a direct comparison of similar products. The Amphibio profile of the Elan Ripstick 94 means that the downhill ski grips while the uphill ski skids, providing a smooth ride and easier transitions in powder, Dropping into deep snow on the Coalition Snow SOS felt secure and reliable, The Nordica Santa Ana 98 is a crud-busting machine, blasting through any chunky terrain in its path. Edge-to-edge quickness is often a function of a ski's waist width (skinnier skis being generally faster to switch edges). Salomon had been out of the metal-laminate ski game for a while, so when it reentered, it had to make a big splash. The tapered tips and tails added to the freestyle looseness weve come to expect from the Avon, CO brand. The Devastator is one of the more versatile full-rocker skis weve ever tested. It is only slightly more expensive than the average, and its ratio of dollar-per-use increases if it means only purchasing one ski for every day of the season. Our team of female rippers has tested 60 of the best all-mountain skis for women over the last six years and recently bought 13 of the 2021-2022 ski season's best offerings for a side-by-side comparison on the snow. If you're looking for skis for the whole family, compare these models with the best all-mountain skis for men. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 feels like there is solid construction underfoot and all along the length of the ski. Still, again for our larger testers, the "usable edge" (the part of the ski which grips the snow between rockered tails and rockered tips) was simply too short to feel confident. The new Volkl Secret 96 is a versatile all-mountain ski with a penchant for speed and grip. Can they keep their edge when carving through a fast, high-pressured turn, or do they tend to wash out? Over the past six years, our team has tested more than 60 of the best all-mountain skis. Our experts have logged thousands of hours on snow testing skis, which helps them highlight every ski's strengths and weaknesses. The Icelantic Riveter 95 has a relatively tight radius at 16 meters, but the edges don't always stay engaged because its construction is not quite as solid as other competitors. Liberty added a new width to its Origin series this year in the ever-popular 100-mm-plus category and Libertys construction has the secret sauce to make it stand out from the competition. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Very lively, makes pivoted tight turns, twin tips, beautiful artwork. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Editor's Note: We updated this review for Women's All-Mountain Skis on March 6, 2022, highlighting additional information about our in-depth testing process and more information about products that we would recommend to a friend (that means you!). Others, like the Blizzard Black Pearl 88, were reliable and strong but didn't have the spring to their step to make us truly gleeful. These all-mountain skis represent some of the most popular models available, so a low score doesn't mean a particular pair isn't worth consideration. One tester considered whether its softness helped dampen the bumpy ride; it felt like the ski absorbed some of the jolts rather than transferring those to your body to deal with. The Volkl Secret 96 has excellent stability and edge hold in its turns throughout a range of speeds. We also noticed that this ski lost some stability if we didn't stay right on top of it. These are questions we asked ourselves when assessing how well each of these skis carves a turn. The Icelantic Riveter 95 has a different method of handling chunky snow; instead of blasting through like stiffer skis, it helps absorb the undulations and easily changes direction when things get too tough. A quick edge-to-edge transtion and a damp, reliable feel makes the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 our favorite ski for carving. No sponsored content. The Secret locks the edge and doesn't release until directed. Whether you're a hard-charging West Coast chick who sometimes skis heavier fresh snow with higher water content, or you're new to powder skiing of any variety, this ski gives you a full access pass to the amusement park. The discussion of edge-hold is also related to the carving metric. Others in this category have more of a freestyle flavor and are ready to butter and play in deeper snow. This metric can certainly be a bit subjective from one tester to another and across skier-types as well, depending on your ability level, height and weight, and preferences for turn shape and size. Each tester has different styles, preferences, and abilities, which helped us better understand each ski's advantages and faults. the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Crud blaster, dependable, great one-ski quiver option, good for every ability level, Awesome powder tool, fabulous fun factor even for light skiers, affordable price, Great stability at high speeds, good on hard snow and crud, more affordable than others, Superbly stable at high speeds, great edge hold, Gets bouncy in crud, slight tip flap, doesnt carve perfectly, Only for shallower pow days, needs strong skier to guide them, A great all-rounder ski that we think is the most versatile option for a one-ski quiver, A fun and responsive toy for powder days, groomer antics, and bumps, with a value-oriented price tag, This model will do great in everything but the deepest powder and is ideal for an aggressive skier, A good choice for hard-charging speed demons that still performs decently off-piste, Rocker tip and tail, cambered inside edge, Amphibio tech. Despite being a small creature in a big bump field, Hilary kept the Nordicas cruising along. The Nordica ski is particularly adept at high speeds and in crud but performs well all over the mountain as well. Our testers loved the Devastator so much that one of them wrote a page-long romantic epic dedicated to it. The shape of a ski's tip certainly plays a role in its keenness to float. The Faction Dictator 2.0X is another strong challenger in this metric, and the Nordica Santa Ana 98 performs nearly as well. The outside edge has a fully rockered design, shaped like a banana, with each end lifting off the snow, allowing for more flotation in powder and agility in soft snow. Hilary is a powder piggie. Those details made it a fun ski to mach around on, especially when the soft snow got chopped up. How can we improve GearLab? If a ski has an hourglass shape (wider at the tip and tail and skinnier underfoot), it will likely offer a smaller radius turn. The Faction Dictator loves to be on edge, and set us at ease with its carving prowess. Subtle tweaks to the taper profile and sidecut work magic on this ski: its both more stable on firm and rough snow due to the extended sidecut, and surfier on wind lips. Whoa nelly! Looking for the best ski jacket? Our two expert ski testers are industry professionals in Mammoth Lakes, California, USA. Its noticeably light on the feetthats thanks to a full carbon layup and karuba wood corebut that didnt stop our testers from ranking it best in class in this downhill category. The ski's nimbleness inspired our testers to try some spins, where the Riveter 95 felt very maneuverable, and landing switch on the twin tips felt smooth and secure. If you don't need something to excite you and want a single ski that can do everything well, the Santa Ana 98 is your match made in heaven. A smart and sleek pairing of taper lines and rocker profile delivers float well above its 106-mm waist. All trademarks property of their respective owners The graphics coming from this Colorado-based company have always been stunning, and this ski is no exception. No ads. No sponsored content. We're evaluating how fun the ski is to use in this metric. We also have in-depth reviews to cover all of your ski gear needs. We use cookies to improve your experience, understand your usage and to personalize advertising as well as your experience based on your interests. We could take this ski anywhere, at any speed, and feel confident that it would maintain course and do so with style. Complete your kit with the best ski jackets and pants available on the market. The Riveter 95 did hold an edge better than we anticipated. This ski just laughs its way over the chop, gaily bouncing wherever its sent and somehow making it feel purposeful. We also identify the best budget model, making it easy for you to make the right choice, no matter your price range. And he can take some credit for that. A more versatile layup of Rossis newest flagship ski, the Sender is rocket ship-ready for any intermediate-to-advanced skier looking to up their game. The shock-absorbing Suspension Tips really calm things down when snow doesnt cooperate, a huge boon for those seeking snow off-piste, knowing that variable snow is always a possibility. Like the Volkl Secret 96, some have carbon in the tips to help dampen the ride. We'd like to help! One of our new favorites, the Nordica Santa Ana 98 soars above the rest. If you love shredding fresh corduroy and leaving two deep trenches in your wake, then it's critical to choose a ski that performs well in this metric. This "effective edge" length is felt more on groomers, but a ski with an "early rise rockered tip" is likely going to feel shorter than expected for a given length. We know everyone is looking to stretch their dollars where they can, so we compared each model's list prices and total scores to lock down the best value-for-money purchases. The Riveter 95 truly springs from one short carved arc to the next. Hilary and Renee will often put their students on the skis they're testing for GearLab to get a wide variety of feedback; they also offer the skis to fellow instructors, coaches, and skier friends to consider their thoughts. Got feedback? These boards all do a decent job of keeping you on top of the snow, therefore making powder skiing feel effortless (not an easy feat). However, if you are a highly skilled and assertive skier who wants a dependable ski for a good price, look no further than the Faction Dictator. Made to carve wide trenches in open bowls and boost the biggest airs you dare to hit, Armada took its freestyle spirit and gave it a big-mountain foundation. But in mid-winter, you will sometimes find breakable crust in one spot and fun chalky wind-buff around the corner. The Saba Pro 107 was collaboratively designed Read the full review in our Deep Dive into the Saba Pro 107. We chose not to specifically rate the women's all-mountain skis on their versatility because the most versatile and well-rounded skis will naturally perform well across all of our metrics and rise to the top of the podium. The Salomon QST Lumen 99 shares the Elan Ripstick's tip profile and performs nearly as well in the deep. Our testers were wowed at how versatile the Stance 102 was on snow: Sure it rages on-piste, but once you get it into a wide open bowl or some serious steeps, the Stance starts to feel like a true game-on kind of ski. Although the Riveter 95 is fun in powder for smaller women in particular the Elan Ripstick 94 W is our top choice for deep snow. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. We can't believe she stood still for long enough for our photographer to get set up. Because it is quite soft, even a small, lightweight skier should be able to bend this ski, arc a clean carve, and feel it bounce back afterward. The Volkl Secret 96 is the best choice for ladies who especially love speed, appreciate edge-hold, and want a reliable and well-made ski. We'd recommend this ski to girls who want to play in the park and take the same ski into the bumps. It doesn't plow or slice through the chop like some of our highly rated crud skis but attacks it in a completely different way. Turn shape and size are mainly products of a ski's sidecut, though they are also affected by the ski's flex pattern (the way it bends as you ski it). We loved taking the Riveter 95 in the bumps and trees since it can pivot on a dime and seems to prefer a much tighter turn radius than its specs would implicate. Finding the fall line and blasting through days-old crud will come easily on these versatile sticks, the best all-mountain skis of the year from 101-109. What are you waiting for? Most of them will make even the seasoned fat-ski chick feel like a superstar in the soft stuff. But under the guidance of Tof Henry (the fastest man in Chamonix) and Todd Ligare, the most iconic brand in freestyle basically perfected it with the Declivity 108 Ti. It neither barged through it nor sucked it up, throwing us around and resulting in some minor humiliations. Depending on a ski's dimensions and the choice of materials laid up in construction, a ski can feel stable and reliable, wild and unpredictable, or somewhere in between. A low score only means that a certain ski didn't perform well relative to the rest of the field, and often, low-scoring models still shine in certain situations. It rips its pretty much my dream ski, he says. Some models, like the particularly lightweight Atomic Maven 93 C and Black Crows Captis Birdie, feel unstable at speed and flap crazily down the hill. After you've pressured the skis through the turn and you let go, do they pop back and spring easily towards the next set of edges? We test products side-by-side to rank each pair of skis within each metric. However, the joy it gave us in powder and through its amazing poppiness all over the mountain made it one of our favorites, and the price tag made our wallets feel fine. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 is the type of ski you could buy, throw in the rooftop box, and not have to worry about having enough space for the rest of your stuff. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 takes top honors for carving, consistently leaving two clean arcs in the snow behind us and holding an edge well in all types of terrain. If you need a ski to chop up crud, look over at the Nordica Santa Ana 98, which is reliable and damp enough to eat up variable conditions. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 earns recognition for its carving performance since its stability underfoot and narrower waist help it cut deep tracks in the snow when tipped on edge. Dont be fooled, though, its flat tail and metal construction will buck you if you dont stay on top of it. Let us know! In half a foot or less, it performed well, staying on top and showing us the same lively, smeary personality we loved about it elsewhere. Unfortunately, there's nothing that makes them jump out at us as a truly special ski, We loved skiing this in bumps and in powder, but it wasn't as versatile as we'd hoped in other terrain, A solid carving ski that is reliable on-piste if you can stay on top of it, but it lacks the waist width and pop to make it really fun elsewhere, We enjoyed the Sheeva in powder but weren't as impressed with its stability or performance in crud, Wont replace the Soul 7 in your ski closet, but its not all bad news, Decent showing in crud and powder, but a strange ski elsewhere, Reliable choice for upper-intermediates, but not for expert skiers, A blast for mellow skiers, but not dependable for more advanced birds. Vlkl took the best elements of its 121-mm powder monster and made it in a more accessible size. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. GearLab is reader-supported. Reliable at high speed in any terrain, you can take the Nordica Santa Ana 98 anywhere. Pillage and plunder pow stashes beyond the gates and youll hardly be happier than on the Blaze, especially when the snow is a little sunbaked or wind-crusted. The Santa Ana 98 performed particularly well in the crud, staying stiff enough to punch through anything the mountain threw at it. Colorado born, Montana-based Parker Norvell honed his skills in the park, but now seeks soft snow in the backcountry. The Revolt 104 remains unchanged for 2021-22, maintaining its place as a stout, freestyle-forward ski with wicked deep rocker lines. The shock and joy is written on Renee's face. The longer sidecut likes wide open spaces, but the extended tip rocker will allow you to pivot when you need to avoid that old-growth pine. The Ripstick has an unusual design which helps it perform well in the powder but means that it's not built well for making perfectly carved turns, particularly on the fully-rockered uphill ski edge. What is the turn radius, and does the ski feel like it wants to make a tighter or larger turn? The Volkl ski has unrivaled steadiness at high speeds in any terrain, and while carving, it only misses a step when taken into tight bumps. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Lev made The Hotshot for showing off under the chair, so point em and hop into the spotlight! We balance performance and price to help you find the best value for your next one-ski quiver. How to decide? Open it up, and let 'er rip! Are they dampening, softly absorbing bumps and uneven terrain, or do we get bucked around and launched out of balance? We recommend the Icelantic Riveter 95 to ladies who enjoy something a little lighter and more agile. The Dictator needs a highly competent skier to drive it precisely. But for taller women or more advanced skiers, we would opt for something with a little more power. We were also pleased with this ski's performance in chopped-up conditions after a storm. The next slimmest ski, the Black Crows Captis Birdie at 90 millimeters, was, in fact, quick from edge to edge, but we felt that its lack of grip strength and solid construction meant that we couldn't offer it high ratings in this metric. You need to tell them who is actually in charge rather than allowing them to rule with impunity. Do they offer a smooth and seamless ride, or do the tips flap incessantly? But its not just for devotees like Sam: the bit of early taper and sturdy flex pattern make it a dream for anyone with alpine ambitions, and its flat tail with extended camber gives the Agent that extra bite on the steeps. While all of the skis in our review are a huge step up compared to a standard rental ski or a race ski, there is an equally huge jump up to the next best type of ski in these conditions a true powder ski (110 millimeters and above in the waist). However, the tips started to dive underneath when the snow got deeper, making everything feel more laborious and less fun. However, some skis, like the Nordica Santa Ana 98, have enough sidewall underfoot that despite their slightly flapping tips, you still maintain enough edge-hold and stability underfoot. Think about the deep, heavy stuff at Mammoth or laps in the woods at Bachelor. If moguls are only starting to form in fresh snow, it might be wise to choose a ski with better crud-busting capabilities, such as the Blizzard Black Pearl 88. Start by asking yourself questions about Buying a new ski helmet can be an overwhelming decision To get you shredding down the mountains on the perfect Are you a lady seeking an awesome ski glove or mitt this With a plethora of women's ski and snowboard pants on the We bring decades of experience to a test protocol that Everybody loves friendly competition. The Icelantic Riveter 95 is super fun to ski, particularly if you spend all of your time in the bumps. The Salomon QST Lumen 99 is another powder-oriented option on the lower end of the scale. The ski's rebound is one element of playfulness that seems consistent throughout the models that excel in this metric. Or are they listless and lack energy and responsiveness? Some of these more freeride-focused skis are reinforced with heavier materials like Titanal, skis in this category easily transition between hardpack and fresh snow without an ounce of hesitation. And while Volkl has made a concerted effort to construct the shorter skis a bit softer for smaller ladies, our testers found that even their appropriate length ski was fairly burly. This outcome was particularly disappointing in the case of the Rossi, as the old discontinued Rossignol Soul 7 HD W was one of the most responsive and playful skis we'd ever tested. Like Volkl and Nordica, many companies add carbon and titanal to increase stiffness stability-focused construction led to success in this metric.