Welcome to ThinkVail – wondering what ski you should buy? Shop our list of the year’s best all mountain skis featuring Nordica, Blizzard, Rossignol, Dynastar, Kastle, K2, Salomon, Head, Atomic, Volkl and more.
Wide, all-mountain skis are almost a requirement for skiing in the west. Every day skiers encounter a variety of ski conditions including groomed corduroy, icy faces, deep powder, tight aspen glades, terrain parks, steep cliffs and deep back-country areas. You never really know what type of ski you may need heading up the chairlift so you need a ski that embodies all of them. That is what all mountain skis do, they allow you to ski all conditions, well.
Check out this SKI BUYING GUIDE video for more information.
What Skis Should I Buy?
#1 Best All Mountain Skis – Nordica Enforcer 100 Skis
The Nordica Enforcer powers through crud and has a lot of hard snow integrity. It is comfortable on groomers and can play all day in deeper powder. This is one of the best all mountain skis in the world.
Rocker/Camber Hybrid has a waist width of 100mm and is the ultimate “Do-It-All” ski.
CamRock profile combines the agility and float of a rocker with the stability and power of camber. This means it’s easy to initiate turns without sacrificing edge grip. So you get high speed stability and powerful carves.
Featuring two sheets of metal sandwiching a full length wood held core provides improved energy return and reduced weight of the ski and dampens vibrations on rough terrain.
All-mountain friendly with lots of free ski qualities makes this the perfect choice when you’re not sure whether you will be on groomers, deep powder, crud, bumps or anything in between.
Blunt Nose Profile – Low, broad tip shape reduces unstable tip vibration.
Freeskier Editor’s Pick, Skiing Magazine Ski of the Year.
Does not have the flotation in deep snow that some other skis have.
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#2 Best All Mountain Skis – Blizzard Bonafide Skis
Blizzard Bonafides are for the experienced skier who likes to go fast, carve turns and cut through anything. These skis can handle crud, ice, groomers, powder, big air and everything in between.
Rocker Camber Rocker profile and a waist width of 96mm.
Rocker design means the ski initiates and exits turns easier without losing its edge. The camber guarantees awesome grip on packed snow.
Carbon Flipcore revolutionized ski manufacturing providing a smoother ride while reducing the skis’ overall weight
Carbon+Ti Binding Interface reinforces the skis where you mount your bindings allowing for more efficient energy transfer in both direction while providing valuable reinforcement to the skis.
Shape: The traditional, easy-turning side cut creates a perfect all-mountain ski.
An aggressive tip shape provides great turn initiation. The flat tail helps to improve stability and flotation.
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#3 Best All Mountain Skis – Kastle ZX 108 Skis
The Kastle BMX is ideal for all mountain rippers who want to charge through any conditions, any terrain. If you are looking for planks that are stable, damp, versatile and down to business, these are the perfect choice.
Rocker Camber Rocker profile and a waist width of 108mm.
Rocker tip design makes these skis maneuverable while the camber hold an edge without slipping.
Wood blend core is sandwiched by two sheets of Titanol and held together with full-length ABS sidewalls offers a strong, solid, stable feel.
With a sturdy semi-cap sandwich construction, HOLLOWTECH 2.0 and hard-wearing topsheet, this ski is very durable.
Fiberglass laminate dampens chatter when you pick up speed
Transitions easily from powder to groomers
The well-balanced profile is perfect for dropping cliffs when the snow is deep or carving hardpack.
Steel edges
Demands an advanced to expert rider.
Available lengths: 169cm, 179cm, 184cm, 191cm
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#4 Best All Mountain Skis – Head Kore 105 Skis
Combining the ideal blend of lightness, flotation and stability. This ski is strong, lightweight, playful and has lots of technical skills. Fun on groomers, rocky couloirs, crud, deep powder, and pretty much anywhere on the mountain.
Rocker Camber Rocker Profile with a waist width of 105mm.
Rocker design allows the ski to initiate and exit turns easier without losing its edge. The camber guarantees awesome grip on packed snow and
The 105 waist width make soft snow skiing more fun because this ski will float in the powder.
This ski is super lightweight thanks to the Karuba Light Wood Core. Karuba gives these skis their pop and personality. It’s the perfect ratio of density and weight to enhance the ski and make it light and balanced.
Topless Tech Topsheet Head incorporates a polyester fleece rather than solid plastic top sheet material to create the lightest skis available in their category.
Named Best Ski of the Year 2018 by Powder Magazine
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#5 Best All Mountain Skis – Volkl Mantra M5 Skis
The Volkl Mantra is an iconic ski that boasts LOTS of control and is unflappable, even on hard snow – no tip chatter and rock solid, even at speed. This ski makes it easy to master everything from powder to ice without breaking a sweat.
Rocker Camber Rocker profile with a waist width of 96mm
The Mantra was the original all-mountain ski and Volkl keeps pushing the envelope.
The M5 uses a construction called Titanal Frame. This means the metal sections follow the ski shape in the tip and tail, with an added carbon inlay in the tip. This process offers the same stability as a full sheet of metal but is much lighter in weight.
The ski shape offers a moderate setup of tapered tips for precision and control on the slope and off-piste.
96mm waist this ski does not float as well as some wider waist skis.
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#6 Best All Mountain Skis – Atomic Bent Chetler 100 Skis
The Atomic Bent Chetler just wants to float all day long. If you are looking for light and maneuverable planks that you can have fun and ski all day on, and costs a little less than all the rest, than this “all-mountain” ride is for you.
Rocker camber rocker design. 20/70/10
The powder rocker design initiates and exits turns easier without losing its edge. The camber guarantees awesome grip on packed snow
Dura Cap sidewall offers controlled power transmission and lots of edge grip on harder snow surfaces.
100mm width waist means it floats well on powder.
The HRZN Tech tip and tail offer 10% more surface area in tip and tail for extra flotation without adding any additional swing weight
Features a high-density sintered base that is fast on any type of snow, durable, and easy to maintain.
Directional shape offers increased surface area and float
Award-winning signature model
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# 7 Best All Mountain Skis – Dynastar Legend X96 Skis
If you’re a less aggressive skier looking for a great all-around, fun ski that rocks on both hard and soft surfaces, is light and nimble in tight quarters and trees then this is the ski for you.
Tip & tail rocker profile with a waist width of 96mm.
Rocker design means the ski initiates and exits turns easier without losing its edge.
Designed to seamlessly blend all-mountain and freeride qualities.
The new Powerdrive free construction delivers full-length shock-absorption for increased power, energy and versatility no matter the snow conditions.
Delivers all-terrain performance thanks to its lighter weight and early tapered tips and tails (5 point side cut)
96mm waist width deliver the less flotation.
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#8 Best All Mountain Skis – Salomon QST 106 Skis
The QST is an extremely versatile powder ski that can handle powder, ice, groomers, steeps, heavy snow, high speeds big airs AND can also serve as backcountry skis and alpine touring (AT) skis. This is truly an all-in-one ski that does it all well.
Rocker camber rocker profile
Waist width of 106mm.
Rocker design means the ski initiates and exits turns easier without losing its edge. The camber guarantees awesome grip on packed snow
The 106 waist width ensures it will float in deep powder.
A wood core, added C/FX layer of carbon and flax, a metal laminate Ti power plate underfoot, and Koroyd in the tips and tails means incredible strength, minimal weight, increased dampening and less chatter.
An award-winning ski with supercharged construction.
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#9 Best All Mountain Skis – K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti Skis
For the experienced to advanced skier that likes to crush deep powder as well as carve on the corduroy with a ski that is versatile in a variety terrain and weather conditions.
Rocker camber rocker profile
Waist width of 95mm.
Rocker design allows the ski initiates and exits turns easier without losing its edge. The camber guarantees awesome grip on packed snow
A tapered tip and tail shifts the contact points with the snow towards the center of the ski, reducing deflection in the tip and easing turn release in the tail.
Built with a sturdy fir and composite core, reinforced alternating layers of fiberglass and Titanal for power, damp and amazing performance.
Hybritech sidewalls offer a unique blend of sidewall and cap construction for accuracy, performance, lightness and smooth turn initiation.
Perfect for all types of conditions
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#10 Best All Mountain Skis – Rossignol Soul 7 HD Skis
The Rossignol Soul is an all-mountain, wide ski destined to be your one-quiver ski for on/off-trail and various mountain conditions, this is a great ski.
Rocker camber profile
Waist width of 102-106mm.
Rocker camber profile combines the agility and float of a rocker with the stability and power of camber so it’s easy to initiate turns without sacrificing edge grip. Perfect for high speed stability and powerful carves.
The redesigned Air Tip 2.0 and carbon ally matrix layer over a light wood core reduces vibration and increases edge grip.
These all-mountain skis performs best on powder, crud, mixed snow and tight tree lines.
Ideal in deep powder but can be less stable on hard pack groomers or at fast speeds.
Let us know which all-mountain ski is your favorite and why? What type of skiing do you like best? Are you brand new to the sport, an intermediate or have you been skiing for years? We’d love to hear your experience with any of these brands. Thanks for reading.
Great list of all-mountain skis. I have been skiing for years and currently ski on an old pair of K2s. I have been thinking of getting a new pair for a couple of years and am very impressed with the Nordica Enforcers. I love the idea of having one ski for multiple conditions. What are your thoughts on this ski?
Hi Kevin
Thank you for your comment. Yes the Nordica Enforcer 100 are AWESOME Skis. They were Freeskier Editor’s Pick, Skiing Magazine Ski of the Year and the second highest rated ski in Ski Gear Guide. You really can't go wrong with this ski, it is one of the best of the best
Hi Rob, thanks for your comment and I understand your concerns. But keep in mind that these are This year's Best of the Best. They are expensive but they are introducing new technology and new innovation to proven skis so it will be expensive. And as we all know, if you want the newest, best equipment it is not cheap. That being said, as an intermediate skier I would highly recommend past years' models of these skis. They are still awesome but since they are a couple of year's old and don't have all the newest bells and whistles they will be hundreds of dollars less expensive.
Wow! Thanks for the breakdown on a variety of skis, this is great. I have been skiing for a couple of year and love it. I would say I am an intermediate skier with aspirations of becoming awesome. I like a lot of these skis but the price tag makes me wary. Do I really need to spend this much for a new pair of great skis?
Great guide to this year's best skis. I have lived on the east coast most of my life and am use to hard, icy snow and groomers at our local ski resorts. I am planning on moving to Utah this winter to ski and work. I am thinking that an all mountain ski will suit me better in the big dumps of the west. Do you think that an all-mountain ski or powder ski would work better than my fast groomer skis?
Hi Eric,
It depends on what you like to ski. If you stay on the frontsde and just want to go fast and carve, then your old skis will probably be just fine. However, if you want to get into the big powder(which you will), jump off cornices and hit the deep glades you will need some more flotation. Wide, all-mountain skis are perfect for this. I think a true powder-specific ski might be overkill as they are super wide at 120mm and really shouldn't be on the trail at all. If you are an intermediate to advanced skier I think mostof these wide, all-mountain skis would compliment your carving skis. That way if its a huge snow year, you spend your days on the all-mountains crushing pow and if it's a dryer year spend your days on the front side going fast and ripping it up.
I would like to surprise my husband with a new pair of skis for Christmas, he is a pretty great skier I am only OK how do I go about choosing the perfect ski for him?
Hi Courtney,
Wow! That is a really nice idea, I think he will LOVE your gift. First, I would watch the Ski Buying Guide video in this article about what details you need to know about your husband regarding skiing, including his ability level and what type of skiing he prefers. Also I would check to see what types of skis and what brand name skis he has bought in the past and what were his favorites and why. If he has a preferred brand it will be a no-brainer if not you could also wrap a really long skinny box with this list of skis inside and tell him to choose his favorite!
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Great list of all-mountain skis. I have been skiing for years and currently ski on an old pair of K2s. I have been thinking of getting a new pair for a couple of years and am very impressed with the Nordica Enforcers. I love the idea of having one ski for multiple conditions. What are your thoughts on this ski?
Hi Kevin
Thank you for your comment. Yes the Nordica Enforcer 100 are AWESOME Skis. They were Freeskier Editor’s Pick, Skiing Magazine Ski of the Year and the second highest rated ski in Ski Gear Guide. You really can't go wrong with this ski, it is one of the best of the best
Hi Rob, thanks for your comment and I understand your concerns. But keep in mind that these are This year's Best of the Best. They are expensive but they are introducing new technology and new innovation to proven skis so it will be expensive. And as we all know, if you want the newest, best equipment it is not cheap. That being said, as an intermediate skier I would highly recommend past years' models of these skis. They are still awesome but since they are a couple of year's old and don't have all the newest bells and whistles they will be hundreds of dollars less expensive.
Wow! Thanks for the breakdown on a variety of skis, this is great. I have been skiing for a couple of year and love it. I would say I am an intermediate skier with aspirations of becoming awesome. I like a lot of these skis but the price tag makes me wary. Do I really need to spend this much for a new pair of great skis?
Great guide to this year's best skis. I have lived on the east coast most of my life and am use to hard, icy snow and groomers at our local ski resorts. I am planning on moving to Utah this winter to ski and work. I am thinking that an all mountain ski will suit me better in the big dumps of the west. Do you think that an all-mountain ski or powder ski would work better than my fast groomer skis?
Hi Eric,
It depends on what you like to ski. If you stay on the frontsde and just want to go fast and carve, then your old skis will probably be just fine. However, if you want to get into the big powder(which you will), jump off cornices and hit the deep glades you will need some more flotation. Wide, all-mountain skis are perfect for this. I think a true powder-specific ski might be overkill as they are super wide at 120mm and really shouldn't be on the trail at all. If you are an intermediate to advanced skier I think mostof these wide, all-mountain skis would compliment your carving skis. That way if its a huge snow year, you spend your days on the all-mountains crushing pow and if it's a dryer year spend your days on the front side going fast and ripping it up.
I would like to surprise my husband with a new pair of skis for Christmas, he is a pretty great skier I am only OK how do I go about choosing the perfect ski for him?
Hi Courtney,
Wow! That is a really nice idea, I think he will LOVE your gift. First, I would watch the Ski Buying Guide video in this article about what details you need to know about your husband regarding skiing, including his ability level and what type of skiing he prefers. Also I would check to see what types of skis and what brand name skis he has bought in the past and what were his favorites and why. If he has a preferred brand it will be a no-brainer if not you could also wrap a really long skinny box with this list of skis inside and tell him to choose his favorite!