Best Skis for Beginners: Our Top Picks, 2018-2019
Here it is, our list of current skis that we think are the best for beginners, or for anyone looking to get back into skiing.
Skiing
Ski Sock Roundup — 2018
The wrong pair of ski socks can screw up your day. So we’ve rounded up 17 pairs — from ultra-thin to thickly cushioned — and noted what sets each apart, and which will likely work best for you.
2020-2021 Rossignol Experience 92 Ti Basalt
The new Rossi Experience 94 Ti has a fairly forgiving shovel and a pretty powerful tail. So does it feel like more of a wider, dedicated carver? Or is it a truly versatile, go-anywhere, all-mountain ski? Check out our full review.
2018-2019 Moment Blister Pro
The Blister Pro is back. Check out the story behind the new graphic, the story behind the ski itself, and learn how to get your pair.
Blister Alpine Ski Bindings Guide
What’s the best ski binding? Which ones are compatible with your ski boots? There's a lot of misinformation and confusion about the actual differences between bindings, so we’ve updated this guide to help clarify which ones will work best for you.
2019-2020 Sego Big Horn 106
We’ve now had two reviewers put over 30 days on the Sego Big Horn 106, and you can now check out our update on this playful all-mountain ski.
2021-2022 Blizzard Sheeva 11
Though it’s the widest women’s ski Blizzard makes, we’ve found the Sheeva 11 to be surprisingly versatile, and think it would work well for a wide variety of skiers.
2019-2020 Lange XT Free 130 LV
The previous Lange XT 130 Freetour was one of the best tech-binding-compatible AT ski boots we’ve used in terms of downhill performance, and Lange updated it this year. So how similar or different is the new Lange XT Free 130?
2019-2020 Blizzard Brahma 88
The more time we’ve spent on the Blizzard Brahma, the more dialed we think it is. Check out our full review
CAST Freetour Upgrade Kit
The CAST Freetour is the only option out there that lets you ski down on a dedicated alpine binding, and skin up with a tech toe. Check out our full review, including comparisons to the Atomic / Salomon SHIFT binding and other touring bindings.
2018-2019 Black Crows Orb
If you want your ~90mm-wide ski to perform well even when there isn’t fresh corduroy anywhere in sight, the Black Crows Orb is worth a look. Check out our full review.
2019-2020 Head Monster 88 Ti
With the Monster 98 and 108 now gone, the new, redesigned Head Monster 88 Ti is now the widest ski in the Monster series. So what changed and what stayed the same with this new ski? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
2018-2019 Armada Tracer 108
After skiing it in the resort and touring on it in the backcountry, the redesigned Armada Tracer 108 has proven to be a versatile, predictable, and playful 50/50 ski. Check out our full review.
Moment Blister Pro: the History
You’ve been asking, and now we can confirm: the Blister Pro is coming back. And we figured now would be a good time to detail the history of how this ski came to be, and when you’ll be able to get yours. Check it out.
2018-2019 K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti
Light, but pretty stable. Surfy, but can hold an edge. Forgiving, but supportive. The newest iteration of the K2 Pinnacle 95 Ti feels like a bit of a contradiction, but the result is a pretty versatile ski that we think a lot of skiers may enjoy. Check out our full review.
2019-2020 ON3P Wrenegade 96
The brand-new ON3P Wrenegade 96 is the narrowest directional ski in ON3P’s lineup, but it definitely doesn’t look like some corduroy cruiser. So how does it compare to the Wren 98 it replaced, as well as other skis in its class? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, initial impressions, and Flash Review.
2019-2020 Elan Ripstick 106
We got two reviewers on two lengths of the Elan Ripstick 106 this past season, and now it’s time for us to weigh in on this lightweight all-mountain ski. Check out our full review and Deep Dive comparisons.
2019-2020 Armada Invictus 89 Ti
The Armada Invictus 89 Ti is the narrowest metal-laminate ski in Armada’s revamped Invictus lineup, and while it has two layers of titanal, it isn’t heavy, and it has lots of tip rocker. So what sort of ski is it? Check out our measured specs, rocker pics, and initial impressions.
Sample Deep Dive: Black Crows Daemon
Curious about our Deep Dive comparisons? Check out this sample Deep Dive of the Black Crows Daemon, including the new Volkl Mantra, the Blizzard Bonafide, Nordica Enforcer 100, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, J Skis Masterblaster, Liberty Origin 96, and more...
Sample Flash Review: 18/19 Rossignol Soul 7 HD
Interested in what our member-exclusive Flash Reviews look like? Check out this sample Flash Review of the Soul 7 HD.