Intro
Well, it’s once again that time of year. Some of us in the Northern Hemisphere are already skiing, while the rest of us are champing at the bit. And one of the most entertaining ways to fill time before ski season and between early-season storms is to fantasize about your dream ski quiver.
Assembling a ski quiver (whether hypothetical or real) is certainly fun, and it’s also a great way to procrastinate and make the hours at work just fly right by.
But it can also get a bit tricky — and make the more obsessive among us start going mad. We get a lot of questions about whether ski X is too similar to ski Y to have both, and even more questions about how, in general, to think about putting together an effective quiver.
So the first things to figure out are:
(1) Whether for you, personally, it’s worth owning more than a single pair of skis. And then,
(2) How to put together a group of skis that will help you get the most out of every day on the mountain.
As we state in all our quiver selection articles, there is no single perfect quiver for everyone. It all depends very much on where you ski and how you ski. So our selections below should not be viewed as our answer to the question, “What are the best skis out there?”
Instead, these are our reviewers’ personal picks, along with their rationale for why they would choose them.
As always, we’re interested to hear what you’d pick for your own quiver, so let us know in the Comments section at the bottom.
More Ski-Quiver Guidance
For more general suggestions — as opposed to what we personally would pick — check out our Winter Buyer’s Guide.
And if you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own ski quiver, then become a Blister Member, submit your question via the Blister Member Clubhouse page, and we’ll get you sorted out.
How Many Skis?
This year, we’re once again starting with our picks for hypothetical 5-ski quivers, partly because it’s just fun to think about, and partly because we do know a lot of people with some pretty expansive collections of skis. And even if you’re opting for a 1- or 2-ski quiver, seeing how we think about assembling a larger quiver may still be beneficial in terms of you sorting out the compromises you’re willing to live with.
So between our Buyer’s Guide quiver section + what we have here, we hope to help you figure out (a) what size quiver makes the most sense, and (b) give you a bit of direction on how best to think about assembling your own quiver. Or just provide some entertainment.
We’ll be starting with 5-ski quivers, then narrowing it down to our 4-, 3-, 2- and 1-ski quivers over the course of the coming weeks.
Four Questions
For each of our reviewers, we asked them to answer the following questions:
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and
when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Three Additional Notes
(1) For our quivers, we’re only including skis that we’ve actually spent time on, but we will allow some speculation regarding skis that we think might fit into our quivers once we get to ski them / ski them more.
(2) Some of our reviewers will also expand on which bindings they’d put on which skis if there are some particular reasons they made those choices.
(3) We will be updating this post with more options from some of our other reviewers in the near future, but we’d also love to hear your answers to some or all of our four questions, too, so please do so in the Comments section.
Dylan Wood
(5’10.5”, 155 lbs / 179 cm, 70 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
For context, most of my ski season is spent inbounds at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, riding chairlifts from mid-November through early April. I’ll also throw in several mid-winter touring days as well as some backcountry days after the resort has closed. However, these days, I find my ski season to end around mid to late April (excitement for whitewater kayaking tends to take over around then).
Two of my favorite skis of all time, the Sego Big Horn 106 and Sego Comp 110, left the market this year, so I’m definitely going to have to mix things up this year. Here’s what I have:
Ski #1: K2 Mindbender 89Ti, 182 cm + alpine binding
This ski would be for no- or low-snow days, as well as the first month or so of resort skiing when carving groomers is the only option. I really liked the Mindbender 89Ti’s carving prowess, and its 17-meter sidecut radius was a versatile sweet spot, allowing me to make a variety of turn shapes. But what really made this ski leave a mark in my mind was how well it handled the extreme steeps of Crested Butte — it’s a true standout in the ~90mm-wide category as far as handling the entire mountain goes. While I did like this ski at +1 and +2 cm from its recommended line, I liked it best on the line, so that’s where I’d mount.
Ski #2: Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + alpine binding
The Blade Optic 96 offers a great mix of stability, maneuverability, damping, and energy, all while being pretty freestyle-friendly, too. Because of this, I’d have it in my quiver for firm snow days or days with new snow less than ~4 inches when I want to ski more playfully, or maybe take some laps through the park. I appreciate how well this ski handles the entire mountain, and how it can be skied hard but also enjoyed at slower speeds, too. I would mount 2 cm forward of the recommended line here as this ski is effectively functioning as my park ski, too.
Ski #3: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + alpine binding
Yep, the hype is real. I’d be using this ski on basically any day when the snow is somewhat soft, up to about 8-12 inches of new powder (deeper than that, and I’d get on ski #4). I loved the 191 cm Sender Free 110 for its stability and damping, all while retaining a playful feel. It’s also an excellent carver for its class, which isn’t a huge priority, but definitely a big bonus. The Sender Free 110 was probably my favorite ski of last season, and likely in my all-time top 5. Mounting on the line here.
Ski #4: Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
Another favorite of mine, the Blackops 118 is just a hoot on pow days. What makes it unique, though, is how it remains enjoyable when that pow turns to chop, or even crud. It’s different enough from the Sender Free 110 to justify owning both, though there would definitely be some overlap in terms of their ideal conditions. I’d probably mount this one 2 cm behind the recommended line just to get some more ski in front of me in deeper snow.
Ski #5: 4FRNT Hoji, 191 cm + Moment Voyager XII
Finally, the touring ski. While I’ve chosen the Raven in the past, I find myself seeking out pow when touring these days, so I’d be happy with the extra width here. Sure, it’s a heavy touring ski, but I’m also ditching some grams with the relatively light Voyager XII bindings. I’m definitely going with 4FRNT’s excellent 4-lock system here, featuring Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 skins, and mounting the bindings on the recommended line.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Quite a few.
For ski #1, I could have gone with the Black Crows Serpo, which is a really fun ski but lacks the edge hold, overall carving performance, and damping I am looking for. I could have also gone to a “fun carver” like the Black Crows Mirus Cor, a ski I also really enjoy, but that also lacks the all-mountain versatility of the Mindbender 89Ti. The J Fastforward, Volkl Kendo 88, and Faction Dancer 2 were also considered here.
For ski #2, I contemplated going with something even more playful and freestyle-focused, such as the Season Kin or K2 Reckoner 102. But I ended up wanting to pick something that’s a bit more of an all-rounder. The Black Crows Camox, Nordica Unleashed 98, and J Skis Masterblaster also came close.
My third ski was really close between the Sender Free 110 and Moment Countach 110. I ended up picking the Sender Free 110 because it is more freestyle-friendly, more damp, and a better carver.
I definitely could have gone a few ways with the pow ski. I like the Moment Wildcat, but the 184 cm length felt a bit short, and I haven’t tried the 190, so I can’t say if I’d like that more than the 186 cm Blackops 118. I also could have gone with a lighter pow ski, such as the 189 cm Line Vision 118, and put a hybrid binding on it, but I end up skiing so much chop inbounds that I prefer a heavy pow ski.
For the touring ski, the Raven was hard to pass up but I ended up going with the Hoji for the reasons noted above. The truth is, I haven’t tried as many touring skis as I’d like, but the Hoji is my favorite in the ~110 mm category so far.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
I’m about to get on a lot of frontside carving skis, so one of them might creep into my selections if I have a good enough time on it.
Other than that, and I say this every year, but I’d really like to get on the latest mid-fat Woodsman, which is the Woodsman 108 this year. That should actually happen this year, though, so we’ll see if that ends up taking over my soft-snow daily driver spot.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I could be happy with quite a few brands here:
Rossignol: Sender 94 Ti, Blackops 98, Sender Free 110, Blackops 118, Sender 104 Ti (as a touring ski)
Line: Blade, Blade Optic 96, Blade Optic 104, Bacon 115, Vision 108
4FRNT: MSP 91, Switch, Devastator (likely 194 cm but we’ll see this season), Renegade, Hoji
Moment: Commander 92, Wildcat 101, Countach 110, Wildcat (maybe 190 cm?), Deathwish Tour
J Skis: Fastforward, Allplay, Hotshot, Friend, Slacker
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
You would think picking a 5-ski quiver would be easy, but after all the new skis we tested last year, I’ve added several 23/24 skis to the potential list, in addition to old favorites from seasons past that have yet to really change or go away.
For this particular quiver, I tried to build some obvious variation between my picks, also keeping in mind where I expect to be skiing this season. Most of my skiing this season will be via lifts at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with some backcountry days sprinkled in, and potentially some travel.
Ski #1: Volkl Secret 102, 170 cm + Tyrolia Attack 13
This is my daily driver and the ski I expect to spend the most time on during the season. I am a big fan of the updated 23/24 Volkl Secret 102. It offers almost all that I am looking for on a majority of days around Crested Butte Mountain Resort, especially since I prefer a stable and damp ski on firm or chalky conditions, but also want something that feels fairly accessible and maneuverable, especially in tight terrain. It definitely isn’t a super playful or forgiving ski, but when conditions are firm, choppy, or cruddy, few skis match the stability and suspension of the new Secret 102.
I feel like I would be pretty happy on this ski for most of my resort days (it’ll likely stick around as we narrow down these quivers); when I want something a little quicker and/ore more forgiving, I would look to the next option.
Ski #2: Blizzard Sheeva 9, 174 cm + Tyrolia Attack 13
Admittedly, I ended up liking this ski way more than I thought I would. Most notably, the 23/24 Sheeva 9 is accessible and nimble. But I also found its flex pattern intuitive at a variety of speeds, even in harsh and firm moguls. I see the Sheeva 9 as a great option for getting my ski legs strong early in the season, lapping long bump runs without having to work too hard, cruising the mountain, or venturing into some scarier terrain when I just want something that feels quick, light, and agile to help build confidence.
Ski #3: Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 104, 179 cm + Marker Kingpin
This is a solid ski for nearly 95% of the touring I do. I have found the Santa Ana Unlimited 104 to be quite versatile, and I have a feeling that, even as we narrow the quivers, I will continue to choose the Santa Ana Unlimited 104 for several reasons.
Personally, I want a backcountry ski that is stable, smooth, and predictable in variable conditions, rather than one that is, say, ultralight or built for really deep powder days. And while I don’t do a ton of touring, especially in the middle of the season, I also know that my mid-winter touring days will usually revolve around when there is good, soft snow to be found away from the lifts. The Santa Ana Unlimited 104 caters to all of this, with good performance in variable snow, respectable flotation for its width, and a quick and lively ride.
Ski #4: K2 Mindbender 106C, 176 cm + Marker Duke PT
Unfortunately, I am not going to Japan this winter to hang out with my partner (who guides out there) and my 23/24 quiver choices are a reflection of that. If I were going to Japan, this 50/50 ski choice would be significantly wider. Instead, I’m prioritizing a bit more versatility.
The updated 23/24 Mindbender 106C is a lively and playful ski that I could travel with to a variety of places and enjoy in the backcountry or resort. It also serves as a more forgiving and maneuverable resort ski on days when I would rather prioritize quickness and playfulness over ultimate stability and suspension.
Ski #5: Coalition Snow Rafiki, 180 cm + Look Pivot 15
When I think back on all the epic powder days of the 22/23 season, this ski was often beneath my feet, and it stood out for several reasons. It is an all-time chop and crud buster, offers exceptional flotation, is super playful and surfy, and has notably good suspension (especially in heavy or skied-out resort pow). It is one of my favorites for resort powder days, and while it might not be very versatile in conditions that aren’t soft, I can’t help but make room for it within my 5-ski quiver.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The most saturated category for me is what I consider my daily driver resort skis – skis that fall somewhere around 95-100 mm underfoot and that I wouldn’t mind using for the majority of the season. There are so many great skis that I considered in this category, including one that is always hard to pass up, the K2 Mindbender 99Ti. I also considered the Peak 98 by Bode, Faction Dancer 2X, and Nordica Santa Ana 98.
I also wanted to make room for the Folsom Cash 106, Faction Dancer 3X, Nordica Unleashed 108, Majesty Vadera Ti, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, and others in the mid-wide category, but stay tuned, since some of these skis will resurface as we pare down the quivers.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
This season, I am excited to spend time on a few narrower skis, and in particular, I’d like more time on the K2 Mindbender 89Ti and Stockli Stormrider 88. I’m pretty happy with how I’ve put together this current quiver, despite it lacking a narrower option, but if I were to find the right <90mm-wide ski that offers enough versatility and differentiation relative to the other skis in the quiver, I’d definitely throw it in. We’ll see.
I would also love to spend time on the 176 cm Salomon Stance 102, especially to see how it compares to the Volkl Secret 102. And I wouldn’t mind spending some time on the Salomon QST Echo 106, Nordica Unleashed 114, DPS Kaizen 105, and probably a dozen others I am forgetting right now.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Nordica always seems to be the go-to for me when it comes to this question, but especially since they added their Santa Ana Unlimited 93 and 104, and the Unleashed series, Nordica seems more obvious an answer than ever:
Santa Ana 98 w/ Tyrolia Attack 13
Santa Ana 104 Free w/ Tyrolia Attack 13
Santa Ana Unlimited 104 w/ Marker Kingpin
Unleashed 108 w/ Marker Duke PT
Unleashed 114 w/ Look Pivot 13.
But here’s another one, just for fun:
K2 Mindbender 99 Ti w/ Tyrolia Attack 13
K2 Mindbender 108 Ti w/ Tyrolia Attack 13
K2 Dispatch 110 w/ ATK Freeraider 12
K2 Mindbender 106C w/ Marker Duke PT
K2 Mindbender 115C w/ Look Pivot 13
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
My quiver would be built around a season that is dominated by lift-accessed skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort from early November through early April, with some mid-winter touring sprinkled in and lots more human-powered skiing starting in April. Given that, I’ll be prioritizing lift-accessed skiing more than touring, but especially in these bigger quivers, I still want at least one touring-only ski. Here’s what I’ve arrived at:
Ski #1: Armada Declivity 102 Ti, 180 cm + alpine binding
I debated between a whole bunch of skis when it came to this “daily driver” slot, but I opted to go with one of the skis that left one of the most memorable impressions on me last season, the Armada Declivity 102 Ti. I just remember having a lot of fun on this ski, and its unhelpfully vague “X factor” is what put it over the line for me – combined with the fact that, like a lot of skis in this class, it does most things quite well.
This ski is a blast to carve but feels agile and fairly maneuverable in tight bumps and trees. It’s just damp enough to be enjoyable on really firm days, yet it never felt sluggish to me. And while it’s definitely a directional ski, it still lets me ski fairly centered and doesn’t feel that awkward in the air. It encourages and rewards an aggressive, dynamic, light-on-your-feet style, which is how I want to ski most of the time.
As for which alpine bindings, I don’t have a strong preference. I’ll typically just go with the ones that (1) match my boot sole, (2) fit my DIN settings, and (3) that I can get at the best price. That said, it’d be hard to pass up pairing the 23/24 Declivity 102 Ti’s top sheet with the black / khaki Strive 14…
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 178 cm + alpine binding
This slot is my piste-oriented ski for when that’s either all that I will be skiing, or I’m taking laps with friends / family who aren’t particularly interested in skiing fast or spending a lot of time off piste.
For this sort of use case, I’m drawn to the still-growing “fun carver” category — i.e., skis that are designed with on-piste excitement as a priority (especially in terms of tighter-radius turns), but that go about it in a way that’s pretty different from traditional piste skis.
I will be using this ski a whole lot at the beginning of the season, when we’re skiing low-angle slopes and firm, man-made snow, so the Mirus Cor makes the most sense to me. I love the Line Blade (and prefer it in slushy spring snow), but the Mirus Cor wins in terms of edge hold. And since I’m opting for a more directional daily driver this year, I appreciate the more freestyle-oriented design of the Mirus Cor. The Blade is still really playful, but the lighter, more center-mounted, and more twin-tipped Mirus Cor is more intuitive to me when it comes to the tiny jibs and medium jumps I’m drawn to.
Anyway, this ski just makes it really difficult for me to have a bad time. Its tight sidecut radius, soft flex pattern, centered mount point, and deep rocker lines all make for a weird ski, but once I got used to it, I enjoyed it on any sort of groomer (from super flat to steep), and eventually came to enjoy carving, popping, and slashing it elsewhere on the mountain. It does not need much speed or slope angle to be fun, which is my main priority for this slot in my 5-ski quiver.
Ski #3: Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
I believe this is the longest-running repeat in my quiver selections, and until Rossignol goes against my wishes and decides to change it, I think the Blackops 118 will always have a spot here. As I’ve discussed time and time again, this is one of my all-time favorite skis. This is mostly because it makes skiing resort chop just about as fun as skiing untracked pow, and chop is what you realistically ski most of the time on a resort “pow day.” It’s absurdly calm and composed when blasting through chop, yet it’s not a very directional or technically demanding ski, so I can still quickly change direction, feel balanced in the air, and pretend I’m any good at throwing tricks when the landings are soft and forgiving.
Ski #4: RMU Apostle 106, 184 cm + CAST Freetour or Marker Duke PT 16
Same as last year, I’m using the 4th ski slot to get myself an ultra-playful ski that will realistically spend most of its time in the resort, but I’m going to mount it with a burly hybrid binding to open up the possibilities for shorter tours.
The Apostle 106 is extremely playful overall — it’s energetic, loose / surfy, balanced, skis switch well, easy to bend, and generally just encourages me to get in the air at every opportunity, throw it sideways, and ski in a goofy style. At the same time, it’s not a super niche ski and I can have a good time on it in anything short of super icy conditions.
Because my daily driver this year is more directional, I’m gonna go with a burlier binding setup on the Apostle 106 since I think I’d probably use it a bit more than I would with my 5-ski quiver setup last year. I haven’t had a chance to use the latest version of CAST’s Freetour system, but that seems like a very safe bet. I have had very good experiences with the Marker Duke PT 16, and would feel pretty confident going that route, too. And who knows, depending on how our testing goes with Daymaker’s new Tekdapters, that could be a solution, too.
Ski #5: Majesty Superwolf, 178 cm + Moment Voyager XII
Another carryover from last year — the Superwolf is still my current favorite touring ski for spring conditions, and particularly, steeper spring lines. It offers an excellent suspension-to-weight ratio, handles variable, grabby snow better than a lot of 93mm-wide touring skis, and it’s generally just something I can always depend on. In this quiver, it’d also serve as my before- or after-work ski for skinning the resort, which is fine by me, since it’s also fun to carve on piste.
The Moment Voyager XII is my current favorite tech binding for basically the same reasons I chose the Superwolf as my touring ski — performance-to-weight ratio, dependability, ease of use, etc. I’m looking forward to trying the new “EVO” platform from ATK and/or Moment, but until I do, I’ll just stick with the original.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Let’s see … our 23/24 Winter Buyer’s Guide has 310 skis in it, so I’d say there are probably ~100 I could include here. I.e., there are a lot of skis I really like for one reason or another (or many reasons).
I’m going to keep things brief here, since there are so many skis and so many ways I could have put together this 5-ski quiver, but as we get to our smaller quiver articles, I’ll expand a bit more on the top contenders since that’s where the decisions get harder.
For the Daily Driver slot: Line Blade Optic 96, Faction Dancer 2, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Salomon QST 92, Salomon Stance 102, Black Crows Serpo, Rossignol Sender 104 Ti+, Faction Mana 2
For the Fun Carver slot: Line Blade, Folsom Spar Turbo, Season Kin, Wagner Summit 91, Elan Wingman 86 CTi, Folsom Spar 88, K2 Mindbender 89Ti
For the Resort Pow Ski slot: Moment Wildcat, Volkl Revolt 121, Volkl Revolt 114, DPS Koala 118, Line Blade Optic 114, Salomon QST Blank
For the Playful All-Mountain Ski slot: K2 Reckoner 102, Line Chronic 101, Faction Mana 2, Majesty Dirty Bear XL, Season Nexus
For the Touring Ski slot: Line Vision 98, Stereo Lynx MK 4, DPS Pagoda Tour 100
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
The new Volkl Revolt 114 was one of the most interesting skis I tried last year, and one that I got to spend the least time on due to when we got the ski and my first and only day ending with a pretty nasty crash. But it strikes me as a really, really good resort pow ski for bashing through chop, yet it’s still fairly maneuverable. I doubt it’ll unseat the Rossignol Blackops 118 due to how uniquely that ski aligns with my specific preferences, but I’m really looking forward to getting back on the Revolt 114 on a day that warrants a ski that big.
I was also very impressed by the Salomon QST Echo 106 when I skied it last spring. I don’t think it really has a spot in my 5-ski quiver (at least with how I’ve structured it here), but it was one of the more impressive mid-fat touring skis I’ve tried in the past year or so.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Per usual, no company makes 5 skis that perfectly fit the roles I’ve created in my 5-ski quiver, but below are the top contenders. The skis are listed in the order of the roles I outlined above; I haven’t skied all of them so there’s a bit of guesswork here.
Line: Blade Optic 96, Blade, Blade Optic 114, Chronic 101, Vision 98
K2: Mindbender 99Ti, Mindbender 89Ti, Mindbender 116C (?), Reckoner 102, Dispatch 101
Moment: Commander 102 (?), Commander 92 (?), Wildcat, Frankenski (?), Deathwish Tour 104
Faction: Dancer 2, Dancer 1(?), Prodigy 4, Mana 2, La Machine 2 (?)
Black Crows: Serpo, Mirus Cor, Anima, Atris, Camox Freebird (?)
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
The 23/24 season will be the first ski season since 2007 where Taos Ski Valley won’t be my home mountain. Thankfully, (1) I have at least one trip planned to TSV this season, and (2) my new home mountain – Crested Butte Mountain Resort – has equally amazing terrain and conditions.
With that said, I expect to spend at least 80% of my time skiing inbounds at CBMR, so my quiver reflects that. I now live closer to backcountry skiing and to the resort, so I’m hopeful to do more uphill travel this winter, which is why I’ll have at least one backcountry setup in the mix. I don’t have any big ski trips planned this season, so my choice of skis is geared toward skiing CBMR and its generally steep slopes.
Ski #1: Salomon Stance 88 W, 174 cm + alpine bindings
The Stance 88 was one of the last pairs of skis I demoed at the 2023 Blister Summit and I loved how they just clicked for me. Over the past few years, I’ve found myself really getting along with a lot of skis around this width for all-mountain use on firm conditions.
In this quiver, the Stance 88 would be my early season ski when the terrain is limited to groomers. I’d also reach for them on firm snow days when I still want to ski off-piste and not beat myself up too much via a bigger, heavier ski. And then I’d likely reach for them on chalky days when I want to make precise, quick turns in the steeps. Overall, I think I’d spend a lot of time on the Stance 88 and my #2 ski.
Ski #2: Elan Ripstick 94 W, 170 cm + alpine bindings
The Ripstick 94 has been a favorite of mine for years. I find it to be exceptionally intuitive, not too demanding, and easy to initiate turns. This would be an all-mountain ski that would be great in most conditions, and it’d also serve as a slightly easier-going alternative to the stiffer, heavier Stance 88.
Ski #3: Blizzard Sheeva 11, 174 cm + alpine bindings
I spent several days on the updated Sheeva 11 last season and while I was initially hesitant to ski them — I never clicked with the previous version— this ski quicky became a favorite of mine. In this 5-ski quiver, the Sheeva 11 would be my resort powder ski, but I’d also grab them any day I wanted to ski more aggressively. The Sheeva 11 is damp enough to bust through crud and chop while also being maneuverable enough to get me down narrow chutes. The Sheeva 11 instilled confidence in my skiing every time I hopped on them last season.
Ski #4: Moment Sierra, 172 cm + alpine bindings
The Moment Sierra is not a ski I ever thought I’d gravitate to. Its triple camber design and more forward mount left me frustrated the first few days I skied them, but once I moved the bindings 2 cm back, the feel of the ski completely changed for me. I went from hating it to loving it.
With the ski set up for my preferences, it felt especially nimble and responsive. Ultimately, it made me feel like a more playful skier — which is not easy to do. I’d take the Sierra out on chalky and soft snow days, or just when I feel like trying to ski with a more playful style.
Ski #5: LINE Pandora 110, 170 cm + tech binding
This will be my dedicated backcountry setup and I am choosing to mount it with tech bindings since I won’t be using the Pandora 110 while riding lifts. (As for the particular binding model, I’m not 100% sure, but I’d probably just ask our reviewers with more experience in that category for some recommendations.)
I’m also hoping that any backcountry / uphill travel I do this winter is in soft snow, powder, or on a groomer (i.e. dawn patrol at the ski area). The Pandora 110 performs well in those conditions. They aren’t crud busters by any means, so if I run into less-than-ideal snow conditions, I may regret my quiver choice or the decision to ski that day. I have skied the Pandora 110 in refrozen crud and heavy, wet snow, and while these aren’t ideal conditions for the ski, I do know they will get me down the mountain in one piece. It just won’t be the fastest or dampest ride.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
There are a number of skis I love that didn’t make the cut, but there’s a good chance they end up in my smaller quivers as we narrow things down. The hardest to leave off my list include the Fischer Ranger 90, Nordica Santa Ana 88, Blizzard Black Pearl 88, and Wagner Summit 106.
I love a lot of 88-94 mm waist skis, and it was a bit of a toss-up between the Salomon Stance 88, Nordica Santa Ana 88, Blizzard Black Pearl 88, and the Fischer Ranger 90. Each one of those skis felt predictable, responsive, and versatile across most terrain, but the Stance 88 ultimately made the list because I had one of my better skis days last season on it. Nostalgia definitely played a role in my choice.
The Wagner Summit 106 has made my quiver list for the past few years, but I didn’t get the chance to ski them last year so I went with the Sheeva 11 for my wider resort ski, which impressed me last season. The Summit 106 offers intuitive turn initiation and it carves well on groomers and in soft snow (especially for its width), though it might not be quite as stable or float as well as the Sheeva 11.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
The Elan Ripstick 102— maybe this is the year I finally get to ski them.
I’m also very curious about Nordica’s Santa Ana Unlimited and Unleashed series. I haven’t skied them yet but after reading Kara’s reviews of them, I am intrigued.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Nordica. I’ve been a fan of the Santa Ana series for years, so this is a pretty easy choice — although I haven’t skied all of the skis I have listed in my single-brand 5-ski quiver.
Regardless, my quiver would include: Santa Ana 88, Unleashed 98, Santa Ana 104 Free, Santa Ana Unlimited 104 (w/ tech bindings), Unleashed 114
Paul Forward
(6”, 195 lbs / 183 cm, 88.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
My situation remains somewhat unusual in that I spend a lot of my early season ski touring but then, by late February, transition into mostly skiing at Alyeska resort and heli-ski guiding at Chugach Powder Guides. As a result, I’m looking to cover a very wide range of conditions, terrain, and scenarios with very different requirements / priorities.
Ski #1: Folsom Rapture, 192 cm, SRC custom build + Marker Jester Pro
I’ve written about this ski for years and my appreciation for it continues. This past season, I got to ski a few different versions of Rapture, including one with a little camber and lengths from 186 to 195. Still, my overall favorite is my original 192 cm version. I like them so much that I purchased a backup pair in case mine break or get lost. Simply put, these are the most intuitive and versatile skis I’ve ever found for heli skiing in Alaska and they still do quite well for powder days under the lifts at Alyeska.
Ski #2: Folsom Giver, 190 cm, SRC custom build + Marker Jester Pro
I got these mid-season last year with the hopes of finding an everyday ski for Alyeska, regardless of how much it’s snowed. This version of the Giver 110 (a spinoff of Folsom’s previous Primary 110 shape) doesn’t quite match the suspension of my other favorite all-round inbounds skis, the Volkl Mantra 102, but the Giver makes up for this with easier pivoting and much better flotation in soft snow. When tipped over into higher edge angles, its sidecut and rocker complement each other very well, equating to a long effective edge and clean carves in a variety of snow conditions. I don’t get quite the high-speed stability of some of the heavier, more damp skis I’ve used, but the Giver 110’s intuitive feel and ability to easily transition from high-angle carves to quick pivots inspires a lot of confidence.
Ski #3: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
I’ve always liked having a shorter, super “carve-y” ski for night skiing and hard snow days at Alyeska. I have cycled from having an old pair of WC slalom skis, to Line Blades, and now to the Mirus Cor, which are the most “fun” pair of carvers I’ve had yet. The Mirus Cor doesn’t quite match the high-speed performance of some other frontside carvers, but the Mirus Cor is just crazy fun for working on technique. It’s also my all-time favorite ski for being on the hill with my son (who turned 4 last May) because it’s easy to ski backwards on, and when he’s skiing longer runs and going faster, I can practice big, high-angle, but low-speed carves across the groomers behind him.
Ski #4: Blizzard Zero G 105, 188 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
For many years now, this slot has been a tough one for me because I want a narrower, lighter, and more versatile touring ski for days when it’s not super deep out there. The Zero G 105, with its more traditional mount point and strong flex pattern, is a little bit more directional than I tend to prefer these days for soft-snow skiing, but it still has a nice balance to it when thrown sideways. I currently have my pair mounted with Dynafit Superlite 150’s and am quite happy with that setup but I’d be tempted to set them up with the Voyager’s for the brakes and slightly more damped feeling. (I haven’t skied the latest Zero G 105, with its “Trueblend” wood core and “Carbon Drive 3.0,” so I am doing a bit of speculation here.)
Ski #5: Moonlight Cruiser 120 All-Terrain, 185 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
As with the Zero G, I’m carrying these over from my previous quiver picks. I like having a ~120mm-wide touring ski in my quiver for the bigger days of human-powered skiing and, to my disappointment, a lot of companies have dropped fat lightweight skis from their lineups. The Cruiser is one of the better pow-touring skis I’ve ever used and still does surprisingly well in firmer conditions. I have also skied the incredibly lightweight “Carbon Superlight” version but prefer the overall feel of the “All Terrain” construction. If I wanted to save some weight I’d be more tempted to mount with a Superlite 150, which would work quite well on a ski like this in my opinion.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I was really impressed by the Armada Locator 112 last season. It’s a very versatile all-round touring ski for my style and terrain. Look for it to appear in some of my smaller quiver selections. It was also pretty tough to leave out a metal-construction resort ski like the Volkl Mantra 102 that has made my list for the past few years. Maybe I’m getting older and valuing high-speed stability less than I used to!
I also really like the Faction La Machine Max and it’s hard not to have that in my overall quiver. It’s a great ski for how I ski and where I live.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
Because I live in Girdwood and spend a lot of my year heli-ski guiding, I’m always super curious about new powder skis or existing power skis that I haven’t yet tried. The three that are on my radar right now for this season are the Heritage Labs HB122, Folsom Rotor, Candide AK 121, and the resurrected Moment Ghost Train. Most of those skis are marketed toward backcountry freestyle skiing but I often find that skis in that category make the best heli skis for both guides and guests.
I’d also like to spend some more time on some narrower (relatively) touring skis. I’d love to try the Locator 104 because of my experience with the 112. I also like dabbling in lighter skis and am curious about the Movement Alp Tracks.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Folsom is the pretty easy call here, in part because I’ve really liked several of their skis that I’ve tried, and in part because they make custom skis. The Rapture (and potentially the still-in-development Rotor) is my ideal guiding and all-round powder ski, and I already put the Giver 110 on my 5-ski quiver. I think that, with the right build, the Spar Turbo could fill the niche of the Mirus Cor. The wildcard here is the touring skis because I haven’t yet skied any Folsom skis in a touring construction. I suspect that lightweight versions of the Cash 106, Primary 110, or Giver 110 would get me what I need for an everyday human-powered ski, and I’d be tempted by the lightest-possible Rapture build for the big days.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, 180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
Ski 1: Dedicated Carver: K2 Disruption 78Ti, 178 cm
Very happy with this choice. I’m also very curious to see whether anything we get on in the coming weeks challenges it or replaces it as my dedicated piste ski.
Ski 2: Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm
Great for low-tide groomers, moguls, and trees, as well as spring corn. In really punchy off-piste steeps, I probably will want something wider, but there is a broad enough use case here that that’s a small compromise to make.
Ski 3: Blizzard Cochise 106, 185 cm
I love this iteration of the Cochise as my all-mountain / marginal conditions / variable conditions / resort chop ski. Excellent stability, predictability, and maneuverability.
Ski 4: Moment Wildcat, 190 cm
My true love is back. And yes, I need to do a full, proper review of the 190 cm Wildcat.
But this is one of my favorite chop / pow skis of all time. (There are skis that float better in pure pow, but there are extremely few skis that are this capable in resort chop while also being fun in pow.)
Ski 5: Touring: 4FRNT Raven with 4-Lock, 184 cm
Still so good at its intended purpose: skiing backcountry (read: ungroomed) conditions and terrain, while providing excellent stability in open spaces and excellent maneuverability in tight trees, chutes, etc. And if you happen upon some ski tester from some ski magazine evaluating the Raven on a groomer and complaining that it doesn’t carve corduroy super well, please punch them.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Rossignol Blackops 118
It deserves better, but my long-time love finally got her act together again, and I can’t resist ditching her truly-wonderful-in-every-way replacement to run back and rekindle the old flame. It’s a story as old as time. It also typically doesn’t end well, but in this case, it mostly just raises the question of whether you can love 2 things equally.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
#1: Stockli Stormrider 102
I skied this at our Blister Summit 2023 and was really surprised at (1) how easy of a ski it is to ski, and (2) how well it skis. And one of my biggest questions coming into this season is now, is the Stormrider 102 the replacement for the original Fischer Ranger 102 FR? I’m going to A/B these 2 skis this season, and I’ll let you know what I find. But regardless, I’m looking forward to — finally! — getting a proper amount of time on the Stormrider 102 this season.
#2: Salomon QST Echo 106
The 4FRNT Raven has become an absolute staple in my quiver for years now, and I will always love it. But I had such a good time on the QST Echo 106, that I’m now wondering if it is able to give me everything that I love about the Raven, but also with a bit better edge grip on steep, icy slopes? I’m not betting that the Raven will be replaced, but the QST Echo 106 is very good, and it’s at least a possibility.
#3: 178 cm length of the latest Fischer The Curv
Strangely, we’ve so far only been able to review the 185 cm version of the latest “The Curv” ski, and I personally don’t need this ski in a 185 cm length. Hope to get on the shorter length ASAP.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Man, I really don’t like this question this year, and the reason is that I haven’t spent time on a (1) frontside carver as well as (2) a pow ski that I know I love from a single company.
So I’m going full custom. (And funny, I wrote all this, and then after — for the first time — read what Paul Forward had written in this section):
1: Folsom Spar 88
I really want to get on the Spar 78 this year
2: Folsom Blister Pro 104
Would tweak / update this a bit from the one we created several years ago. Long and short, it would perform fairly similarly to a Nordica Enforcer 104.
3: Folsom Primary 110 or Giver
All-Mountain ski for Marginal / Good / Chop conditions; would likely opt for just a bit of camber underfoot, drawing it into that Cochise 106 spectrum
4: Folsom Rapture
Pow Ski. Tested and approved in Alaska this past spring.
5: Touring Ski: Folsom Giver, 184 cm, with shallow reverse camber
Would aim to get it weighing in around 1900-1950 g
I love this series!!
For me:
Head Monster 88
Head Monster 98
Fischer Ranger 102 FR
Dynastar M-Free 108
Liberty Origin 112
Could easily add/subtract at either end.
Love the Fischer RC4 Curv, Head e-Magnum, Stöckli Montero AR 84 or AX 80
Tried the Line Pescado but something around 118 for the deep days would be great. Looking forward to the Engelberg Freeride Days event in March to test more
Some great lists below, makes me feel better about my ski hoarding.
As Kyle mentioned rock skis, have a pair of Kästle XX110s for early season powish days.
Yeah, I’ve always thought these lists need an honorable mention for “rock skis”
Something like “Which ski from a prior year’s quiver would you keep for early/late season rock ski duty”…because you don’t buy a new ski for rocks. you use an old one. And depending where you ski, your rock ski probably isn’t your super fat pow ski, or your skinny legit carving ski–you probably pick something that will make the best of awkward mixed conditions. Maybe a bit of metal to bust through cruddy conditions, but something still playful because when you’re skiing in the spring you’re looking to have fun and fool around on whatever snow is left.
For me right now that’s an old 1st gen Rustler 10. Although if you do more early/late touring, maybe you need a rock tourer rather than a rock alpine ski!
Praise be to Jonathan for having a carving ski! For those who can not carve are not well rounded skiers! Sorry Kara, i still love you. My five,
Dynastar pro rider gen1 192
Armada declivity 92 188
Dynastar speed zone 12
Volkl P10 RS Super 205
Dynastar legend xv106 188
For Me:
Volkl Katana Old School 2014 – 112 – Powerful powder all mountain
Head Core 99 – Super light ski – spring conditions
Black Crow Justis 99 – There is no justice in the world, except Black Crow Justis!
Volkl Mantra 96 – Powerful all mountain hard pack conditions
Volkl Kendo 88 – Super carver days
If I had to pick two skis, Head Core 99 and Black Crow Justis 99, fun to ski variations on a theme. Head Core is power limited, but beyond that, it is awesome as a balance between easy skiing and flexible deflection, and also depends on the boot, Head Core, Lange XT3, but the others, you need a Nordica Boot that is all mountain to drive the skis properly.
Western Washington, 6’2”, 205 lbs. ~60 days per year, 75-25 resort\tour. Stevens Pass, Crystal mountain, Baker, Alpental, Whistler.
My current quiver:
Daily driver: 21 Volkl Mantra 102 in 184 with Salomon STH-16. Strong and stable, but still maneuverable, good carver, great crud buster, very rarely feels out of place.
Resort Pow: 19 Blizzard Rustler 11 in 192 with Salomon STH-16. Versatile, easy going pow ski that feels equally at home charging as it does noodling through tight trees.
Low Tide Resort: 21 Nordica Enforcer 94 in 186 with Marker Griffons. Damp, stable, versatile, decent carver. Kind of ended up with these by accident, but really like their versatility and ability to deal with any snow condition. Likely to get turned into something narrower and lighter in the spring.
50/50: 23 Salomon QST Echo 106 in 189 with Salomon Shift 13 & Pomoca Blues. I have really enjoyed every iteration of the 106, so this was a no brainer for me when they launched it last year. Very few compromises in the resort, agile, playful, damp and easygoing, but have a higher limit than you would expect. This is my go to tree setup now too, perfect Revelstoke ski.
Touring Ski: 21 Blizzard Zero G 105 in 189 with G3 Zed 12s & Pomoca blues. For my money there is no better balance of performance vs weight currently available. Strong without being demanding, pretty damp for the weight, and an absolute riot in spring corn. Light enough for big days, but won’t sink on you if you are wearing a heavy pack.
Honorable mentions: (rock skis) 20 Fischer Ranger 107Ti in 189 with Salomon STH-16. Still my favorite ski for bad snow. Heavy and stable, but with a weirdly light swing weight, strong tail and short radius. A weird combo, but this thing slays. Have a load of core shots and a punched in edge on one ski relegating these to rock duties.
QST-98. Have a rocked up pair of these for noodling around. Great tree ski, one of the loosest most maneuverable skis I have ever owned. Fun ski.
If I were to replace all these with one brand:
Blizzard. 183 Bonafide, 186 Rustler 9, 192 Rustler 11, 186 Hustle 10 (shift), 189 Zero G 105 (pin)
Salomon: 190 Stance 102, 194 Blank, 186 Stance 90, 189 QST 106 Echo (shift), 185 Mtn Explore 96 Carbon (pin)
5’8″ 150ish lbs,
1.Saba Pro 117 187 pivot
2.Moment Lambos 188 Cast
3. 23/24 Salomon Stance 102 183 Skitrab Tr1 (the best 50/50 touring binding that noone skis WTF!?!)
4. Corvus Freebird Evo 15
5. Navis Freebird Oazo 10 (best touring binding that noone has on the Radar, WTF???)
DEAR BLISTER NERDS, PLS REVIEW MORE SHINEY ITALIAN OR FRENCH BLINGBLING STUFF SUCH AS SKITRAB FROM BORMIO,LOMBARDIA ( THE TR1 HASTGE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE SPORT!!!) OR MORE LIGHTER BINDINGS FROM FUKKEN PLUM STRAIGHT OUTTA THE CHAMONIX-BUNKER!!!
Are you going to have a midwest/Michigan version of this debate? The out west/ soft snow reviews are very much the same. I need info on early season light snow, mid season hardpack/ice, and 6″ of slush in March. Don’t forget about us. They’rs way more of us then you think.
Remember, these are NOT recommendations. These are what each person would pick for themselves. So, they are for where they live, which is Crested Butte for Blister reviewers.
Also, they are not at all the same. Each person has different ski styles and use cases.
Did you look at the suggested quivers in the buyers guide? That’s what those are for.
Better yet, become a member, and you can get personal advice for you.
Accidently went from a 3 ski to a 6 ski quiver over the summer, oops! All mounted with alpine bindings.
Salomon Lord: They’ve been sitting without bindings for years, got some cheap Wardens to make them my rock skis.
DPS Powderworks 100 RPC: Very good for aggressive skiing in natural terrain, pretty bad at everything else. I’d probably go with a Commander 102, Wrenegade 102 Ti LTD, or Rustler 10 if I were to replace them (none of those skis existed when I bought them last season).
Icelantic Saba Pro 107: New for this season, loved how the 117 carved so I bought these for groomers and easy tree skiing on days when I don’t want to charge.
WNDR Intention 110: Also new, couldn’t resist at 50% off. Will be my main ski for in bounds hiking and West Bowl laps.
Rossignol Blackops Sender Squad: I adore this ski, stable, maneuverable, and dependable in any snow and terrain. I ski it anytime conditions are at all soft.
Volkl Revolt 121: Super fun ski but they’re short for me, planning on replacing them for next season with a Wildcat, Genome, Mindbender 116 C, or Vanguard Ti
Hi Steven, thanks for sharing. Care to elaborate on the DPS and possibly the Rossi?
Using a Head Kore 105 as my go to on 9 out of 10 days, for lift-supported freetouring as well as for earning my turns. (Lighter touring planks with tech bindungs and a pair of GS piste skis see considerably less use.)
I’ve fitted the Kores with Shift 13 bindings for heft and I quite like how the ski holds an edge despite its lightness.
What I don’t like is how it tends to get nervous in harder crud – high-altitude groomers late in the season have been particularly clatter-inducing.
Hence looking for a hardpack do-it-all, and I thought the DPS Powderworks 100 RPC with a Shift 13 could be that ski. But your comment makes me think again.
Care to share where you see the DPS’ limitations? If they are significant, I’ll step on a pair of Mantra 102 and see what they do for me.
Thanks!
Need to add something narrow to my quiver.
Daily driver: fischer ranger FR 102 (pink)
Powder: black crows Nocta
Steep skiing: black crows corvus
Daily touring: dynastar m tour 99
Pow touring: zag slap 112.
Just picked up a salomon x-alp for some possible skimo racing. Are we allowed to talk about that here?
Agreed, love these quiver articles. I’m always trying new skis and hoping to narrow it down…but never seems to happen. Some how I’ve developed some bloat in the 115 width and need to pair that down. When is the 16 ski quiver selection coming?
Current stable:
-Resort-
Old Nocta 185(deep pow) w/cast
Anima 188 (charger Pow) w/cast
Anima 182 (playful pow) w/cast
JJ 185 alpine initiatives signed by JP w/pivot18
Praxis jedi mind sticks 182 (pow) w/cast
Mana 3 184 (playful chop) w/cast
Sender free 110 184 (charger chop) w/cast
Nordica Enf 104 free 186(DD) w/Warden 13
Mana 2 184 (park) w/pivot
Volkl Deacon 177 (PSIA stuff) w/markers
Dynastar SL (carver) w/look
-Sledskis- (soft snow focus)
Old Nocta 185 w/CAST
Anima 188 (pow) w/cast
Jedi Mind sticks 182 (pow) w/cast
Mana 3 184 w/cast
Sender free110 184 w/cast
-touring-
Nocta 185 (deep pow) w/ATK
Armada WW121 183 (deep pow) w/atk
Armada WW 185 (pow) w/voyager
Amplid Facelift 108 184(DD) w/kp
Enf unlimited 104 186(spring/firm)w/voyager
Rossignol Scratch 84
Blizzard Brahma 88
4frnt Vandal 98
Dynastar Menace 98
Blizzard Rustler 11 112
Völkl One 116
Touring: Augment Tour Carbon 95
Bit of a gap in the middle but I haven’t missed it much…
Have way too many skis but expect I’ll use this 90% of the time
East coast DD: mantra 102 184
East coast soft snow fun ski: masterblaster 187
East coast powder ski: hotshot 183
West coast daily driver: hotshot 189 or masterblaster 187
West coast inbounds wide ski: zx115 186
West coast powder/touring/cat ski: tbd. Maybe Dps 117 or 124
Corduroy: Stöckli Laser SC
Resort variable: Moment Commander 108 (Shifts)
Resort pow: Völkl Revolt 121, Commander 108, Moment Ghost Chant (Shifts)
Touring spring: Salomon MTN 95 (to be replaced with WNDR skis) ATK R12/Evo13
Touring general: Moment Wildcat 108 (to be supplemented with WNDR skis) ATK R12/Evo13
Touring Pow: Moment Bibby Tour (ATK FR 16)
For me (Around Switzerland and Austria) — your need a boot quiver as well since I am yet to find a boot that can drive all of these ski types properly
Hard Snow – Stockli Laser WRT Pro -WRT 16 with WC Plate + Dalbello 97mm DRS 140
Mixed conditions: Volkl M6 Mantra – Look Pivot 15 Forza 3.0 + Dalbello 97mm DRS 140
Sidecountry touring – Stockli Edge FT Classic – Dynafit ST Rotation, Nordica Unlimited 130
Backcountry Tour – Elan ripstick tour 104 – Dynafit ST Rotation, Scarpa Maestrale XT
Assisted backcountry (lift, cat, heli) – Roissignol Blackops 118, Look Pivot with CAST, Nordica Unlimited 130
Boot quiver! I love it!
I love the series but it would be fantastic if every skier wasn’t a 70kg beanpole. How about a 100kg or even a 110 kgs skier because the heavier skiers in this size range don’t always suit the skis suggested above
Haha, I know right?
Given these are just the reviewers personal choices and not any kind of recommendation am not sure what they can do other than wish themselves heavier?
Death, taxes, and people complaining that we’re not heavy enough. Thank you for being the first person to make this annually-occuring comment, Mark.
As Mr. Cholmeski mentions above, and as we mention in the intro, these aren’t recommendations, just our personal preferences. These are NOT suggestions for building a 5-ski quiver. And this is just part one of our 5-ski quiver selections, we’ll be having heavier reviewers chime in very soon here with their choices.
If you’re looking for a personalized gear recommendation, become a Blister Member, tell us about yourself, including your height and weight, and we’ll be happy to make an objective recommendation regardless of the “beanpole” who recommends it to you — we’ve become very, very good at this.
Dylan, good post. 69Kg beanpole here myself. I am 59 and do 40meter sprints down my block one or twice a week and don’t complain about shit. Unless these guys are 6’2″ with 8-10% body fat and built like NFL players, they should quit the bitching and push themselves away from the dinner table once in a while. The average American male is 5’9″ 197lbs! I shake my head every time I walk through an airport.
But what about even the other direction? Short, lightweight females. 5’3″ 110 lbs.
It sounds like you should pay extra attention to what our reviewer Sascha Anastas (5’1″, 100 lbs) has to say.
I’ll do that, thanks.
Do yourself a favour Mr Cholmeski.
No Nordica? Love my enforcer 92. Also 104 free
Hold tight, this is just part one.
This year my quiver looks like:
Volkl M5 Mantra, 177 cm – Lower snow, variable resort days
Liberty Helix 98, 179 cm – Park and all-mountain freestyle
K2 Reckoner 122, 184 cm – Deep resort days, cat skiing
Volkl VTA 98 w Alpinists, 177 cm – Lightweight touring, volcano missions
Line Sick Day 114 w Rotations, 180 cm – Mid-winter touring
(I miss those Sick Day 114s. Such a good ski.)
5’10” 155lbs skiing mostly Colorado front range plus some touring elsewhere in the west.
Black Crows Mirus Cor 178 w/ Solomon Warden MNC 13 – fun carver
Rossignol Black Ops Sender Ti 184 w/ Solomon Warden MNC 13 – all mountain powder
RMU Apostle 98 Carbon 178 w/ Atomic Shift – Touring and all mountain less snow
Maybe someday I’ll have a full quiver
Here’s my lineup that fills a lot of uses: 1. Fischer RC One GT 86, length 174 2. Nordica Enforcer 88, 179 3. K2 Mindbender 99, 176 4. Elan Ripstick 108, 186 5. Blizzard Rustler 11 188 Last year at Squawhoe used the two wide ones most of the time. The RC Ones are an overlooked ripper, and surprisingly good off piste, so the Enforcer 88’s are less used. Height 5’11” 170#.
Great selection. I had a day on the GT86 a couple of years ago and loved them. Had I not been able to find a decent pair of Head Monster 88’s secondhand that would have been my choice
Canadian Rockies and interior bc, 5’9,150lb…
My 5 skiis:
Carving – head supershape ititan 88
Daily driver – black crows justis 100
Resort deep powder – black crows Anima 115
Powder touring – moment wildcat tour 108 + alpinist binding
Resort powder, less deep – black crows atris 108
That is a quiver to envy!
YES!!!! I feel like my ski season hasn’t officially started until this article comes out!!! While I love reading about how the Blister reviewers sort out their quivers I REALLY enjoy reading the comments from all the people that are upset about:
1) None of the reviewers are skiing tiny icy midwestern ski hills
2) No representation of the heavier skiiers as most of the reviewers are just skiiny dudes with cool hair that like to ski twin-tips.
Without fail this happens every year. And it’s just as funny this year as the prior years. I love it.
Looking forward to the rest of the series and keep up the good work!
Exactly this
Baker, BC, 6’1″, 165lbs
Ogasaka TC-SB
Redster Q9.8
Heritage Lab R87
Rustler 10
Peak 110
For me, I think this is it:
Frontside/hardpack/Minnesota skiing: Blizzard Firebird Race Ti – the Marker bindings it came with
Out west daily driver /lucky days in MN: Salomon QST 98 – Shift.
MN backcountry/spring/volcano touring: Atomic Backland 85 UL – ATK Haute Route -Pomoca Glide Pro (teal) tip bungee, tail hook
Daily driver touring: Armada Locator 96 or maybe new K2 Wayback 98 – ATK Crest AP with freeride spacer -Pomoca Free Pro(pink) Tip hoop and tail hook.
Powder touring: Armada Locator 112 – ATK Crest AP with freeride spacer* –Pomoca Free Pro(pink) Tip hoop and tail hook
* I think. Still debating this. For pure powder the Haute Route would be fine. But there is often nasty hard snow somewhere.
Playful
K2 Poacher 184 pivot 18
Dynastar Mfree-108 cast pivot 18
Rossignol Sender Free 110 191 pivot 15
DPS Koala 119 189 cast pivot 18
Directional
Blizzard Bodacious 196 pivot 18
Blizzard Bodacious 186 sth 16
Whistler Blackcomb, Coast Mountain Sled Skiing.
Hi gang, rest assured there is one Blister Reviewer who a) weighs 215 pounds/100kg b) is on the north side of 50 and c) skis the east for half the season…. It’s me! While I don’t spent enough time at Blister HQ to confidently recommend 5-ski quivers, I will jump in for the 3-, 2- and 1-ski quiver series. My metrics will be somewhat different, including: how they hold on glare ice while night skiing in New England, how crazy some of the graphics are for a guy whose kids are already mid-twenties and which edge design throws the best sparks when hitting a rock early season.
Love the comments! Keep them coming.
6’1′ 200 lbs 60 days last season in Utah/Wyoming:
– Frontside: Head Supershape iTitan 84 (last generation) with system binding
– All-mountain low snow: Volkl Mantra 102 in 184 (last generation… new ones less chargy) with Marker Griffon 13
– All-mountain some new snow + trees: Nordica Enforcer 104 Free in 186 (only 1 generation to date) with Attack 13
– All-mountain charger off-piste focus/open bowl/technical terrain: Blizzard Cochise 106 in 185 (current gen) with Pivot 15
– Powder resort/cut up chop: Rossignol Blackops 118 in 186 with STH16
– Powder light/playful: Atomic Bent Chetler 120 in 192 with Warden 13
I think you need to count again…
Welp, your quiver seems to consist of a bunch of skis that I just really like. If all your skis ever get stolen … it was probably me.
I was back on the 192 Bent Chetler 120 in Austria at the start of 2023 – hadn’t been on it in a long time – and I was completely blown away by how good that ski is. And I keep thinking about it as I compile my quiver writeups this year, I just think for Crested Butte (at least for me), the Black Ops 118 or Moment Wildcat is the better fit. But in a lot of places, I could be very, very happy if that 192 BC 120 was my pow ski.
5’7 155 lbs 35 days last year in Tahoe / BC / Alaska, resort or assisted (no touring)
Line Blade 176 – groomer days / hasn’t snowed in a while. Keep the corduroy interesting!
Switching from Nordica Enforcer 100 179 (first gen) to 4FRNT MSP 99 176 – all mountain fun, bumps / trees / groomers when there’s been some snow
Armada JJ ARV 176 – for when it’s snowed or I’m in a cat / heli
Noah, you are my man! Those are the metrics that matter. Tell us also about your boot quiver.
“a lot of companies have dropped fat lightweight skis from their lineups”
Get Paul Forward on a voile hyperdrifter
If we’re talking large quivers, on the powder side it is worth mentioning that this year there’s a new La Machine Max (126mm wide) in 192cm with a bit of camber underfoot. Thing of beauty, got a pair, can’t wait to try them.
Live in Western Norway, upgraded with three additional skis for this season!
6ft / 183cm, 200lbs / 90kg, intermediate – advanced level, agressive style with a hint of playfulness.
1. Playful carving ski:
Black Crows Mirus Cor 87 178cm – Tyrolia Attack 13 demo
2. Touring firm snow ski:
Völkl Blaze 94 179cm – Dynafit Rotation 10
3. Wide all mountain ski:
Nordica Enforcer 104 Free 186cm – Marker Griffon 13 demo
4. Touring soft snow ski:
Völkl Blaze 106 186cm – Currently mounted with Duke PT 16, but want something lighter for touring and occational resort use
5. Powder ski:
Salomon QST Blank 186cm – Plan on mounting them with Duke PT 16
Not sure if I should should mount ATK Freerider 15 Evo, Skitrab TR1 or Shift 13 on the Blaze 106. Would be nice to shave off weight for touring, but also keep them as a light weight resort ski for 50/50 use. Skied the Blaze 94 and 106 last season, exited to try the Mirus Cor, Enforcer 104 Free and Blanks!
I’ve got the both the Fischer 102 FR and the Stockli 102 SR. Got the Fischer’s at the end of their second season on sale for a very good price as an impulse purchase. I had the 99ti’s, liked them, a softer tail (hypothetically, no metal unlike the 99) and the hype/love for the the 102’s made it a no brainer at the price. And I already had BC pink poles. Wasn’t a fan on the recommended line, due this site I had rental binding put on and moved them forward. Fun ski for me like this, can be a daily driver. Had the Stockli SR 88’s, demo’d them after being recommended to me by Le Ski Mastery in Taos. It was lowish tide and I was hung over and my friend wanted to ski the doubles with her instructor friend, what do you reccommen… before I could finish the sentence the nice women was already walking for the SR88’s. This is what I ski she said. I was familiar with $tockli and thought god dam it I should have gone to dental school. I am going to like these and I am going to want to buy them. I was able to hold out for one year until last year, and the are sick. I grew up skiing the east so narrow skis don’t scare me. Below the knee powder is more than doable. So I like the 88’s. And I saw a good price on some used 102’s. Very different from the 88. It’s Stockli’s widest and it likes speed and bigger terrain. I’ll risk Jonathon’s wrath and posit that the SR for me is not a replacement for the FR. Same width, but that is just about it. But he is a much more demanding higher level skier than me so it’s going to be different for each of us. The binding forward on the FR’s makes them not an apples to apples comparison anymore. The SR have an initially softer then more more progressive tip/shovel than the FR’s which I find stiffer overall. And I haven’t used the 102 SR’s in deeper pow/crud, only 4-6. Maybe they are more deeper pow/crud busters than the 102 would indicate. It is what Stockli want’s the buyer to think based on the marketing. I ended up skiing other skis (4FRNT Ravens, BC Corvus. DPS Pagoda 112 RP ) when I could have been on the 102 SR’s which says that I have too many skis. I am interested in the SR 95’s though, might. be the sweet spot for me.
Thanks for the Fischer 102 vs Stockli 102 comparisons – as well as your notes on the SR 88. But I have to say, you’ve only made me more eager to go A/B the 102s. I’m just very curious. Will report back!
I need to ski the $tockli’s 102 more. They had an odd cosmetic scratch (shipping?) perpendicular to the sidewall on the top sheet. Other wise almost new. But the tune was weird, once corrected they came alive. I’ll probably have those and my Fischer’s with me at the Summit this year. It will be my 4th, we should have some kind of club for those of us who will have been to all of them. Maybe wait for a 5th time club like SNL hosts? Anyway, I can’t say enough about how much fun and enriching the event is. It and this site have helped me more learn about and enjoy skiing so much more. I can’t recommend the Summit enough. I liked last years counter-programing date. Super bowl Sunday is a good weekend to ski! The Summit has become more every year, this year should be even more more.
My unbalanced 5 (+1 old ski)quiver
Blizzard Zero G 95, 185 w/ Superlite 150
Black Crow Corvus Freebird 188.1 w/ Radical
Black Crow Atris 189.7 w/ jester
Praxis Protest 192 w/ Solomon STH
Atomic BC120 192 w/ shifts
still have 2013 Cochise in 193 that is serviceable, I’d still be bashing these if they were 185s, 193 is fine just don’t get tired
want to get a low tide ski and a 115ish waist ski, but …
6′ 160lbs. West coast skier:
184 4FRNT Switch w/P15: Park Ski
183 J Ski’s Hot Shot w/STH13: Daily Driver
190 Praxis Jedi Mind Stick w/STH13: Resort Pow
186 Faction La Machine Max w/STH13: Motorized Back Country Pow
184 Atomic Bent Chetler 120 w/Shift 13: Touring
6th ski: I think a Moment Commander 92 is on the horizon. I need a firm snow ripper.