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 for more detailed info on the specific skis we discuss in these quiver articles, be sure to click around to read our reviews of the individual products. Our reviews and Buyer’s Guides are where we detail what sorts of skiers will get along best with a given ski; these quiver articles are a rare case where our reviewers focus on their own subjective preferences.
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 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, which is obviously pretty sizeable, but each reviewer will outline what roles each ski will serve in their quiver. 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.
Over the course of the coming weeks, we’ll be narrowing it down to our 4-, 3-, 2- and 1-ski quivers.
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”, 160 lbs / 179 cm, 72.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
Another year, another quiver focused on spending most of my ski season inbounds at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, riding chairlifts from mid-November through early April. I’ll also throw in several mid-winter touring days and some backcountry days after the resort has closed. However, I find my ski season typically ends around mid to late April (excitement for whitewater kayaking tends to take over around then).
I ski a variety of terrain inbounds, from CB’s excellent steeps to its fun terrain park. I wouldn’t say I put a huge focus on groomers, but when I’m making my way between lifts, I savor every carved turn.
To be honest, there weren’t many skis that totally blew me away last year, so I’m sticking with mostly the same selections as last year. I apologize for the lack of excitement, but I’d rather be honest with you all than change my picks purely for the sake of mixing it up.
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 enjoy the Mindbender 89Ti’s carving prowess, and its 17-meter sidecut radius is a versatile sweet spot, allowing me to make a variety of turn shapes.
While I do enjoy narrower, more piste-specific carvers, I don’t spend enough days exclusively on piste to justify owning a ski in that class. Rather, I’m off-piste as soon as it’s open, regardless of snow conditions, and we’re quite grateful to get really fun, chalky conditions during high-pressure periods, rather than bulletproof crud.
What really makes this ski leave a mark in my mind is how well it handles the extreme steeps of Crested Butte — it’s a true standout in the ~90mm-wide category for how it handles the entire mountain. 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 Optic 96, 184 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
All that’s changed with the Optic 96 for 24/25 is dropping the “Blade” from its name. It still 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 and 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. I would mount 1 cm forward of the recommended line here since this ski is effectively functioning as my park ski, too. I’m also opting to put the CAST Freetour 2.0 version of the Look Pivot 15 on this ski, allowing it to function as a firm-snow and spring touring ski. I’d probably ski the Optic 96 more than any other ski in my quiver.
Ski #3: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + alpine binding
This is one of my favorite skis of all time. 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 love 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 is a big bonus. I love skiing hard and charging, but I also enjoy a playful ski, and there probably isn’t a day on the mountain where I don’t go through the park (as long as it’s open). The Sender Free 110 is a pretty ideal ski for my style and preferences. Mounting on the line here.
Ski #4: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + alpine binding
I had the Rossignol Blackops 118 in this slot last year, and while I love the new Sender Free 118 as much as the old Blackops, I really came to enjoy the new 189 cm Reckoner 124 last winter. The Reckoner 124 floats better in powder, comes in a more suitable length for me, and overlaps with the Sender Free 110 less than the Sender Free 118. The Reckoner 124 does feel less at home once you leave deep powder, but the Sender Free 110 handles soft snow well enough for that not to be a problem for my quiver.
This means that I would only really be breaking the Reckoner 124 out for the deepest resort days, likely only ~5 times a year. But, I would really enjoy its stability, flotation, and playfulness on those days. It does require significant speed and effort to be the most enjoyable, but it’s fun and maneuverable enough at slower speeds that it could also function well for cat skiing or heli skiing, on the off chance I get that opportunity. Mounting on the recommended line here.
Ski #5: 4FRNT Hoji, 191 cm + ATK Raider XII
Sticking with the Hoji again for this year. If I’m in the backcountry during the winter, I’m seeking out pow. The Hoji is an excellent pow ski, and it feels equally comfortable flying down steep lines as it does pivoting through tight trees. Sure, it’s a heavy touring ski, but I’m also ditching some grams with the relatively light Raider XII bindings, being sure to add the freeride spacer. While I’d prefer Moment’s Voyager XII for its freeride-specific geometry, that binding has been discontinued and I haven’t had a chance to try the Voyager XIII Evo yet. 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?
It sucks to leave out a “fun carver” such as the Black Crows Mirus Cor, but I find that the Mindbender 89Ti and Optic 96 carve well enough, and the Mirus Cor feels more restricted to the piste than those skis.
I could have gone with the new Reckoner 102 in place of the Optic 96, but I find that the Optic 96 is a bit more stable. I’ll be spending more time on the Reckoner 102 this year, and it might very well take the place of the Optic next year.
I also really came to enjoy the 194 cm 4FRNT Devastator last year. It floats really well for its size and is quite stable, but it’s also really loose, still pretty playful, and not very heavy. I’m bummed to see this length not be in production this year, but I do think that even if it were, I would pick the Sender Free 110 because it’s a better carver and more stable overall.
And again, it’s hard to leave the Sender Free 118 off my list this year for the reasons I described above. I still really love that ski, but the Reckoner 124 makes more sense in this quiver. I also got time on and really, really enjoyed the fabled 190 cm Moment Wildcat this past winter. While that ski truly impressed me, I find myself with the same problem as the Sender Free 118 — the Wildcat just doesn’t differentiate itself enough from the Sender Free 110 for this quiver.
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?
As I mentioned above, the Reckoner 102 has a serious chance of making my list next year.
The original ON3P Woodsman 108 continues to be one of my favorite skis of all time. While I did get an afternoon on the latest Woodsman 108 at the Blister Summit this past winter, I need more time on it to determine if I like it as much, and if it could reoccupy my daily driver / playful charger slot that the Sender Free 110 is currently occupying. We should finally be getting on some new ON3P skis this season, so we’ll see.
I’ve always been curious about Faction La’s Machine 3, and would like to spend time on it to see if I like it more than the Hoji. I certainly wouldn’t mind losing some grams in my touring ski.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Moment: Commander 92, Wildcat 101, Countach 110, Wildcat, Deathwish Tour.
K2: Mindbender 89Ti, Reckoner 102, Reckoner 110, Reckoner 124, Wayback 106
4FRNT: MSP 91, Switch, Devastator, Renegade, Hoji
Line: Optic 88, Optic 96, Optic 104, Bacon 115, Vision 114
J Skis: Fastforward, Masterblaster, 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?
We’ve made it through summer, I can’t believe it’s time to once again dream about my ideal ski quiver (and just skiing in general!). As has been the case for the past several years, my quiver would be designed around inbounds skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, while also catering to some backcountry days. I also try to take some trips throughout the season to higher-snow regions like Japan and Alaska (this is where my husband works in the winter, so it’s a pretty good excuse to get away and visit him).
I am a directional skier and take a fairly conservative approach to the technical terrain we frequent at CBMR. That said, I love nothing more than tight, steep terrain, ripping groomers on stable and precise skis, and lapping long mogul runs until my legs are shaking.
My ski choices reflect both the regions and terrain I ski most, but with some versatility in mind given that I might end up skiing heavy snow in AK at some point this spring and some deep, light pow in Japan.
Ski #1: Blizzard Black Pearl 94, 176 cm + alpine binding
When I think of skis that I’d be pretty happy to use as a daily driver in the resort, the 24/25 Black Pearl 94 is high on the list. It’s very stable, damp, and precise, but this ski is also lively and isn’t overly demanding in tight terrain or massive moguls. It’s also a really great carving ski, and I’d be happy spending plenty of groomer laps on it throughout the season.
Ski #2: Volkl Secret 102, 176 cm + alpine binding
A ski for busting through crud and chop had to be on my list since I value something with smooth suspension when conditions are skied out or highly variable in the resort. The 172 cm Secret 102 is one of the best skis I’ve used for those scenarios, but it’s still impressively maneuverable.
I’d happily ski it in a variety of conditions, but with the Black Pearl 94 also in my quiver, I’d likely break out the Secret 102 when it’s snowed a bit in the past few days and I’ll be dealing with more variable and cut-up conditions.
Ski #3: Icelantic Maiden 108, 176 cm + alpine binding
After skiing the redesigned Icelantic Maiden 108 last season, it seems like a great choice for my resort powder ski, while also being quite a bit more versatile than just that. The Maiden 108 floats really well in deep snow and is easy to turn at a variety of speeds, yet it still holds up well to crud and chop.
Ski #4: K2 Mindbender 106C W, 176 cm + Marker Duke PT
The Mindbender 106C W has been a part of my quiver on and off for years, and the latest version continues that trend. The Mindbender 106C W 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 for days when I would rather prioritize quickness and playfulness over ultimate stability and suspension.
Ski #5: Armada ARW 112, 185 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
The ARW 112 would come with me when I’m traveling in search of fresh powder. It’s likely the ski I would bring to places like Japan and Alaska, but I would still have a ton of fun on it during deeper days at CBMR. This is the most playful ski in my quiver, but it still offers impressive suspension, and it’s a ski that is pretty versatile despite its width.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I considered a lot of options for each of the different slots.
For my resort daily driver, I considered the K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, Nordica Santa Ana 92, and Dynastar M-Pro 98 W.
For the wider resort chop and crud ski, I could have been pretty happy with Salomon Stance 102 or the Nordica Santa Ana 102.
For my resort powder ski, I considered the Coalition Snow Rafiki, Armada ARW 106, and Nordica Unleashed 108.
For a mid-fat 50/50 ski, I thought about the Atomic Maven 103 CTI, Coalition Snow Rafiki, Line Pandora 106, Salomon QST Stella 106, Icelantic Maiden 102, and DPS Wailer 100.
I also considered a more touring-specific setup, but couldn’t justify it, knowing that I will need a good 50/50 ski to take along on any trips. Lighter, more touring-specific options that I considered include the WNDR Alpine Vital 98, G3 Seekr 100, and Armada Locator 104.
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’d like to spend some time on a few more powder-specific tools this season, such as the Salomon QST X (could be a good 50/50 ski for Japan?), Rossignol Sender Free 118, Volkl Revolt 114, and the Moment Wildcat.
There are also quite a few skis that could contend for my daily driver slot once I spend more time on them, including the 4FRNT MSP CC and Nordica Santa Ana 97.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
This question doesn’t feel too hard, and I could go a few different ways and be pretty happy about it.
Salomon: QST Lumen 98, Stance 102, QST Stella 106, QST Echo 106, and QST X
Armada: Reliance 92 Ti, Reliance 102 Ti, Declivity 108, ARW 106, ARW 112
Nordica: Santa Ana 92, Santa Ana 97, Santa Ana 102, Unleashed 108, Unleashed 114
Blizzard: Black Pearl 94, Anomaly 102, Sheeva 9, Sheeva 10, Sheeva 11
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?
Same as last year, my quiver would be built around a season that is dominated by lift-accessed skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort from November through early April, with some mid-winter touring sprinkled in and 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. After much hemming and hawing, here’s what I’ve settled on for now (I’ll probably change my mind in a week…):
Ski #1: Armada Declivity X 102, 180 cm + alpine binding
This would be my daily driver for most of the resort season, and it was the hardest ski to pick. I could have chosen a dozen other skis and be similarly happy, but I think the Declivity X 102 does the best job of combining the particular traits I’m looking for in this ski.
I want it to be damp and stable enough to encourage me to ski hard even when conditions are rough, but I also want it to be light enough to cater to a dynamic, active style in CBMR’s tight, technical terrain (think lots of quick hops, slashes, and other changes of direction).
I want to be able to drive it hard through the shovels when needed, but I don’t want a ski that’s so directional that it feels unwieldy in the air or unintuitive when I want to ski with a more centered stance. And I need it to be fun to carve on firm groomers (not just steep ones), while also being pretty easy to release, slash, and flick around in tight mogul lines. I also want a tail that’s high enough for cruising switch in shallow snow.
The Declivity X 102 checks most of those boxes, and generally lets me ski how I want to ski most of the time in most of the “average” conditions I encounter throughout the winter. But there are a heck of a lot of skis I could’ve chosen instead and probably had just as much fun on throughout a season.
I still haven’t settled on a clearly preferred alpine binding, but I’m currently leaning toward the Protector version of Tyrolia’s Attack platform. The prior version, which featured large mounting plates akin to demo bindings, performed really well in my experience and offers release characteristics that, in theory, should offer better protection against knee injuries. However, we haven’t yet tested the 24/25 version, which ditches the toe mounting plate and features Tyrolia’s new “Attack LYT” toe, so I can’t yet make the call.
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 178 cm + alpine binding
This would be my “fun carver” that would see a lot of use for the first month or so of the season, when we’re mostly skiing moderate-angle groomers with man-made snow, and then I’d break it out for any other days when I’d be spending most of my time on groomed trails.
I had a blast on a lot of more traditional carvers last season (and look forward to getting back on them in November). However, I’ve come to enjoy carving the Mirus Cor as much or more than many of them. The Mirus Cor’s unconventional design traits (centered mount point, twin tip, soft flex pattern, 13-meter sidecut radius) all add up to a ski that’s way more fun if I want to mix it up. Whether that’s working in some high-edge-angle switch carving, cruising through the park, or taking it off piste, the Mirus Cor is much more than just a tight-radius carving ski.
I’ve said similar things about the Line Blade, Folsom Spar Turbo, and ZAG Mata, but I still think the Mirus Cor offers the best edge hold of that group of unconventional carvers, and that’s important for this ski in my quiver.
(FWIW, we’ll be getting on the new Black Crows Octo first-thing this winter. It’s supposed to be inspired by the Mirus Cor but a bit more directional, so I’m very eager to get on it.)
Ski #3: RMU Apostle 106, 184 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
This slot serves as my resort ski for when the snow is somewhat soft but not super deep and/or I just want to take a more playful approach to the mountain, rather than prioritizing high-speed composure. I’d also mount it with a hybrid binding so I could tour on it mid-winter.
This was another tough choice, but I’m going to stick with a ski I know and love, the RMU Apostle 106. Slightly tweaked for 24/25, it’s still an exceptionally playful ski overall, but it now has a slightly stiffer flex pattern that makes it a bit more capable at speed, particularly in soft chop. It’s also very versatile, and aside from ultra-firm snow, I can have fun on it in most conditions and terrain.
For this sort of setup, one that’s mostly used inbounds but occasionally toured on, I think I’d go with CAST’s latest Freetour 2.0 binding system — it’s super burly and I fully trust its downhill performance and release characteristics, but it still lets me skin up with a pin / tech toe.
Ski #4: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Alpine Binding
This year, Rossignol discontinued my all-time favorite ski, the Blackops 118. Or… did they?
Thankfully, that ski’s replacement, the Sender Free 118, is identical in many regards. I still want to do some A/B testing this season, but I know that the couple of resort pow days I got on the Sender Free 118 last season were some of my favorites of the whole season, and that was often the case with the Blackops 118.
So for now, they’re both tied as my go-to resort pow skis — they’re incredibly composed when skiing ludicrously fast in cut-up pow, but they’re also easy to slash sideways, feel balanced in the air, and provide a great landing platform.
Few things I’ve experienced in life provide me as much joy as blasting, surfing, and hopping through chop on these skis.
Ski #5: Majesty Superwolf, 178 cm + ATK Raider 12
This is my spring touring ski, and the ski I’d use for quick pre- and post-work skins at the resort.
The Majesty Superwolf retains its spot for another year, though there are several contenders in my mind that I just need to spend more time on. For now, the Superwolf continues to be my go-to for all sorts of spring skiing, from icy couloirs to variable slush and crusts. It handles that spectrum of conditions really well for its size, and it skis really well for its weight.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I spend all summer writing and editing the hundreds of review blurbs in our annual Winter Buyer’s Guide, and I also get to try most of the skis that roll through our headquarters through the winter, so I could probably make the case for listing 100+ skis here. But I’ll try to keep it brief.
For my resort daily driver: Rossignol Sender Soul 102, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Stöckli Stormrider 95, RMU Apostle 96 Ti, Salomon Stance 102, Faction Dancer 2, Dynastar M-Pro 100 Ti, Salomon QST 92, Line Optic 96, Icelantic Nomad 100
For my fun carver: Line Blade, ZAG Mata, Folsom Spar Turbo, Rossignol Forza 70D V-Ti, K2 Disruption 78Ti, Head Supershape e-Rally, Fischer The Curv GT 85, Nordica Steadfast 85 DC, Rossignol Arcade 88, Dynastar M-Cross 88
For my playful 50/50 ski: Icelantic Nomad 106, Liberty Scope 104, Black Crows Atris, Salomon QST 106, K2 Reckoner 102, K2 Reckoner 110, Faction Mana 3, Moment Wildcat 106, RMU Apostle 114, K2 Reckoner KF
For my resort pow ski: Moment Wildcat, Volkl Revolt 114, Line Optic 114, Icelantic Nomad 112, RMU Apostle 114, Volkl Revolt 121
For my touring ski: Line Vision 96, WNDR Alpine Nocturne 88, Salomon MTN 96 Carbon
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 looking forward to getting more time on the 24/25 K2 Reckoner 102, Reckoner 110, and Omen Team. I really enjoyed my initial days on them last winter, but I want more time with them in a broader range of conditions.
Similar story for the new Liberty Scope 104 — I’ve liked it a lot so far and it’s an interesting option for my #3 spot.
For my daily driver, I’m curious what I’ll think about the Rossignol Sender Soul 102 and Dynastar M-Pro 100 Ti once I can ski them more on really firm snow. Same goes for the Moment Countach 104, if / when I get to try that.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
No company offers skis that perfectly fit my (very niche and specific) preferences, but I think I’d be pretty happy with any of the following:
Line: Optic 96, Blade, Pandora 106, Optic 114, Vision 96
K2: Mindbender 99Ti, Mindbender 89Ti, Reckoner 110, Reckoner 124, Wayback 98
Moment: Countach 104, Commander 92, Wildcat 108, Wildcat, Deathwish Tour 104
Black Crows: Serpo, Mirus Cor, Atris, Anima, Camox Freebird
RMU: Apostle 96 Ti, Zephyr 88, Apostle 106, Apostle 114, Apostle 96 Carbon
Salomon: Stance 102, QST 92, QST 106 (or Depart?), QST Blank, MTN 96 Carbon
David Golay
(6’, 165 lbs / 183 cm, 74.8 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
As I’ve said in the last few years of quiver articles, my skiing has evolved to include a higher and higher percentage of touring days and fewer days riding chairs; my quivers are going to reflect that. But with five skis available, I’m still going to include two (mostly) dedicated resort skis; things will get more ruthless as the quivers tighten up.
Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Look Pivot 15
For all the reasons it’s been in a ton of my quivers over the last few years. I live in a high-snow area (Washington) and mostly ski resorts with a less than stellar assortment of groomers, so a dedicated frontside ski (as fun as they are) doesn’t really fit with what I want out of my quiver. The Mantra 102 does a great job of carving very well while also being a blast in firmer / variable off-piste conditions, which is where it’s realistically going to get the most use for me.
Ski #2: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm + CAST Freetour
I still own (and love) the 190 cm Moment Bibby (now known as the Wildcat), which is my softest-snow-oriented resort ski. But if I’m only including two resort skis in my quiver, I’ll opt for its narrower and more directional cousin. The Bibby/Wildcat has about as forward a mount point as my very directional self tends to get along with, and while it’s a blast in good snow, I tend to want something that lets me drive the shovels harder when things get more variable, and the Countach fits the bill there. I’ll miss the Wildcat on some really deep inbounds days, but the Countach is more versatile and gets the nod for that reason.
As for bindings, since I can, I’ll throw CAST Freetours on here. I’m not going to be doing any big touring days on the Countach, but the CAST setup opens up some sidecountry options and might be useful as a 1-ski travel quiver. Since there’s really no downside from a performance standpoint, I’ll go that route.
Ski #3: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
I still love this ski. The Raven is a fantastically versatile touring ski that will handle most of my firmer to variable touring days. It’s super intuitive, handles weird variable conditions way better than it has any right to at its weight, and it’s still a blast in deep snow.
As for bindings, I admittedly haven’t skied any of the newest ATK Freeraider variants, but I love the now-prior-gen Freeraider 14, so I’ll take a (modest) dice roll on the new AP variant. As best I can tell, having not yet handled a pair, they’re basically the same binding as the older Freeraider 14, just with a new brake mechanism that doesn’t use the push button design (which was my least favorite part of the Freeraiders of old). Best case, they’re the bindings I love with a brake I actually like; worst case (I think), I just run them with leashes, which I do on the older Freeraiders anyway because I don’t like their brakes.
Ski #4: Heritage Lab Ultra Taper 132, 190 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
I’m frankly spoiled by the number of very deep days I get in the backcountry, and while it’s a specialized tool, there’s nothing quite like a reverse-camber reverse-sidecut ski in untracked snow. I’ve had a pair of DPS Lotus 138s in my real-world quiver for quite some time now, but I picked up a pair of Heritage Lab C132s (the original name for the Ultra Taper 132) last year because I (1) have spent enough time on the L138s that they’re getting pretty hammered now and (2) I wanted a lighter version of something similar. It takes a special day to make the Ultra Taper 132 the right ski, but I get enough of those to justify including them here.
Ski #5: 4FRNT Renegade, 191 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
For my final quiver spot, I want a powder touring ski that’s more versatile than the Ultra Taper 132, but this is the ski in my quiver that’s most subject to change. I like the way the Renegade skis, but it’s heavier than I’d like for its role; sizing down to the 184 cm would help a bit but I haven’t skied that length, and haven’t really wanted the 191 to be shorter, so here we are.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Not many. There are some dearly departed out-of-production skis (e.g. K2 Dispatch 120, Blizzard Bodacious) that I might have slotted in for a few spots here, but there’s not a lot that I feel like I’m missing out on if we’re limiting things to current models. I wouldn’t be mad about slotting the Prior Husume in for the Moment Countach 110, but the better edge hold and versatility of the Countach won out for me.
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 slot occupied by the 4FRNT Renegade is the one that feels most subject to change by far. I like the way the Renegade skis, but for how I’ll be using it, I would happily take a lighter ski that isn’t as composed in variable chop. I just haven’t been on a current model ski that does exactly what I want in that slot. The ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour is probably the most promising option on paper, but I haven’t been on any Billy Goat variant in a while, so that’s entirely speculative. A lightweight build on a Folsom Rapture might work, and I’ve gotten along very well with the custom Praxis Protests that I’ve had for the last few years (which are 118 mm wide in their ultralight build), but that ski has gotten tweaked and I haven’t been on the current iteration. The Volkl Blaze 114 is intriguing, and so is the Whitedot Ragnarok Carbonlite. The Moonlight Cruiser Carbon All Terrain also has my interest, but as we noted in our Buyer’s Guide blurb for that ski, 120+ mm lightweight touring skis are increasingly rare, and that’s a bummer.
[Please don’t ask how many powder-touring skis I have in my real-world quiver at this point; it’s embarrassing.]
I’m more content with my pick of the Moment Countach 110, but there are some other options that might unseat it for me if I can get some time on them. The Dynastar M-Pro 108 and Heritage Lab R110 are probably at the top of that list, but I’m curious about the Heritage Lab FL113, the Folsom Giver (Hammer Edition), and a few others.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I hate this question — this year maybe more than ever. I don’t have an answer that I like very much, especially since I haven’t spent significant time on 5+ skis from many brands, but if I have to spitball:
ON3P: Woodsman 100 Tour, Billy Goat 118 Tour, … shoot, the Wrenegade 110 is dead?
Volkl: Mantra 102, Mantra 108, Blaze 104, Blaze 114, Revolt 114
Moment: Deathwish 104 Tour, Wildcat Tour, Commander 102, Countach 110, Wildcat
Heritage Lab: R105, R110, BC105, BC120, Ultra Taper 132
I think I’m most into that last one in theory, though I haven’t been on most of those skis, so it’s extremely speculative.
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?
Ski #1: Folsom Rotor, 190 cm + Marker Jester Pro
This will be my 13th year guiding full time at Chugach Powder Guides out of my home town of Girdwood, AK, so I once again I need a dedicated Alaska heli ski. I got to test several versions of Folsom’s new Rotor ski last season, and it’s essentially a fatter and softer version of one of my all-time favorite Alaskan heli skis, the Folsom Rapture (that’s also why I fondly refer to the Rotor as the “Dad-Bod”).
The Rotors I’ve used so far are excellent, but I think they can be even a bit better with some tweaks to flex and rocker that will loosen up the tail while maintaining the other traits of the ski that I love. Specifically, I think I’d opt for a slightly softer flex pattern and maybe a slightly more exaggerated reverse-camber profile, relative to the versions I’ve tried.
I’ll hopefully get to try that configuration this season. That said, the pair I have now has been excellent. I’ve come to rely on its combination of stability and excellent floatation for everything from mellow pow days to the steepest lines I skied last year, which included extremely fast, sluff-racing runouts. I opted for the Rotor over my beloved Folsom Raptures on most days in the heli, except when I knew I was more likely to ski corn, shallower snow, or more variable conditions.
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
Carrying on the dad theme, I have to include what I consider the ultimate Dad ski. I know that lots of young rippers, Luke Koppa among them, love to carve all over the hill and toss the Mirus Cor into some cool freestyle moves. However, these skis are also incredibly fun for taking young kids skiing, and that’s what I do for at least a few hours a day for a couple of days a week. The best part about the Mirus Cor is that, even at moderate toddler-skiing speeds, I can still engage some really fun carved turns. If I have a little more room to let them run or get to break away for a few solo dad laps, I can play with some of the most dynamic and high-angle turns I can pull off without having to go super fast through what is usually the weekend crowds. When peer pressure kicks in and the dads and kids line up in the terrain park, they’re pretty fun in there, too.
Ski #3: Heritage Lab HB122, 189 cm + Marker Jester Pro
I’m realizing that my list this year might seem pretty impractical and niche, but I’m going to stick with it because all of these skis are just too freaking fun to not include. I was going to pick a less unusual inbounds pow ski, such as the now-discontinued DPS Koala 118 but, looking back at last season, the HB122 was the ski I grabbed for lift-served skiing more often than any other ski over 110 mm (and maybe over any other ski, period).
Like the Mirus Cor, this very soft, heavy, skull-graphic-adorned ski might seem like an unlikely choice for a 45-year-old directional skier, but I can’t think of a ski I’ve simply had more fun on at Alyeska. There is something almost magical about the way the tails on the HB122 provide plenty of support for a carved turn through variable conditions but are unbelievably forgiving if I find myself leaning on them more than I should. I’ve never skied anything quite like it.
The downside is that I found the front of the HB122 pretty easy to overpower in soft snow. In untracked powder and even really soft, deep chop, I had to slow down and/or pressure the tails even more than is comfortable. I’m no ski designer, but if there was a way to keep the tail the way it is but stiffen up the front, I think these would be an incredible resort pow ski for even more folks out there. Even as they are now, though, the HB122 is just really, really fun in the snow conditions I frequently encounter at Alyeska.
Ski #4: Black Crows Justis, 189 cm + Marker Jester Pro
Of all the skis here, this is the one I’m least committed to. I previously would have slotted in the 184 cm Volkl Mantra 102 here as my all-round Alyeska ski for when it hasn’t snowed in a few days. However, I haven’t skied the current iteration of the Mantra 102.
The 189 cm Justis doesn’t offer as good of suspension as the original 184 cm Mantra 102 and the Justis doesn’t carve groomers as well, but it does feel a bit stronger overall and kept me upright going extremely fast in some very variable conditions on Alyeska’s North Face this year.
I wish the tails on the Justis were a touch more forgiving, but I really only noticed that at more moderate speeds in weird, grabby snow. The rest of the time, I appreciated the overall power and stiffness of the ski when smashing through just about anything. The Justis is also a bit of an outlier in that it’s a very powerful, relatively heavy ski with a fairly progressive mount point (-8 cm); I think the latter is part of what allows it to easily be tossed sideways in steeper terrain features.
Ski #5: Armada Locater 112, 187 cm + Moment Voyageur XVI
Despite all the heli- and lift-served skiing I do, my first love in skiing has always been touring. This is the first time my 5-ski quiver has only included one touring ski, but the Locator 112 is versatile enough that I really could spend a whole season in Alaska touring on only this ski if I really had to.
I’d definitely miss having a lighter, skinnier setup for high-vert, fast-paced touring days, and I’d really miss a fatter, purely pow-focused touring ski (e.g., Moonlight Cruiser All-Terrain), but I could make the Locator 112 work for both. And in this 5-ski scenario, having just one pair of touring skis lets me have one more weirdly fun inbounds ski without much sacrifice.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The Folsom Rapture has been on my list since I first tried it in 2020. It feels weird not to include it here, but its bigger sibling, the Rotor, is what I ended up picking most days while guiding last season. Similarly, I also really like my custom Folsom Giver 110 and still spend a lot of time on it at Alyeska.
I also still have a lot of love for the Faction La Machine 5 and suspect it will pop up later in my smaller quiver picks.
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?
More than anything, I really want to get out in the heli on the tweaked version of the Folsom Rotor that I referenced above.
I also still haven’t found my perfect ski in the 90-100 mm and 100-110 mm width categories. I’ve skied a lot of good ones, but I think there’s something out there that’s better than what I’ve used. I have a pair of the 24/25 191 cm Black Crows Corvus awaiting bindings and am pretty excited to try them. I also really wish I could have gotten on a pair of the old Corvus in a 193 cm length because the 188 cm I have just feels way too short for me. On the skinnier end of the spectrum, I’d really like to try the Faction Dancer 2, Moment Commander 92, and the J Skis Fast Forward, the latter partially because it has the best ski name ever conceived (and that opinion definitely has nothing to do with my last name…).
I’d also love to pry the Folsom Spar 88 out of Jonathan’s hands long enough to see what it’s all about. I’m pretty keen to try more skis in that width, and I know Jonathan has been a longtime fan of the Spar 88 in that class.
Also, reading Dylan and Mark’s lists makes me really want to try the new K2 Reckoner 124. We should be making that happen at some point this winter.
Finally, I think there might be something brewing at Heritage Labs that could suit my needs very nicely, but I can’t confirm or deny any details at this time.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
It feels like cheating because they’re custom skis, but I’d once again opt for Folsom. The Rotor and Rapture are the best pow skis out there for me, and I also love the Giver 110. Between the Spar Turbo and the Spar 88, I’d have frontside and/or dad-ski duties covered and I’m sure those guys could put together a reasonably light Giver, Primary 110, Cash 117, or something similar for an all-round touring pow ski.
I also have two Black Crows skis on my list, and I could happily ski the Anima for inbounds pow. I’m less convinced that I want to tour on the Black Crows offerings, but I’ve not tried the Draco and it might work. I don’t think I’d want the current Nocta as my only guide ski, but I think the Anima in a 194 cm length could work pretty well for that if needed. I’d love to try that length, based on my limited experience on the 189 cm Anima, which felt okay inbounds but too short for a guide ski.
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 205 lbs / 188 cm, 93 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 5-ski quiver, and why?
My typical winter includes a very broad range of locations and conditions, and the number of skis I like to bring with me during my winter travels reflects that (and the fact that I just love trying new stuff).
My top priority is to optimize lift-served skiing in the wide open terrain of Whistler Blackcomb during April & May. But before that, I will face the opposite: tight steeps & moguls for ~4.5 months at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. And before that, it will be bulletproof, man-made snow on the preseason White Ribbons of Death (aka WROD) of Summit County, Colorado. (No ski touring for me this season.)
With that in mind, I want skis that provide a smooth ride at high speeds in open spaces, even on tracked-up off-piste crud. For that, I strongly prefer heavy, long skis with good suspension.
The Challenge: truly heavy skis are scarce. Another Challenge: in CB’s tight, mogulled steeps, I can’t keep up with friends if I’m on the longest, heaviest skis. So, when putting together a 5-ski quiver, I have several compromises to consider.
Ski #1: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + Tyrolia Attack 14 MN Demo
This is what I’d use for my deepest pow days. At 2435 g per ski, the 189 cm Reckoner 124 is the 3rd heaviest ski that’s eligible for me to pick (i.e., I’ve tested it and it’s currently available). That mass helps it charge through chop and most kinds of compressible crud.
At Whistler, this pow ski would also be my “soft snow daily driver,” but I’d be pretty quick to switch to narrower skis whenever the underlayer is firm enough to deliver harsh impacts. I’ve enjoyed using several ~120mm-wide skis as a “wide daily driver” in past Whistler seasons, one standout being the old 192 cm Salomon Rocker2 122 (which was desirably heavy at ~2650 g / ski).
I’m choosing a demo binding here so I can move the mount point forward whenever I need more agility for CB’s tight steeps. But to keep up with friends in tight spots at CB, I also have a shorter, narrower pow ski (the next one).
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
This pick is mainly just a backup for more agility if the 189 cm Reckoner 124 is feeling like a burden in tight and steep terrain. The Sender Free 118’s length of 186 cm is already on the shorter side for me, it has a good bit of tip and tail rocker, and I would mount at about -4.5 cm from true center. All of that adds up to a ski that’s pretty easy for me to pivot through tight spots — yet it holds up very well in high-speed runouts.
Even on some firmer days, I can make this 118mm-wide ski work for me in tight spots, particularly if I opt to sharpen / bevel the edges as conditions dictate. And the low-stack non-demo Attack bindings seem to have good lateral rigidity to possibly help with edge grip here.
At 2495 g, this is the heaviest currently available ski I’ve tested, and I would ski it for some of my preseason WROD laps, just to get stronger for the season (it also holds an edge surprisingly well for its size). Although this ski is too short to fully satisfy me in more open terrain (especially on deeper days), Whistler gets plenty of low-visibility days and whiteouts, so the agility could come in handy when I need to seek visibility in Whistler’s trees.
Ski #3: Dynastar M-Pro 108, 192 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Whenever Whistler’s snow is not soft and smooth enough for the wide skis above, I want a heavy and long charger that provides a supremely smooth ride at high speeds in wide open terrain.
The best I can do here is pick the 2475-gram M-Pro 108, which is the 2nd heaviest ski of all my eligible skis (notice a trend here?). That said, this ski doesn’t excite me at all. Yes, it’s quite damp and one of the better high-speed chargers currently on the market, but its suspension isn’t quite as impressive compared to past Dynastar chargers. That’s part of why my personal ski collection includes lots of long-discontinued models.
I will hike to access some Whistler lines, and I like the bootsole ice-scraping rail on the Jester Pro toe piece. That binding’s stack height is not impressively low, but I don’t see that as a negative when paired with this not-so-wide ski.
In CB’s tight spots, I have no chance of keeping up with fast friends when I’m on this ski, but of all the skis in Blister HQ, this is my #1 “solo workout ski” at CB to get strong for Whistler.
Ski #4: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
This is my #1 favorite ski in Blister HQ for overall skiing at CB. The Sender Free 110 shines on pretty much every kind of “shallow soft snow day” at CB. It doesn’t provide the necessary flotation for my 6’2”, 205-lb body on a proper pow day, but it can be fun on some firm-ish days, too.
I would mount the Sender Free 110 about half a cm forward (-3.2 cm from true center) to increase the agility and playfulness of this sizeable 191 cm ski. It would be my go-to ski at CB for most conditions and terrain. I haven’t spent a lot of time on this ski when there’s a nasty underlayer during dust-on-crust days, but I have alternatives for those conditions (the Sender Free 118 above and the next ski).
Last season at Whistler, the 191 cm Sender Free 110 (2350 g / ski) got knocked around too much for my liking at high speeds in that terrain. Still, it’s a fun secondary alternative at Whistler if I want to ski a bit more playfully, rather than just high speeds all the time.
Ski #5: Nordica Enforcer 104, 185 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Similar to how the Sender Free 118 complements the Reckoner 124, this pick is mainly just an easier backup ski for shallower / firmer conditions. When skiing with friends at CB, if the 191 cm Sender Free 110 ever feels cumbersome to me in tight terrain and/or firm conditions, that’s when the Enforcer 104 will take over some duties. With its lower weight and shorter length, the 185 cm length of the Enforcer 104 is a bit more nimble.
For firm groomer days at CB, I expect this ski will be the best of my 5 picks, and I will just accept that its short-ish radius and length won’t shine at Super-G speeds. During preseason, it would be my most appropriate ski for the WROD’s. But at Whistler, I don’t see myself skiing the Enforcer 104 at all.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Blizzard Anomaly 102: I really enjoy our 188 cm length for high speeds on CB’s groomers. The 192 cm would surely be even more stable and fun on longer, more open groomers.
Moment Countach 110: I prefer the Sender Free 110 on soft days, but the Countach 110 feels a bit more practical in a wider variety of conditions and is surprisingly fun at any speed, including slow ones.
Other great skis I considered: Prior A Star, Volkl Mantra 108, Volkl Revolt 114, Moment Wildcat, Praxis Protest, Dynastar M-Free 112 F-Team, Nordica Enforcer 99, Line Bacon 115, Volkl M7 Mantra, and RMU Professor 121.
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?
If I was allowed to pick skis that I’ve never actually spent time on yet, I would very confidently pull the trigger right now on some very heavy skis:
#1: Heritage Lab Ultra Taper 132, 190 cm (2700 g, FR heavy build, 191.5 cm measured length)
#2: Prior Overlord, 193 cm (2520 g, Quad Glass heavy build)
#3: Heritage Lab FL113, 194 cm (2745 g)
Those three skis excite me way more than my actual picks, but there’s obviously some speculation going on here. I already own many versions of the Overlord, but then Prior made slight tweaks to the design, so technically that ski was ineligible for me.
I suspect I’d love the Heritage Lab HB122 179 cm (2350 g, 183.5 cm measured length). I believe the longer 189 cm length would fold up too much for me in deep powder, but the shorter length would be super-playful and fun on shallow soft days (including spring slush, etc.).
I want to try a very, very heavy custom build of the 192 cm Folsom Rapture, and then I’d want to A/B/C it vs. the 191 cm lengths of the ON3P Jeffrey 124 & Jeffrey 118.
Lastly, I’d like to get more time on the 190 cm Dynastar M-Free 112, and I want to try the 191 cm length of the Volkl Revolt 114.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Did I mention I like heavy skis? The following two brands offer a lot of hefty models that I think would work great for me:
Prior: A Star (2615 g), Overlord (2520 g), CBC (2520 g), Husume (2490 g), Patroller
Heritage Lab: Ultra Taper 132 (2700 g, FR build), HB122 (2500 g), FL113 (2745 g), FR110 (2540 g), FL105 (2500 g)
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: K2 Disruption 78Ti, 178 cm
For my skinniest on-piste ski, I’m sticking with my same choice from the past couple of seasons, mostly because I have more time on this ski than the most recent contenders. And especially in this 5-ski-quiver world, I could go with a number of different options in this first spot — and also in the other 4 spots. But while I’ve been on a number of other really good frontside skis, I still really click with the performance characteristics of the 78Ti. It’s a strong ski, but it’s not a total 2×4. It initiates turns easily. It’s very stable at higher speeds. It’s outstanding on clean groomers, but still feels at home on roughed-up groomers. So, this is still currently my pick for my dedicated on-piste all-rounder.
Ski 2: Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm
I’m happy to report that there was a lot more hand-wringing over this #2 ski. I say ‘happy’ because it means that, at least for me, the competition is getting better for this spot. In this slot, I want a ski that is fun while carving groomers (so long as they aren’t sheer ice), but this ski also has to be really fun in moguls, trees, and all over the mountain. This is my low-tide all-mountain ski, and of course, you can have Folsom make it softer, stiffer, heavier, lighter … whatever you want.
Ski 3: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm
In recent years, this #3 spot in my 5-ski quiver has been locked down by the Blizzard Cochise 106. I loved that ski, so of course … it’s been discontinued. So now, I’m going narrower than I might ideally want to, but I’m replacing the Cochise 106 with another ski that is truly dialed.
Normally, with ski #3, I’m looking for a crud & chop destroyer, and that was the Cochise 106. With the Mantra 102, I’m getting a ski that’s a better carver, and one that’s arguably better than the Cochise the firmer and / or worse the conditions are. And the Mantra 102 is still good in deeper chop. Anyway, to repeat: I think the Mantra 102 is a phenomenal ski; it’s just arguably not the perfect fit for what I want this 3rd ski to do.
And yet, for a winter here in Crested Butte, this is the ski that I would almost certainly be on the most out of my ~100 days on snow.
Ski 4: Moment Wildcat, 190 cm
For pow & soft chop days, I’m still happy to be on this ski — for all the reasons we’ve outlined over the years in our reviews of the original Moment Bibby and latest Moment Wildcat.
Ski 5: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm
Most of my ski touring happens in the spring, so I’m less worried about going wide for really deep pow and more concerned with something that will be super fun on good spring corn, the occasional deeper day, and, importantly, the unexpected, awful, mistimed, refrozen coral reef. The Raven continues to be my benchmark ski for those attributes; it has some strong competition (keep reading), but I’m keeping it here for now.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
While difficult, it’s not that big of a deal because many of the skis I considered will be making an appearance in our upcoming smaller quiver articles. But for now:
Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm: I love the 190 cm Moment Wildcat, but the Sender 118 is undeniably great.
Salomon QST Echo 106, 181 cm: I got quite a few days on this ski this past spring, and I think it’s very, very good. I still love the longer sidecut radius of the Raven, and I’m on record for why I like its reverse-camber design in the backcountry. But performance-wise, I feel like I can ski the Echo 106 very similarly to the Raven, and the Echo 106 is very predictable, isn’t twitchy (it doesn’t feel too light), and stable enough for me. It’s very good.
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?
Blizzard Anomaly 88, 182 cm: So far, I really like this ski. I loved the old (17/18–19/20) Blizzard Brahma. I then wasn’t thrilled with some of the most recent iterations of the Brahma 88. But this Anomaly 88… it feels like it’s back in contention for my favorite sub-90mm-wide ski for groomers + all-mountain use.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 5-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Hmmm, some years, it feels like several companies could fit the bill. But this year, it really doesn’t feel like there’s a great fit for my 5-ski quiver. So after much hand wringing… I’m going with Moment:
Ski #1: Dedicated Frontside: Commander 92, 182 cm
Ski #2: Low-Tide / All-Mountain: Countach 104, 188 cm
Ski #3: Crud & Chop Destroyer: Countach 110, 188 cm
Ski #4: Pow / Chop Ski: Wildcat 190 cm
Ski #5: Touring Ski: Wildcat 108 Tour (184 cm) or Meridian Tour (187 cm)
From a “quiver-fit” point of view… there are problems here. Too much overlap. I’d like a narrower ski that won’t ever be off piste. And while the Countach 110 is a ski I love, I don’t really regard it as a crud & chop destroyer. Oh, and I haven’t even skied the Countach 104, which technically means I’m breaking the rules.
But similar issues currently exist for me with pretty much every other ski company. Or, I haven’t been on or don’t have enough time on certain models from other companies to push them into my #1 spot here. (This will get easier as we shrink the quiver.)
Love this series every year, as much for all the comments and seeing other folks quiver ideas or actual quivers
Five for me would be:
Head Monster 88
Völkl Mantra v4
Fischer Ranger 102 FR
Dynastar M-Free 108
Moment Wildcat
Given I have got into the habit of buying some skis lightly used/second hand, it has to be said I could also do an alternative quiver of 5….
Ah, the HEAD Monster 88. RIP.
And curious, which edition of the Fischer Ranger 102 FR are you on? (If the previous version, have you skied the current?)
Hi Jonathan, I do have a pair of Head Monster 98’s too that I love but make less sense for this selection. Still get plenty of days each season.
I had a pair of the original blue FR’s in 177 and loved them so much that I then bought a pair of 184’s and sold the 177’s. The 184’s are pink and mounted with blue Tyrolia Attacks, which look very nice indeed. If i had to sell all skis and keep only one would likely be these. I have not had the chance to ski the new version Ranger 102, though have skied the 96 at a test weekend, didn’t feel that similar
I also love the 102 fr’s and have a pair of the original pinks in 177 (sadly now my rock skis). I know you’re saying you’d hold on to them, but if you ever do want to sell those pink 184’s, hit me up!!!
I often think i should probably have kept the 177’s too! Will keep you in mind, though as I am in Switzerland it might be a challenge logistically!
Agree with Cholemski (and as someone who memorized the winter guide each year). Missoula is home base
HL105 day driver
RMU 106 apostle (to play)
Moment DW
Moment WC (cause why choose)
Moment Ghost Train (cause buying the ski will coax the storm my way, right?)
Random Note: Seeing the word “Ghost Train” immediately takes me back – vividly – to the last time & place I skied that ski. It’s cool how gear functions like this for me (and I suspect, for many others): the right stuff doesn’t just help you have a great day, it serves as a sort of scrapbook to remember all the days & places & people you were with.
Like this quiver a lot though have only skied the Wildcat, would love to try all the others for all the reasons
Subscribe to updates on David’s search for a powder touring ski – all the skis he wants to try look sweet!
I’d love to hear more about Luke’s recent love of affair with the Armada Declivity 102, especially in relation to how quickly it nudged his old flame, the Line Optic 96, completely out of his quiver picks. Gonna need a whole Gear30 episode devoted to this please.
I’m not at all against your idea here, PC.
Getting a Full Review up for that ski is one of my top priorities once we have a decent variety of terrain open this season. But the short version is that it’s a case of a bunch of very small differences across a wide range of performance metrics adding up to the Declivity 102 seeming like the best fit for the “jack of all trades, master of none” ski in my quiver. This is in contrast to, say, the Rossi Sender Free 118, which is far and away my favorite ski in its class. There are tons of skis I could choose instead of the Declivity 102 and they probably wouldn’t drastically change my overall enjoyment in most scenarios, but I think it currently checks the most boxes for me right now.
Love this time of year!!
Out west, Big Mountain coach. Professional ski dad:
Moment Commander 102, 182
Moment Deathwish 104, 184 (the daily driver)
Moment Deathwish 184
HL FR120 ST, 187 (Still awaiting, so the verdict is out… Replacing Line Blade Optic 114, 186)
Renegade 191 w/Duke PT
I’m on the hunt for a proper touring ski this year. Looking at the Raven, the Deathwish Tour and the Praxis BC.
Also have unmounted 186 Enforcer 94’s vying against the C102 for the narrow slot.
Good to see Heritage Labs in 2 out of the first 3 reader quivers! Moment in all of them. I got the Wildcats this year and now finally see what all the fuss is about even if I have the lighter version (19/20?) but still love them, suspect the heavier version might be too much for me given my level. Cannot wait to be on them again this season
so ive got 4 looking for a 5th for this season
line blade 181
armada arv 106 ti 188
line vision 118 189 (cast touring system as a very deep day resort / short powder tour ski)
moment deathwish tour 104 190
I’m thinking about filling the gap with something that charges and is more powder performant than my ARV’s but fits into my centered stance
mentality. cant decide between the countache or the sender free or perhaps the m-free 108.
The Enforcer 99 vs the Mantra Jonathan from your POV in that spot?
Your quiver seems the most well rounded for multiple snow types and similar to what I’d do too.
Mark made some super interesting points about Prior and how they have changed their Overlord ski but it’s actually almost all of their skis. I had a pair of CBC 184cm and they now weigh 1950gr, the Overlord 183cm is 2010gr. I owned both of these skis and they are so light and stiff now they don’t ski the same as their previous versions. After demoing the Husume, it is also lighter in the 188cm than what blister references. The only ski that has stayed somewhat the same seems to be the NW110. Even the NW116 is now only by order and no longer in regular production. The website seems to be a bit behind which is bit of a shame. Super interested to see what the Blister squad thinks of the changes if they have the chance to ski them. Anyways, love the work, keep it up!
For all 5 pair: Wagner Customs please. (If I had f*#k you money that is). And speaking of the first model Fischer 102 FR’s and Wagner check this out…
I loved that amazing Fischer 102 FR. Skied it here in Utah for many seasons. When it was finally shot, I asked Wagner Custom to build me a new Fisher 102 fr. BUT with better suspension. And they did exactly that! They used the FR’s profile, dimensions, side cut etc but added two sheets of metal and other Wagner sorcery. What did I get? Something spectacular. My new Wagner FR’s are insanely dialed. Fom my imagination onto my feet.
Let’s get this out of the way. Wagner custom’s are not inexpensive. But I asked for a Unicorn. Take the amazing Fischer FR’s and make them even better (and I’m a picky MF). The result:
A ski that is freakishly intuitive. It disappears. Just ski.
So yeah, 5 different pair of Wagner Customs sounds pretty great. We can dream.
Jonathan,
Hope all’s well. We got our first snow here in Utah. I hope you’re getting it too.
Cheers,
Andy
Hey Altabird, that sounds very cool indeed, great idea and good to hear it worked out how you wanted
Such wide skis in nearly every quiver! That used to be me too, but once I got on some sport carvers (like the K2 Disruptions Jonathan includes above) I was hooked.
A few pairs in the garage right now, including Disruptions, the 82ti’s. I call my Disruptions “the scary skis.” Regardless of my intentions to take it easy, inevitably these skis end up pointing straight down a steep groomer at 60+mph. They are insanely stable, extremely predictable and smash edges into hard snow like hot knives. Way more fun on a lot of days than wider all mountain skis, even those designed for hard snow. The rest of my quiver spans 99-121mm wide, but going forward there will always be a place for surprisingly versatile frontside carvers – I had no idea how much fun I was missing!
My quiver this year is going to be
Blizzard Anomaly 88 182cm + Alpine Bindings
ON3P Wrenegade 98 184cm + Alpine Bindings
ON3P Jeffrey 118 186cm + Alpine Bindings
K2 Dispatch 101 175cm + Moment Voyagers
K2 Dispatch 120 186cm + Moment Voyagers
Thinking about swapping out the ON3P Jeffrey 118s for something more directional, but they are a lot of fun so I am not sure I will be letting them go. N + 1? I am sad that the K2 Dispatch series has been discontinued, I really like these skis.
188cm/205lb
Salomon MTN 96 (182) + tech
Blizzard Anomaly 88 (182)
Volkl M102 (184)
Rossignol Black Ops 118 (186)
4frnt Renegade (191) + shift
Bring on La Nina
These quiver selections are some of my favorite ski articles for the year, thanks Blister!
I have whittled down to a 5-ski quiver, which fulfill the following duties. Mt. Seymour with the kid, Whistler resort, sled-ski laps, catskiing, and ski touring.
5′-10″, 175#.
– Line Blade Optic 96, 184cm, Pivot
– Salomon Blank, 186cm, Pivot
– Skevik Oda, 185cm, Pivot
– 4Frnt Raven, 184cm, ATK fr14
– 4Frnt Renegade, 184cm, ATK fr14
Quite happy with all of these skis and I might even refrain from switching or adding anything for a year or two.. maybe.
Similar to Davids 5-ski quiver selection I noticed.
Easy:
Brahma 180 88 Pivot Factory
Cochise 185 106 Cast 2.0 Factory
Bibby 184 Pivot -10mm
Navis Freebird 179 Haute Route 10+ 2024 Factory
Bibby Tour 190 Freeraider Evo 15 2024 Factory
If I had to keep 5:
HLS RC85
HLS FL105
HLS HB122
Volkl vwerks katana
Down Lowdown 88
For the ultimate quiver I just picked up some K2 244 mogul skis that are 66 under foot. Can’t wait to hit the mogul zipper line with these! For the last several years all of my mogul skiing has been done on 94 cm under foot.
Bring on the 10-ski quivers I say!
My current quiver is up to 12, but there’s a few “garage sale skis” in there I probably shouldn’t count, so here’s my selection whittled down to 5 to play along. Park City home mtn:
– Atomic Redster S9 Revoshock – I LOVE carving, and this ski absolutely rips and is surprisingly versatile so long as the snow is flat
– Blizzard Anomaly 88 – replacing Mindbender 89Ti’s, which I’ve decided to retire after 3 seasons
– TBD: between Declivity X 102, Nordica Enforcer 99, and Black Crows Justis – looking for a new daily driver once the conditions soften. This ski will be replacing my Mantra 102’s, which are just a little punishing for me as a daily driver
– Salomon Blanks
– Salomon QST X w/ Shift 2
My dream quiver this year
New Zealand
Black Crow Mirus Core – Strive 14 Small Radius ripper
Black Crow Serpo – Pivot 15 CAST Bombing Hard pack off n on peice
1000 Park – Pivot 15 CAST Big chillin Park laps
Blizzard Rustler 10 – Pivot 15 CAST Good day Freeride
Line Pescado – Pivot 15 CAST Better day steezin/BackCountry
Great article as always.
I have a very niche question for Luke: in your ‘RMU only’ quiver, what made you choose the Apostle 114 for your resort powder ski over the Professor 121 or the YLE 118? The YLE in particular sounds like it has the chargy/playful mix that you’d probably enjoy.
Keep up the good work!
I’ll play!
6’1, 180, Colorado
Whittled the quiver down to four (for now)…
Touring – Down Countdown 104L w/ ATK (inserts for freeraiders and trofeos)
Everyday – J Skis Hotshot (106 width) + Tyr
Powder – Praxis GPO (116 width) + Tyr
Powder 2 – old school 4FRNT EHP (116 reverse camber) + Tyr
A few thoughts:
1. I did not assume I would see two Black Crows skis in Paul’s quiver and especially not the Mirus Cor but the logic for why makes sense. Would be good to see a full review on the Justis one day, an unusual ski that I never had any interest in based upon your flash review, but then really enjoyed a few runs in some heavyish off-piste at a test weekend, would love to try it in a wider variety of conditions.
2. Also on Black Crows, seems the Nocta is discontinued, always liked the sound of it, sad to see it go. I feel we are losing some of the wider skis overall (Koala 118, M-Free 118). A few years ago Blister talked about the most important 3mm in skiing – think it was 102-104 as a few skis were coming out at that width. Seems right now it’s 110-112mm where there is a lot of competition
3. I know Sam used to dislike the single brand question, but this year feels like the one where so many of the quivers the team selected would really work very well and not just because you had to pick them. I wouldn’t ever do it but some of those sound great!
new Corvus is shite in all aspects of its class defining traits…hipster ski for the masses, no nice quiver ski any longer where balls have def. been cut off, feels way too dandy…bit like josh hommes high voice vs. Mark Lanegan’s soul crushing screams (RIP AWARD for the ski AND the singer!)..rant end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93lkxzoeRcU
by the way….where the fuck is still the hard sound to be found in ski movies….pagin’ the punk Cody….we need the heavy stuff, not always Phantogram and shit like ambient electrojunk….skiing is fast as fuck ….its not like we all ski in slo motion where I wanna listen to Moby and get the boner the ski industry wants me to have for buying new shit I don’t have the money for being broke AF cause of all the pow chasing that got us in this endless spiral in the first place…..so at least do us bums a favour and bring back nice regular burly Skiporn with some sweet Scandinavian Metal or the occasional ZEP Song….maybe then- but just with a slight chance of 4:1 (depends on the N-1 rule, where N equals the number of skis that might lead to separation from your partner) I might buy another ticket for the Ghost Train….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nkPYl7hCrY
Surprised I don’t see more Jskis on here, especially when they are built in the same factory as the 4frnts (a company he reorganized and saved) that are all over this list. Maybe because j makes few truly hard chargers and these seem to be very advanced focused skis. I think its the approchability of jskis that really helps them shine. Could also be due to his mostly east coast presence and relatively small market?