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.
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 4-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 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Dylan Wood
(5’10.5”, 160 lbs / 179 cm, 72.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
I’m really happy with my 5-ski quiver, but as we start to condense, I’m choosing to combine my #1 and #2 skis from that bigger setup into one ski.
Ski #1: Black Crows Camox, 186.5 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
The Camox serves a few different roles in this quiver. It’s a good carver and can be enjoyed in firm conditions with a more directional style. I’d definitely break it out a lot early in the season, as well as when it hasn’t snowed in a while. But, the Camox can also feel like a wide park ski, making it an extremely versatile offering. This ski has tons of pop and can be playful at slow and high speeds, though I will surely miss some of the Line Optic 96’s (from my 5-ski quiver) looseness. For the Camox, I’d opt to mount 2 cm forward of the recommended line to make it more suited to skiing park, and I’d put the CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15 hybrid binding on this ski so I can take it touring in the spring and on the resort before/after the lifts spin.
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + alpine binding
I’m choosing to keep this ski from my 5-ski quiver as my go-to setup for any sort of soft snow. While it may seem less practical to keep this ski in my quiver for Colorado, since we don’t see as much snow as other places in the world, the spots I like to get into at CBMR are infrequently trafficked so the snow usually stays soft in there all year. Plus, the Sender Free 110 does surprisingly well in firm snow, where it feels more precise and dynamic.
Ski #3: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + alpine binding
Yep, keeping this ski in my quiver. I had a really good time on it during a few big dumps that I was lucky to catch at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Skiing deep powder is very special, and I believe that these conditions, despite being pretty rare, deserve a proper ski that lets you enjoy them the best.
Ski #4: 4FRNT Hoji, 191 cm + ATK Raider 12
Nothing has really changed for this slot in my quiver. The Hoji is one of my favorite skis, and it allows me to capitalize on good mid-winter-pow touring conditions.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Most of the skis I mentioned in my 5-ski quiver apply here. That said, I did consider the Head Oblivion 94 for my #1 slot here instead of the Camox. The Oblivion 94 feels like a narrower, more freestyle-focused Camox in many ways. But, in the end, I think I’d prefer the Camox, largely because it’s more accepting of a directional skiing style.
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 think the K2 Omen Team is versatile enough to potentially take the spot of the Camox here, but I need more time on it. I’m also quite curious about the new Line Optic 88, which I did not get a chance to ski last year but will certainly get on as soon as the lifts start spinning.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Mostly the same brands here, relative to my 5-ski quiver.
Line: Optic 88, Optic 104, Bacon 115, Vision 114
K2: Omen Team, Reckoner 110, Reckoner 124, Wayback 106
4FRNT: Switch, Devastator, Renegade, Hoji
Black Crows: Camox, Corvus, Nocta, Draco Freebird
Armada: ARV 94, ARV 106, Whitewalker 121, Locator 112
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
As mentioned in our 5-ski quiver article, 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 to spend 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 still 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: Line Pandora 106, 176 cm + Marker Duke PT
This ski splits the difference between my #3 and #4 skis in my 5-ski quiver, the K2 Mindbender 106C W and Icelantic Maiden 108. The Pandora 106 is similarly playful and nimble relative to both of those skis, but it offers a slightly stiffer flex pattern than the Maiden 108 and feels a bit more damp and forgiving than the Mindbender 106C W. I’d be happy skiing the Pandora 106 on most resort powder days, as well as any time there’s a bit of soft snow but conditions aren’t particularly deep.
Ski #4: 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. It’s easy to eliminate some of the more niché skis that I had considered in my 5-ski quiver, such as the Coalition Snow Rafiki, but there are so many highly versatile generalist skis I considered.
For my resort daily driver, I considered the K2 Mindbender 99 Ti, 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 a mid-fat 50/50 ski, I thought about going with the Atomic Maven 103 CTI, Blizzard Sheeva 11, and Salomon QST Stella 106. I also considered just sticking with either the Icelantic Maiden 108 or K2 Mindbender 106C W that I included in my 5-ski quiver, but putting a binding like the Marker Duke PT on it, so that it’d be touring-ready and just a bit more versatile.
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 am still super curious about the Salomon QST X. I wonder how this ski would work as a resort powder ski, 50/50 ski, and an option for trips to Japan or Alaska. Hopefully I’ll get to put that to the test this season.
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 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
This question doesn’t change too much now that we’re looking at a 4-ski quiver, but I did add a couple of new brands that I’d be happy going with…
Line: Optic 96, Optic 104, Pandora 106, & Vision 114
Salomon: QST Lumen 98, Stance 102, QST Stella 106, and QST X
Armada: Reliance 92 Ti, Reliance 102 Ti, ARW 106, ARW 112
Nordica: Santa Ana 97, Santa Ana 102, Unleashed 108, Unleashed 114
Blizzard: Black Pearl 94, Anomaly 102, 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 4-ski quiver, and why?
As noted in our other quiver articles, my season 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.
So, I prioritize lift-accessed skiing more than touring, but a quiver of four is still big enough for me to justify a touring-only ski.
Ski #1: Armada Declivity X 102, 180 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
I’m keeping my resort daily driver the same as in my 5-ski quiver. This ski is what I’ll use the most throughout the season, from the first firm and sharky off-piste laps to the slushy turns of closing weekend. The Declvity X 102 isn’t particularly outstanding at any single thing, but it happens to do a great job of catering to my highly specific preferences, which I outlined in my 5-ski quiver:
“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 not have 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 to it 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.”
Since I nixed my playful 50/50 ski from my 5-ski quiver, I guess I’d mount the Declivity X 102 with the CAST Freetour 2.0 system so I could use it for mid-winter touring. Realistically, I doubt I’d spend much time skinning on this ski. My touring ski (#4) performs just fine in snow shallower than a few inches, and if it snows more than that, I’m usually just gonna grab my pow surfer (which is also my way of cheating our system and getting an additional snow-sliding device since it’s not a ski).
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 178 cm + alpine binding
In my 4-ski quiver, I’m keeping around this ski as the one I’ll use for firm, moderate-angle carving at the beginning of the season, as well as any days when I’ll be spending most of my time on piste. I’ll also break it out if I know I’ll generally be sticking to more moderate speeds (e.g., laps with friends and family who aren’t interested in puckering lines in CBMR’s extreme terrain).
The Mirus Cor will get skied a bit more in this case than it would in my 5-ski quiver, since I no longer have my ultra-playful 50/50 ski, but on the softer days when I would’ve broken out that ski, I’ll probably opt for my resort daily driver or my resort pow ski.
Ski #3: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
No chance this ski is getting nixed from my 4-ski quiver. The Sender Free 118 and its predecessor, the Blackops 118, remain my all-time favorite resort pow skis, and I don’t want to imagine a life without them.
Ski #4: Majesty Superwolf, 178 cm + ATK Raider 12
The Superwolf sticks around as my dedicated touring ski, which I’ll use for quick skin laps on the resort and lots of spring missions once our snowpack consolidates.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Obviously, I’ll miss the RMU Apostle 106 that was in my 5-ski quiver, but I won’t be that torn up about it — this 4-ski quiver still gives me plenty of options depending on what and how I want to ski on a given day.
Otherwise, all the same contenders from my 5-ski quiver are relevant here:
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 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 very eager to try the new Moment Countach 104. Could it be a contender for my daily driver spot? Its specs are actually pretty dang similar to the Declivity X 102…
I’m also looking forward to getting more time on the new Line Vision 96 and the Salomon MTN 96 Carbon. If the Vision 96 holds an edge better than the previous Vision 98, there’s a good chance it could become my go-to touring ski for most conditions.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I have the luxury of trying a ton of different skis, and I consequently end up with a set of priorities that aren’t catered to by any single brand. But I’d have lots of fun with any of these setups:
Line: Optic 96, Blade, Optic 114, Vision 96
K2: Mindbender 99Ti, Reckoner 102, Reckoner 124, Wayback 98
Moment: Countach 104, Commander 92, Wildcat, Deathwish Tour 104
Black Crows: Atris, Mirus Cor, Anima, Camox Freebird
RMU: Apostle 96 Ti, Zephyr 88, Apostle 114, Apostle 96 Carbon
Salomon: Stance 102, QST 92, QST Blank, MTN 96 Carbon
Paul Forward
(6’0”, 200 lbs / 183 cm, 91 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: Folsom Rapture, 195 cm + Marker Jester Pro
As I wrote in my 5-ski quiver, this will be my 13th year guiding heli skiing full time at Chugach Powder Guides, so a guide ski is a very important part of these quivers. Here, I’m going to go with a slightly different setup since I’ll only have one dedicated pow ski with alpine bindings.
This longer, softer, more rockered version of the Folsom Rapture that I started skiing two seasons ago isn’t quite as good in variable or inbounds conditions as the Heritage Lab HB122 I had in my 5-ski quiver, nor does it float as well in super deep conditions as the wider Folsom Rotor. But if I only have one true pow ski with alpine bindings, this is probably it.
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
Once again, this is the ultimate dad ski and I love it. It’s great for carving around chasing my kid, keeps the ‘gummy worm trails’ sporty, is fun and balanced on jumps, and when I have a few runs to myself, it’s really a hoot to lay down some aggressive carves without having to go super fast to do so.
Ski #3: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
I live in a snowy place, and if it hasn’t snowed in a while, I’m mostly likely either guiding out of the heli or out touring. If I am at the resort and it hasn’t recently snowed, I can either carve groomers on my Mirus Cor, or I can smash around off-piste and most likely still find some fairly soft cut-up snow (or maybe get a rope drop on an area that hasn’t been opened).
In my 5-ski quiver, I slotted in the 189 cm Black Crows Justis for my lower-snow resort ski. I do like the increased power and length of the Justis, but I think the 184 cm Mantra 102 is a bit more versatile. And, when I want to go way too fast chasing younger friends around on quiet weekdays, the Mantra 102 will be almost as stable as the longer Justis but the Mantra will allow for more dynamic carved turns if the groomers are in good shape. I’m also on the fences for the Mantra 102 length; I also really like the 191 cm version. For this slot, I chose the 184 cm length because it’s more fun on groomers and a little more nimble in the techy off-piste stuff. I’m also coming back from injury this year and the 184 is a little better when I’m tentative.
Ski #4: Armada Locator 112, 187 cm + Moment Voyageur XVI
Nothing new to add here from my 5-ski quiver. The Locator 112 is currently the most versatile all-round touring ski I’ve used, and I could spend a full touring season in Alaska on this ski if I have to only have one.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I had so much fun on the Heritage Lab HB122 last year; I’d be bummed not to be able to ski it for a season. However, it’s not good enough in untracked pow (for me) to suffice as a guide ski.
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?
My answer here is the same as with my 5-ski quiver, with the exception of the slightly tweaked (softer, more rockered) Folsom Rotor that I alluded to there. I think that ski is going to be awesome, but I doubt it’ll become my new choice for a pow ski that can handle both heli laps and frequent inbounds use.
So, as I said before:
I 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 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
This is tough, primarily because very few companies make a powder ski that I want to spend a season guiding on. I’ll stick with Folsom here, with the 195 cm Rapture serving as my guide / resort pow ski. Then I’d probably opt for their Spar Turbo or Spar 88, along with a heavy-build Giver for resort crud and a light-build Giver, Primary 110, or Cash 117 for touring.
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 205 lbs / 188 cm, 93 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
As I explained in our 5-Ski Quiver article, my ski season will include a very broad range of locations and conditions. And as a bigger guy (6’2”, 205 lbs) with a strong preference for big, heavy skis, some of my picks are a bit different from our other reviewers.
I am optimizing for lift-served skiing in the wide open terrain of Whistler Blackcomb during April & May. But before that, I need something to help my big body get through very tight steeps & moguls for ~4.5 months at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. And before that, I’ll be skiing bulletproof, man-made snow on the preseason White Ribbons of Death (aka WROD) of Summit County, Colorado. (No ski touring for me this season.)
I had anticipated that it might be tricky for me to pick four skis to simultaneously cover both the power I want for top speeds off-piste, as well as the agility I want for tight, mogulled steeps. But what I did NOT anticipate is that I would end up deciding to cut out my #1 favorite CB ski this early!
Ski #1: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + Tyrolia Attack 14 MN Demo
For my deepest pow days, I’m not changing this pick from my 5-ski quiver. At a hefty 2435 g per ski, this powder tool can also do some charging through chop and compressible crud. As I wrote for my 5-ski quiver:
“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).”
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
No change here. I’m keeping this pick as a shorter, more agile ski for keeping up with fast friends in CB’s tight, mogulled steeps — whenever there’s any fresh snow, or even older soft-ish snow.
But after shockingly deciding to cut out my #1 favorite daily driver for CB (the Rossignol Sender Free 110), now I need to expand this ski’s role to take over “the softer half” of that vacant daily-driver slot for CB. As I wrote for my 5-ski quiver:
“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
Sorry to be so repetitive, but this is another pick that returns for my 4-ski quiver. Whenever Whistler’s snow is not soft / smooth enough for the wide skis above, I want a heavy and long charger that provides a smooth ride at high speeds in wide-open terrain. As I wrote for my 5-ski quiver:
“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.”
“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: Nordica Enforcer 104, 185 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Again, for the firmest days at CB, I’m keeping this pick from my 5-ski quiver — but now with an expanded role. Like the Sender Free 118’s role above, this 185 cm length of the Enforcer 104 is a shorter, more agile ski for keeping up with fast friends in CB’s tight, mogulled steeps. But unlike the Sender Free 118, the Enforcer 104 is for the firmer days.
And now that I’ve excluded the Sender Free 110, I also need this ski to take over “the firmer half” of that vacated daily-driver slot for CB.
I like that the new Enforcer series tends to be heavier than most other brands’ metal-laminate all-mountain skis in this class. And as I wrote for my 5-ski quiver:
“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?
Now limited to four skis, I actually found it easy to cut out the long 191 cm Sender Free 110, even though it’s my favorite ski for a pretty wide range of conditions at CB. I don’t quite love it for Whistler, and I decided to prioritize agility at CB by favoring two shorter skis (the 186 cm Sender Free 118 & 185 cm Enforcer 104).
So I’d say the most difficult was the Moment Countach 110: The 188 cm Countach 110 feels a bit more practical in a wider variety of conditions than the 191 cm Sender Free 110, and it would be a pretty nimble replacement. But instead, I’m sticking with a narrower, heavier ski with metal (the Enforcer 104) to better cover the firmest scraped conditions.
Other great skis I considered: Volkl Mantra 108, Volkl Revolt 114, Moment Wildcat, Praxis Protest, Nordica Enforcer 99, and Volkl M7 Mantra.
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?
Similar to what I wrote in the 5-Ski Quiver article… If I were allowed to pick skis that I’ve never actually spent time on yet, I would 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: Heritage Lab FL113, 194 cm (2745 g)
Those two skis excite me way more than my actual Whistler-focused picks (the Reckoner 124 and M-Pro 108) because I pretty much always end up loving heavier skis — but I’m only speculating here.
I still 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. One of those three skis could potentially replace the Reckoner 124 for me.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I’m repeating myself here. To satisfy my strong preference for hefty skis, the following two brands offer many models that would almost certainly work great for me:
Heritage Lab Skis: Ultra Taper 132 (2700 g, FR build), FL113 (2745 g), FR110 (2540 g), R105 (2500 g)
Prior: Overlord (2520 g), CBC (2520 g), Husume (2490 g), Patroller
David Golay
(6’, 165 lbs / 183 cm, 74.8 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
I’m not going to shake things up too much at this point in the narrowing of these quivers. My skiing is ever more touring-oriented these days, so I’m going to keep the three touring skis from my 5-ski quiver and pare down the resort part of the program to one.
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
Still a super versatile touring ski for a pretty wide range of conditions. Easy call here.
Ski #2: Heritage Lab Ultra Taper 132, 190 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
I’ll start having to make some harder choices soon, but I can justify keeping these around at least this far. They’re a specialized tool, but in the right conditions, there’s nothing quite like a reverse-reverse ski. I’m not ready to give up on that.
Ski #3: 4FRNT Renegade, 191 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
I’m actually a little happier with this choice in this slot than I was with it in my 5-ski quiver. The Renegade is a bit heavier than I’d ideally like for this slot (my more versatile powder touring ski), but I’m way happier skiing it inbounds on a really deep day than I would be with most alternative skis that are a lot lighter. If it’s not cheating too much, I’d ideally run inserts and swap between the Freeraiders for touring duty and Look Pivots for resort use. That combo is particularly tidy to swap back and forth because there’s no hole overlap, and both bindings leave access to all the mounting screws without needing to take a heel piece off a track or anything like that.
Ski #4: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm + CAST Freetour
I waffled a bit on this one. If I’m paring things down to (mostly) one resort ski, I’d ideally split the difference between the two resort skis I had in my five ski quiver (the Countach 110 and Volkl Mantra 102) a little more. But I didn’t come up with an idea I was thrilled with for that scenario. The Blizzard Cochise 106 would have been perfect but… RIP. I haven’t skied the exact variant that I’d want here, but a beefed-up Folsom Primary 104 build would probably work pretty well, too.
But in absence of what feels like a more ideal option, I’ll stick with the Countach 110. I’ll miss the Mantra 102 on some firmer days, but with this quiver, I’m more likely to go touring or ride a mountain bike if conditions aren’t at least kinda decent inbounds.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I thought pretty hard about sticking with the Mantra 102 instead of the Countach 110, but made the call I did for the reasons outlined above.
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 still on the hunt for a powder touring ski that I really click with that’s (1) lighter than the 4FRNT Renegade I currently have in that slot and (2) more versatile than the Heritage Labs Ultra Taper 132. As I mentioned in the 5-ski article, I think the ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour is the leading contender, but there are a bunch of other skis that might fit the bill.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
This one is still hard, but I’ll chop down a few of the options I listed in 5-ski quivers.
Volkl: Mantra 102, Blaze 104, Blaze 114, Revolt 114
Moment: Deathwish 104 Tour, Wildcat Tour, Commander 102, Wildcat
Heritage Lab: R110, BC105, BC120, Ultra Taper 132
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, 180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
This year, my 4-ski quiver selections involved a lot less hand-wringing for me than my 5-ski quiver selections did. I feel like these four skis ‘space out’ a little bit better, with the biggest compromise now being that I’m giving up a dedicated on-piste ski…
Ski #1: Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm
It’s an extremely fun carver on all but the iciest days, while also being a fantastic moguls ski, and a ski that’s incredible fun on chalky steeps. And the more you want to enhance its on-piste performance, keep it freshly tuned.
Ski #2: Nordica Enforcer 104, 186 cm
The latest version of the Enforcer 104 is still one of my current favorite all-mountain, most-conditions skis for Crested Butte.
Ski #3: Moment Wildcat, 190 cm
My resort-chop destroyer + pow ski.
Ski #4: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm
The Raven returns as my do-everything touring setup, and it’ll see the most use in the spring after the lifts have stopped spinning.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The skis I listed here in my 5-ski quiver picks are still relevant, and so is the 184 cm Volkl Mantra 102, which is a top contender for my #2 all-mountain slot. It’s a very close call for me between that ski and the Nordica Enforcer 104; I swapped the Mantra 102 for the Enforcer 104 here since I think the Enforcer 104 is a bit better the softer the snow is, whereas the Mantra 102 is a tad more stable, but it’s almost a toss-up for me — I really like both of those skis for most days at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
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. I very much look forward to getting back on it in just over a month.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
This past season did change my mind enough to switch up my selection from last year. For this year, I’ll go for:
1: Carving / Frontside / Low Tide: Moment Commander 92
2: All Mountain: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm
3: Chop / Pow: Moment Wildcat, 190 cm
4: Touring: Moment Wildcat 108 Tour, 184 cm (but I’m still wondering about the 187 cm Meridian Tour and how similar or different it would feel compared to my beloved 4FRNT Raven)
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 4-ski quiver, and why?
My ski choices are a reflection of the type of skier I am and where I plan to ski this winter. As far as skiing goes, I am more of a finesse skier — not a power skier. I’m very deliberate about where I turn, and while I like to think I ‘charge’ on occasion, I always hold back a bit. I typically gravitate toward intuitive skis that don’t require me to change my skiing style.
As for where I’ll be skiing, I plan to be at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for 95-100% of my ski days. I’m trying to get down to Taos Ski Valley but have no plans yet. I plan to do more uphill travel this year, and while I’d love to get in the backcountry more, I don’t see this being the year, based on how busy I’ve been.
With four skis in my quiver, I’ve opted to pick models that fill specific niches. I’ll have a fairly lightweight touring / backcountry setup, a powder ski, a fairly narrow ski, and a versatile all-rounder in the 94-99 mm width.
Ski #1: Elan Ripstick 94 W, 168 cm + tech binding
I haven’t skied a lot of properly light touring skis, but the new Elan Ripstick 94 W was already a contender for my daily all-mountain ski, and it’s fairly lightweight at around 1600 grams per ski, so I’ll use it as my touring setup in this quiver. I find the new Ripstick 94 W to be as intuitive as the previous version, but the new ski is also more playful, especially off-piste. Realistically, I would spend most of my time on this ski lapping groomers before or after the lifts are spinning. Still, there’s a chance I will have time to take it into the backcountry, and while it doesn’t float as well as my next ski, I wouldn’t be worried about skiing the Ripstick 94 in powder.
Ski #2: RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm + alpine binding
In contrast to what I outlined above, regarding my preference for skis that I find very intuitive, the Valhalla 107 was not love at first turn. My initial experiences with it were on firm, on-piste conditions, and that’s not where the Valhalla 107 shines. But instead of throwing in the towel and handing it off to one of our other reviewers, I kept grabbing the Valhalla 107 to see if I could figure it out. And I’m glad I did.
Once I adjusted my stance to a more upright position and got this ski in soft snow, I liked them a whole lot more — it was a complete 180. The Valhalla is playful and surfy in powder, and in soft chop, its tips do a good job of staying afloat while also being predictable and confidence-inspiring. I’d reach for these skis in soft conditions, especially on powder days.
Ski #3: Ferreol Explo 86, 174 cm + alpine binding
The Explo 86 is the lightest ski (~1400 g) in my quiver, and I considered it for my backcountry ski. But I enjoy skiing it more than the Ripstick 94 W, and I will happily ski it all day in the resort when conditions are firm. It is quite damp and stable, relative to its weight, and I like how well it holds an edge on firm snow.
Ski #4: Salomon Stance 94 W, 174 cm + alpine binding
Of the skis in my 4-ski quiver, the Stance 94 W is the stiffest and most stable, which means this would be the ski I’d reach for when I’m feeling strong and want to charge. But it’s also a ski I would grab pretty much any day except a powder day or one when I’ll mostly be sticking to firm groomers. The Stance 94 W doesn’t get knocked around much when skiing fast or in inconsistent snow conditions, and it’s a quick ski that’s pretty easy to pivot through bumps and trees. A great daily driver for where and how I ski.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I’ve had a lot of great days on the Moment Sierra, Wagner Summit 106, Blizzard Sheeva 11, and Blizzard Black Pearl 84. It would have been easy to include any of them in my 4-ski quiver, and there’s a good chance they will end up in one of my smaller quivers as I start cutting skis. I think it’s the first time in years (possibly ever) that I don’t have a Nordica Santa Ana ski in my quiver, and any one of them would have been easy to include.
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 Ferreol Explo 96 could be a contender, based on how much I like the Explo 86. I’m also interested in testing the Elan Ripstick Tour 88 or 94 W since they are a bit lighter than my backcountry ski pick, and I tend to get along with the Ripstick family.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 4-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I think I’d be happy with either of these setups:
Blizzard: Zero G 95, Sheeva 11, Black Pearl 84, Black Pearl 94
Elan: Ripstick Tour 94 W, Ripstick 106 W, Ripstick 88 W, Ripstick 94 W
I’ll play along..
Nordica Enforcer 100, 186cm
Head Kore 105, 180cm
Rossignol Sender Free 110, 184cm
Rossignol Black Ops Gamer 118, 186cm
The Black Ops 118 is the greatest ski ever, and I can’t wait to get on the Sender Free’s. I could use a replacement to the Kore at some point, and looking for something less demanding than the Enforcer as my “narrow” ski. Don’t get me wrong – they’re both great skis but are relatively stiff, so looking for something a bit more playful that I can still ski aggressively and occasionally enjoy some steep bumps rather than simply tolerating them.
I’m guessing mine will look fairly different:
1) Shaggy’s Fun Carver 88 – early season, or anytime with intermediate friends, family and kids
2) Blizzard Brahma 88 from 2019 (have not been on anomaly yet)
3) Elan Ripstick 102 – East coast trees or anytime I’m feeling lazy.
4) K2 Mindbender 108Ti (though intrigued by the Countach 110)
This is my quiver
Rosignol Supers
Stockli
88
95
102s
Nordica 104s
Nordica 100s
I ski them all but ski the Stockli102s and Nordica 100s and Nordica 104s
They are incredible to ski in all conditions at Mammoth Lakes.
Thanks for your column.
I’m waiting to see input from a skier (or skiers) of, shall we say, greater dimensions – i.e. over 6′ & over 200 lbs. I am well beyond the size & weight of your current lineup & would love input from bigger boys as I have found it helpful in the past. I am 6’6″ & 230 lbs. Just sayin’.
6’2, 208lbs checking in.
Black Crows Vertis 181 for resort, Black Crows Corvus Freebird 189 for most fresh snow, Black Crows Solis 180 for steeps and Black Crows Nocta 191 for deep powder and Japan
Greg
I am 6’2” and 240 lbs. I go back and forth between the Stockl 102s and Nordica 100s most of the time. No rock skis. I save the 104s for fresh Mammoth Sierra Cement snow. It is fun to be a bigger guy that has confidence in going to my locker and picking out skis I know will work.
Cheers
Larry B
5’11” 190lbs, Tahoe based
1. Frontside/Low Tide but able to handle bumps and steeps: Folsom Spar 88 or Praxis MVP 94 – this is the decision I’m struggling with right now, but planning to pull the trigger one way or the other next week.
2. Fresh Snow/Crud: Moment Countach 110 – I love this ski. I want to get the 104 as well, but not sure I can justify that with the purchase of #1.
3. Lots and lots of snow: Salomon Rocker2 122 in 192cm – 2500g of fun. 11 years old, but I got them from a buddy 3 years ago with exactly one day on them and I love em.
4. Do it all BC: Moment Wildcat 108 Tour with ATK Freeraider 15 – They do everything I need for the 30 days I’m out there.
I still love to see a ski that’s 10+ years old in someone’s quiver … and that they still love it. It warms my cockles.
Mindbender 89, 99 and 108tis.
Fourth ski money used for a road trip!
We’re all out here playing checkers, Tom’s out here playing chess…
Line Sir Francis Bacon (2020 version with the sick as hell great white top sheet)
Dynastar M-Free 108 (2024 with that nice top sheet)
Rossignol Blackops 118 (2024 with the real good alligator top sheet)
Line Pescado (2021 with the admittedly only-okay, grey-green tree top sheet)
I know, I know, I need a narrower ski to balance out the unnecessarily wide quiver.
I’m really torn between Armada X 102, Line Optic 96, and QST 92. Obviously the strongest top sheet of the group is hands-down the Armada. But I guess ski performance should go into the decision at least a little bit too…
Hmmm, now I really think we need to hear about the “Top Topsheets Quivers” – where you still have to find skis that will work for a proper quiver (whatever that means to you), but you’ve also got to pick out skis with banger topsheets…
Always been a sucker for a banger top sheet. I want my top sheet to be top notch, and it honestly breaks my heart when a top sheet sells an otherwise amazing ski short. It’s like, ‘Just make it banger, come on, I’ll buy it!’
Tell Moment bout it, their Touring Tops are what i would call a proper shameless walmart design…just soooo elegant and subtle and understating….NOOOOOT!!!! its just that i wanna puke on the Tips or donate the skis to the Londoners in Kitzbühel where they might not even make the cut for the drinkin Boards at Hahnenkamm Weekend
I can forgive Moment because the rest of their top sheets are industry leading. The Countach 104 has recently been added to my wish list, for instance (with the creepy looking cabin in the woods top sheet). That said, I do feel for ya bro.
Ha. If we’re doing topsheet quivers not sure how the Chipotle Banana gets left off the list! (left off the four quiver for obvious utility reasons)
172cms / 70kgs (sorry to all the Clydes, clearly I need to eat more fondue)
Skiing mostly Adelboden-Lenk, Engelberg and Meiringen
For the 4 ski quiver I would go:
Head Monster 98 @ 177, Tyrolia Attacks, love this ski in all sorts of conditions. Dropped the narrower Monster 88 as the quiver reduces but could easily choose either here
Fischer Ranger 102 FR @ 184, Tyrolia Attacks, as per my 5 ski quiver comments
Moment Meridian @ 181, Look Pivot or if i were to include a touring option Salomon QST 106 @ 181, Fritschi Tectons
Moment Wildcat @ 184, Shifts (likely to swap the bindings out as am not going to tour on these)
If I was going single brand any of these would be amazing:
Moment Commander 92, Deathwish 104, Meridian or Deathwish, Wildcat
Line Optic 96, Pandora 106, Optic 114, Pescado
Black Crows Mirus Cor, Justis, Atris or Corvus, Anima
Here is my 4 ski quiver
5’11” 185 pounds in Colorado, usually ski mary jane, A Basin, Copper, 4 days at CB and a week in Utah.
early season/bad year – Liberty Origin 96 (looking to replace with something more chargy like the the Declivity)
Mid year daily driver – Armada ARV 106Ti – I’m going to struggle to replace this ski once it’s dead. Might be the Moment Wildcat 108, been hearing good things about Dynastars as well.
Pow – RMU YLE 110 – found an insane deal on these, generally don’t care what my pow ski is because they hardly get used. Might use as my BC set up next year.
Spring mess around and jump off of everything thing ski – ARV 106 from 2018.
That’s my quiver,
Stoeckli Montero AR with Strive for the slopes
Armada Declivity 108 with Look Pivot for freeriding in the resort area
Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 with ATK c-raider for ski mountaineering
4FRNT Nevar with Dynafit Ridge for all around touring
Now thinking to add a 5th ski to my quiver for dedicated powder touring, maybe a Locator 112 or a 4FRNT Hoji
I have a quiver of 3, thinking about complementing with a 4th ski.
Skiing in Alps, mainly Chamonix.
I’m 175cm, 70kg
New for this season. For when it hasn’t snowed for a while and I just want to have fun in or around the piste (and park). For making days I otherwise wouldn’t ski enjoyable.
Black Crows Mirus Cor 173 cm + Marker Griffon
All-around touring ski. For all but the deepest touring days.
Nordica Enforcer Unlimited 104 179cm + Fritschi Tecton
A ski for all middle conditions. Soft snow, variable conditions. For days when the powder is not soo deep or no longer fresh.
TBD?
Powder ski. All around fun ski. Crud busters. Love them.
Using them for powder touring, and tours at the end of a resort powder day. While heavy and long tail, shorter tours are absolutely fine.
Rossignol Blackops Gamer 118 186cm + Marker Duke PT
I don’t like skis mounted too far back.
For my 4 ski I’m considering something 100-110. Maybe a Sender free 110 given how much I like the 118s.
Hi, for my 5’8″ 155 pounds Frame (racing background) based in tirol/southtirol Italy)
Countdown 104L 181 atk rt11 evo factory
Bibby Tour 190 atk ‘hy’ 2025 factory (bring it on atk, we believe in you!!!
Black Pon2oons 189 pivot factory (still unbelievable that blister apparently hasnt really appreciated or acknowledged the Toons, those who havent tried the orange or black Pon2oons, [almost identical,but not 100% the same shape] cannot really benchmark- test any powder shape imo because this ski is unique and unlike any other 3-D snow shape=> no shape is floatier and faster, more precise and quiet at speed, easier to ski and confidence inspiring, bibbys 190’s or billygoats look and feel like baby- noodles compared to Toons)
Cochise 185 106 Cast 2.0 stripped Version factory or +1
No Frontside carver, cause all skis can carve when bent
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/352254-Pontoons-and-Pon2oons
That’s a really unexpected collection Ben!
2 things stand out:
1: very long skis, for a person who is neither tall nor heavy
2: fairly wide skis, for an area with a reputation of less snow and more firm days
Cool to see someone bucking the trends! Thanks for surprising us.
4 is a limiting number but the following will likely get the majority of snow time this year for me.
Line blade 181 with pivot for making skiing with kids or any other small terrain slower skiing super fun
Heritage labs fl105 185 with sth2 for going fast in non deep snow.
ON3P Super Goat 193 with Sth2 for going fast in deeper snow
Down countdown 114l with Salomon mtn pure for going uphill in all conditions.
Hopefully La Niña delivers for the Pnw this year.
Nice Mini-Rack Bro!!!
I ski in the PNW, primarily at either Crystal Mtn or Alpental (one of the four areas at the Summit ay Snoqualmie) mainly groomers, a little lift accessed BC; no touring, skinning, hiking etc.
There are a ton of skis I would love to demo by Volkl, Stockli, Salomon, and Blizzard; but some of the Folson, ZAG, 4FNT and Wagner skis (among others) seem intriguing.
My Carver: Nordica Dobermann Spitfire 80RD-no speed limit, great pop, not liking chop much or soft snow
My Daily Driver: Peak 88 by Bode-I love this ski, I can push it hard, take it off-piste, into the bumps
My old Daily ski: Nordica Enforcer 100 (2018 model) now it will be my early season and/or days I expect chopped up or heavy snow. Not as good for carving groomers as the first two here; but very versatile and they crush the crud.
Resort Pow ski: Peak 110 by Bode-not as floaty as some of the skis I have read about in the Blister Winter Buyers Guide but they fit my need fairly well. They can carve a groomer, surprisingly nimble in the moguls and can handle the PNW pow. I rarely am in anything deeper than10-12″ deep if that.
Haven’t skiied Mt Baker yet, where it can get pretty deep and both Utah and Colorado are bucket list for me.
When the world runs out of Bodacious 196s–or maybe even sooner–I imagine the FL113 or FL116 will be my Mt. Spokane daily driver.
If I had winnow my current quiver down to four skis:
– Atomic Atlas 192 (124mm underfoot) for fresh pow days. It’s super poppy, loves to be driven through the shovels, and can launch my larger-than-optimal body into the air between turns. A nimble, fun ski. The extreme tip taper sucks once things get bumped up, though.
-Moment Bibby Pro 190 (118 underfoot) for tree skiing. It’s even easier to pivot than the Atlas.
-Blizzard Bodacious 196 (118 underfoot) for open, tracked-up runs and for soft mogul runs. The directional mount point and reverse camber keeps the tails from getting hung up. Monster trucks.
-Blizzard Bonafide 188 (98 underfoot) – I have the pre-carbon version ($50 on FB Marketplace!), and they make skiing groomers fun. I’ve got old frame-style Barons on mine for a sidecountry setup.
I would miss my Surface New Life 194s (122 underfoot) because their 17m turn radius feels like power steering that’s moderated at speed by the longer radius in the tip and tail, and their exaggerated rocker profile is confidence inspiring at the bottom of sidecountry runs where a lot of log hopping and brush busting is necessary. Up ‘n’ over. I’d also miss my ARGs, which allow me to aim right down the fall line in the trees, with confidence that I can turn/stop on a dime.
Mt Spokane, my home mountain: Dumps over 8″ are rare–but there are a lot of ~4″ dumps. Our snow is generally dense enough that 6″ skis deeper. A fucking good non-resort for snazz-averse folks like me. Keep it gritty, Kan!
Me: 6’5″, 220 lbs, likes to ski a lot.
Ben Zuber – You’ve made me want to get my hands on some Pon2oons! They may be a good replacement when my Atlases give up the ghost.
You’re going to enjoy this Friday’s GEAR:30 podcast, Dave. Paul Forward and I have a mega conversation about 120+ mm wide pow skis, old & new….
Right up my alley. I’ll tune in for sure!
Correction: Atlas is 125mm underfoot. Bonafide is 187cm long.