Intro
Over the past several weeks, we’ve published a bunch of our reviewers’ selections for 5-ski, 4-ski, 3-ski, and 2-ski quivers. Now we’re finally down to the hardest question of all — what single ski would you pick for all the skiing you do?
As we state in all our quiver selection articles, there is no single perfect quiver for everyone. It all depends very much on where you ski and how you ski. So our selections below should not be viewed as our answer to the question, “What are the best skis out there?”
Instead, these are our reviewers’ personal picks, along with their rationale for why they would choose them.
As always, we’re interested to hear what you’d pick for your own quiver, so let us know in the Comments section at the bottom.
More Ski-Quiver Guidance
For more general suggestions — as opposed to what we personally would pick — check out our Winter Buyer’s Guide.
And if you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own ski quiver, then become a Blister Member, submit your question via the Blister Member Clubhouse page, and we’ll help you decide.
Six Questions
For each of our reviewers, we asked them to answer the following questions:
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
Dylan Wood
(5’10.5”, 155 lbs / 179 cm, 70 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
This is always the trickiest selection to make. To have a single ski to do everything I want it to, I need to make sacrifices on almost every end of the ski characteristic spectrums. I love to ski hard and charge, but I also love to jib, slash, and play around. I appreciate a heavy, damp ski, but I will also need to drag this ski uphill every once in a while. I am lucky enough to ski soft snow fairly often, but realistically, I spend more time huckin’ on hardpack. So, what to choose?
Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm + Look Pivot 15 + Cast Freetour
Yep, carrying this one over from my 2-ski quiver. This ski is fairly damp and stable, quite playful, and versatile enough to be enjoyed in just about any condition. Sure, it’s heavy for a 1-ski quiver setup that involves some touring, but given that I spend 90%+ of my time in the resort, I am more than willing to suck it up and drag several hundred more grams uphill to have some extra suspension in the resort, especially because I’ll be skiing plenty of hardpack. I’ll mount on the recommended line.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
As I said, having a lighter ski for the backcountry is so low on my list of priorities that I didn’t even factor it into my setup above, so I am not changing my answer. Maybe I’d pick the Line Blade Optic 104 here, but I still like that the Big Horn 106 is a bit more freestyle-friendly, and I feel caught between lengths of the Blade Optic 104, whereas the 187 cm Big Horn 106 feels right on the money.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
I’m likely encountering more soft snow in the backcountry, and likely taking it a bit easier than I would be skiing in the resort, so I want to go both wider and lighter here. I’d love to pick the 4FRNT Raven or Hoji here, but I also need a ski that’s better than the Raven or Hoji for the occasional backcountry jump session.
Moment Deathwish Tour, 184 cm + Marker M-Werks Kingpin 12
The Deathwish Tour’s triple-camber rocker profile gives it some unique characteristics, and makes it a versatile option. I need lots of versatility here, from skiing deep pow in mellow glades to making quick turns down firm couloirs. Plus, I do like to ski and land switch in the backcountry, so tail rocker and splay are a must. Sure, the Deathwish Tour is a bit wide, but it does have above-average edge hold for its class. I contemplated putting a lighter binding on this ski, but ultimately decided that I am okay with a couple hundred extra grams for a bit better power transfer and a less harsh ride over firm snow. Plus, I don’t quite feel confident enough to session a backcountry jump with full-pin bindings, especially given how much of “sessioning a backcountry jump” for me is just crashing over and over again …
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I also don’t feel the need to change my answer from the Big Horn 106 here. I could end up somewhere with less snowfall and more firm days as easily as I could end up somewhere with more snowfall and more soft days. We also haven’t had any durability issues with the Sego skis we’ve tested, so that’s a big plus.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
I was very close to choosing the 187 cm Whitedot Altum 104 here. Ultimately, I decided the heavier, more damp Big Horn was a better move for how much resort skiing I do. If I skied much more backcountry than I do now, I’d likely choose the Altum 104.
Same goes for the DPS Koala 103, but I also feel caught between the lengths of that ski…
The Line Blade Optic 104 was also on my list, but I left it off for reasons I quickly discussed above.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
Hmm, if there was a ski like the Big Horn 106 that was the same weight but closer to 102-104 mm underfoot, I might pick that one. I can’t think of a ski currently out there that fits this description, but a couple close(ish) ones are the Fischer Ranger 102, Zag Slap 104, Black Crows Atris, and Faction Mana 2. Each of those is a bit too light and/or a bit too directional, though I’m excited to ski them more this upcoming season. There are also skis I am curious about that we’ve already reviewed but I wasn’t around when we reviewed them, most notably the Nordica Enforcer 104 Free and Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105.
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 165 lbs / 175 cm, 75 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Without a doubt, this is pretty hard. While I do the majority of my skiing inbounds in firm conditions and only luck out with a few really awesome powder days per season, I still want a ski that will make those powder days really fun, while also being capable in a variety of conditions in the backcountry, and being a reasonable choice for trips I have on the agenda, such as Japan. By no means an easy feat, but thankfully, there are a couple of skis that make sense, though then narrowing it down to the final decision was quite difficult.
Fischer Ranger 102, 176 cm + Salomon Shift 13 MNC
The Ranger 102 is a well-balanced and very versatile ski that’s been stable and predictable at speed, while still being pretty maneuverable and lively. While it’s a bit wide for really firm days and a touch narrow for some of the deeper days I hope to have this season, it both floats and carves reasonably well for its width.
I skied the Ranger 102 on some of the iciest, firmest conditions I have ever skied in my life this past summer in New Zealand, and it impressed me in terms of how predictable it was, while also being enjoyable at last year’s Blister Summit when we had plenty of fresh, deep snow.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Faction Dancer 3X, 172 cm + Look Pivot 15
This was another difficult decision. I was somewhat inclined to opt for something narrower that prioritizes stability on firm snow, such as the Volkl Secret 96, but going with that feels quite limiting in terms of softer, deeper days. The Dancer 3X is also quite a bit more lively and playful than the Secret 96, which is ideal for working to improve my skills in some of the most challenging, technical zones at Mt. Crested Butte. Overall, the Dancer 3X has been a favorite of mine, and I have found it to work really well for the conditions and types of skiing I end up doing most of the time on resort. It’s a touch wide as a daily driver, but it’s surprisingly well-rounded and damp considering its width. The closest runner-up here was the Line Blade Optic 104.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
WNDR Alpine Intention 108 (cambered), 176 cm + ATK Freeraider 14
This was actually a slightly easier choice than the above questions. The Intention 108 offers a lot of what I prioritize in the backcountry, by providing pretty good stability while also being reasonably light (though certainly not the lightest). It’s a very capable ski in terms of handling most backcountry conditions pretty well, and is excellent in terms of floatation (which would be a priority if I’m only hitting the backcountry all winter, where deeper snow is far more common than the resort).
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Blizzard Sheeva 10, 180 cm + Salomon Shift MNC 13
This is the 1-ski quiver I have actually tested the most and in the most locations. In terms of durability and versatility, it has held up very well. It’s a safe, reliable answer, and it still makes sense for me, for now.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
There are quite a few. I definitely considered the Majesty Vadera Ti (or Carbon) or Folsom Cash 106 Carbon as my primary resort and backcountry ski over the Ranger 102, I have just had a bit more time skiing the Ranger 102 in varied conditions, so it was a safer choice. The next closest consideration was the Zag Slap 104, but the Ranger definitely offers a little more stability and edge hold on firm snow.
The Salomon QST Stella 106 was also a strong contender. Right now, there are several skis with excellent overall versatility that could have easily made the cut, but the biggest factor — especially this season, when I’ll likely be traveling to snowier locales — was finding a ski that I’d enjoy skiing every day in average conditions while also not making me regret choosing it when I do luck out and ski some deep snow.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
As far as skis that could potentially make sense as a 1-ski quiver, I am intrigued by the K2 Dispatch 101 and Dispatch 110 (particularly for the touring-only question), in addition to the Peak 104SC. There are a few others that I hope to spend some time on this season, such as the ON3P Woodsman 102. I’ve been a huge fan of the Nordica Santa Ana Unlimited 93, and I think if I could spend some time on the Enforcer Unlimited 104 (179 cm), that ski could make sense as a 1-ski backcountry-specific quiver, and maybe as a 50/50 1-ski quiver as well.
There are tons of skis I have listed throughout our other quiver articles, but we will see just how many can actually contend as a 1-ski quiver…
David Golay
(6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Okay, now this is hard. As I’ve mentioned in prior quiver articles, my skiing has been gravitating toward more and more touring and less riding chairlifts in recent years, but I’m not really willing to entirely give up on resort skiing. The problem here is that the types of skis that I tend to like inbounds are generally very heavy and not a ton of fun to tour on as a 50/50 setup. But if we have to:
Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm + CAST Freetour
There’s no perfect answer to this question, but I’m sticking with the one I went with last year: the Blizzard Rustler 11 is still my best idea for a ski that I’d be very happy skiing inbounds every day that’s also not so horrendously heavy that I can still live with doing all my touring on it. It’s very versatile across a wide range of conditions, can be pushed pretty hard while also being relatively forgiving when I’m not trying to charge on it, and generally does a lot of things well, which is what I want for a do-it-all ski.
The caveat here is that this ski seems to have changed at some point during its run, and we’re having a hard time getting clear answers on when. Blizzard has (just recently…) told us that our measured weight for the pair we reviewed back in 2018 is lighter than current skis but not much more than that; the pair that I’ve personally skied are from the 2020/21 model year, but unfortunately I don’t have a measured weight for them.
But in absence of a better answer, I’m taking a bit of a flier on these. The good news is that if the current model actually winds up a little heavier and consequently a bit more stable and damp than the ones I’ve been on, I don’t think I’d be mad about it (except maybe on some longer tours, but this isn’t a light setup regardless); if they ski just like the ones I know, I’ll be happy too.
As for bindings, for a true 50/50 ski I want something that skis like an alpine binding for resort use, while still being able to walk on a pin toe for the way back up. So that leaves the Salomon Shift, Marker Duke PT, and CAST Freetour as the primary options. The Duke PT is out simply because I haven’t skied it yet; between the Shift and CAST options, there are pros and cons to both. The Shift is somewhat quicker and easier to transition when touring than CAST, and is substantially lighter. But while the Shift skis very well, I’m still happier on the CAST setup (due in part to its flatter ramp angle), and I trust the CAST setup to hold up better to day-in, day-out resort abuse. The CAST setup is also a lot easier to swap between boots with different sole norms (at least provided that their respective BSLs are fairly close) and those combined factors win the day for me.
I’d also be tempted to run the Rustlers with inserts for both Look Pivot 15s and Moment Voyager XVIs, which might be my real answer if it’s not considered cheating for the purposes of this question. That combo lets me ski the resort on a true alpine binding, saves a ton of weight and simplifies transitions when I’m touring, and lets me tour in whatever boots I want. Those bindings both also have the advantage of leaving all eight mounting screws exposed with the bindings adjusted, so they’re quick and easy to swap on inserts, without having to mess with the heel track or anything like that.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
K2 Mindbender 108 Ti, 186 cm + Look Pivot 15
This one’s hard, too. In my 2-ski quiver I went with the Prior Husume as my lone resort ski, but a big part of that thinking was predicated on the idea that if conditions weren’t at least kind of soft inbounds, I’d go touring instead. If that’s out of the picture, I want my resort ski to be something a bit firmer snow oriented than the Husume.
The problem is that, living in Western Washington, my resort skiing involves a lot of wet, heavy chop, and I generally wind up liking fairly wide skis for that duty (e.g., the dearly departed Blizzard Bodacious), and we get enough deep days that I still want something that floats pretty well, too.
And I think the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti is my best answer there. It’s a much, much better carver than the Husume and is generally a lot more fun if conditions aren’t fairly soft. The biggest tradeoff of the Mindbender for me is that there are going to be times when I’ll want it to be a bit more of a full-on charger in heavy chop, though I readily concede that the sorts of changes that would make it that (I think a little stiffer shovels would help) would almost certainly make it float worse and compromise its versatility elsewhere. And at least so far, the latest 22/23 Mindbender 108Ti does seem to be a bit more substantial than the original model I’ve tried.
But as I’ll get to in a minute, there are a bunch of options for this slot that seem intriguing but that I just haven’t gotten on yet. So for now, the Mindbender 108 Ti it is.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
K2 Dispatch 110, 184 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
For all the same reasons I picked it as my touring ski in my 2-ski quiver. As I said there, I’d feel more confident in the choice if I’d gotten the Dispatch 110 on some firmer, weirder snow, and the 4FRNT Raven would be the safest choice here. But there would definitely be a bunch of mid-winter days when I want something fatter / floatier, and the K2 Dispatch 110 does that without being so wide as to make me think it’d be too terrible a compromise on firmer spring days.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm + CAST Freetour
For this question, I’m assuming that (1) I want to go a little more firm snow oriented than I have with my choices for my high-snow home area and (2) am going to wind up doing more resort skiing and less touring than I do at home, if I’m going to be traveling to unfamiliar locales.
I don’t have a great answer for what that ski is, though. The Volkl Mantra 102 would be high on my list for the resort portion of the program but I’m not very interested in touring on that ski, and I’ve yet to ski the updated 22/23 version. Same story for the K2 Mindbender 99 Ti. In absence of a better idea, I’m going to bring back the Nordica Enforcer 104 Free that appeared in some of my bigger quivers. It’s versatile, predictable in a wide range of conditions, and I think it’s got a better-than-average chance of surviving three years of daily use.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
I seriously considered just going with a single touring ski here and forgoing most of my resort days if I really have to do everything on one ski. For a bunch of reasons, I’ve been finding myself drawn more and more to doing big touring days of late, and my Rustler 11 setup is definitely heavier than I’d consider ideal for those, but I’m not at all ready to give up on resort skiing and if I truly have to do all of it on one ski, I feel pretty good about that call.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
There are a bunch, especially for the resort-only question. I’m super intrigued by the Rossignol Sender Squad (though it might be more of a handful than I want when things are firmer and bumped up); ditto for the Dynastar M-Pro 108 and ON3P Wrenegade 110 Pro. I love the OG Blizzard Cochise as long as things aren’t particularly deep, and Jonathan’s comparisons of the Cochise 106 to the original version have me intrigued, but I’d want it to float significantly better than the original if I’m really going to take it as a one-ski resort quiver.
If we’re talking about the original 50/50 use question, I think a custom mid-weight version of the Folsom Primary 110 is my top contender.
Paul Forward
(6’, 200 lbs / 183 cm, 90.7 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
This is always really tough for me. My season usually starts with ski touring every day and I’ve really learned to appreciate light gear for this. Then as the lifts start spinning, I trend toward getting some laps in at Alyeska every day, but most days I still try to get out for a lap or two of ski touring in Turnagain pass or other local spots if at all possible, so my breakdown is closer to 50% touring (far removed from the lifts) and 50% under the lifts. As the season progresses into February I’m heli skiing most flyable days and by March I’m in the heli every day unless it’s unflyable, with a mix of Alyeska on storm days and big days of touring on my rare days off from guiding. In my opinion, that’s a really broad spectrum of use for one ski.
Folsom Cash 117, ~190 cm, Salomon Shift binding
I was really impressed with the Cash 117 at the Blister Summit last year and got to ski just about every kind of snow imaginable on it. With the right build, I think it would suffice for everything I do, from touring to smashing around under the lifts to big days of guiding. It wouldn’t be ideal for any of those things but I’d always be having a good time.
In reality, I have no interest in bindings like the Shift, Duke PT, or CAST for my personal skiing. When I’m touring I have no issues using lighter tech bindings, even in really big, technical terrain and high speeds, and when I’m heli skiing or at the ski hill I just want a durable, reliable alpine binding. For this theoretical application, though, I’d probably go with a Shift for its more reasonable weight.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
It’s really hard to imagine not doing any backcountry skiing since I’ve essentially structured my life around it, but if that were the case, I’d want something that carves well, is damp and stable, and is still easy to pivot and skid around in tight, steep terrain in all manner of snow. I’m very much looking for a ~110mm ski in this category but the Mantra 102 has consistently been the most fun ski for me on any given day at Alyeska and I’ll stick with that until I find something better. I’m tempted to go 191 for better pow performance but I think I’d probably have more fun overall on the 184 cm on all the non-pow days.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Moonlight Cruiser 50/50, 185 cm + Moment Voyager 16
While many of my favorite touring skis having been discontinued or updated, I’ve finally found a fat but versatile all-around touring ski. The Cruiser is wide enough to surf deep pow but the shape is predictable in weird or firm snow and the construction keeps it relatively stable for its weight. As I’ve said before, I’ve been blown away by the weight (or lack thereof) of the Fjaelcore version of this ski (under 1200 g for a 120mm ski!) but the ultralight ones really do get knocked around a lot in variable conditions.
If I wasn’t living and skiing exclusively in Alaska these days I’d be tempted to go with something skinnier. It seems the Volkl BMT 109 might actually still be in production (at least in some locales?) and I’d probably go that route, or the Blizzard Zero G 105, for a world-traveling touring ski.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Majesty Havoc Carbon, 186 cm
Overall, these are probably the most versatile skis I’ve used in recent years and, at least for my tastes, are the closest thing I know to “jack of all trades, master of none” ski. They float in pow better than their 110 mm waist would suggest but they carve well on groomers and are surprisingly stable for their weight. I suppose I’d be stuck with putting a Shift or similar binding on them but I’d begrudge that binding for its weight and complexity every time I put on skins.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
I only got a couple of runs on the 186 cm K2 Dispatch 120 (which felt short to me) and I still haven’t tried the 192 version, but if I had to guess, I’d say that it might become my top choice for a 1-ski quiver. I really like the shape and it did feel quite stable for its relatively light weight.
The Blizzard Rustler 11 in 192 cm could also pretty easily supplant the Folsom. I think I’d prefer the Cash 117 for true pow days and especially in the heli, but the Rustler is pretty versatile, although with a notably lower speed limit in most conditions compared to my favorite pow skis.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
For inbounds, I’m really excited to try a special version of the Folsom Primary 110 that I believe I’ll get to ski pretty soon. As I’ve said elsewhere, I’ve been logging days on the Faction La Machine Mega and overall it seems like a great all-round touring ski. Similar to the La Machine Max, there’s a part of me that, at least for my preferences, thinks the La Machine series is what I had always wished the Hoji / Renegade series had been.
In the category of light yet fairly stable skis that could potentially be a good 1-ski quiver, I’m also quite curious to get on the Line Optic Blade 114, Fischer Ranger 108 and 116, and the K2 Dispatch 110. A lesser-known ski that I’ll be trying next month is the Heritage Lab C113, which could potentially be a solid 1- ski touring quiver for my tastes if I can get past the fairly rearward mount point.
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
I ran a 1-ski quiver for years, before I was able to spend nearly as much time in the mountains (and before I was spoiled by being able to try so many different skis). Once I got into touring, that expanded to a 1-resort-ski quiver and a 1-touring-ski quiver. And I had tons of fun and have many fond memories of those single-ski days.
Of course, I can’t just erase my knowledge of all the different skis I’ve tried to date, which makes this question a challenge. But hey, that’s the point of these articles.
By far, this is the quiver article where I’m the least settled on my picks. While I was very close to swapping certain skis in the larger quivers, some of the picks for those were really easy choices. Here, not so much…
Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + CAST Freetour
As I just said, I’m not very settled on this answer, and there are several skis that would better suit this do-it-all role for certain scenarios (see below). But the Blade Optic 96 is a ski I know I enjoy skiing on a daily basis in the resort in a wide range of conditions, and it’s not so heavy that I’d give up on touring in the spring and summer. I’d wish I went for something narrower when I was just skiing groomers; I’d wish I went for something wider during the bigger storm cycles; and I’d wish I went for something lighter when I’m booting up a couloir with them strapped to my back. But a 1-ski quiver is all about compromises, and I think this ski minimizes them.
Re: bindings, if I’ve only got one ski setup, I really need it to last. While there are several good 50/50 bindings now on the market, CAST seems to have the best (and longest) track record when it comes to handling daily, hard skiing, so that’s what I’m choosing.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + Alpine Binding
No change here, since I definitely prioritized resort skiing when picking the true 1-ski quiver above.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Line Vision 108, 183 cm + Moment Voyager XII
This is an interesting question cause it implies a drastic change to my usual skiing season. I currently spend most of the winter riding lifts, so if you take those out of the equation, that means I’m hitting the backcountry way, way more often mid-winter. Given Colorado’s notoriously sketchy mid-winter snowpack, that also means I’ll end up skiing a lot of moderate-angle, treed terrain to minimize avalanche risk. And then I’d also do a lot of bigger spring and summer missions once the snow consolidates.
For all of that, the Vision 108 is a fairly easy choice. It’s quite light, but offers really nice suspension for its weight. It’s also very playful, maneuverable, and engaging on not-gnarly terrain, which would be key for me when avy conditions and my risk tolerance necessitate sticking to more conservative zones. It definitely wouldn’t be my top pick for hop-turning down icy spring couloirs, but I think I could make it work, and if I’m only touring all season, I’m going to prioritize the softer, deeper, mid-winter days.
The Voyager is also a super easy choice — it’s what I’d put on just about any dedicated touring ski.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + CAST Freetour
Boring answer again. As I touched on in the 2-ski quiver selections, I think picking a ski for a full season of skiing in the Crested Butte valley does a good job of optimizing for performance in most of the “middle of the bell curve” conditions found around the globe, while compromising on the conditions on either end of the spectrum (e.g., blue ice, deep, heavy pow).
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
For the true do-it-all 1-ski quiver, I seriously considered the following: RMU Apostle 106, Faction Mana 2, Whitedot Altum 104, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, Atomic Bent 100, Liberty Origin 101, Black Crows Serpo, Line Blade Optic 92, Salomon QST 98, K2 Reckoner 102, DPS Koala 103, Moment Deathwish 104, Line Sir Francis Bacon.
Ultimately, I think the Blade Optic 96 offers the best combination of stability, suspension, maneuverability, playfulness, edge hold, flotation, and weight for my personal preferences and where I ski. Many of the above skis are better in some of those regards, but worse in others.
For the touring-only ski, the Moment Wildcat Tour 108, WNDR Alpine Vital 100, DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP, and Majesty Superwolf were all strong contenders. The Wildcat Tour and Vital 100 aren’t quite engaging enough to me in mellow-angle terrain, while the Pagoda Tour 100 RP is a bit too directional for my tastes, and the Superwolf compromises too much flotation for season-long pow hunting in the backcountry.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
I can’t think of any that are super obvious strong contenders, given how particular my preferences are. But I’m already starting to hear rumors of some interesting 23/24 skis, so time will tell…
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 125 lbs / 172 cm, 56.7 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
I think most of us reviewers are in the same boat with this question. While I think the majority of us used to run a 1-ski quiver, we have since become extremely spoiled in our ski options.
For reference, I primarily ski via lifts in the resort. I somewhat recently relocated to a mountain that has a very structured uphill policy and as a result, the idea of skinning up the mountain for dawn patrol is now very unappealing. This is a big change for me since I used to skin up at least once a week, if not more often. And I don’t tend to ski in the backcountry mid-winter for a variety of reasons, but generally, it has a lot to do with the time commitment. Still, I do love to hit the backcountry once the lifts stop spinning. All this is to say that my 1-ski quiver has to allow me to tour, but it’s chosen with resort skiing as the main priority.
Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + Salomon Shift
As Luke mentioned, the 1-ski quiver is all about compromises. I went back and forth a lot between the Summit 106 and the Elan Ripstick 94 W before settling on the Summit 106. I’m happy with my choice, but I would certainly miss having a narrower ski in my quiver.
The Summit 106 has been in all my quiver selections this year, so it’s not too surprising that it landed in the 1-ski quiver. It’s an extremely intuitive ski that carves well (especially for its width) and holds an edge nicely on soft and firm groomers.
That said, I ultimately chose the Summit 106 over the Ripstick 94 W because I started to think about deep powder days. I don’t catch too many of them, but on those days, I pictured myself on each pair of skis and decided I would be more frustrated not having a wider ski on those days than I would be by not having a narrower ski in more typical everyday conditions (again, particularly given how versatile the Summit 106 is for its width).
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + Alpine bindings
The only change here is that I would switch out the Shift binding to an alpine binding.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Line Pandora 110, 170 cm + tech bindings
I haven’t recently tested a ton of backcountry skis because I don’t spend as much time in the backcountry as our other reviewers, especially after my son was born, so I didn’t have a lot of options to consider that I’ve personally used. But I have been skiing the Pandora 110 for the past 3 seasons and have really enjoyed it. It’s extremely lightweight for its size, yet I find it performs well in most conditions I’ve encountered. I haven’t skied it in anything too heinous, but if there was a chance of truly nasty snow conditions, I would likely stay home that day. I have skied them in some refrozen crud and while I had to dial back my skiing and slow down, the Pandora 110 was predictable in how it performed. And it’s an absolute blast in any sort of soft snow.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + Salomon Shift
For the same reasons I picked the Summit 106 for my 1-ski quiver, I’m choosing it here. If this was my ski for the next 3 years, I would make sure to get my skis to Wagner at the end of each season so they could give the skis their refresh tune and help return them back to “almost new condition.”
Regarding the next 3 seasons, I expect my ski days and locations to look a lot like my previous seasons (no pandemic shutdowns though, please). That would mean skiing mostly in resorts in the Rocky Mountains with occasional trips back east and hopefully a few trips overseas. I feel comfortable with the all-mountain performance of the Summit 106 to take them just about anywhere. Pure ice and super deep powder aren’t ideal conditions for them, but I can’t imagine skiing that too often.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
All the skis that I’ve included in my bigger ski quivers this year were considered for the 1-ski quiver, but the Elan Ripstick 94 W was the most difficult to let go.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
I think the Fischer Ranger 90 and 102 could be contenders, as could the Elan Ripstick 102 W and Dynastar E-Pro 99. I hope to spend time on all of those this season and I’m excited to see what brands bring to our upcoming Blister Summit, too.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, ~180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.6 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Salomon QST 106, 181 cm + Shift 13
Because I’ve found myself recommending this ski to so many people — and I’m getting reports back from them that they’re really clicking with this ski … I’m going with the Salomon QST 106. It won’t be the most fun on rock-hard, messed-up resort moguls, but when conditions are a bit soft to quite deep, I’ll be quite happy on this ski inbounds and out.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm + Look Pivot 14
This was my answer last year, and I’m open to the idea that I just miss skiing it. But I also know that I’ll really enjoy it on 85% of my days — the days where the snow isn’t bulletproof or deeper than 12”.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + Shift 13 Binding
In another year or two, if I keep answering this question this same way, then I think I will have entered into a common-law marriage with the Raven. But I’m fine with that, because I’m sure that there are a lot of married couples that haven’t been together as long as me and the Raven have but are a lot less happy than we are. Read my full review. And props to 4FRNT & Hoji for only doing good things to this ski, like adding the 4-LOCK system to it.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Salomon QST 106, 181 cm + Shift 13 binding
I confess, I’m a bit nervous about this — but I’m also not sure that I ought to be. In previous years, the Sego Condor 108 (187 cm) has been my answer here, and it would be a fine choice. But our QST 106 weighs more than the Condor 108 … so I’m trusting a bit in physics and mass, and hoping I can count on the durability of the QST 106.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
Definitely the 186 cm Wagner Summit 106. It’s extremely good, and for anyone who feels like they are caught in between lengths for the QST 106, you should seriously consider this ski.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
Well we allegedly have some ON3P skis heading our way, and I’m curious to see if any of them give me 1-ski quiver vibes — whether in their stock layups or their touring layups.
I very much agree with David’s 3 years setup here.
The Enforcer 104 Free is such a versatile, predictable but playful ski in the backcountry, and really rips on piste. Perfect everyday choice for the Alps.
Best ski I’ve had in a long time. It’s just that 0.1% better than my Mindbender 99ti was :)
Kara…”iciest, firmest conditions I have ever skied in my life this past summer in New Zealand” Haha – and it was the best snow here since 1995 !!
Champagne NZ Powder
Eric,
Most of the trip lined up after a significant rain and wind event, for what the locals called the worst days of the season. I could otherwise tell that the season and snowpack were good this year and stoked you had that!
Yep agree Eric. You wonder, unless heli skiing, why you’d bring a 100plus ski to ski NZ in the first place too, snd not something more middle of hhe road widthwise?
Well, Kara was indeed heli-skiing.
There are a ton of days when 100+ is good to have in NZ. Soggy pow down south and arvo slush up north are tailor made for a bit of girth and a decent rocker.
Bought a pair of 185cm Cochise 106 21/22 and skied them on opening day last week Friday in 18-20″ of fresh untouched powder. Have to admit I was a little nervous if this ski would plane on top of the snow. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised! Our local mountain in the PNW only had low elevation lifts open so there was no steeps accessible but it didn’t seem to be problem as long as I pointed them down the fall line. When things got chopped up that’s when this thing came alive. Gave me a lot more confidence to go mach looney thru anything in my way with no loss of stability. I think I’m in love. I typically ride 18/19 Bonafides & Brahma and 20/21 Fisher Ranger and I have to say that the Cochise might become my DD moving forward. A lot more maneuverable then expected but still solid edge grip when needed. I would recommend this ski as a 1-ski quiver for sure. For truly deep days (~12in or more) I will still pull out my Rossi Blackops 118’s. More float and playfulness with the same ability to crush chop.
“The CAST setup is also a lot easier to swap between boots with different sole norms”
I have a question on this, because the MNC capability of the Shift seems like it’s the other way around.
Hey Adam,
The Shift is officially compatible with a wider range of boots, but the actual process of readjusting it to accommodate different boot sole norms is more fiddly and subject to imperfect adjustment. On the CAST system you simply swap between one of three different AFD versions, all of which are secured by a single set screw, and you barely need to think about it. The adjustable height AFD on the Shift requires more care to set properly, and I’ve had issues with it moving on me after an initial adjustment. The CAST system is more foolproof and reliable in my experience. The Look Pivot heel has a narrower range of adjustment and is arguably harder to set than the Shift one to accommodate different BSLs, but the boots that I’d be using in this scenario are so close in BSL that this wouldn’t be much of an issue for me. Your mileage may vary.
(Interestingly, CAST has recently started branding their third AFD option, after the Alpine and Grip Walk versions, as being ISO 9523 compatible whereas it was previously branded as being for WTR boots. But they acknowledge that the release characteristics will vary depending on the sole tread pattern and rubber, and without a sliding AFD to handle that movement, it strikes me as a less-ideal pairing for an ISO 9523 boot with a full rubber sole than the Shift, at least from the perspective of release consistency. My preferred daily-driver touring boot is the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, which uses an ISO 9523 sole, but I also know that I can make the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 work for my feet so I’ve got options for a Grip Walk touring boot. Either way, I’m going to be in a Head Raptor 140 RS with Zipfit Garas for inbounds duty.)
David,
Regarding the fixed AFD, this might be investering to read:
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/38177
A few years ago Jeff Campbell did some research with AT boots and alpine bindings. His tests were for weighted lateral release, and he found the sliding AFD’s to actually be worse.
Much more research would be needed, but at least it’s enough to make us question the idea that sliding AFD’s are better with AT soles.
Yeah, that’s an interesting one. CAST’s rebranding of the WTR AFD definitely has me curious. I’ll do some bench testing with my Zero Gs in a CAST setup when I can find the time. I’ve got everything on hand to try it out.
Rustler 11s (2018) with CAST bindings is literally my setup, and when these skis die I’m going to buy em again. Incredible for every condition
2011 K2 Obsetheds 179cm are my 1 ski quiver to this day.
Resort-only skier chiming in: Nordica Enforcer 100. A true Swiss Army Knife of a ski.
BMT 109 still exists and still probably the best single ski for all around predictable backcountry skiing aggressively. I’ve skied it recently side by side and it’s still more predictable in a wider variety of conditions than the dispatch 110. 110 isn’t a bad ski tho just not quite as telepathic as the BMT 109. For single all around ski for resort and aggressive backcountry in all conditions and seasons the volkl Katana v werks is still probably top of the class.
Paul, I’m looking for exactly what you described as the ~110 version of the Mantra 102. I love that ski and have been looking for something a little wider for PNW snow. So far the ON3P Wrenegade 102Ti and Wren Pro have been my favorite. Actually the 187cm Wren 102 has basically replaced the M102 as my DD for soft snow days.
I’m 5″11 – 175 pounds, aggressive skier and the 186 Black Crows Camox have been my go to for the last 4 yrs. I’ve taken them all over the US and Canada, but mostly ski Colorado and they are great in almost all conditions. I’ve skied a lot of powder and hard pack days with them and they always come through. I think about a new pair every year and once I ski them, I stop thinking about it.
Here’s a comment bound to bring ridicule, but if so many custom skis are chosen maybe it’s time for skis under $1000 category.
As always I feel the urge to pop in and opine on how important I think this list is every year. It’s an outlier, the core skier that has a quiver of three or more skis to choose from for their 10-20 days each year. I always enjoy seeing what the panel has to say about the much more common one-ski quiver. Great job yet again.
Question for Jonathan, did you go for the 181 length of the QST106 as you don’t get a significant bump up in stability with the longer length and/or 181 makes more sense for the touring part? Not sure whether you have skied the 189? Seems like too big a gap between lengths really
Question for Luke. I remember reading your review on Moment Deathwish Tour and how it’s your 1 ski quiver in backcountry. I wonder how Line Vision 108 have taken that place from DW and what’s your current relationship status with DW? :)