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 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.
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”, 160 lbs / 179 cm, 72.5 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
This choice actually isn’t that hard for me. There’s one particular ski that hasn’t made an appearance in any of my bigger quivers that I think could work really well here.
Whitedot Altum 104, 187 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
The Altum is still one of my favorite skis. It does a lot of things well, from carving to charging and even lapping through the park. It also isn’t very heavy and floats well in powder for its width, making it a really good do-everything option. It’s heavier than is ideal for touring, especially with a hybrid binding. But, given that I mostly ski inbounds, I’m happy to make this sacrifice. I’d mount 2 cm forward of the recommended line here.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Now this is a very hard question. Most of my favorite inbounds skis are too wide to be a practical daily driver. I might have to go with the 186 cm Line Optic 104 here because it’s my favorite “playful charger” in the ~105mm-wide class.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
This is even harder. My favorite backcountry ski overall, the 4FRNT Hoji, is a bit too wide to be practical for an entire season of touring (at least for my preferences). Given that, I think the 184 cm 4FRNT Raven would be my answer, though it won’t be amazing if I want to carve short turns on firm conditions or end up skiing bottomless pow.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Still picking the Altum 104 here.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
The new 188 cm Armada ARV 106 is really, really close to taking the spot of the Altum 104. That said, I appreciate the stiffer and more energetic nature of the Altum 104, and I have to admit that the rarity of the Altum 104 is a very slight factor here, too.
I also think that the Full Send Max K 106 could make a case as my dedicated inbounds ski. It reminds me of one of my favorite skis of all time that I was sad to see get discontinued a few years back, the Sego Big Horn 106.
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’m mostly curious about the new 4FRNT Nevar as my dedicated touring ski. It has a lot to live up to, given how much I’ve enjoyed its other siblings in 4FRNT’s “Hoji” collection, but I wouldn’t mind some camber for those spring touring days and resort-skinning laps.
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg)
I’m sure just about all of us will say this, but deciding on my 1-ski quiver was very tricky. I need this ski to handle some serious terrain and rougher snow at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, still be enjoyable to tour on, and also be viable if / when I travel to some high-snow areas this season (Japan and Alaska). That said, there are a lot of skis out there that are designed (and heavily marketed) to be “1-ski quivers,” and thankfully, I’ve gotten along well with several of the options in that category.
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Atomic Maven 103 CTI, 178 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
This wasn’t an easy choice, and I considered several contenders, but the Maven 103 CTI achieves a few things that secured its spot here.
The Maven 103 CTI is a bit lighter than other skis I considered, making it a more viable option for touring. I also think it floats really well for its width. There are several more stable and damp skis I’d enjoy for most of the firm days at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, but the Maven 103 CTI is quicker and easier in tight terrain. It’s also surprisingly fun and precise on groomers; that’s a big plus since almost every run I take at CBMR involves at least some on-piste carving.
I considered sticking with my pick from last year, the K2 Mindbender 106C W, but I enjoy the Maven 103 CTI just a bit more on hardpack and find it slightly more predictable at higher speeds.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Nordica Santa Ana 102, 179 cm + alpine binding
Again, there are several skis I considered slotting in here. For inbounds skiing, I prioritize suspension and stability, but I also want something that is fairly quick and confidence-inspiring in tight terrain.
The predecessor to the Santa Ana 102, the Santa Ana 104 Free, was often a staple of my quiver articles in previous years. I have found the new Santa Ana 102 to be pretty similar in a lot of ways, with the main difference being that the new 102 is more precise on firm snow and more composed in really rough snow. For most of the inbounds skiing I do, the Santa Ana 102 is plenty versatile.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Nordica Unlimited 104, 179 cm + Marker Kingpin
This felt like a fairly easy choice; I’ve found this ski to be reliable and versatile in most backcountry scenarios. And I suppose that makes sense, given that it’s essentially a much lighter version of another past favorite of mine, the Santa Ana 104 Free.
In the backcountry, I primarily want a ski that feels predictable and intuitive, even in unpredictable backcountry conditions. While soft turns are usually the objective, this is far from the reality 100% of the time. With that in mind, I opted to stick with something that isn’t super wide or ultra light. The one caveat is that I’d have to find a way to get it from Europe, since Nordica stopped distributing the Unlimited series in North America this year.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Contrary to how others might approach this question, I’d probably opt for something just a bit wider and more playful, especially for an inbounds-only ski. Deep, heavy snow can be a major struggle for me, and if that’s what I end up skiing, I’d prefer a ski that makes those conditions easier. That snow is relatively rare at Crested Butte, so my quiver for home is designed for lots of moderately firm snow and some lighter pow days.
So, for this worldwide 1-ski quiver, I think I’d switch to the 180 cm Armada ARW 106, which was already a top contender for the resort + backcountry setup. I also considered the K2 Mindbender 106C W, Line Pandora 106, and Icelantic Maiden 108.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
The K2 Mindbender 106C W, Armada ARW 106, Icelantic Maiden 108, and DPS Kaizen 105 are a bit more playful than the ski I settled on, the Atomic Maven 103 CTI, and I’d appreciate that easier maneuverability if I ended up in deeper snow and/or lower-angle terrain. However, they also give up a bit of precision and stability on the firmer days, and those are more common at CBMR.
As for my resort-only setup, I considered the Salomon Stance 102, Volkl Secret 102, and Peak 104 by Bode. I really enjoy all of them, but for now, the Santa Ana 102 offers my preferred combo of suspension, precision, stability, and maneuverability.
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’d like to spend more time on several touring-oriented skis, most notably the Salomon QST Echo 106, the Atomic Backland 108 W, and the updated Volkl Blaze 104.
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?
Answering this question has only gotten harder over the years, primarily because my position at Blister involves testing dozens and dozens of (very different) skis over the course of the season.
During my first few years of skiing, I only owned one ski, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time on it.
But now my eyes have been opened to the boons of variety, and that’s a genie that cannot be sucked back into the lamp. I have seen the light and it’s a tough thing to put back in a toothpaste tube. I popped the wine cork and that’s, uh, a bell that can’t be unrung?
Anyway, my bastardization of metaphors is meant to convey that I’d work hard to make sure I have at least three skis in my quiver. And realistically, I’d probably build that out to more than five, mainly by keeping a close eye on the used market.
But that’s not what this question is asking. So here’s the ski I’d pick for my season at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and the surrounding backcountry:
RMU Apostle 106, 184 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
After scrolling through the 300+ skis in our 24/25 Winter Buyer’s Guide, I think I’m just gonna go with the (*mostly) same ski that I picked last year.
The Apostle 106 does a lot of things well, but what’s pushing it over the edge for me (at the moment, at least) is that it accomplishes that while also being very, very playful. Despite the fact that I don’t hit rails or spin very often, I just really like the way it encourages me to ski — tons of slashes, lots of airtime, and a generally “dynamic” style. But I can still ski pretty aggressively on it when conditions aren’t really rough.
As with any 1-ski quiver scenario, there are tons of compromises here. I’d wish for a much narrower, less tapered, and less rockered ski when I’m only skiing firm groomers. I’d wish for something much heavier and wider for resort pow days. And I’d wish for something at least slightly lighter when skinning uphill.
But there’s no getting around the compromises in this scenario, and I know I’d still have a lot of fun skiing the Apostle 106 throughout most of the season. And since this question only refers to skis, if I ended up in this nightmarish scenario (yes, I’m being overly dramatic), then I’d definitely get a snowboard or two. That’d make me much more excited for lower-angle groomers, and I already have my powsurf board if we get deep snow in the backcountry.
*RMU did tweak the Apostle 106 for the 24/25 season, but the changes are pretty dang subtle. Its flex pattern feels a touch stiffer overall, with a slightly smoother transition between the stiff midsection and softer tips / tails. I like the new ski just as much as the previous version in most scenarios, and the new version feels just a tad more comfortable at higher speeds in rougher snow.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
I’m very tempted to just stick with the Apostle 106. In fact, I think I’d call this a toss-up. But given that my answers to these quiver questions often change from day to day, I think I’ll switch just for variety’s sake.
Icelantic Nomad 106, 188 cm + alpine binding
I like the Nomad 106 for many of the same reasons as the Apostle 106. I think the 184 cm Apostle 106 carves a bit better on firm snow, whereas the 188 cm Nomad 106 floats better in deep snow and gets knocked around a bit less in chop. But both are very versatile and playful skis that I enjoy in the vast majority of inbounds conditions and terrain. In this scenario, I’d definitely experiment with the tune on the Nomad 106; I’m curious if I could put a slightly more aggressive side bevel than stock to improve firm-snow carving without hampering its maneuverability.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
This one feels a bit easier, mostly because the class of skis that are light enough for me to use as a dedicated touring setup is much smaller than the resort-oriented category. So, there are fewer touring skis available that really mesh well with my particular preferences. For now, I’m going with:
Salomon QST Echo 106, 181 cm + ATK Freeraider 14
If I’m only touring, that means I’ll be skiing more untracked pow and less hardpack. I’ll also be spending a lot of time in moderate-angle treed terrain, since our snowpack is typically pretty sketchy mid-winter. The QST Echo 106 is an excellent pow ski for its width, but it’s still tons of fun to carve and slash down spring corn and other shallower conditions.
That said, I’m definitely thinking about this with the assumption that I could break out the powsurf board for really deep days. If I can’t utilize that loophole, then I’d seriously consider going with something more pow-oriented, such as the Line Vision 114, Salomon QST X, or Ferreol Surfeur 112.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I’m just gonna stick with my answer to the first question:
RMU Apostle 106, 184 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 system.
Despite what my 12-year-old Wisconsin self might have thought, skiing in Crested Butte does not mean every day is a pow day. I ski wayyy more hardpack here than fresh snow. But we do get a nice variety of conditions across a whole season. The terrain here is definitely on the steeper, tighter, and more technical end of the spectrum, but I think that sets me up well for other locales. I find it easier to ski a maneuverable ski like the Apostle 106 in open terrain than, say, taking a super stable charger into tight terrain.
No, the Apostle 106 will not be fun to carve on blue ice. Nor will it be amazing if I find myself at the top of an Alaskan spine that’s covered in three feet of pow. But in the context of this question, I’d rather have a versatile ski that I enjoy in amazing conditions than one that’s optimized for the worst conditions in the world.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
I could easily write thousands of words here. There are so many ways to approach these questions. And I’ve come to appreciate such a wide array of skis that I could have picked dozens of other skis and been pretty happy for a multitude of reasons. But I’ll try to focus on the closest and most interesting contenders, and briefly note why I ultimately didn’t go with them:
1-Ski Quiver for Resort and Backcountry:
The most obvious one here is the 180 cm Armada Declivity X 102, which was my daily driver in all my other quivers. I finally swapped it here because I’d prefer a longer, wider, and more rockered ski for pow days. As for the other contenders:
184 cm K2 Mindbender 99Ti (not surfy enough in pow) | 187 cm Whitedot Altum 104 (just a tiny bit stiffer than I think I want) | 181 cm Salomon QST 106 (a tad heavy and a touch short) | 183 cm Salomon Stance 102 (not engaging enough on piste) | Faction Studio 2 (a tad stiffer than I want) | 186 cm Wagner Summit 106 (a bit too directional) | 184 cm Moment Wildcat 108 (not engaging enough on piste) | Black Crows Atris (just doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor for me).
1-Ski Quiver for Resort:
The skis I just mentioned apply here. Some others:
185 cm Line Optic 104 (heavier than I think I’d want) | 185 cm Nordica Enforcer 104 (too stiff and heavy) | 182 cm Faction Dancer 2 (not maneuverable enough in pow) | 186 cm Rossignol Sender Free 118 (surprisingly versatile and truly life changing in soft snow, but I think a season of hardpack on these might make my knees explode).
1-Ski Quiver for Backcountry:
184 cm Moment Wildcat Tour 108 and Deathwish Tour (want something more engaging on low-angle terrain) | 184 cm 4FRNT Raven and Hoji (I prefer tighter sidecut radii) | 188 cm WNDR Alpine Intention 108 (a tad heavy) | Atomic Bent 110 (mount point to centered) | Movement Alp Tracks 106 (mount point too rearward) | Cardiff Goat 108 (a bit too stiff for lower speeds / lower angle terrain) | Weston Summit Carbon (a tad too soft for steeper terrain) | Armada ARG II UL (rational part of my brain won out)
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?
A whole bunch of interesting contenders here.
I was shocked by how well the 184 cm K2 Reckoner 110 carved, especially given how maneuverable it is in soft snow. And it’s pretty stable for what it is. It’s been surprisingly versatile so far. I’m curious about the 188 cm Armada ARV 106 for similar reasons.
The 186 cm Dynastar M-Pro 100 Ti and 185 cm M-Free 108 are interesting options for the resort-only scenario, but I need more time with both. Similar story with the 180 cm Rossignol Sender Soul 102, but I think it’s shorter than I’d want for a 1-ski quiver; I’m curious about that ski in a 188 cm.
The 188 cm Liberty Scope 104 is light enough to be an option for my touring-only setup, but I’m less sure I’d be psyched on it for a whole season in the resort.
The 182 cm Moment Countach 104 looks very interesting as a 50/50 ski, but I suspect I’d want a bigger ski for pow days. The 188 cm length could be a contender for the resort-only 1-ski quiver. Hoping to find out this season.
The Line Vision 104 also has a very strong chance of taking over my touring-only setup, but I need to ski it in a wider range of conditions.
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 205 lbs / 188 cm, 93 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Again, for this question, I am focusing on the “for where you ski most” part. So I get only one ski for my ~4.5 months at Crested Butte — but then I could bring unlimited skis for the ~6 weeks I spend at Whistler each spring. I might be bending the rules here, but I’m doing it anyway!
Also, no backcountry touring for me this season. With that in mind:
Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
The Sender Free 110 has returned from my 5-ski quiver picks, after I had excluded it from my 4-ski, 3-ski, and 2-ski quivers. This was a pretty easy choice for me, because it’s my favorite all-round ski for CB, and I’ve spent enough time on it to understand all the compromises.
This ski shines for me in soft-ish conditions inbounds at CB, in a wide variety of terrain, whether skiing fast or slow. I can ski it playfully and pivot / slash all over the place, or I can get more serious and directional when I want.
This ski isn’t as amazing in firmer conditions, but I accept its compromises, and I can make it work fine in almost all firm situations. On the other end of the spectrum, this ski also isn’t wide enough to float my big body in deep powder, but I must accept that.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Same setup — Sender Free 110. No ski touring for me this season in Colorado.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
My current plans for this winter don’t entail any touring, but if they did and that’s all I was going to do, I think I’d go with:
Volkl V-Werks Katana, 191 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
I have only skied the 184 cm length of the V-Werks Katana, but the 191 cm length should deliver decent flotation for my big body and help to smooth out some firm-ish, rough conditions, too. The carbon construction includes some very thin sections, so I would need to focus on dodging rocks, but I think this ski would survive a full season for me. Also, I’ve never skied on the CAST system, but I’ve held it in my hands and inspected it closely, and it looks solid to me.
Some other skis I considered but ultimately rejected since they’re wider than what I want for firmer conditions: Volkl Blaze 114, Dynafit Tigard 114, Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Same ski as my answer for the first question:
Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
I think I can reluctantly be happy enough with this ski in all conditions and locations, except for a full season of frequent deep powder. Hypothetically, if I somehow ended up with 3 years of powder in Japan or Alaska, I wouldn’t blame myself for picking this not-so-fat ski — instead, I would blame Jonathan for limiting me to one pick!
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
Moment Countach 110, 188 cm
Although I prefer the versatility of the Sender Free 110 for softer, wintery snow, I prefer the even more impressive versatility of the Countach 110 for spring and summer conditions. If I ended up at Mammoth for another one of their big summers of skiing until August, then I’d miss the Countach 110.
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?
Dynastar M-Free 112 F-Team, 190 cm
I skied it briefly last February at the Blister Summit, but I need more time with it to finalize my opinion. Also, there were rumors that the pair I skied might not be exactly the same as the final production version. However, Dynastar’s design seems pretty similar to the Rossignol Sender Free 110 (the to reportedly share the same shape and rocker profile), so I’d like to spend more time on the M-Free 112.
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
I don’t know how many times I’ve started writing this with one ski in mind, only to second-guess myself and start over. Finally, I think I’m happy with my choice. And if you follow our quiver articles year after year, this ski should be no surprise.
Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
I’ll actually start with the binding choice. I would like to have a setup that allows me to skin uphill, but it will be mostly used in the resort; downhill performance and safety are bigger priorities than low weight. The CAST system allows the toe piece to be switched between a dedicated alpine toe and a tech toe, whereas the heel is just a standard Look Pivot heel. I don’t like the idea of skiing AT bindings in the resort so this system eases my already caution-loving mind.
As for the ski, I’ve gotten along with the Summit 106 since my very first turns at the inaugural Blister Summit in 2021. I remember texting Jonathan from the lift and telling him that I was done reviewing skis because I only wanted to ski the Summit 106 from there on out. Maybe that was an exaggeration, but it does sum up how quickly I clicked with this ski.
There are plenty of other skis that are more stable, carve better, feel surfier in deep pow, or require less effort in tight terrain. But I haven’t found another ski that provides the all-around performance of the Wagner 106 while also feeling like such a perfect fit for my skiing style and preferences.
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 + Look Pivot
Same answer as above, just with a standard alpine binding. I primarily ski the resort, so removing the backcountry option has very little effect on my choice.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Ideally, I’d have a super lightweight ski, binding, and boot setup that would work equally well on firm, smooth snow (i.e., quick dawn patrol outings), deep powder, and all sorts of questionable spring snow.
For the same reasons I picked the Wagner Summit 106 for my 1-ski quiver above, I’ll choose it here. It’s definitely not the lightest ski out there, but it’s also far from the heaviest. For me, the Summit 106 is just so intuitive and works well in a variety of snow conditions. It doesn’t overpower me, and if, for some reason, I find myself out of control while skiing it, I find it easy to shut down. That predictability is important to me in the backcountry, where conditions can quickly change.
If the ski was only for backcountry use, I would add a tech binding instead of the CAST system. Since I haven’t tested many of the latest options, I’d probably utilize my BLISTER+ membership and just ask our other reviewers what they recommend.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
I was very tempted to say the Salomon Stance 94 W, but I couldn’t abandon the Summit 106. For its width, it carves groomers surprisingly well, pivots nicely in moguls, and can make nimble, quick turns in tight terrain. And if I do end up in some great conditions, the Summit 106 will be a lot more fun than the Stance 94.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
Over the past several years, I’ve grown increasingly fond of narrower all-mountain skis (roughly 86–93 mm underfoot). I know some people consider that range as ‘fat skis,’ whereas others might never even contemplate something narrower than 100 mm for all-mountain use. I don’t care what they’re labeled; I’ve just really enjoyed several options in that class.
All this is to say that I would dearly miss the Ferreol Explo 86, Salomon Stance 94 W, and the Blizzard Black Pearl 84.
And, of course, when a powder day rolls around, I would have flashbacks to my time on the RMU Valhalla 107. It’s a surfier, more maneuverable pow ski than the Wagner Summit 106, the Valhalla 107 just isn’t versatile enough to serve as my 1-ski quiver.
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’m interested in testing the Wagner Summit 105 for the backcountry-only scenario. The shape is fairly similar to the Summit 106, but the 105 is more rockered and notably lighter, so I’m curious to see how the two would compare.
David Golay
(6’, 170 lbs / 183 cm, 77.1 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Now that we’re down to one ski, I thought pretty hard about just going to a single touring one, given that a much bigger proportion of my ski days are spent walking rather than riding chairs. But I don’t want to bail on skiing inbounds entirely, so I’ll go with what was more or less my resort + backcountry “50/50” ski from my 2-ski quiver:
Volkl V-Werks Katana, 184 cm + CAST Freetour
For all the reasons I laid out in my 2-ski quiver, I’m really not a big fan of trying to make 50/50 skis work. But especially now that we’re down to one ski, it’s a necessary evil and the V-Werks Katana covers both bases (for me and my preferences) better than anything else I’ve been on.
If I didn’t spend so much time skiing pretty tight trees (particularly when touring), I’d probably size up to the 191 cm length but, again, I have to compromise here. And if it’s not cheating, I’d love to run both ATK Freeraider 14 APs and standard Look Pivot 15s via binding inserts, depending if I’m touring or skiing inbounds. But if that’s not an option, CAST’s Freetour system remains my preferred hybrid binding. I trust them more than Shifts when it comes to staying on my feet when I want them to (I haven’t yet skied the Shift2). CAST is also a lot easier / less finicky to adjust back and forth between different boots (at least if their BSLs are relatively close). The Marker Duke PT seems promising but I just don’t have enough time on them to commit at this point, so here we are.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Moment Countach 110, 188 cm + Look Pivot 15
I’m going back to what was basically my lone resort ski in my 3-ski quiver. I’ve found the Countach 110 to be quite versatile (particularly in snow that’s at least a little bit soft), intuitive / easy to ski, and still damp and stable enough to go pretty hard on them when I feel like it. In a perfect world, I’d probably have something with a little more heft and suspension that fills a similar role, but I don’t have an option that feels perfect there.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
For all of the reasons that it’s been in every one of my quivers up to this point.
Living where I do in Western Washington, I’d love something just a touch wider for a little more float on deep days — particularly when avy danger has me sticking to low angle trees — but… once again, one ski quivers involve a lot of compromise. Maybe the solution is the 4FRNT Hoji, but I haven’t yet tried the latest iteration.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
For the purpose of this question, I’m going to assume that my touring-to-resort ratio skews more toward the latter than it does at home. If I’m moving around to unfamiliar areas where I don’t have established backcountry partners, the composition of my skiing is going to be pretty different. So with that in mind:
Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + CAST Freetour
I can have a blast skiing this combo inbounds just about anywhere in most conditions. It’s way heavier than would be ideal for doing a whole lot of touring on, but I’m figuring I’ll do much less of that in this “anywhere in the world” scenario, and I can suck it up and do a bit. I also trust the Mantra 102 to hold up for three seasons of use much better than just about any ski I’d be truly excited about regularly touring on.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
I thought pretty hard about just going with the Raven for my true 1-ski quiver and mostly bailing on skiing inbounds. However, that notion made me sad, so I ultimately couldn’t do it.
If I had a slightly wider touring ski that I was similarly high on, that would have made the decision harder. However, the ~110 mm waisted touring ski category is one that I haven’t explored that much because my real-world quiver isn’t so constrained; I have a few more specific tools for specific jobs rather than really seeking out a Jack-of-all-trades touring ski. I also just haven’t really clicked with the handful of options in that category that I have tried.
There are a bunch of skis that I could be very happy with for the resort-only question. I love the Prior Husume, especially in the sort of heavy-but-fairly-soft chop that we ski a ton of around here. That said, the Countach 110 won out for its better carving / firmer-snow performance. I very likely would have gone with the Blizzard Cochise 106 if that ski still existed but, RIP. I’d also be quite happy with the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti in that slot.
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?
If I’m sticking with my plan of going for one true 50/50 ski, I honestly don’t have a ton of ideas. But if I instead just go for a mid-fat touring ski, there are a bunch. The 4FRNT Hoji is high on that list, as is the Faction La Machine 3. I’m intrigued by the Armada Locator 112, too, but it might be a little more soft-snow-biased than I really want here.
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?
As noted in my previous quivers, my season involves guiding heli skiing near my home in the Chugach mountains of Alaska, but I also spend a lot of time touring in the local backcountry. I also like to log as many days as I can at Alyeska resort, and those three skiing scenarios all present some very different demands for a set of skis. Here’s the best compromise I can come up with:
Folsom Rapture, 191 cm + inserts for Marker Jester Pro & Moment Voyager XVI
The Rapture just works for me, and if I had to spend my whole year on one pair of skis for heli guiding, Alyeska, and ski touring, the Rapture is the best ski I can come up with. It offers the float and stability I need for heli skiing, is versatile enough to get me through a bunch of Alyeska pow days, and won’t feel totally out of place if it hasn’t snowed in a while on the North Face.
The Rapture is also a great shape for a pow-touring ski; I’d definitely be opting for a construction that’s much heavier than I’d prefer for touring, but if I only have one pair, I’d prioritize stability for guiding over minimum weight. I would be tempted to try one of Folsom’s lighter constructions, but I worry a little bit that that wouldn’t do as well inbounds or in variable runouts while guiding, so I might stick with the build I reviewed and suffer on the ups a little more.
As I’ve written before, I am not a fan of hybrid bindings (e.g., Shift, Duke PT, CAST Freetour), so I would most likely just deal with swapping bindings via inserts for touring days.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
I’d probably stick with my pick from last year — the Folsom Giver. It skis skinnier than it’s 110 mm waist would suggest but still has enough flotation for pow days.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
I’m sticking with the Armada Locator 112 for now. It’s a lightweight touring ski that’s very versatile for the pow-oriented touring I do, and it has just generally worked well for me.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
For my current ski lifestyle, I’ll stick with the Rapture. My pair has taken a beating and are still working great.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
The Faction La Machine 5 is a really cool ski that would be my choice for a ski that does double duty for heli skiing and touring, but it’s lighter than ideal for frequent resort use, where conditions are often more challenging.
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’m excited to try a bunch of touring skis. Based on how much I like La Machine 5, I’m excited to try La Machine 4 as well. The Black Diamond Helio 116 was previously one of my top picks for a versatile pow-oriented touring ski, so I’m excited to try the updated version of that ski as well (I’ll be getting on all those this season). Finally, Blister still hasn’t reviewed the Black Crows Draco Freebird, and while it’s a little heavier than I’d want for my do-it-all touring ski, it has some compelling features.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, 180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.5 kg)
I. What’s your 1-ski quiver for where you ski most (backcountry and resort), and why?
Wagner Summit 106, 186 cm + Shift2 13 Binding
My same pick as last year, plus the update of the “2.0” Shift binding. All of us were impressed by how versatile this ski was in tough, scraped-off conditions at Crested Butte, and in good conditions, this ski is easy, intuitive, and predictable, with a nice combination of maneuverability and stability (at least, for me).
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 1-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
(The New) Nordica Enforcer 104, 186 cm + Tyrolia Protector PR 13 GW Binding
I believe this is now the 4th year in a row I’ve gone with this ski for my resort 1-ski quiver — and what’s impressive about that (to me, anyway) is that Nordica revised the Enforcer 104 for this season. And I’m happy to report that I still really like it. (Read my Flash Review of the new 104 vs. the previous 104.) It’s still stable, solid, pretty forgiving, and confidence-inspiring. It’s not the quickest ski out there, but the quickest skis out there are typically a bit too twitchy or don’t provide the good suspension that I prioritize, and that the Enforcer 104 offers.
III. If you only skied in the backcountry, what would your 1-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Salomon QST Echo 106, 181 cm + ATK Freeraider
I’ve finally got enough days on the Echo 106 to go ahead and give it the spot here. And my rationale is that, in this scenario, if I’m only skiing the backcountry, I’m probably going to be dealing with more icy skin tracks and weird conditions than when I’m skiing a mix of backcountry + days inbounds. I still haven’t skied the 189 cm QST Echo 106, and I’d like to. But I’ve gotten along quite well with the 181s.
IV. What’s your 1-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Wagner Summit 106, 186 cm + Shift 13 Binding
Same answer as last year: the more I travel to different places to ski, the more I like this setup, primarily because of its versatility. It’s good on groomers, great in moguls, comfortable in tight trees, predictable on refrozen crud, and good in 12-18” of pow. In deep snow, a longer and wider ski would be more fun, but hey, that’s the tradeoff here.
V. What ski was the most difficult to leave off your list?
4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + Shift2 13 Binding
The Raven has been a pretty ideal partner for me for years… and here I am cheating on it. WTF. (But please read again my rationale above for straying from the Raven.)
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?
Folsom Giver 110, 186 cm (custom)
I had Mike McCabe build up a pair of the Giver 110’s for me, and I’ve really loved them so far in the backcountry. With more time, it’s very possible that my pair could become my single, go-to touring ski.
The pair I built up comes in around ~1950 grams per ski, which is right about where I wanted them to be weight-wise.
I’m going Saba Pro 107, though I’d want them in a hypothetical 191 length. You can ski anything on them (other than ice) and have a great time, very versatile and very fun
Just a bit of an FYI – RMU has changed its mount points to be “FR = -3” and “TR = -5” and now there is a -7 option that they call the “Classic” which is not marked on the Apostle skis.
Mindbender 89 ti for me. The 99 ti trumps it one out of every four days, so if There Can Be Only One, it’s the 89 ti for me!
J skis hotshot 189
Wagner Custom. Had them made to replace my fantastic 1st gen. Fischer 102 FR. Same dimensions, rocker etc, but with better suspension and a cm wider. So dialed and does so many things well. Built as my 1 ski quiver. Thanks Pete W.
s/altum/asbo/
(re)Named by snowheads when testing (possibly prototypes) at their end of season trip a few years ago.
An excellent choice (having had this article come up on my phone about 30s after paying for a set…)
Deathwish 104 184 cm for me. But would really like to demo the Whitedot. Looks interesting.
just bought the Line Optic 104 for a great price. bought the blades too early this summer. they join the pescados I had. 3 ski one brand quiver.