Intro
We recently published several of our reviewers’ selections for both 5-ski and 4-ski quivers and now we’re once again asking them to cut those down, this time to three skis. So below you’ll see some of their picks for 3-ski quivers, and stay tuned for Part Two later, when we’ll add quiver selections from several of our other reviewers.
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.
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 3-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 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Dylan Wood
(5’10.5”, 155 lbs / 179 cm, 70 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
As we narrow down our quivers, choosing which skis to include and which to leave out gets even trickier. Last year, I included a dedicated touring setup in this quiver, the J Skis Slacker. But I am realizing that I spend more time in the resort than I think, and therefore have opted to not include a dedicated touring ski for the first time in my quivers.
Ski #1: Sego Comp 110, 187 cm + Look Pivot 15 + Cast Freetour
I’m back to the Comp 110 as my daily driver. I’d be taking this ski out whenever the snow is mostly soft. And not just 2-inches-on-hardpack soft, because I’ll be using the below ski for that. I’m talking about those periods of on-and-off snow as well as the biggest storms that CB can offer, so up to ~2 feet. I really do enjoy this ski, and as my quiver gets smaller and I leave out a dedicated touring ski, I think it makes sense to put the Cast Freetour upgrade on this ski to give me the choice of taking it out in the backcountry. Again, mounting +2.
Ski #2: K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 184 cm + Look Pivot 15
Yep, there’s a reason we picked this ski (or, 23 pairs of this ski) for our Alpine Binding Shootout. If Luke Koppa, Drew Kelly, Jonathan Ellsworth, Kara Williard, and I all have good things to say about the same ski, you should probably pay attention. Now, this isn’t my favorite ski of all time, but in this 3-ski quiver, it makes a lot of sense. I’d take this ski out on hardpack days when I feel like charging and carving, as well as for smaller storms that I can’t justify taking the Comp 110 out for. I’d mount at +2 cm of the recommended line (#sorryJedYeiser) because this ski felt more natural to me there, given I have a more slarvy style and centered stance (to be clear, I still think most people are best off mounting on the line… #you’rewelcomeJedYeiser).
Ski #3: Line Blade Optic 92, 182 cm + Look Pivot 15 + Cast Freetour
The narrowest and most budget-oriented Blade Optic is still an impressive ski. While I struggled the most with this quiver slot, I decided on the Blade Optic 92 because I knew I wanted a loose, buttery, playful all-mountain freestyle ski in this spot. Not only this, but the Blade Optic 92’s low weight (~1790 grams) means that it makes a lot of sense to put a 50/50 binding on this ski and also use it as a low-tide / spring touring ski. I enjoyed carving this ski and messing around on it this past spring, and I was surprised by how hard I could ski it. I do realize that this isn’t a super stable ski, but I am totally fine with that since my wider two skis will cover all my hard-charging desires. I also need a ski for the park, so this is the one. I’d probably mount +2 cm, given that. I swear I don’t think every ski should be mounted +2 cm of the recommended line…
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Lots! Just look at my 5-ski and 4-ski quivers.
But I gave the most consideration to the Line Blade Optic 96 in the place of the K2 Mindbender 99Ti. In that scenario, I also would have likely put the K2 Mindbender 89Ti in place of the Blade Optic 92. Additionally, I seriously considered the Black Crows Camox as my narrowest ski, but ultimately decided against it because I knew I wanted something loose and easily bendable in my quiver. The Comp 110, however, I was pretty set on.
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?
Again, skis I’ve named in prior quivers still come to mind. But I do think the Nordica Unleashed 98 has a good chance to make it in this quiver. So far, it’s felt like a slightly looser Black Crows Camox, which could slot in nicely to a 3-ski quiver variation.
I am also especially curious about the Line Blade Optic 114 in this quiver. Even though I just said that I was pretty set on the Comp 110 here, it could be nice to have a looser, wider ski as my widest option.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
With only 3 skis, I feel like I could name 10+ brands. Instead, I’ll just pick my 3 favorites.
K2: 191 cm Reckoner 112, 184 cm Mindbender 99Ti, 184 cm Reckoner 102
This is a pretty freestyle-oriented quiver, but given how versatile the Mindbender 99Ti is, I think I’d have most bases covered.
Sego: 187 cm Comp 110, 187 cm Big Horn 106, 187 cm Big Horn 96
187 cm skis for the win.
Line: 189 cm Vision 118, 185 cm Blade Optic 104, 182 cm Blade Optic 92
It’s a shame to leave the Blade out of this one, but, so be it.
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 165 lbs / 175 cm, 75 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
The 3-ski quiver is where things start to feel a little tricky. My biggest reality check with the 3-ski quiver is that I know I am going to ski a lot of firm days (like 80%) throughout the season, yet I also want:
(1) a pair of skis that can maximize powder days on the resort, but will also provide versatility beyond just powder days.
(2) and a pair that will work as a good 50/50 option for traveling, be fit for places like Japan, and will be reasonably suited for a wide range of backcountry conditions.
So with that in mind:
Ski #1: K2 Mindbender 99 Ti W, 172 cm + Tyrolia Attack 13 GW
Some might say I am predictable as things are narrowing down and I still opt to keep this ski as my daily driver, in which case, I share that trait with this ski. Its overall predictability and versatility are a highlight, and it’s not a ski that I would get tired of skiing in the reality of what most days look like at Mt. Crested Butte: tight terrain, chalky or firm snow, lots and lots of moguls, and groomers.
Ski #2: Line Blade Optic 104, 178 cm + Look Pivot 13
As I alluded to above, this is the ski I selected both as a resort powder ski, and for when I want something a bit wider than my daily driver, because of its excellent combo of maneuverability and stability.
It’s a bit more playful and loose than the Faction Dancer 3X I picked in my bigger quivers, and offers a bit more predictability in non-deep conditions. This is great not only for powder days, but it also provides plenty of versatility in other conditions, as well. So, if I need to switch things up from the Mindbender 99Ti, I know that the Blade Optic 104 is more than capable, even on firmer snow, while also being a blast in powder.
Ski #3: Majesty Vadera Ti, 176 cm + ATK Raider 12
The Majesty Vadera Ti is a well-rounded option for encountering a lot of variable conditions in the backcountry, and it’s a touch lighter than some of the other skis I considered (Salomon Stella 106 or Fischer Ranger 102).
There’s also a chance that I would opt to swap this for the Vadera Carbon once I spend more time on that ski (which is ~200 grams lighter). But the time I spent on the Vadera Ti impressed me in terms of its versatility, liveliness, and overall maneuverability, while still being pretty stable, and certainly a lot of fun in chalkier or powder conditions, which is assuring since it’s designated as my 50/50 and travel ski.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
As mentioned above, I considered several skis to replace the Line Blade Optic 104, namely the Salomon Stella 106 and Fischer Ranger 102. I have struggled a bit with committing to the Mindbender 99Ti W so fervently as my daily ski for a majority of days, and have more than once considered swapping it for the Volkl Secret 96, but the Mindbender 99Ti W is a touch more lively and playful than the Secret 96.
I also considered the 178 cm version of the Mindbender 99Ti W, which is an intriguing length for me because it’d be a bit more stable, but I have yet to try it, so that is speculative.
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 quite excited to try the very, very new Peak 98 and 98SC, and am curious to see how their damping and suspension compare to my other daily driver contenders. I also want to spend more time on the Zag Harfang 96 and Slap 104.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
It’s redundant, and I altered the selections from a 4-ski to 3-ski quiver, but the brands stay pretty much the same. I feel like these two brands optimize versatility, while still offering a wide enough range of offerings to have all my ideal traits met.
Nordica: Santa Ana 98, Santa Ana 104 Free with Look Pivot, and Unleashed 98 w/ ATK Raider 12 (there’s a chance this will shift to a Unleashed 108 once I spend more time on it)
Salomon: Stance 94, Stella 106 w/ Shift MNC 13, and the QST Blank
Line: Blade Optic 96, Blade Optic 104, and the Pandora 110
David Golay
(6′, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
As I mentioned in my four-ski quiver, I’m finding myself gravitating more and more towards touring and am spending correspondingly less time riding chairlifts these days, so I’m just going to lop the firmer-snow resort ski off of my four-ski quiver and keep the resort portion of the program pretty soft snow-oriented. If inbounds conditions aren’t at least kinda soft, I’ll just go touring (or mountain biking).
Ski #1: Prior Husume, 188 cm + CAST Freetour
The Husume basically takes over the slot occupied by the Moment Wildcat in my four-ski quiver. Though it’s significantly narrower, the Husume still floats great and is an excellent hard-charging chop destroyer. The Husume isn’t a particularly engaging carver, but realistically the bulk of my inbounds time is going to be spent in chop of varying levels of softness, and I love the Husume for that duty — while still being a ton of fun in true pow.
The Husume is a somewhat… ambitious choice for a single resort ski, I’ll grant, but (1) I live in a high-snowfall area that’s forecasted for a La Nina season, and (2) as mentioned up top, I’m pretty happy to go touring for better snow if inbounds conditions aren’t great so I’m fine with it.
And then as far as bindings go, my logic here holds over from the Moment Wildcat in my four-ski quiver. I’m not going to do any big tours on the Husume, but having the option to skin a little bit opens up some sweet sidecountry laps and I’m extremely comfortable skiing the CAST Freetour as an everyday resort binding, so there’s little downside (cost aside) to throwing it on.
Ski #2: 4FRNT Raven 4-Lock, 184 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
Sitting tight on this one. Since I’m not lopping any touring skis out of my four-ski quiver, why change anything?
Ski #3: Praxis Protest Custom, 187 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
Ditto.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I wrote this whole thing thinking I was going to put the Moment Wildcat in slot #1 before I remembered the Prior Husume and had to go back and redo a bunch of it. I’d be really happy with either here, for all the reasons that I put down for including the Wildcat in my four-ski quiver.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
In theory, I like the idea of a slightly less soft-snow-oriented ski in place of the Husume in slot #1, but I’m not 100% sure what that ski would be. The Dynastar M-Pro 108 is very high on my list of stuff to try, as is the Rossignol Sender Squad, but I haven’t yet been on either. I could imagine myself really getting along with a version of the Folsom Primary 110, too.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
K2: 182 cm Dispatch 101, 186 cm Dispatch 120, 186 cm Mindbender 108 Ti
See what I wrote in the 4-ski quiver. This one gets easier now that we’ve pared things down to three skis — the Mindbender 108 Ti makes a lot of sense for me as a one-ski resort quiver.
I haven’t been on the 4FRNT MSP 107, but I could imagine that plus the Raven and Renegade being a good option here, too.
Paul Forward
(6’, 200 lbs / 183 cm, 90.7 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
With three skis in my Alaska quiver I’m definitely going to have to start making some compromises, given the wide array of skiing scenarios I’ll encounter — from heli-ski guiding to groomers to long-distance tours.
Ski #1: Folsom Rapture, 192cm + Marker Jester Pro
See my answer from the 4-ski quiver on this one (or my full review for the whole story). Basically, I need an exceptional powder tool for my work guiding heli skiing and these are the best I’ve found so far.
Ski #2: Volkl Mantra 102 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro
I really hope I find a ski that does as well in all conditions for me as this Mantra 102 but that’s possibly a little wider underfoot for better versatility at Alyeska, where it tends to snow a lot. (I have not enjoyed the Katana 108 quite as much.) For now, the Mantra 102 is a great fit for my non-pow-day Alyeska skiing and will keep my happily arcing on the groomers and crud while still being fun to skid and pivot in the tighter and steeper spots.
Ski #3: Moonlight Cruiser 50/50, 185 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
This was the toughest choice here for me and I was very close to choosing something skinnier, but most of my favorite touring skis in narrower widths have been discontinued in favor of versions that I haven’t skied or didn’t like as much. That said, the 50/50 construction Moonlight Cruiser is the most versatile fat (>115mm) touring ski I’ve used and it’s pretty fun in everything from pow to crust to corn. Ultimately, I tour mostly for pow, I love to get into big steep terrain, and I love to be able to ski fast and confidently there — so having a strong 120mm-wide pow ski is a great way to go for me.
(We’ve got a full review of both versions of the Moonlight Cruiser coming soon.)
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I do like having a skinnier touring ski and it’s hard to have my only touring ski be 120 underfoot, but I mostly tour for pow and hope for big lines.
The Rapture is a great inbounds pow ski but it really shines as a heli ski, so if I was allowed more skis I’d also include a Moment Wildcat or Folsom Cash 117 for inbounds pow days.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
As I said in my 4-ski quiver section, I have high hopes for the Faction La Machine Mega, on which I’ve only skied a few days so far. I’m also really excited to try the Folsom Primary 110 with essentially flat camber and a damp inbounds build. The Mantra 102 is great but I’d prefer if my primary inbounds ski was a touch fatter for where and how I like to ski.
I’m also really excited to get some more time on the K2 Dispatch series. My initial impression of them at the Blister Summit last year was very positive.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Folsom: Rapture, Primary 110, and something light and fattish for touring
Blizzard: Rustler 11, Cochise, Zero G 105
K2: This is a wildcard because I haven’t skied most of these skis but based on what Luke and Jonathan have said, I think I’d like the Mindbender 108Ti enough that I could make do with it as my inbounds ski. I’d add that to the 192 cm Dispatch 120 with a Marker Jester for heli guiding and resort pow, plus a second pair of Dispatch 120s, possibly in 185 cm, for touring.
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 125lbs / 172 cm, 56.7kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
As I go from 5 to 4, and now to my 3-ski quiver, I find that I just keep reshuffling my favorite skis. Which makes sense. So far, every one of my quivers has included (1) a fairly forgiving, intuitive ski (Elan Ripstick 94 W or DPS Pagoda 90 RP), (2) a fairly damp ski that (I hope) will motivate me to ski aggressively (Volkl Secret 96 or Nordica Santa Ana 88), and (3) the Wagner Summit 106. I think I have found my recipe and I just keep substituting ingredients.
And as a reminder for those who haven’t read my other ski quivers — my picks are based on the fact that I will spend most of my days skiing on resort in the Rocky Mountains, but with a bit of touring.
Ski #1: DPS Pagoda 90 RP, 171 cm + alpine bindings
Not sure there’s much left to say about the Pagoda 90 RP – it’s intuitive. It’s also consistent and predictable and it carves well. I think I would find myself splitting my time 40 / 40 / 20 with the Pagoda 90 RP, Secret 96, and Summit 106, respectively.
Ski #2: Volkl Secret 96, 170 cm + alpine bindings
The Secret 96 would be my all-mountain ski for days I am feeling strong and want to ski aggressively. Or when the snow is choppy and I want a damp ski. Or any other day for that matter. The Secret 96 is fun to carve but it’s also great off-piste.
Ski #3: Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + Salomon Shift
Wagner designed the Summit 106 to be a 50/50 ski and that is how I would use it in this scenario. That, and as a powder or soft-snow ski. It will not be the super lightweight setup I was dreaming about when I included the Line Pandora 110 with tech bindings in my 5-ski quiver. But perhaps as a compromise, I’ll make my 4 y/o son skin up the ski area beside me instead of carrying him on my back (another dream). Or I’ll ask my husband to carry him (this is much more realistic).
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I feel pretty good about this quiver and like the idea of having only a few options to choose from each day. I would miss the Elan Ripstick 94 W, Nordica Santa Ana 88, and Moment Sierra. But I envision myself very happy with this selection.
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 Fischer Ranger 90 could be a contender for my narrow ski, as could the revised Renoun Earhart 88 and Blizzard Black Pearl 88.
I also think the Elan Ripstick 102 W could be a contender for my 50/50 ski — although it’s going to be hard to bump the Summit 106 off my list.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Nordica: Santa Ana 88, Unleashed 98 W, Santa Ana 104 Unlimited
Drew Kelly
(5’11”, 165 lbs / 180 cm, 75 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
With this quiver, I’m prioritizing resort performance. I haven’t yet dug into the intricacies of a ski doubling as a tool for both backcountry and resort skiing for a few reasons: firstly, I don’t think I really need to, given my choices; second, that brings up the question of appropriate bindings; and finally, with my ski preferences, I think that might make this quiver feel more like a 2.5-ski quiver than a 3-ski quiver — I want to maximize enjoyment on a ski in a certain type of terrain, snow condition, or skiing style, as opposed to trying to pick one suitable for everything.
Ski #1: Salomon QST Blank, 186 cm + …?
This ski carries over from my bigger quivers, but here it plays the role of my backcountry ski for all conditions. I think the softer extremities and deeper rocker lines of the QST Blank will work well in both powder and the more challenging crusty or manky conditions that I so often find myself skiing in Colorado. In my 5-ski quiver, I debated which length to go with, but here I am definitively choosing the 186 cm length, which will help cut down on weight, since I will be using this setup for long spring days as well.
The ski left behind in my 3-ski quiver is the backcountry hardpack ski. And while I’m not worried about navigating variable conditions or corn and ice with the QST Blank, I do think I’ll be missing a ski with a flatter and stiffer tail when I really want to open it up on a big slope in spring-like conditions. I guess the solution might be that I’ll have to seek out more stable powder.
(I’m not totally sure which binding I’d end up putting on the Blank)
Ski #2: Wagner Summit 109, 192 cm + alpine binding
The QST Blank is versatile enough for me in most backcountry conditions that I’m not having to compromise on my resort setups. And while I could have maximized the roles a ski would play by putting a Marker Duke PT 16 on a ski and using it for both resort and backcountry skiing, I don’t feel I need to.
So, the hard-to-categorize Wagner Summit 109 remains my ski for powder days and big-mountain / freeride-style skiing. And when we are in the doldrums of high-pressure weather, I’ll switch to my next choice.
Ski #3: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + alpine binding
The Mantra 102 keeps its place as my general-use hardpack ski, which means bumps, groomers, and really firm off-piste conditions.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The ski I’ve spent a good amount of time with, one that I think would be able fill both backcountry roles well, is the Volkl Blaze 106. With its very large shovels and long, subtle rocker lines, I found it floated pretty well in powder, despite its modest width underfoot. I think ultimately I didn’t choose it over the QST Blank because it doesn’t come in quite a long enough length to give it enough floatation to compensate for only being 106 mm wide underfoot.
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?
Given that I cut the Rossignol Sender 104 Ti from my lineup, I’m pretty curious about Salomon’s QST 106. That might be able to bridge the gap between the QST Blank and a dedicated backcountry harpack ski…
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Volkl: Blaze 106, Katana 108, Mantra 102
Salomon: QST Blank, QST 106, Stance 102
Wagner: Summit 109, Summit 97, Summit 106
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
I wanted to be more creative here, choosing some skis I hadn’t already in my bigger quiver picks, but for the same reasons that I outlined in my 4-ski quiver selections, I ended up just settling on a 3-ski quiver that’s basically my 4-ski quiver, but with one of the less versatile skis removed.
Ski #1: Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + CAST Freetour
Once again, the Blade Optic 96 serves as my daily resort ski. I love skiing it in most conditions, and that’s my main priority for this slot. It’s damp and stable enough to be skied pretty hard when it hasn’t snowed in a while, but it’s loose and maneuverable enough to still be fun when there are several inches of fresh snow. And I really enjoy carving it — good edge hold from the middle of the ski, versatile in terms of turn shapes, and lots of energy coming out of a turn.
In this 3-ski quiver, I’m opting to mount it with a touring-capable binding, so if I happen to be looking at a backcountry line that I plan on skiing quite fast and/or with some deeper snow, I have the option to bring a slightly wider, notably more maneuverable, and substantially more stable ski. It’d also be what I use if I’m going out with a group who plans on building a jump in the backcountry, due to the Blade Optic 96’s twinned tail and balanced overall feel. I have become very fond of the Marker Duke PT binding for this sort of purpose, but since it’s still relatively new and I haven’t personally had the chance to put it through a full season of daily resort skiing (which would be the case with this ski in this quiver), I’m gonna go with the longer-standing CAST system; I know plenty of folks who ski harder than me who have used the CAST system for their daily setups without issue.
Ski #2: Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm + Alpine Binding
3-ski quivers are still fairly large, and therefore, I still think I can muster up enough rationale to include this heavy, chop-busting, surfy “pow ski.” With my other resort ski now being 96 mm underfoot, I’d be breaking out the Blackops 118 more frequently — pretty much any time it’s snowed more than a few inches and/or I feel like skiing fast.
Ski #3: Majesty Superwolf, 178 cm + Moment Voyager XII
I still do enough spring and summer backcountry skiing that I want a dedicated touring ski for that, and the Superwolf remains my top pick for those seasons. I came close to swapping this for a heavier 50/50 option, but I appreciate the difference that a lighter setup can make on days that involve a lot of miles and vert, and the Superwolf + Voyager combo manages to be quite light (for my preferences) while skiing way better than it should, given that. This would also be my setup for fitness touring laps at Mt. Crested Butte before / after work.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I will really miss having a super playful mid-fat ski like the RMU Apostle 106 that was in my bigger quivers, but that’s the point of narrowing down these quivers. The reason the Blade Optic 96 stuck around is because it’s also really playful, lively, and maneuverable, but also pretty stable and fun on firmer snow.
Other than that, I’ve already discussed why I feel pretty settled on my main quiver picks — the 2-ski and 1-ski quivers are where I expect to see some more variations as we need to make more significant compromises.
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 fortunate to be pickier about skis than most folks, since I get to test so many of them, but I can’t think of many skis that come to mind as legitimate contenders to my highly personal 3-ski quiver picks. While testing so many skis makes it difficult to narrow things down, it also means that I’ve developed some extremely particular preferences, and very few skis hit all of those specific marks. Of course, who knows if that answer will remain accurate after all the skis we try this season…
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Line: Blade Optic 96, Blade Optic 114, Vision 98
Very happy with this one. I’d wish for a slightly narrower, stiffer, and less rockered touring ski when hopping down steep, firm couloirs, but otherwise, this would make me very happy.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, ~180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.6 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: For Groomers + Low-Tide All Mountain — Customized Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm + alpine binding
The Spar 88 with the tweaks I described in my 5-ski quiver.
Ski #2: Variable Conditions All-Mountain — Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm + alpine binding
Ski #3: Resort Pow Ski + Touring Ski — 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm + Shift binding
Given that the Hoji will be serving as my inbounds pow ski as well as my touring ski, the compromise here of having a heavier and wider touring ski (than the 4FRNT Raven) is one that I can live with — and actually be pretty psyched about.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Once again, I thought a good bit about having the Salomon QST 106 mounted with a Shift MNC 13 binding for use as a softer-snow resort ski + my dedicated touring ski. But given that this ski will likely get the most use of my 3 skis (probably about 60 days of bashing around CB…) I’d rather have a dedicated alpine binding on the QST 106 for the amount of abuse it’d see this year. And while it’s a close call, I prefer the slightly better suspension and stability of the Enforcer 104 Free for a resort 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?
Specifically for my 3-ski quiver, I’m looking forward to getting more time on the 184 cm Volkl Mantra 102.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Ski 1: Dedicated Carver: K2 Disruption 78Ti
Ski 2: Wider Carver & Moguls: K2 Mindbender 99Ti
Ski 3: Resort Pow Ski + Touring Ski: Dispatch 110 + Duke PT Binding
This quiver let’s me get a dedicated carver back in the mix, and I’m going with the burlier Marker Duke PT binding since I imagine I’ll opt to break out the Dispatch 110 on some post-pow days with a lot of scraped-off sections, exposed rocks, etc.
So, obviously those who where poles here live in areas that actually receive snow.
Since all of us are not that lucky…
How about a couple of examples of people who do have to ski groomed snow ( aka: west coast ice) 60-70% of the time and only receive measurable snow 15-20% of the time?
The narrowest ski listed in all three examples was a ski was something I would bust out after 6-8” or more…. Hardly a groomers ski.
Thanks
“For more general suggestions — as opposed to what we personally would pick — check out our Winter Buyer’s Guide.”
Hi Ray,
Not a single day goes by at Mt. Crested Butte where we don’t ski groomers. We do “actually receive snow,” but sometimes, even 5-6 weeks at a time in the middle of winter, that isn’t the case. Hence our selections of skis 92-99 mm underfoot. David is based in the PNW, so that might be an exception. Those are our personal preferences for skis we enjoy on groomers, and a whole lot of other conditions, too – we’re always skiing all over the mountain regardless of conditions, and very few ~80 mm or less underfoot skis are ideal for the off-piste terrain at Mount Crested Butte. And again, these are our personal selections based on what we enjoy and prioritize. If you would like help assembling a low-snow-oriented ski quiver, become a Blister Member, shoot us a note, and we’d be happy to help you.
Nobody likes the deathwish anymore?
Exactly my thought, I thought we would see the deathwish or the DW 104 pop up somewhere in the 4/5 ski quivers. Lots of love for the blade optic. As expected, lots of love shared from all reviewers in the gear:30 pod in the past year.
I guess the DW was most often a Cy pick and he’s not choosing this year (or not yet….)
Also a lot less Wildcat than in previous years. For me part of what’s so interesting about the quivers is seeing which skis repeat year after year (Raven, Blackops 118) and which ones fade. It raises the question of what’s truly new and better vs what’s just new and good. Think I suggested last year including a pick that was any ski from the past, but brand new, still in the wrapper. I trust the Blister crew to tease out the nuances and they certainly know way better than me what the evolution in design over the years has brought to the table or rather, snow.
Love me some DW. It’s the right ski 75% of the time, every time.
Just purchased a new pair of skis to finalize the three ski quiver for this season! Carrying over my Revolt 121 and Sender Squad, selling my M5 and replacing it with the DPS Powderworks 100 RPC. I’ve never tried a DPS but a firm/variable snow big mountain ski is exactly what I wanted… plus it was $500 off so that’s nice!
Is Sascha going to make an appearance this year?
This is an extension of my 2 ski quiver choices. For those magic blower days when you say to your buds ” dude you should’ve been here !”, I have a pair of DPS lotus 124 alchemist 2.0 in a 191cm, and although they they were the absolute best heli/cat and resort pow day ski that I have ever owned, they are also the second pair of DPS skis I’ve owned that are starting to de-lam! It breaks my heart that only after 3 seasons this is happening ( and no rocks were hit ! ) – and the bases are cherry! Shit Oh well! I also have a pair of Volkl Revolt 121 ( yellow animal graphics ) in a 191cm and am quite satisfied with them despite them having a very different design/shape from the Lotus. They almost float as well as the Lotus but are seemly more robust in construction. The rec. mount point for the 191cm is about -3.5 from true center – and for me this was way too far forward for the way I ski, so I mounted an additional -3 from the rec. line to yield and mount position of -6.5 from TC. And for me, it works great! This is the most center mounted ski in my quiver. It is a better resort pow ski than the DPS – with a greater range of use and acceptance of mount positions. I can even make acceptable carved turns on soft groomers with this ski – but it really shines in the far off piste and in any other kind of snow besides hard groomers. I’ll give the nod to the DPS for pure pow performance, but for crud and junk snow the Volkl is better. I chose the Jester once again for this stick and could not be more pleased! Just about all of my free-ride skis have Jesters or Pivots because I have never had any breaks or bad releases. I just wish that the step down force for the Jester could be made easier for when you have a blow-out in deep snow. So for a 3 ski fleet, I’d choose the Revolt 121 as my 3rd pick.
Cheers,
DHJ
Jonathan, is your custom Folsom Spar 88 an attempt to have a ski that’s like the old Salomon X-drive 8.8? I know you liked that ski, and it is still my own daily driver for hard snow days. I will be sad when it has to be retired as I have not found a direct modern equivalent.
Good question. But the answer is: not really. For me personally, the X-Drive 8.8 would be a bit too demanding and punishing (more punishing than the Spar 88) for off-piste skiing here in Crested Butte.
But the X-Drive 8.8 is the better / grippier, stiffer, heavier, and more powerful than the Spar 88 for skiing very hard and fast on extremely firm groomers.
That said, you certainly can beef up the Spar 88 as much as you want (make it as heavy and as stiff as you want to match the X-Drive 8.8, and you could probably get Folsom to reduce the tip and tail rocker of the Spar 88 to move it even more into the ballpark of the X-Drive 8.8. Could be worth a phone call to Folsom for sure.
I miss resort only recommendations this year.
Hey Mark, to be clear, these are *not* recommendations. These are simply what our reviewers would personally pick for how and where they ski. If you would like help assembling your own resort quiver, please feel free to send us a note through the Blister Members’ Clubhouse.
It would be interesting to see if this was of all skis available rather than just newish skis. Cause pretty sure the Volkl Katana v werks for inbounds and BMT 109 for touring is still the best all around 2 ski quiver and has been for years….I love 4frnt, but anyone who has skied a 4frnt and a volkl BMT or katana side by side as I have will tell you the volkl can do anything the 4frnt does, but it’s just damper, less chattery on hardpack, and a more refined feeling. 4frnt wins the value choice cause your getting 90 percent of a v werks performance, but pricing aside, 4frnt loses to BMT/katana everytime. People just don’t wanna talk about them cause theyve been out forever. People have forgotten just how good and refined those two skis are. I’ve spent a fair amount of time doing jump turns on no fall ice, and the BMT 109, despite being full rocker, is the most secure and predictable ski I’ve been on in no fall terrain. The katana if you mount the same as the BMT behaves the same, it just can bash through a lot more and has a higher speed limit.