Intro
We recently published several of our reviewers’ selections for 5-ski, 4-ski, and 3-ski quivers. Now, we’re once again asking them to cut those down, this time to two skis — but with some twists that we outline below.
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 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
V. 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?
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Dylan Wood
(5’10.5”, 160 lbs / 179 cm, 72.5 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
It’s getting tricky! Realistically, I spend more than 85% of my ski days inbounds riding chairlifts, with the occasional bootpack / sidestep. So, I’m choosing to ditch a dedicated touring ski here and adjust my inbounds picks to account for that.
Ski #1: Black Crows Camox, 186.5 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
Yep, the ultra-versatile Camox still deserves a spot in my 2-ski quiver. This would function as my ski for firmish conditions, both inbounds and in the backcountry. As quivers get smaller, versatility is key for me. My skiing days range from charging steeps to enjoying slushy park laps, and there are few skis out there that can perform as well in as wide a variety of terrain as the Camox.
Ski #2: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
I’m choosing to replace the Sender Free 110 here with the Countach because the Countach is lighter and a better choice for occasional mid-winter touring laps. The Countach is still a stable ski, but it does lack some damping and high-speed composure relative to the Sender Free 110, which I will certainly miss. I’ll also miss the Sender Free 110’s good carving abilities, but I will be grateful to have a lighter ski on the skin track, and I’ll also be happy with the Countach’s better flotation on deep days. I’ll be mounting on the recommended line here, and pairing it with the excellent CAST Freetour Look Pivot 15 hybrid binding.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
For this, I’d simply stick with my two inbounds-oriented skis from my 3-ski quiver.
Ski #1: Black Crows Camox, 186.5 cm
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
Hmm, I don’t think I’d change anything here. The Camox and Countach are both exceptionally versatile, and we haven’t had any durability issues with them. Crested Butte is pretty average as far as snow totals go for the whole world, and it’s a great place to test durability.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
It’s hard to ditch the Sender Free 110 here, and I’ll definitely miss the 4FRNT Hoji as a touring ski. I also really contemplated the 194 cm 4FRNT Devastator as my wider ski, but I think it’s a bit too long to be my touring setup.
V. 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?
Still wondering if the Line Optic 88 and K2 Omen Team will impress me enough to pick either as my narrowest ski.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I could go with many options here, so I’ll just list my top choices.
ON3P: Woodsman 92, Woodsman 108
Moment: Wildcat 101, Countach 110
Armada: ARV 94, ARV 106
Whitedot: Altum 94, Altum 114
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
This is getting challenging, and compromises must be made. The two skis I’ve selected are quite different in many ways, and that’s kind of the point — I want maximum variety and versatility.
Ski #1: Volkl Secret 102, 170 cm + alpine binding
This will be my daily driver for resort, which mostly means firm-ish snow but also some shallow powder and soft chop days. This slot could have pretty easily gone to several other similar skis, including the Salomon Stance 102, Nordica Santa Ana 102, Blizzard Black Pearl 94, and K2 Mindbender 99Ti. I settled on the Secret 102 because it’s one of the most damp and stable skis I’ve been on, yet it’s still pretty maneuverable in tight terrain. I also really enjoy the Secret 102 on piste, and just about every run at CBMR includes at least some time spent carving groomers.
Ski #2: Armada ARW 112, 185 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
I am actually surprised that this ski is still a part of my quiver, even as things get whittled down. It’s definitely wider than I would opt for if I knew I’d be sticking around Crested Butte all season, in which case I’d swap for something a bit more versatile, such as the Icelantic Maiden 108 (see below). But because I am optimistic about visiting some different, snowier locales this season (Alaska and Japan), I need a wider ski in this year’s quiver. This ski would also serve as my touring setup for when I want to hunt for pow in the backcountry.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Ski #1: Volkl Secret 102, 170 cm + alpine binding
No reason to deviate here.
Ski #2: Icelantic Maiden 108, 176 cm + alpine binding
This choice makes sense to me, given that resort “powder days” tend to include fewer untracked runs than the backcountry, and I’m more likely to ski a lot of soft chop in the resort. The Maiden 108 handles chop very well, provides lots of flotation for its width, and it’s a fun and more playful alternative to my daily driver. The Maiden 108 also doesn’t feel like a niche, powder-specific tool; it’s a great option for tight terrain and moguls. And even though it is pretty playful, I’ve also been impressed with its stability.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
For this question, I would stick to my inbounds-only options: the Volkl Secret 102 and Icelantic Maiden 108. These are both skis that work well in a wide range of conditions and I’ve had very good experiences with their durability.
Of course, when I think of snow conditions in places like Japan or Alaska, it could be worth going with something wider. But I think it’s a safer bet to choose two pretty versatile skis with slightly different strengths, rather than having one ski that’s highly specialized for a small range of conditions.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
All the skis I mentioned for my daily driver resort ski: Salomon Stance 102, Nordica Santa Ana 102, Blizzard Black Pearl 94, and K2 Mindbender 99Ti.
For my 50/50 powder and travel ski, I also had plenty of good options. Last year, I chose the Majesty Vadera Ti, which is more stable and adaptable in rougher snow, but I’m going for the more playful and easygoing ARW 112.
V. 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 am still curious about the Salomon QST X. I also look forward to spending more time on the 176 cm Salomon Stance 102 this season to find out if it’s a better choice for my daily driver slot, over the Volkl Secret 102. And, as mentioned in our previous quiver articles, I’d love some time on the revamped 4FRNT MSP CC and Nordica Santa Ana 97.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
There are plenty of good options — these are my top contenders:
Armada: Reliance 102 Ti, ARW 112
K2: Mindbender 99Ti W, Mindbender 106C W
Salomon: Stance 102, QST Stella 106
Blizzard: Black Pearl 94, Sheeva 11
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
For reference, and as noted in our other quiver articles, my season is dominated by lift-accessed skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort from November through early April, with some mid-winter touring sprinkled in and more human-powered skiing starting in April.
When narrowing things down from three skis to two, I’m trying to focus on the numbers. If I do that, I know that my days spent riding chairs outnumber those on skin tracks. As a result, I’m opting to compromise more on my touring setup than my resort skis. And, turns out, this is almost the exact same 2-ski quiver as I picked last year:
Ski #1: Armada Declivity X 102, 180 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
The Declivity X 102 sticks around as my resort daily driver, and in this quiver, it’ll get used for everything from icy early season laps to slushy spring days. Here, I’m also mounting it with a hybrid binding so I can tour on it, mostly pre- and post-work skinning at the resort and then more frequent time in the backcountry during the spring. If there’s a lot of great mid-winter pow, I’ll either happily lap the resort on my #2 ski or hit some mellow slopes in the backcountry on my powsurf board.
If you haven’t read our larger quiver articles, here’s a refresher on why the Declivity X 102 is my current pick for an everyday all-mountain ski:
“For my everyday ski in the resort, I want it to be damp and stable enough to encourage me to ski hard even when conditions are rough, but I also want it to be light enough to cater to a dynamic, active style in CBMR’s tight, technical terrain (think lots of quick hops, slashes, and other changes of direction).
I want to be able to drive it hard through the shovels when needed, but not have a ski that’s so directional that it feels unwieldy in the air or unintuitive when I want to ski with a more centered stance. And I need it to be fun to carve on firm groomers (not just steep ones), while also being pretty easy to release, slash, and flick around in tight mogul lines. I also want a tail that’s high enough for cruising switch in shallow snow.”
Currently, the Declivity X 102 checks all those boxes better than anything else I’ve tried, but it’s a very close call. As I touch on below, there are a lot of other skis that are better at certain things but that compromise on others. The Declivity X 102 feels like a nice middle-ground option for my particular preferences.
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
To some folks, it might seem silly to include a 118mm-wide ski in a 2-ski quiver for Colorado. Yes, we get more snow than some locales, but CBMR is a far cry from, say, Japan or Alyeska or Mt. Baker. There are plenty of narrower skis that are still a blast to ski during most of the pow days we get, and those skis are often more versatile than the widest powder sticks.
But none of that matters in this case, cause this is my quiver, based on no one else’s opinions except my own. And my brain thinks that skiing chop and pow on the Sender Free 118 is one of the most enjoyable things I can do on this planet. So even in a 2-ski quiver, I’m gonna keep the dopamine flowing by breaking out the Sender Free 118 any time it snows more than a couple inches.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Given my inbounds-biased approach to this 2-ski quiver, nothing would change, other than the fact that I’d just put regular alpine bindings on both the Declivity X 102 and Sender Free 118.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I wouldn’t be too worried about just running the same skis I picked for my primary 2-ski quiver, but I’ll switch things up slightly for the reasons outlined below.
Ski #1: RMU Apostle 96 Ti, 184 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0
In terms of on-snow performance, I’d happily keep the Armada Declivity X 102 here. However, that ski is new for 24/25, so I can’t yet speak to its long-term durability. I also had an issue with the previous-gen Declivity 102 Ti delaminating at the tail after about season of use, so between that and the new version’s construction, I think I’ll switch to a different ski.
Also, if we’re considering every possible locale in the world here, then there’s a decent chance I’d end up somewhere that has better touring opportunities than lift-accessed ones, in which case I wouldn’t mind a slightly lighter setup. So, I’m opting to switch to the RMU Apostle 96 Ti.
I really like the Apostle 96 Ti as an all-round resort ski. It handles most conditions and terrain quite well, and while it’s not as stable as the Declivity X 102, the Apostle 96 Ti is notably more playful, which is a tradeoff I’m often happy to make. I could have a lot of fun on this ski in just about any setting, and we haven’t yet experienced any notable durability issues with the RMU skis we’ve tested over the past several years.
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
I know this directly contradicts the rationale I just laid out for not choosing the Declivity X 102, given that the Sender Free 118 is also (technically) new this season. But the Sender Free 118 is almost identical to the Rossignol Blackops 118 that I’ve put a ton of time on, and I’m pretty confident in its long-term durability. The main change for the Sender Free 118 is that it features Rossignol’s “Air Tip” insert, and we haven’t had any durability issues with any of the recent Rossi skis that feature the same tech.
It’d be a bit silly to have this ski if I end up somewhere that never gets more than a couple inches of fresh snow at a time. However, the Apostle 96 Ti would be a blast in those conditions, and the Sender Free 118 would more than justify its place in this quiver any time I find myself in a slightly deeper storm cycle.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
In my larger quivers, I listed dozens of the skis I considered. For my daily driver slot, the closest contenders were the RMU Apostle 96 Ti, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Rossignol Sender Soul 102, Faction Dancer 2, K2 Omen Team, Line Optic 96, and Icelantic Nomad 106.
Each of those skis (and others I’m sure I’m forgetting) does one or several things better than the Declivity X 102, but I think the Declivity offers the best combination of traits for my particular preferences at this very moment.
As for my pow ski, there are lots of good alternatives in that category, but I haven’t yet tried something that I love as much as the Sender Free 118 / Blackops 118. Still, I really enjoy lapping lifts on a resort pow day aboard the Moment Wildcat, Volkl Revolt 114, Line Optic 114, Icelantic Nomad 112, and RMU Apostle 114.
V. 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?
On paper, the Moment Countach 104 looks pretty dang similar to the Armada Declivity X 102. I’m curious to see if they also feel similar once we get the Countach 104 on snow.
I also want to spend more time on the recently revised K2 Omen Team, Reckoner 102, and Reckoner 110. I’ve really enjoyed all of them so far, but I have a hunch they’re a bit too freestyle-focused to take the spot of my only all-mountain ski in a 2-ski quiver.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
As we narrow down the quivers, I think this question actually gets easier cause I no longer have so many ultra-specialized skis. I think I’d be happy with any of these:
Rossignol: Sender Soul 102 & Sender Free 118
RMU: Apostle 96 Ti & Apostle 114
Moment: Countach 104 (?) & Wildcat
K2: Mindbender 99Ti & Reckoner 124 or Reckoner KF
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 205 lbs / 188 cm, 93 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
For this question, I am going to take it a bit more literally and focus on the “for where you ski most” part. That would mean a limit of two skis 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’m loving this loophole!
With only 2 picks for the CB area, I’ve decided to go “all in” on agility for the tight steeps inbounds.
Ski #1: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
At 186 cm, this ski is a bit short for me. That makes it agile enough to help me keep up with fast friends in CB’s tight, mogulled steeps — whenever there’s any fresh snow, or even older soft-ish snow.
And whenever I crave higher speeds, the hefty Sender Free 118 (2495 g / ski) delivers impressive suspension and stability for its short-ish length, which is enough to satisfy me for the limited wide open terrain within the resort at CB.
Ski #2: Nordica Enforcer 104, 185 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Again, this 185 cm length of the Enforcer 104 is a shorter, more agile ski for keeping up with fast friends in CB’s tight spaces. But unlike the Sender Free 118, the Enforcer 104 is for the firmer days.
As I’ve written before, the new Enforcer series is generally heavier than most other brands’ all-mountain skis in this class (even other metal-laminate ones). Even though that helps the suspension of the 185 cm Enforcer 104, I would sometimes be wishing for the longer 191 cm length. But as I wrote in the previous quiver articles:
“For firm groomer days at CB, …I will just accept that its short-ish radius and length won’t shine at Super-G speeds.”
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Same quiver. No ski touring for me this season in the Colorado region “where I ski most.”
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
I’ve recently been more interested in prioritizing quality peak experiences, rather than maximizing the quantity of common everyday experiences. With that perspective, I can accept suboptimal tools for firm snow as long as I have good tools for soft snow and deep powder. With that in mind:
Ski #1: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
I love this ski in many, many soft-snow situations — whether skiing fast or slow. If I somehow ended up on firm snow for a long period of time, I can still make this ski work fine. And if I end up wanting more edge hold, then I would just sharpen the edges and/or increase the side bevel angle.
Ski #2: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + Tyrolia Attack 14 MN Demo
I need a wide powder ski just in case, because this question says “regardless of location.” Hypothetically, if I somehow ended up heli-skiing every day for 3 years with Paul Forward and Chugach Powder Guides, I would never forgive myself if I had wasted both of my picks on narrower skis. Of the currently available skis I’ve tried, the 189 cm Reckoner 124 is one of my favorites for pow days.
So far, I haven’t seen anything to make me question the durability of these two skis here. If anything ever broke, I would just do my best to repair it and then focus more on dodging rocks.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
The Moment Countach 110 is super fun for me in an impressively wide variety of situations, and its modest weight and length of 188 cm make it reasonably agile for me in even the tightest spots at CB. But instead, I decided to cover a larger range of waist widths by picking a wider ski (118 mm) and a narrower ski (104 mm).
Other great skis I considered: Moment Wildcat, Nordica Enforcer 99, and Volkl M7 Mantra.
V. 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 heavy build of the 188 cm Prior CBC could potentially replace my Sender Free 118 pick for CB terrain on soft-ish days. But I’ve only tried the lightweight carbon version, which isn’t a great fit, given my strong preference for heavy skis.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I love skiing heavy skis in wide open spaces. But that sort of terrain is rare at Crested Butte, so now I’m slightly more open to some brands whose skis aren’t so heavy. If I was also factoring in Whistler, my picks would likely be a bit different (see my other quiver writeups).
Moment: Wildcat, Countach 110
Nordica: Unleashed 114, Enforcer 104
Rossignol: Sender Free 118, Sender Free 110
Prior: CBC, Husume
David Golay
(6’, 165 lbs / 183 cm, 74.9 kg)
Up till this point, I’ve mostly just been whittling down my bigger quivers. But now that we’re down to just two skis, I need a bigger shakeup. As I mentioned in the earlier articles, my skiing (1) mostly happens in a very high-snow area (Western Washington) and (2) is heavily biased toward doing more touring than riding chairs.
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
I briefly toyed with the idea of just going for two touring-focused skis, but that’s going a bit too far, even given my touring-heavy bias. But because I spend a lot more time skinning than riding lifts, I’m basically going to go for one dedicated touring ski and one 50/50 one.
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 14 AP
If I’m only getting one dedicated touring ski, I might like it to be a little bit wider / floatier, but the Raven is incredibly versatile and is still a blast when things are pretty damn deep. I’ll miss the extra flotation of a dedicated pow ski on some storm days where there’s a ton of fresh snow but avy danger is keeping me to low-angle trees. Still, the Raven planes up really well if given a bit of pitch and speed to let it run.
Ski #2: Volkl V-Werks Katana, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider AP / Look Pivot 15
I’m really not into the idea of 50/50 skis in general. Just about any ski that I’d be interested in skiing inbounds is heavier than I really want to tour on. I also have different preferences for ski shape and performance (beyond just wanting more stability and suspension in a resort ski) that push me in different directions for those use cases, too.
However, paring down a quiver to two skis means compromising, and the V-Werks Katana can serve double duty for me better than anything else I can think of. Realistically, I’ll probably do the majority of my touring days on the Ravens anyway, but there are days when the Katana would be the better call, and I’d be glad to have the option.
What I’d ideally do for bindings is to mount the Katanas with inserts so I can tour with the ATK Freeraiders but swap on Pivots when skiing inbounds. (I would be fine swapping one pair of ATKs back and forth between the Katanas and Ravens if getting three total pairs of bindings is cheating too much). But if swapping bindings runs afoul of the spirit of the question, I’ll put the CAST Freetour system on here. I’m not sending stuff hard enough in the backcountry to really need them for that duty, and I’d prefer something lighter and quicker to transition. But I’m not willing to compromise on skiing a true alpine binding inbounds, and the Freetour would check that box.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
In my 5-ski quiver, I went with the Volkl Mantra 102 and Moment Countach 110 as my two-ski resort pairing. I wouldn’t be mad about sticking with those two, but part of my thinking in that quiver was that I’d be spending a lot of the really deep days touring, so I’m going to tweak things slightly.
I will stick with the 184 cm Mantra 102 as my firm and variable-snow ski. It’s a really good, very versatile ski that carves quite well for its width and is still a lot of fun on groomers. That said, it’s way more fun in chopped-up, firm to shallow off-piste conditions, which is where it’ll realistically spend the most time for me.
For my bigger ski, I’m going to swap to the 190 cm Moment Wildcat. In the world of this question, I’m going to be skiing more resort pow days than I would if I’m allowed to go touring, and I’ll take the wider, floatier Wildcat for that duty. There’s a slightly bigger gap between it and the Mantra 102 than I’d ideally like, but that’s how it goes with only two skis.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
For this question, I’m going to take one resort ski and one touring one. I’ll focus on slightly more versatile / less specifically soft-snow-oriented options than I have been in my real-world quivers.
And that answer feels pretty easy: I’m going with the 184 cm Volkl Mantra 102 and 184 cm 4FRNT Raven, for all the reasons I’ve already laid out for loving both those skis.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
I’m still a huge fan of the 188 cm Moment Countach 110, but it just doesn’t quite fit what I want to do here. I’d also love to be able to fit in a slightly bigger, more pow-oriented touring ski, but as I’ll cover more in the next question, I don’t have an ideal option to fill that slot.
V. 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 had a more pow-oriented touring ski that was still reasonably versatile (i.e., not the Heritage Lab Ultra Taper 132, as much as I like that ski), I’d be very tempted to do a big reshuffling of this quiver. In that scenario, I’d take a wider dedicated touring ski and figure something out for a narrower 50/50 one (Moment Countach 104, maybe?).
But as I’ve already discussed in earlier quiver articles, most of the lightweight pow skis I know and love aren’t available anymore, or they’ve been tweaked and I’ve yet to ski the new iteration. The dearly departed K2 Dispatch 120 would have been in at least my 5, 4, and 3-ski quivers if it were still on the market, and I’d be tempted to drop it in here, too. There are a bunch of other options that might be what I want that I simply haven’t yet tried, such as the ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour, Armada Locator 112, Moonlight Cruiser Carbon All Terrain, and a few others. But until I get to ski those and find one that clicks, I’ll stick with my picks above.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
4FRNT: Raven, MSP 107.
This quiver is a bit more biased toward the resort than would be ideal (I wouldn’t tour on the MSP 107), but I’d be pretty happy with it.
Moment: Deathwish Tour, Countach 110
I’d be happier about this idea if Moment made a more directional mid-fat touring ski, but the Countach 110 + Deathwish Tour sounds alright.
Volkl: Blaze 114, Mantra 102
I’ve only skied the Blaze 106, not its bigger sibling, but if I was going to go for one dedicated resort ski and one touring one, the Mantra 102 and Blaze 114 combo sounds very promising.
ON3P: Billy Goat 108 Tour, Woodsman 108
I’m really reaching now, because I haven’t been on either of the current versions of these skis. Still, the Billy Goat 108 Tour and Woodsman 108 sounds promising on paper. (I’d be more excited about this idea if the Wrenegade 110 Pro was still around but, alas.)
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
I hope to spend more time in the backcountry and skinning the resort this year, but if the past few years are an indicator of where my ski time will be spent, it will be 99% at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with the possibility of a few days at other resorts in the Rocky Mountains and some human-powered skiing. So, I decided to focus my 2-ski quiver on inbounds skiing, specifically inbounds skiing in the Rocky Mountains.
Ski #1: RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
As I said in my 3-ski quiver, I really like how the Valhalla 107 performs in soft snow and powder. The Vahalla 107 floats well and allows me to ski tight terrain in powder without forcing myself into the backseat to keep the tips from diving. With the CAST Freetour 2.0 system, I would still be able to tour if the opportunity strikes.
Ski #2: Salomon Stance 94 W, 174 cm + alpine binding
The Stance 94 W would be my daily driver in this quiver. In the 174 cm length, I need to stay on top of the Stance 94 W to enjoy the ski. But when I do maintain a good, forward body position, it rewards me with quick, nimble turns. The Stance 94 W carves well for its class and provides some energy at the end of each turn. However, it doesn’t tend to rebound and knock me off balance as much as another ski I’ve often considered for this spot, the previous Nordica Santa Ana 93. I spent a fair amount of time skiing the Stance 94 W last season and found them to perform well on and off-piste in most conditions — just what I want from the ski I’d use for the majority of my days.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Same as above — but replace the CAST binding on the Valhalla 107 with a standard alpine binding, such as the regular Look Pivot.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
It would be very easy to say “same as above” again, but with a 2-ski quiver that includes the Valhalla 107 and the Stance 94 W, I would most likely be skiing the Stance 94 W most of the time since I view the Valhalla 107 is a soft-snow tool. When I think of a 2-ski quiver for the next 3-4 years, I’d like to have both skis be more versatile, with more of a 50/50 split in usage, and I’d like a narrower ski in my quiver. With that in mind:
Ski #1: Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + alpine binding
The Summit 106 has been a favorite of mine since I first hopped on it at the 2021 Blister Summit.
When I ski, my mind goes back and forth between analyzing the terrain and conditions, my current body position, and how the skis are reacting. Whenever I ski the Summit 106, I tend to forget about my skis, which leaves me more bandwidth to focus on my skiing and the run in front of me. For me, this is the ultimate compliment for a ski, and it’s why the Summit 106 is always high on my list of skis. From the very first turns, I’ve found the Summit 106 to be easy to control, maneuverable, and predictable. I enjoy carving it on groomers (more so than the Valhalla 107), I find it easy to pilot in the steeps, and it’s pretty stable and somewhat damp relative to how agile it feels.
Ski #2: Ferreol Explo 86, 174 cm + CAST Freetour 2.0 Look Pivot 15
The Ferreol Explo 86 was one of my favorite skis last year, and I look forward to hopping on it again later this month. On groomers, it’s easy to carve, provides nice edge hold, and is quick to transition edge to edge. It provides some energy at the end of each turn but does so in a predictable fashion.
Off-piste, I found the Explo 86 easy to flick around and slide, and I didn’t need to ski it aggressively for it to be intuitive. It’s quite nimble and approachable.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
The Blizzard Black Pearl 84 is one of my favorite skis, but I chose the Explo 86 and Stance 94 W in my quivers because I find both more composed in rough conditions, and they allow me to be a bit more aggressive when I want to be. But I’d happily have any of these skis in my quiver.
V. 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 the Salomon Stance 88 and try the Santa Ana 87 and 92.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I think I’d be happy with either of these:
Blizzard: Black Pearl 84 + Sheeva 11
Elan: Ripstick 94 W + Ripstick 106 W
Paul Forward
(6”, 200 lbs / 183 cm, 90.7 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, 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:
Ski #1: Faction La Machine 5 w/ inserts drilled for a light touring binding and Marker Jester Pro
This is the only ski I can think of that I would be happy using for guiding heli skiing and also for most of my mid-winter ski touring. The 126mm-wide La Machine 5 is very light for its size (~1900 g / ski @ 186 cm), but it provides the float I want for big lines and deep snow, and it’s still stable enough to handle some variable conditions.
One caveat: I’ve only skied the 186 cm version; it was great, but I I’m really looking forward to trying the 192 cm version this winter (that length wasn’t available when I first tested the ski).
Lastly, I appear to be the exception here at Blister in that I have little to no interest in dealing with the CAST system or another hybrid binding like the Shift when I’m touring. I’m a pretty big guy and often ski pretty fast in big terrain, but I have not had any issues with standard tech bindings like the Moment Voyager / ATK Raider, or even something really light like the Trab Gara Titan or the Dynafit Superlite 150. So, like David, I think I’d go with binding inserts that let me swap between a dedicated touring binding and a dedicated alpine binding, depending on what the day entails.
Ski #2: Folsom Giver + Marker Jester Pro (possibly w/ inserts for a touring binding)
I think the Giver 110 would largely be my primary inbounds ski. I’d probably stick to the same build I have now, which is quite stable for inbounds riding but still feels nimble underfoot. Mine have a very shallow, almost totally flat version of Folsom’s “Shallow Reverse Camber” profile. My Giver 110 arcs well on groomers but still feels very loose and fun in almost all off-piste conditions. It isn’t light, but if I wanted a narrower touring ski, I’d probably drill some inserts for a very light binding like the Dynafit Superlite 150.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
This is hard to wrap my head around, given that backcountry skiing has been such a major part of my life for so long. But I’ll give it a go.
I think this 2-ski quiver would include something like a Folsom Rapture with a slightly heavier build to accommodate more inbounds riding while still being a good heli ski. Then I’d pair it with a narrower resort ski for firmer days, such as the Black Crows Justis or Volkl Mantra 102.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
I have a ton of days on my Folsom Raptures. The topsheets are a bit beat up but the important parts are holding up great, despite more than a few rock encounters and other adverse experiences. They’d likely make the list. Then I’d maybe add the Giver 110 as my second ski here. I’d likely opt for a slightly lighter build on at least one of the two, to make them less of a burden on the skin track.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
I’d definitely prefer to have a heavier, more stable pow ski to use for guiding (e.g., Folsom Rotor), but I also need a light-ish ski for touring. Similarly, I’d be bummed to miss out on having a fun, skinny carving ski. A winter without either of those would definitely be less enjoyable. It’s also hard to ditch the Armada Locator 112, which is a great touring ski but doesn’t offer the flotation or stability I need in a guiding ski.
V. 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 on the hunt for a good fit in two categories:
(1) A 100-105 mm wide all-mountain ski that’s fun to carve, forgiving, but powerful and stable enough for a bigger guy to use at high speeds in all conditions at Alyeska. The Black Crows Justis is pretty close, as is the Mantra 102. Still, I’d love to try a few more, such as the Faction Dancer 2, Moment Commander 102, and some others I’m sure I’m forgetting.
(2) As Jonathan and I discussed in our recent GEAR:30 podcast, there is a dearth of fat but lightweight touring skis currently on the market. I am very excited to test the longest length of both the Faction La Machine 4 (117 mm wide) and 5 (126 mm wide). I’m also curious to try the Heritage Lab Ultrataper 122 which, at least on paper, meets my criteria as well. Otherwise, I’m not sure there’s much else on the market that’s over 115 mm underfoot and under 1800 grams.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I’d likely stick with Folsom, which is what I picked for my worldwide 2-ski quiver.
Faction could be a potential contender as well, particularly if I end up really liking the Dancer 2.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, 180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.5 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
My answers to these questions are largely unchanged from last year — I still don’t believe in changing things just for the sake of changing things.
Ski #1: Customized Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm + alpine binding
Till somebody makes a sub-90mm-wide ski that I personally like better for carving up groomers and truly all-mountain, off-piste use … I’m sticking with the Spar 88 (but see question V below). I’d likely opt for a version of the Spar 88 that’s a bit heavier than their standard ‘Signature Series’ version.
Ski #2: 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm + Shift2 binding
I know I can can happily break this ski out when conditions are soft or deep in Crested Butte, both inbounds and in the backcountry. But even when hitting really firm or atrociously rough snow (frozen sun cups, runnels, etc), the Hoji stays quite predictable and intuitive (like my beloved, narrower, 4FRNT Raven), which is all I really want from my ski in such conditions.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
Ski #1: Customized Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm
Ski #2: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm
I was even more tempted than last year to pick the 190 cm Moment Wildcat over the Countach 110. And if I was going with a wider setup for Ski #1, I would definitely take the 190 cm Moment Wildcat or the 186 cm Rossignol Sender 118 for Crested Butte. But the Countach 110 is awfully comfortable across the types of terrain and conditions that are most common around here, so I’ll live.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)
Same as last year, I’ll take:
Ski #1: Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm + alpine binding
Ski #2: Wagner Summit 106 + Shift2 binding
This combination has me covered inbounds (except for the deepest days of the season), and I’m happy having the Wagner Summit 106 as my every-single-day touring ski. Plus, I feel really good about having the Summit 106 as my single travel ski for the next 3 years, which is still where I really think the Summit 106 stands out.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
For the snowier days of the season, I still very much love the 186 cm Rossignol Sender Free 118 and the 190 cm Moment Wildcat. And there will be plenty of days in Crested Butte where the Volkl Mantra 102, Nordica Enforcer 104, Salomon Stance 102, and Stockli Stormrider 102 are very, very good tools for the job.
V. 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 I’ve touched on in the previous quiver articles, I’m very excited to get back on the 182 cm Blizzard Anomaly 88 — it seems like a strong contender for my carving + all-mountain setup for firmer conditions. Same goes for the 182 cm Moment Commander 92.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
While not 100% ideal, either of these two would likely work well:
Moment: Commander 92, 182 cm + Countach 110, 188 cm
Folsom: Spar 88, 182 cm + Giver, 186 cm
Easy for me. Mindbender 89ti and 99ti and done! Being an unapologetic resort skier, I’d miss a wider ski for about 1.5 hours, 10 days a year, at most.
Not so for me Tom. I’m a bit of a compromise.. have to be able to tour, so I would dump my Volkl M102 ;(( (1st pick up till now).. haven’t tried it but very curious on Dynastar MPro 100, so I’m cheating by going to my ‘would like to try if I got a chance ski’! Otherwise would stick with my old QST106 (pretty similar to QST Echo I’m guessing).
Dynastar MPro 100 (186), ATK + Strive with binding inserts
Rossi Black ops 118 (186), STH2
It would be great to add the question “which skis would you choose if you would only go touring?”
I get it. I think when we get down to two skis — already ridiculous! — there should be an “extra” if you tour.
Or, if you mostly tour, two of those, and one alpine.
Let’s have some humanity here! :-)
Haha, 100%.. 3 really is the minimum
Couldn’t agree more about the Rossi Black Ops/Sender 118 – most fun and versatile ski I’ve used since the OG K2 Hell Bent.
Now it starts to get tricky! First quiver without my beloved Ranger 102 FR @ 184
Think I would go:
1. Head Monster 98 @ 177 to cover firm days on and off piste, love these a lot and have skied them in all conditions
2. Völkl Katana V-Werks @ 184 to cover deeper days plus they carve well on soft pistes. Find this one harder to decide as it’s tough to leave the Wildcat off but could also easily go Meridian @ 181 or M-Free 108 @ 182 (take a deep breath Jonathan!) as they would still be a lot of fun and capable on deeper/softer days (just not truly deep)
Am likely going to spend the rest of today changing my mind on this!
If I was going single brand (and guessing on some I have not skied):
Moment – Commander 92 and Meridian or Wildcat 108
Völkl – Mantra M7 and Katana V-Werks
Line – Optic 96 and 114
J-Skis – Masterblaster and Hotshot or Friend