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
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! :-)
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.