Intro
We recently published several of our reviewers’ selections for 5-ski, 4-ski, and 3-ski quivers. Now, we’re really getting to the hard decisions, asking them to trim those down to two skis.
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.
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.
Seven 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. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
VII. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
Ski #1: Armada Declivity X 102, 180 cm + CAST Freetour
For this question, I would opt to trim the Black Crows Mirus Cor from my true do-everything 3-ski quiver. I would dearly miss that ski during the points of the season when I want to make the most of lower-angle groomers. But the Declivity X 102 carves pretty well for its size (I’d probably have its tune freshened up once or twice a season to help in that regard), and I love it for most days at Crested Butte.
That typically means lots of tight, big moguls; catching air off every little side hit, roller, and gap I can find; and laying it over as hard as I can on the groomers in between. As I’ve mentioned many times before, when it comes to a daily driver for Crested Butte, this ski just happens to stand out in a lot of little ways for my particular skiing style and preferences. And, same as in my 3-ski quiver, I’d mount it with CAST’s Freetour hybrid binding system so I still have a setup I can use for post-work skinning laps in the resort and a lot more backcountry time in the spring once the snow has consolidated. It wouldn’t be light, but my tours don’t tend to involve tons of vert or really long approaches.
(Quick Aside: sneaking a peek at Paul’s answers, I might go his route and drill this ski for inserts so I could swap between dedicated alpine bindings and dedicated touring bindings. But I don’t mind touring in hybrid bindings as much as Paul does, so I’d probably do a season with CAST before putting new holes and inserts in these skis.)
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
I have seriously considered downsizing from this ski for my 2-ski quiver, but I guess I’m sticking with it, mostly because of how absurdly fun I find it on any day at the resort when it’s snowed more than a few inches.
With only two skis, a 118mm-wide pow ski probably isn’t the most logical choice for a place like Crested Butte. But if I went with any other ski, I know I’d at least slightly regret it on days when deeper snow and (more importantly) deep chop is on the menu. For those conditions, the Sender Free 118 is as close to a perfect ski as I’ve found for my preferences; many of my favorite memories on skis have been resort chop laps on this ski and its predecessor, the Blackops 118.
And, while it takes a toll on my knees and body in general, I still love going fast on it when the snow isn’t deep. If I need a break, I can go back to the much lighter and more agile Declivity X 102.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
For this scenario, the only thing I’d change from my answer to the first question is to swap the CAST Freetour bindings for a regular alpine binding. While I have a lot of faith in the durability and downhill performance of CAST (and most of the other hybrid bindings we’ve tested), there’s no reason to mount a more complex binding to my alpine skis if I’m never going to skin on them.
III. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Ski #1: Majesty Superwolf, 178 cm + ATK Raider or Freeraider variant
This is still my go-to touring ski for firmer / shallower conditions. It’s not a runaway winner; there are a few alternatives I could likely be similarly happy with over the course of a season. But I’ve spent a lot of time on the Superwolf in a very wide range of conditions; I find it very reliable, with a combination of weight and downhill performance that suits my preferences.
ATK’s Raider platform is still my overall favorite binding system for dedicated touring setups. It has the features I prioritize, has been easy to use, is reliable in my experience, and skis better than many bindings around the same weight. I don’t ski nearly as aggressively in the backcountry as I do in the resort, so I’m not very interested in heavier bindings with downhill performance, but I find the Raider’s downhill performance and uphill feature set to be worth the extra 100-200 grams over something like the Dynafit Superlite 150.
I’m not particularly concerned about the weight differences between the Raider variants (spanning roughly ~70 grams), but I haven’t spent enough time on the SL or EVO models to fully commit to a specific version. If I had to buy one tomorrow, I’d probably go with one of the Freeraider versions, since I appreciate the on-snow feel provided by their Freeride Spacer and am not concerned about the extra ~25 grams per foot.
Ski #2: Moment Wildcat Tour 118, 184 cm + ATK Raider or Freeraider variant
In a touring-only quiver, my priorities for my wider ski would be flotation in fresh snow and predictability in weird conditions like crusts, sastrugi, etc.
There are plenty of lighter, narrower touring skis that I really like and would also be fine for this slot — especially since I’d likely be grabbing my powsurf board if conditions are properly deep (and avalanche conditions are likely sketchy).
However, if I’ve huffed, puffed, and sweated my way to get to the top of a line that I think may hold fresh snow, I prefer to have more ski than I need, not less. Given that the Wildcat Tour 118 only weighs 100 to 200 grams more per ski than the narrower alternatives I had in mind — and it’s quite versatile for its width — I feel pretty good about this choice.
I don’t need more than a few inches of fresh (or just soft) snow to have a good time on this ski. It’s not an engaging carver in mellow terrain, but its twinned tail and balanced shape mean that I can always practice my switch skiing to keep things interesting if needed. It truly shines in steeps and unpredictable snow, with excellent composure for its weight, especially when you factor in the fact that it also caters to the sort of playful skiing style I prefer.
The Wildcat platform isn’t a class-leader in terms of pure flotation, relative to width. But if conditions are bottomless (and I’m therefore likely sticking to tighter trees and lower-angle slopes), I can grab my board and just wiggle some (likely terrible-looking) turns on that instead.
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I think I could be pretty happy with my answer to the first question (Armada Declivity X 102 and Rossignol Sender Free 118). We end up skiing a very wide range of conditions throughout the season at Crested Butte, and I think that quiver would cover me well in most locations. I also just know those skis so well — and know I can have a good time on them in the vast majority of on-snow scenarios.
However, I’ll switch it up here for a few reasons. In part because I’m imagining a scenario where I end up at a place where I spend the majority of the winter carving very firm groomers that aren’t all that steep or long; the Declivity X 102 could end up feeling a bit boring if that’s the case, and I probably wouldn’t spend many days on the Sender Free 118. Of course, I could end up in a place like Japan, Alaska, or British Columbia and have the opposite problem, but this season has me more focused on the less-ideal possibility.
Also, I was already debating several different 2-ski quiver structures for question #1, so I might as well shed some light on that, and I think these alternatives could be safer bets if I don’t know where I’ll be skiing.
Ski #1: Faction Dancer 2, 182 cm + CAST Freetour
I considered a ton of different skis for this slot. Right now, I’m going with the Dancer 2 because it (1) is a bit more precise, lively, and engaging on super firm groomers vs. the Declivity X 102, (2) I still very much enjoy it in moguls and steeps, and (3) it comes in at a weight that I like in terms of balancing suspension with agility and the potential for a bit of human-powered skiing.
The Dancer 2 isn’t as forgiving in moguls as I’d like; it’s far from my favorite ski if I’m only going to be carving groomers; and I wish it were a tad looser / surfier off piste But, overall, I think it’d do a good job of keeping me happy when conditions are on the firmer / shallower side of the spectrum.
Ski #2: Dynastar M-Free 112, 190 cm + CAST Freetour
This ski feels like a good compromise, coming from the Sender Free 118. I love the 190 cm M-Free 112 for many of the same reasons I’m so enamored with the Sender Free 118, but I find the M-Free 112 a bit less physically taxing to ski, especially when the snow is firmer or shallower.
I’d be pretty bummed if I ended up in a place like Japan, with deep snow and generally lower-angle terrain, since that’s not where the M-Free 112 excels. But, outside of that scenario, I think I’d have a ton of fun on this ski in most places. It’s great at going fast in pretty much all conditions aside from ice; it’s surprisingly accessible when going slow; and I enjoy it just as much in chop as I do in untracked pow.
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
I probably considered about 20% of the skis in our 25/26 Winter Buyer’s Guide, which would equate to roughly 70 models, so there are too many to list here.
The closest contenders for my daily driver for the resort include the Salomon QST 94, Stockli Stormrider 95, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Black Crows Serpo, K2 Omen Team, RMU Apostle 96, Line Optic 96, Icelantic Nomad 100, and Rossignol Sender Soul 102.
Most of those skis didn’t make the cut because they (1) aren’t as precise and engaging as I’d like on firm groomers, (2) aren’t as forgiving, maneuverable, and playful enough for my preferences in tight off-piste terrain, and/or (3) have too strong of a preference for more traditional, directional skiing or a more freestyle-focused approach (my style tends to fall somewhere in the middle).
As for my wider skis, the list is a lot shorter. The Sender Free 118 and M-Free 112 are probably my two favorite resort pow / chop skis at the moment, but the Moment Wildcat 118, Volkl Revolt 114, and Line Optic 114 also deserve shoutouts. I also considered the K2 Reckoner 110 as the wider ski in my worldwide quiver; it’s a much better carver and generally more engaging at slower speeds vs. the M-Free 112, but it’s a lot less stable in chop.
On the touring side, I could’ve been pretty happy with the Salomon MTN 96 Carbon or Line Vision 96 as my narrow ski.
For my wider ski, the Wildcat Tour 118 is the only ski around that width and weight I’ve tried that really fits my preferences. However, I was pretty close to choosing one of my favorite, slightly narrower touring skis, most notably the Salomon QST Echo 106. Something like that would be more fun on shallower days and mellower terrain, but I’d be wishing for more surface area on deep days.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
There aren’t that many that I think have a very good chance of taking the place of my picks; I think I’d be more likely to swap them for one of my honorable mentions listed in my answers to the previous question.
However, I’m very eager to get on the Heritage Lab AM110 and compare it to the Dynastar M-Free 112. That’ll be an interesting A/B test.
Otherwise, I’ll just be eager to get on any new all-mountain skis in the ~90 mm to ~100 mm width range. The all-mountain skis I picked aren’t absolutely perfect for my preferences, and I’d be psyched if I find something that manages to be more fun (for me) on piste without compromising off-piste performance, or vice versa.
VII. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
None of these are perfect, but in a smaller quiver, there are lots of brands that make one ski I’d be very happy with and another that is at least ‘ok.’
Volkl: Revolt 101 + Revolt 114
Salomon: QST 94 + QST Blank or QST X
Line: Blade or Optic 96 + Optic 114
Faction: Dancer 2 + Prodigy 4(?)
Rossignol: Sender Soul 102 + Sender Free 118
K2: Mindbender 99Ti + Reckoner 124 or Reckoner KF
Paul Forward
(6”, 195 lbs / 183 cm, 88.5 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
Ski #1: Heritage Lab BC120, 193 cm + inserts for Marker Jester and Moment Voyager
I really clicked with this ski last season and could pretty happily spend my whole heli season on it. And, at under 1900 g for the 193 cm length, they would also perform very well as my all-season Alaska touring ski. They might feel a little big in the spring, but overall, this is one of the most intuitive and versatile fat pow skis I’ve ever used — and they happen to be quite light as well.
Compared to the heavier R120 version of this same shape, I actually prefer the touring version in all conditions because of its stiffer flex. I found I was overpowering the shovels on the R120. While I prefer my much heavier Folsom Raptures and Rotors for mechanized powder skiing, Heritage Lab’s carbon construction is one of the best I’ve encountered when it comes to damping and stability in a light package.
As we recently discussed on our GEAR:30 podcast, I really don’t like the concept of hybrid bindings. So, since we’re not working with extremely strict rules on the binding front, I would stick with the inconvenience of inserts to avoid having to compromise.
Ski #2: Black Crows Justis, 189 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
As discussed previously, for me, the Justis offers a ‘good but not great’ combination of the traits I’m looking for in a daily resort ski at Alyeska. Most notably: good carvability / on-piste performance, stability, power, damping, and a relatively progressive (-7 cm) mount point.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
To make this more relatable, I’ll also remove my heli-ski guiding from the equation for this question, so here are two ideas for a full season of skiing at Alyeska:
Option 1 (normal Alyeska year):
Ski #1: Moment Wildcat 118, 190 cm OR Moment Chipotle Banana, 193 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Since I’m removing heli skiing from the equation here, I don’t need anything fatter than 120 mm. DPS killed off my favorite Koala 118/119, so for a charge-y but still loose and balanced fat ski, I think I might be left with the Wildcat 118. I haven’t actually skied the current version, so if I don’t love it as much as my old Blister Pro version, I’d defer to the Chipotle Banana. The Chipotle Banana lacks in floatation for a ski of its width, but it crushes high-speed variable conditions and chop.
Ski #2: Black Crows Justis, 189 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
See Above.
Option 2 (this year at Alyeska so far):
Ski #1 Black Crows Corvus, 191 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Like many mountains around the world this year, we haven’t yet seen tons of storms in Alaska (at least, not the snowy kinds of storms), so I’ll offer up my thoughts on a 2-ski resort quiver for down years.
I’m not totally in love with the Corvus, but it’s probably the best ~110mm-wide ski (for my preferences) I’ve used recently that is still in production. It’s reasonably damp, well-balanced, and pretty fun in anything soft. It’s likely these will be on my feet when it finally snows again, unless we get more than expected
Ski #2 Black Crows Mirus Cor, 184 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
These are just too fun. I’ve skied them (at least part of the day) on all 19 of my lift-served days at Alyeska so far this season. They’re amazing for making the most of less-than-ideal conditions, especially when I’m lapping groomers (whether solo or with my son).
III. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Ski #1: Heritage Lab BC120, 193 cm + Moment Voyager
See above. These are currently the best powder-touring skis on the market that I’ve used. While I’ve sung the praises of the Armada Locator 112 as a 1-touring-ski quiver for Alaska, if I get two dedicated touring skis, the BC120 is a better, more powder-specific tool for me.
Ski #2: Blizzard Zero G 105, 188 cm + Dynafit Superlite 150
I’d spend most of the season up here on the BC120, but for spring days and super big missions, these are quite nice. I wish they were a little less directional overall, but their combination of weight and stability is quite good for my preferences around a non-powder Alaskan touring ski.
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I’d probably just stick with the BC120 + Justis combo, especially since neither has given me any reason to be concerned about their durability. They’re obviously not ideal for ultra-firm snow, but that’s why my actual quiver spans everything from full-on Slalom skis to some of the widest pow skis ever produced.
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
Nothing comes to mind that was really tempting. The Blizzard Rustler 11 in 192 cm could potentially compete with the Wildcat 118, but the Rustler 11 is less stable in chop and doesn’t offer much of a boost in terms of flotation.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
I hope to spend more time on newer skis in the 100-110 mm width range to potentially find a better replacement for the Justis, as well as alternatives to the Corvus in the 110-120 mm range. Talking to our other reviewers, it sounds like I need to get on the latest Nordica Enforcer 104 as a potential all-mountain ski.
VII. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I’m missing some data points of experience, but the ones that come to mind include Black Crows (Anima or Nocta + Justis), Heritage Lab (BC120 + AM100?), Blizzard (Rustler 11 + Anomaly 102 or Rustler 10?), and Atomic (Maverick 115 + Maverick 105 or Backland 109?).
David Golay
(6’, 160 lbs / 183 cm, 72.6 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
This is getting hard now. These days, I spend more time touring than I do riding chairs, but I want to be able to cover both bases well across a wide range of conditions. 50/50 skis and one-ski quivers (i.e., one ski for resort and another for backcountry skiing) require notable compromises either way, and there are a variety of ways that I could approach this one, with entirely different categories of skis involved. Ask me tomorrow, and I might have a different answer, but here’s what I’m going with right now:
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
Sticking with an old standby for my touring daily driver. See my five-ski quiver for more on my rationale, but as I’ve currently decided to break this down, this is the ski I’d use for the vast majority of my backcountry days. The next ski would be for chairlift-riding and deeper backcountry days:
Ski #2: Moment Wildcat 118, 190 cm + CAST Freetour
I’m kind of taking a Hail Mary here, going for a single resort ski this big, but there’s at least some method to the madness. In this scenario, I’ll be doing a lot of touring if conditions inbounds aren’t pretty good, but that’s a tradeoff I’m largely okay with. And while I’m not going to be doing any super long touring days on this setup, I’ll throw CAST Freetour bindings on here so that I’ve got the option to take the Wildcats for a walk if I really want to on a deeper day, without making any compromises to their inbounds skiing performance the rest of the time.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
This one feels a lot easier — I’ll just run back the two main resort skis from my four- and five-ski quivers.
Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Look Pivot 15
The Mantra 102 has been the narrower resort ski in a lot of my quivers over the years, and I’m still a huge fan. It’s a stable, directional ski with very good suspension, carves well for its width, and is generally quite intuitive for my preferences across a wide range of terrain and conditions.
Ski #2: Heritage Lab RC116, 190 cm + Look Pivot 15
The RC116 feels like a nicely modernized take on an old-school, big-mountain charger — it’s heavy, pretty straight, relatively stiff, and features quite good suspension. But it’s also more lively, floats better in deep snow, and is a little looser than some of my favorite skis from yesteryear — first and foremost, the Blizzard Bodacious. The RC116 is a ski I can have a great time on from bell to bell when there’s at least a bit of fresh snow, whether that includes some deep, untracked runs early in the day or just a whole lot of soft chop.
III. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
If you’re surprised by this one, you haven’t been reading my quiver selections over the years.
Ski #2: Armada Locator 112, 187 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
I still like, but don’t completely love, this pick for my powder touring ski. But most of my favorite options for this slot have either been discontinued or updated, and I’m still searching for a truly ideal, currently available ski for me to slot in here. There are some promising contenders, including the Heritage Lab BC120, Whitedot Ragnarok Carbonlite, and ON3P Billy Goat 118 Tour, but I haven’t been on the current versions of those.
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
I live in a high-snow area, and my quiver selections reflect that. If I’m (presumably) skiing a variety of places that don’t get as much average snowfall, I’d be pretty happy taking my narrower resort and touring skis from my bigger quivers and calling that good. I’ll miss having a wider ski on some deeper days, but if conditions are that good, I’ll be having a great time regardless.
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
Ski #2: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Look Pivot 15
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
The Moment Countach 110 is arguably a more sensible choice than the Wildcat 118 for my resort ski. My home mountain (Mt. Baker) just has me skiing so much heavy, soft chop that I want to optimize for those conditions, and the Wildcat 118 is a blast there.
I’d also be happy with the Heritage Lab RC 116 in that slot for the resort portion of the program, but the lighter (more accurate phrasing: ‘less heavy’) and looser Wildcat 118 is a more manageable option for some shorter tours on really deep days, so it won out.
The 4FRNT MSP 107 is another ski that I like a lot, and is arguably a more versatile option; if it floated just a bit better in deeper snow, I’d have a hard time looking past it.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
There are a bunch. My real-world quiver is sizable (by which I mean bloated), so I haven’t put as much effort into finding the most well-rounded, versatile options for me; I focus more on seeking more specialized options for certain conditions.
I love the Raven as an all-rounder touring ski, but for where I live, I’d ideally go with something just a little wider and floatier for a one-ski touring quiver; maybe that’s the 4FRNT Hoji, but I haven’t skied the current version. There’s probably a version of a lightweight Folsom Giver build that I’d like for that use case, and while it’s possibly leaning too far into the powder-specific end of things, I’m really intrigued by the Heritage Lab BC120.
VII. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
My best idea for two skis that I’ve actually spent enough time on to be confident in is from 4FRNT: Raven, MSP 107.
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
For the 2-ski quiver, I’m letting go of my dream of having a fairly lightweight, dedicated setup for touring. I’m a month into skiing, and I haven’t gone uphill yet, so this doesn’t feel like a huge loss. But I won’t be totally giving up the option of going uphill; since my touring ski from the bigger quivers is one that I already enjoy in the resort, I’d just mount it with burly hybrid bindings instead of much lighter touring bindings.
Ski #1: Ferreol Explo 86, 174 cm + CAST Freetour
The Ferreol Explo 86 would be my go-to ski for most of the season. The Explo 86 has been consistently one of my personal favorite skis for a while now, and I’m not surprised it’s still in my quiver. It’s quick / nimble, doesn’t exhaust my legs, suits my finesse-oriented skiing style, and I have a blast on it in pretty much any sort of terrain, provided it hasn’t snowed a ton that day.
It’s pretty light for a resort ski (~1400 g / ski), but I get along really well with it despite that. And its low weight would be a bonus on days when I do end up doing some skinning.
Ski #2: RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm + alpine binding
The Valhalla 107 has been my reference powder ski for over a year now, but it’s not a super fat, niche option. In my 2-ski quiver, I would rely on it more regularly; aside from actual powder days, I’d also look forward to bringing it out on chalky days when I want to play around in the steeps, and for spring slush. It’s super maneuverable, forgiving, and pairs well with a much narrower and more precise ski like the Explo 86.
II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?
As of writing this, I think I’d just swap the CAST Freetour binding on the Ferreol Explo 86 for a dedicated alpine setup. That said, I’d also consider swapping that ski for one of the heavier all-mountain skis I picked in my larger quivers, such as the Blizzard Black Pearl 84, Volkl Mantra 84 W, or Head Kore 87 Ti W.
III. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
This is tricky since I haven’t spent a ton of time in the backcountry since my son was born. Because of this, and the fact that the skis I picked for question #1 are already fairly light, I’d just mount them with tech bindings and be happy with the same skis — the Ferreol Explo 86 and the RMU Valhalla 107.
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Honestly, I’m happy with my choices. I don’t expect my ski season to differ too much in the next 3 years (I do hope the next 3 years have colder and snowier starts to the season, though). With that in mind, I’m not going to change the quiver.
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
The Volkl Mantra 84 W and the Black Pearl 84 were both difficult, as is the Wagner Summit 106. I plan to spend more time on the Summit 106 later this season and expect it to be featured prominently in my quivers next year. As for those two narrower models, I like them more than the Explo 86 in certain scenarios (most notably: super firm groomers), but I prefer the Explo 86 as a do-everything all-mountain ski.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
For a 2-ski quiver, the Wagner Summit 106 has a very good chance of making this list again. The only reason it’s not on this list is that I haven’t skied it in a while; I remember it being more stable and carving better than the Valhalla 107, but I think I prefer the Valhalla 107 in fresh snow and tight terrain.
VII. 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 go with Head: Kore 87 Ti W as my daily driver and Kore 104 Ti W as my wider option.
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 210 lbs / 188 cm, 95 kg)
I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?
For last year’s 2-ski quiver, I went ‘all in’ on shorter lengths for agility in the tight steeps at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. This year, I’m keeping one longer ski, but otherwise this looks pretty similar:
Ski #1: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
This is my shorter pick for easier maneuvering in tight steeps and moguls, while also serving as my wider ski for deeper pow days. The Sender Free 118 obviously isn’t a ‘nimble’ ski in the grand scheme, but as a bigger guy who loves big, heavy skis, it feels pretty manageable in most conditions and terrain, relative to the other skis I’m typically drawn to.
To paraphrase what I’ve said about it before:
The Sender Free 118’s substantial tip and tail rocker — paired with my favorite mount position at -4.5 cm from true center — makes it easy to pivot and maneuver in confined spaces. Despite that, this heavy ski remains composed in high-speed runouts and offers excellent suspension, which is one of my top priorities regardless of conditions.
Even on some firmer days, I can make this short (for me) 118-mm-wide ski work in tight terrain.
Ski #2: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
The 191 cm Sender Free 110 offers me a bit more high-speed stability and notably better edge hold on groomers, relative to the 186 cm Sender Free 110. Unfortunately, this pick means my narrowest ski is still quite wide, at 110 mm underfoot.
Limited to just two skis at CB, I have to sacrifice something — and I’m okay with wide skis that give up some grip on the firmest days (though the Sender Free 110 does feel surprisingly precise on firm snow, given its width and rocker profile). I have pretty niche preferences, and I haven’t tested many narrower skis that offer what I personally prioritize (my favorite skis are often some of the heaviest on the market, and are often pretty rockered). I’m also willing to keep resharpening the edges and/or increase the side bevel angle if necessary.
As I previously wrote about the Sender Free 110: “I love it in soft-ish inbounds conditions at CB, across a wide variety of terrain, whether I’m skiing fast or slow. I can ski it playfully and slash all over the mountain, or get more serious and directional when the terrain allows.”
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.
III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
No change from last year. 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
For me, this ski excels in nearly any soft-snow scenario, whether I’m skiing fast or slow, playfully or more seriously. Even on firmer snow, it remains manageable, and if I need extra grip, I can simply resharpen the edges or adjust the side bevel angle.
Ski #2: K2 Reckoner 124, 189 cm + Tyrolia Attack 14 MN Demo
I would never go 3 straight years without a wide powder ski. And if I unexpectedly ended up spending three years heli-skiing with Paul Forward and Chugach Powder Guides, I’d never forgive myself for wasting both picks on narrower skis. Of the current skis I’ve tried, the 189 cm Reckoner 124 remains my top choice for deep snow days.
So far, I haven’t seen any durability issues with these two skis. If something ever did break, I’d patch it up as best I could and focus on avoiding rocks.
IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
Nordica Enforcer 104, 185 cm: I could have chosen this narrower ski for firm conditions, and then relied on the Sender Free 110 for the deepest days at CB. Instead, I chose the wider Sender Free 118 for deep days, and relied on the Sender Free 110 for firm conditions.
Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 192 cm: If I end up spending significant time touring in the future, the Bent Chetler 120 would be one of my top picks for playful or mellow skiing. But I plan on continuing to stick to the resort, where I strongly prefer skis that are much, much heavier and more stable.
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 can’t think of any current skis that might replace my picks above. Some hypothetical contenders would include a re-release of the 193 cm, ~2700g 15/16 Nordica Helldorado. Or if Blizzard started making a ~2700-g metal version of the 193 cm 16/17 Gunsmoke. If those skis existed, they’d likely work really well for how I’d like to ski at Crested Butte.
VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
I already picked two skis from the same brand, so here are some honorable mentions as a bonus:
Dynastar: M-Free 112, M-Free 108
Prior: Overlord, Husume (both built with the heaviest Quad Glass construction)
Moment: Wildcat 118, Deathwish 104
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?
Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 88, 184 cm + alpine binding
If you read my Flash Review of the Mantra 88, you’ll already know that this ski really impressed me last season. It’s currently my personal favorite sub-90mm ski for striking that balance of being a good (or very good or exceptional) carver (depending on how firm or soft the groomers are), while also being quite capable off-piste.
Ski #2: 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm + Shift2 binding
Same as last year, the Hoji will function as my inbounds pow ski, and my single touring ski. It is easy-going while still offering good stability and very good maneuverability in soft and / or deep conditions in Crested Butte, both inbounds and in the backcountry. And even when hitting really firm — or atrociously firm snow (frozen sun cups, runnels, etc) — the Hoji (like my beloved, narrower, 4FRNT Raven) stays quite predictable and intuitive, 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: Volkl Mantra 88, 184 cm + alpine binding
See above.
Ski #2: Dynastar M-Free 112, 190 cm + alpine binding
My favorite ski from last season makes it back into my quiver. And while I hope there will be some very deep days where I will wish I had a wider pow ski, this is my current favorite ski (in the ~110mm-width range) for soft chop and even extremely variable conditions. Love these things.
III. If you didn’t ride any lifts, what would your 2-ski quiver be for backcountry-only skiing?
Ski #1: Salomon S/Lab QST Echo 106, 181 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 EVO
I’ll happily use this ski for early-season touring, late-season touring, and mid-season touring when it hasn’t snowed in a while.
Ski #2: Moment Wildcat Tour 118, 190 cm + Moment Voyager EVO
My favorite ski of the past 16 years, but the diet version for ski touring for pow.
IV. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location?
Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 88, 184 cm + alpine binding
For all the reasons I listed above.
Ski #2: Wagner Summit 106 + Shift2 binding
I’d swap the Hoji for the Summit 106 for the same reasons as last year. I’m happy using the Wagner Summit 106 as my every-single-day touring ski. But as in past years, where I feel best about the Summit 106 is using it as my single travel ski for the next 3 years, which is still where I really think the Summit 106 stands out.
V. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?
Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm: This ski has been such a staple for me, and I love the fact that people can customize it to perfectly tailor it to what they’re looking for.
Salomon QST 94, 180 cm: The less I prioritized excellent edge hold on very firm snow, the more likely I would be to have the QST 94 in the #1 spot for my 2-ski quiver, because this ski is so incredibly fun in moguls. It’s so quick and poppy. And on soft groomers, it’s a fun carver, too.
VI. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?
4FRNT Sinister: On paper, this ski looks like it’s got all the ingredients I like. Can’t wait to get on it.
VII. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
For inbounds + touring, Volkl:
(1) Volkl Mantra 88, 184 cm + alpine binding
(2) Volkl Katana V-Werks, 184 cm + hybrid binding
For backcountry only… I’d be pretty tempted to go:
4FRNT:
(1) Raven (104 mm wide, for lower-tide touring), 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 EVO
(2) Renegade (122 mm wide, for high-tide touring), 191 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 EVO
(I’d be tempted to drop down to the 184 cm Hoji for a bit of weight savings, but I love the 191 Renegade in pow, I’d be mad if ended up wanting more flotation out of my pow-touring ski. And hell, if I’m only ski touring all the time anyway, I’m going to be in good enough shape to drag a little more ski up the mountain.)
It gets harder and harder to narrow the quivers down. I think for a two ski quiver I’d opt for a do-everything resort ski and a do-everything touring ski:
1) something in the 92-100 range with any alpine binding: moment Sierra 99 (did they change the width this year though?), liberty radian 92/100, or 4frnt msp cc.
2) something in the 95-103 range with atk raiders: black crows navis or camox freebird or maybe Kastle tx 93/103
It’s been a warm start to the year in the PNW but even still I’d stick with my favorite resort ski: Woodsman 108 with Tyrolia Attacks
Most of my touring interests are post-consolidation spring days, Volkl BMT 94 (RIP) was my favorite for that role but if we’re limiting it to 25/26 skis then it’s probably the Camox Freebird with ATKs. I’m itching to get on a pair of HL BC90/100s or Supernovas to recreate some of that reverse camber magic though
I’ve got a hut trip to BC in a couple weeks and I have no idea which skis to bring. I’ve got my old black crows anima freebird (115 at the waist) with ATK freeraider or a new pair of Atomic bent 110s with ATK EVO. Leaning toward the atomics because they just feel lighter. I have the bent 120s as well but with shifts so that’s not an option. Just worried the 110s won’t float enough but plenty of guys bring narrower skis. Long days touring with a heavy airbag pack, lots of trees, pillows. Any advice would be helpful.
My immediate reaction is that I would opt for whichever setup you are really familiar with. That would mean more to me personally than choosing between the Freebird and the Bent 110s. If you’re equally familiar with both setups, then it’s a harder – because more personal – question. Do you want to prioritize weight savings or flotation? Again, me personally, I would choose whichever of these setups I was more familiar with.
Thanks, that makes sense. I’m very familiar with the anima freebirds but I’ve also spent a lot of time on the bent 120s, resort powder and backcountry, love them. Conditions have only allowed for one day skinning in the backcountry with the bent 110s. I have a week at Revelstoke before we fly out to the hut, so I’ll test both skis in the sidecountry. The caveat is I broke my leg on the freebirds in the backcountry last year, I’ve been training hard all summer but I wanted something a little easier on my leg and a little faster on the skin track. I’m mostly just worried the bent 110s won’t float well enough. You said in your review the 110s float really well for their width I believe, “better than most skis in their category.” I’ve always tended toward a heavier wider ski then everyone else but I’m trying to be more mature for a change. Thanks for the help, its hard committing to one set up for the whole week at the hut, and I’ve been racking my brain more than I care to admit, lol.
My PNW 2-ski quiver:
1) ON3P Jeffery 92 181cm
Slightly more effective edge at this length with ON3P’s ripper rocker. The thinner waist width makes it plenty of fun when conditions aren’t spectacular.
2) ON3P Jeffrey 108 186cm
Overperforms at its waist width in powder (PNW “powder” is thick glue) due to longer rocker lines. Hefty enough for rowdy freeride stuff but never overly demanding.
CAST on both of these. I’ll save my $ and get into better shape.
Two for me would be:
1. Head Monster 98, love these on firm days and carve beautifully
2. Völkl Katana V-Werks, for soft days and any days with even just an inch or two of new snow
Of surrently available skis that I have tried, would have to swap out the Monsters for something like the Anomaly 88 or Arcade 94
Single brand, could go Moment and pick up blem Commander 92 and Meridian 107 (would love to think the Countach would fit here but have not tried it), or Völkl Mantra 96 and Völkl Katana V-Werks
Seeing Jonathan‘s Mantra 88 pick, am looking forward to a deep dive comparing that, the Spar, Anomaly 88, Arcade 88, Kästle MX88 and others, seems like a well served quiver slot just now
And is the Black Crows Nocta still available in the US, cos it‘s not on the EU website?
We’ve been told to expect a mid-season release of the Nocta this winter, with new graphics.
Western Canada (rockies) 2 ski resort quiver that has worked well for me:
M102 (191) = no snow
QST Blank (194) = new snow
easy decision making, great skis.