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We purchased and tested the top 14 touring skis from brands like Head, Blizzard, Atomic, Black Crows, K2, Armada, DPS, and more to find the very best for the backcountry
The fresh crop of skis, from left to right: Armada Locator 112, Kastle TX94, Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108, Head Crux 93 Pro, Volkl Rise Beyond 96, Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano, Voile Endeavor BC
Credit: Jediah Porter
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated April 20, 2026
A pair of backcountry skis is a ticket to escape long lines at the resort and experience the magic of the mountains. The right pair of backcountry skis will be light enough for uphill climbs, forgiving enough for crusty snow, and blissful in untracked powder.
Our team of ski guides has decades of cumulative experience working and skiing in the backcountry, and has tested more than 60 of the best backcountry skis over nearly 10 seasons. We purchased and tested the top 14 models side by side, applying our special blend of objective analysis and rigorous field testing over an entire season of ski touring.
The Blizzard Zero G 105 is a perennial favorite of our team, and the best backcountry ski for most people. It's reasonably lightweight, forgiving in difficult snow conditions, and super fun to ski in powder.
The K2 Wayback 106 is a slightly more affordable alternative to the Zero G Pro. It's a touch lighter, but its damp construction is particularly forgiving on descents, making these a great option for anyone just getting into the backcountry.
Editors' Note: We updated our backcountry ski review on April 20, 2026, adding new skis from Head, Kastle, Black Diamond, Armada, Rossignol, Volkl, and Voile.
The Blizzard Zero G 105 is the best all-around backcountry ski we've tested in years. “This ski does everything very well, but it's especially fun when the conditions are soft,” lauds our lead tester. There are many other lighter-weight skis on the market, but the lighter models we've tested don't ski the variety of snow you can expect to find in the backcountry nearly as well. Heading in the opposite direction, one must add some significant weight to each ski before matching or exceeding the overall downhill performance of the Zero G 105.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
180 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
6.7 lbs
Available Lengths
164, 172, 180, 188 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
133/104/118 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,513 g
The weight-to-downhill performance ratio is the definitive measure of an all-around backcountry ski, and the Zero G 105 sits at the top of the heap. The Fischer Transalp 105 CTI skis nearly as well as the Zero G 105, but is slightly heavier. There are plenty of skis in our lineup that are lighter, though not necessarily lighter at the same width. The one exception is the K2 Wayback 106, but the tradeoff for a bit of weight savings is that you can't arc the same turns with speed as you can on the Zero G 105. Our primary concern with this as an all-around ski is performance on firm snow – it doesn't grip quite as confidently as we'd like for steep descents. While the Zero G 105 holds its own, a narrower ski like the Head Crux 93 Pro is a better option for a dedicated ski mountaineering ski.
If you dream of human-powered backcountry trips that result in turns like these, the Zero G 105 is an excellent all-around option. Credit: The GearLab Team
The K2 Wayback 106 is a perennial value recommendation for all-around, all-season backcountry skiing. It offers well-balanced performance across the entire spectrum of conditions, tips the scales at a very reasonable weight, and remains competitively priced. “At 106 mm underfoot, it's a bit wide for areas and ranges dominated by firm snow,” one of our testers noted. However, this ski holds its own against narrower models and may be even more versatile now that many skiers are accustomed to this size for all-season use. While a narrower version in the Wayback line would save weight, the current Wayback 106 is nearly 100 grams lighter per ski than its predecessor.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
179 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
6.3 lbs
Available Lengths
165, 172, 179, 186 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
131/105/120 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,436 g
We choose our Best Buy awards based primarily on the balance of performance and price, while also accounting for durability and availability. Although ski prices have consolidated recently and the Wayback 106 isn't significantly cheaper than its closest rivals, it still costs less than anything else that skis as well. Its closest competitor is the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI, though this ski is significantly heavier and a bit more expensive. Finding deals can be tricky as prices fluctuate seasonally, but updated graphics often mean older models go on sale without any functional changes—it may be worth waiting until the end of the season to snag a pair of the K2 Wayback 106.
The Wayback 106 is a time-tested fan-favorite. Whether you're taking them on adventurous expeditions or skiing in your backyard, this slightly wider ski can handle it all. Credit: The GearLab Team
If you're looking for a versatile, high-value ski, check out the Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano. Its relatively narrow waist width and lightweight construction are definitely geared toward skiing firmer conditions, but this ski is more than capable across all flavors of backcountry snow. “It's ideal for corn skiing on moderate terrain at moderate speeds,” explains our lead tester. However, it also proved its ability to handle rowdy, steep, ski-mountaineering terrain, even in icy conditions. We brought it on the Isolation Traverse, a classic multi-day route through the North Cascades, and were impressed by its ability to handle a variety of difficult snow conditions, as long as we adjusted our speed and technique appropriately.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
177 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
6.2 lbs
Available Lengths
161, 169, 177, 185 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
127/97/116 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,415 g
The trade-offs for the Escaper 97 Nano are to be expected, given its size and weight. It doesn't float in powder nearly as well as a slightly wider ski like the K2 Wayback 106. It's not nearly as confidence-inspiring in crud as the more burly Kastle TX 94, and we often had difficulty tracking through breakable crusts (though, don't we all!). If you're looking specifically for a lightweight ski for technical ski mountaineering, it's worth considering an upgrade to the slightly more expensive but much higher performing Head Crux 93 Pro. However, as the average price of backcountry skis creeps closer to a grand, it's hard to argue with the value of the Escaper 97 Nano.
Rowdy terrain and tricky skiing, traversing out of the Tetons' Matternaught cirque on the Escaper 97 Nano. Great ski testing; not a great experience. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Head Crux 93 Pro is an impressively lightweight ski that's perfectly designed for ski mountaineering. Whether you're trying to keep up a high tempo on a traverse or looking to tackle a complex ski objective, its low weight is exactly what skiers need to maximize efficiency during long days. “These are exactly what I want for skiing off the top of the Grand Teton and for guiding ski traverses in California or Washington,” says our lead tester and professional Mountain Guide, Jed Porter. The Crux 93 Pro excels at skiing firm snow, with excellent edge hold, smooth turn engagement and release, and a balanced stance. Despite their relatively narrow waist width, they even ski powder relatively well.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
177 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
5.3 lbs
Available Lengths
163, 170, 177, 184 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
130/92/112 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,212 g
Though the Crux 93 Pro tracks well enough, as with any ski this lightweight, you'll get pushed around in difficult snow conditions. In deep snow, these tend to dive a bit more than the similarly sized Atomic Backland 95, which, as a heavier ski, is a bit more forgiving overall. However, by slowing down and adjusting our technique, we quite enjoyed skiing powder with the Crux 93 Pro. It's important to recognize that this is a specialty ski based on its weight alone – if you want a more well-rounded ski, the Blizzard Zero G 105 or the K2 Wayback 106 is superior.
Are you shopping for your dream backcountry trip or for how you'll actually spend the majority of your season? There's value in the 'dress for the job you want' adage, but consider the fun you might miss if you aren't realistic about your everyday skiing. If you can accept that most days involve firmer snow than the movies suggest, you'll likely be best served by a narrower ski like the Atomic Backland 95. It offers an excellent balance of weight and firm-snow performance, earning an award as a realistic all-arounder. While it's not the best ski we've ever tested in this category, it is the strongest currently on our roster.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
177 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
6.3 lbs
Available Lengths
161, 169, 177, 185 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
126/94/114 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,423 g
The Backland 95 is exactly what you need for everything from classic ski touring to modern ski mountaineering. A ski like this could arguably earn our highest award—and similar models have taken the top spot in the past. Current design trends have brought wider skis, like the Zero G 105, on par with classic designs like the Backland 95. However, the trade-off is a powder prowess that's often at odds with the consistency you want to ski the firm snow you'll encounter throughout the season. If you're lucky enough to ski deep, cold western regions like the San Juans, Wasatch, or Tetons, a 95 mm recommendation might seem preposterous. But for classic New England hardpack or the wind-blown peaks of Colorado's Front Range, we argue this is the 'every-man' ski for uphillers coast-to-coast.
You don't need huge skis for shallow pow skiing like this, that's for sure. A skinnier pair of skis, like the Backland 95, will help you tackle those big mountains ahead with confidence. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Voile HyperDrifter is the widest ski in our review. Measuring 121 mm underfoot, there's no doubt that this is a specialized powder ski. Yet, if you look at its weight relative to its size, it's nearly comparable to the ultralight Head Crux 93 Pro. This balance of width and mass makes it an ideal powder ski – that is, if you consistently ski enough deep powder to justify this as a dedicated touring setup. “If you're fortunate enough to ski that much soft snow, you can't do any better than the HyperDrifter,” claims one of our testers. On those days when you need to avoid avalanche terrain, but the snow is almost too deep to ski in anything but steep terrain, massive skis like the Hyperdrifter help you carry speed on gentler slopes.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length Tested
178 cm
Measured Weight (Per Pair)
7.0 lbs
Available Lengths
171, 178, 186 cm
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail
154/121/138 mm
Measured Weight (Per Ski)
1,565 g
These circumstances are rare and likely apply only to the small percentage of dedicated skiers who go backcountry skiing no matter what, even while the rest of us head for the safety of the resort. That's why we consider the HyperDrfiter a specialty powder ski – for any other type of snow, we highly recommend choosing something different. A ski like the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 or the Armada Locator 112 is likely a better option for the human-powered powder hunter, simply because they're more versatile. But if you're looking for the best balance of weight and floatation, we have yet to find a better quiver ski than the Voile HyperDrifter – it would perfectly complement a more narrow pair, like the Atomic Backland 95 or the Black Crows Camox Freebird.
No other ski in our lineup is as fun as the HyperDrifter when it comes to easy-going pow skiing. Credit: Jediah Porter
Product Comparison Table
If you value your descent (and we all do when conditions are this good), an all-around pair of backcountry skis offers the best balance of weight to waist width to make the most of the downhill. Credit: Jediah Porter
Why Trust GearLab
We have been testing backcountry skis for a decade now. We test all winter, spring, and early summer (with occasional visits to South America). We purchase all the equipment and test it across a full range of conditions and terrain. We put these skis through a rigorous testing process to compare them side by side, and then rank them relative to one another based on the most important performance metrics.
We divide our tests into five scoring metrics:
Weight(25% of total score weighting)
Firm Snow(20% weighting)
Powder(20% weighting)
Crud and Poor Snow(20% weighting)
Stability at Speed(15% weighting)
For many seasons now, Jed Porter has led our test team. He tests all the skis, administers sharing and comparing with the rest of the team, collects the data, and prepares each final report. Jed is, first and foremost, an adventure skier. He has tromped through winter wildernesses since the mid-1990s – he has skied millions of vertical feet across three continents, enjoying countless face shots and a handful of first descents. He works year-round as a certified Mountain Guide – for about half the year, he takes people on wild ski adventures, and the other half is spent rock and alpine climbing. Jed is fully certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) as a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA).
Jed readily shares his love of backcountry skiing, a passion that informs his work as an AMGA/IFMGA guide. Credit: Jediah Porter
We collect a passionate team of skiers to help Jed and to complement his perspectives; dozens of skiers have helped over the years. Currently, the entire team is located in and around the Teton Range, on the border of Wyoming and Idaho. We ski Grand Teton National Park, Teton Pass, and the Targhee backcountry close to home and venture further afield into the various ranges of the Greater Yellowstone region. Spring and early summer travels take us all over the North American West.
To learn more about our in-depth testing process, check out our How We Test article.
From the field to the shop, we closely examine every aspect of these skis.
Analysis and Test Results
As the sport's popularity explodes, gear increases in both quality and quantity. To sort through all the gear options is a bear of a task. We narrowed an expanding field of skis by selecting models that work as a “quiver-of-one” – if you're going to own just one backcountry ski, this is the most versatile option that can ski almost anything, anywhere. We also highlight some specialty skis, ones that you would buy for a specific purpose, like technical ski mountaineering or to take out just for the deepest powder days. Shapes and designs vary, but all of the skis we tested are lightweight and generally forgiving of a variety of snow conditions. The vast majority of our tested skis are between 95 mm and 110 mm underfoot – there are some closer to 80 mm and others bigger than 115 mm, but those are specialty skis.
Certainly, design characteristics inform performance. Width plays a big role – while we often focus on width directly “underfoot” (directly under your bindings), the width of the ski tip greatly affects how well it floats in powder. Other things like the shape of the ski ("sidecut"), how hard it will turn when tipped on edge ("turn radius"), the stiffness ("flex"), and the flat profile of a ski – either “cambered”, arching up like a bow, or “rockered”, reverse-camber, like a smile – all influence downhill performance. Really, only weight informs uphill performance. Our testers, after thousands of combined hours on snow, can translate these subtle design differences into how a ski will feel when you're actually skiing.
Comparing the different flex profiles, clockwise from upper left: Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano, Head Crux 93 Pro, Armada Locator 112, Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108. Credit: Jediah Porter
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
At OutdoorGearLab, we're keen to make sure we test the best of the best. We all appreciate a good value, so we make sure to highlight products that are the best bang for your buck. In recent years, the price of backcountry skis has increased, but it's plateaued between $800 and $1,000. While a more expensive model may be better than another in some regard, more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. With a normalized price point, it's more important than ever to directly compare performance.
High value skis save you dollars. Dollars you can spend getting to places like this with greater frequency. Credit: Jediah Porter
That said, the K2 Wayback 106 packs a punch at a slightly more reasonable cost. The price of this ski has slowly crept up through the years, but its performance is timeless. It's lightweight and versatile enough for almost any condition – it skis firm snow nearly as well as powder – and it's known for a damp, forgiving ride that appeals to both experts and beginners alike. Moreover, you tend to find excellent deals on this ski at the end of every season.
The Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano is considerably less expensive than the Wayback 106, but it isn't nearly as forgiving. Although it's fairly versatile, it's certainly more fun to ski when conditions are firm. Between the two, the Wayback 106 is a better powder ski. The Escaper 97 Nano is a particularly good ski for anyone who skis inside the resort for most of the season and waits until springtime to venture into the backcountry – it's particularly fun for skiing corn, the predictable melt-freeze snow you find in the spring.
Backcountry skiing, especially in the weird and wild spaces, will present with highly variable snow conditions. The Wayback 106 is a forgiving ski and does a great job taking nearly any condition in stride. Credit: Jediah Porter
Weight
Weight is the only backcountry ski criterion that directly correlates to uphill performance. It is no coincidence that it is also the single most heavily prioritized criterion in our assessment. Before you dismiss lightweight skis, recognize that you will spend a great deal of your backcountry skiing day and career going uphill. You have to adjust your technique and ride more slowly on the way down, but the lightweight gear can go a long way.
Weight is a major consideration for backcountry skis, because most of your time will be spent doing this. Credit: Jediah Porter
To score weight, we did more than simply cite the manufacturer's stated weights. Because of manufacturing differences and marketing pressures, claimed weights are sometimes different than actual. So first, we weighed the skis without bindings on them.
We also calculated the weight-to-surface area ratio of each ski. This ratio helps to compare construction methods and materials because it normalizes for actual ski size. Long and wide skis will be heavier than short and narrow ones. If you wish to compare skis of radically different dimensions, this number can help sort them out.
For the most part, absolute weight and our weight-to-surface-area calculations are roughly correlated – the outliers are easy to identify. First, the powder specialist Voile Hyperdrifter tops our weight-to-surface-area ranking. It is lightweight, in absolute terms, and it is very, very light when you consider its width (121 mm underfoot). On the other hand, the Atomic Backland 95 is fairly average in terms of absolute mass but narrower than most other skis in our lineup. As such, we could say it is “heavy for the width”.
This is a reasonable weight for any modern touring ski, and especially fat powder skis. Credit: Jediah Porter
In all of our years of testing, we have reached some conclusions on the relationship between weight and downhill performance. That relationship is not linear; there are diminishing returns to adding weight. Notably, there are certain inflection points. While we're used to thinking about weight in pounds, it's become common within the ski industry to list backcountry skis, specifically, in grams per ski. We have reached the conclusion that 1200-1300 grams per ski is a sweet spot – this is where our perennial favorite “lightweight” backcountry skis always seem to sit.
Skis at 1500-1600 grams are another optimized point, where these skis perform basically as well as others weighing hundreds of grams more, but feel substantially lighter on the uphill. It's also important to point out that among modern skis, a 1600-gram model is going to be better on the downhill, in every way, than a 1300-gram model. The takeaway is that if you want more efficient uphill travel, go with a ski weighing near 1250 grams; if you want to optimize downhill performance, look in the 1550 gram range.
If you have a week of camping gear and are covering huge miles, the weight of your skis matters a lot. The lightweight Voile Endeavor BC is a great specialty ski for long traverses. Credit: Jediah Porter
We start calling backcountry skis “heavy” around 1700 grams. We recognize there are manufacturers still marketing “backcountry” skis beyond 2000 grams per ski, but we don't have anything in our test at this weight. If you start pushing this weight range, our experience is that minimal improvements to downhill performance don't balance out lugging this extra weight uphill. Additionally, at those weights, you start overlapping with dozens of resort skis, the lines get blurry, and shopping gets even more complex.
Earning your turns is a balance of uphill efficiency and downhill performance. Although sweet spots exist, there will almost always be a tradeoff in one way or another. Credit: Jediah Porter
The lightest skis in our test are better at skiing firm than powder snow – think springtime touring, rather than mid-winter storm skiing. The Head Crux 93 Pro excels in steep and icy terrain, which makes it perfect for ski mountaineering. The Volkl Rise Beyond 96 is a forgiving ski, but not particularly stable on anything other than smooth, firm snow. These qualities make it a great option for uphill skinning at the resort. The value-oriented Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano is surprisingly versatile. The Atomic Backland 95 weighs the same as the Escaper 97 Nano, but is notably more stable, especially in tough snow conditions. The Voile Endeavor BC is one of the lightest skis we tested. Measuring only 82 mm underfoot, this specialty fish-scale ski is really designed for long traverses, though we were surprised by how well it could actually ski technical terrain, like steep couloirs.
The Head Crux 93 pro, at just over 1200 grams per ski, is the benchmark for lightweight skis. Credit: Jediah Porter
As we step up in weight, we shift into the “all-around” class of skis – skis that are much more versatile, and generally, perform much better in powder. The Blizzard Zero G 105 is the definition of a do-it-all backcountry ski. It skis powder slightly better than firm snow, but tackles tough conditions with grace and is super stable. The K2 Wayback 106 is damp, forgiving, and one of the more fun skis in powder at this waist width. The Kastle TX 94 and Black Crows Camox Freebird weigh about the same as the Wayback 106 and are similarly damp, but are much better suited to firm, steep skiing.
While the lightest weight skis are easier on the uphill, slightly heavier skis are easier to control on the descent, especially if the snow is deep or heavy. Credit: Jediah Porter
You can imagine that as a ski gets fatter, it starts to weigh more. As we get to the upper end of 1500 grams per ski, we start to see some powder specialists. The DPS Pagoda Tour CFL, Black Diamond Helio 108, Armada Locator 112, and Voile Hyperdrifter all weigh between 1530 and 1570 grams and are all optimized for powder skiing. However, it's important to note that there's a range of versatility within this list. Basically, the fatter the ski, the less versatile they are on other snow types. The HyperDrifter, for example, measures 121 mm underfoot and is really only designed to ski powder.
Most of us are into backcountry skiing to sniff out fresh snow, and in this case, a specialty “powder touring” ski will help you find more of this. Credit: Jediah Porter
Above that are the highest performance downhill skis in our lineup, but we also tip past a threshold that our testers consider to be efficient for human-powered skiing. The Fischer Transalp 105 CTI is the heaviest ski in our review, and one of the most stable regardless of snow conditions. But to put these diminishing returns into perspective, the Blizzard Zero G 105 is just as stable at speed, and is actually more reliable in poor snow conditions.
They say, “one pound on your foot equals five pounds on your back.” But what happens if you're carrying days' worth of weight on your back, too? Credit: Jediah Porter
Weight scores were distributed entirely based on measured weight. But your actual experience walking uphill will vary based on two other variables. Most importantly, the wider the ski is, the wider (and thus heavier) the skins need to be. Secondary to that is that the wider the ski, the more snow that will inevitably accumulate on the top sheet while skinning.
For example, take two skis that weigh the same: one fat, one narrow. On your feet, the wider ski will feel heavier because the skins will be heavier, and the top will pick up more snow with each step. To a lesser degree, darker-colored skis heat up more than lighter skis, melting a bit of snow that will then refreeze and collect even more snow. All else equal, darker skis will accumulate more snow than lighter-colored skis.
We all dream of making powder turns like these. If you're fitness is up to snuff, then lighter-weight skis will help you earn more of these turns. Credit: Jediah Porter
Firm Snow Performance
Firm snow in the backcountry is either formed by melt-freeze metamorphosis, which we call corn, or by wind transport, which we call windboard. As the backcountry becomes more and more crowded, we're also seeing firm snow in the wild as a result of “skier compaction.” The firmest expression of these can be called ice (unless you ski on the East Coast of the US, where "it's not called ice unless you can see fish underneath"). Corn snow, in its softer phase, is one type of hero snow. Turning in perfect corn snow is almost effortless. Like in perfect powder, differentiating between skis on corn snow is challenging; all are fun.
In the firmer manifestations of snow, ski performance varies drastically. Stiffer is better, while narrower feels more predictable and less strenuous. Weight also helps. “Mid-width”, all-around skis can do pretty well in firm stuff, but it is especially important to pair these mid-fat skis with beefier boots on firm snow. You can get away with light boots in soft snow, but harder snow requires stiffer boots for more control.
Even the most spectacular ski destinations will deliver firm snow from time to time. Here we are testing near the powder Mecca of Bella Coola, BC. Credit: Jediah Porter
Our favorite firm snow skis are narrow. As ski mountaineering specialists, the 93-millimeter Head Crux 93 Pro and 95-millimeter Atomic Backland 95 do really well on any firm conditions. They also excel in high volume (lots of vertical climbed) and high-speed ski mountaineering endeavors. Both of these do much better on firm snow than anything else in our test.
Springtime in the high mountains means firm snow. But that's by no means a bad thing. Credit: Jediah Porter
We have some other relatively narrow skis in the test that just don't have the tenacious edge grip of the Crux 93 Pro or Backland 95, but they are still much more stable on firm snow than the fatter skis in the test. The Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano, Kastle TX 94, and Black Crows Camox Freebird fit this description. While the Escaper 97 Nano feels even with each turn, it rattles a bit more than either the TX 94 or Camox Freebird, which are both particularly smooth. The Voile Endeavor BC, despite its fish-scale base, grips particularly well to softened corn and firm wind-pressed snow, two conditions commonly found on an alpine traverse.
If you prefer a bit of mass behind your skis (which is relative, as these are still pretty light) the Kastle TX 94 feels solid. Credit: Jediah Porter
From the perspective of skiing firm snow, the skis that fit into the “all-around” weight class could be considered “powder skis with acceptable firm snow performance”. As versatile skis, they more than hold their own. The forgiving construction and even weight of the Zero G 105 and Wayback 106 make them better suited to firm conditions. The all-carbon Pagoda Tour 105 is surprisingly confidence-inspiring on firm snow, considering its performance in powder. The Transalp 105 CTI is simply a bit too bulky to perform as well as the other similarly sized skis. But if you're picking out a specialty ski specifically for steep skiing, we recommend something under 100 mm underfoot.
Even though the Pagoda Tour CFL 105 excels in soft snow, its ability to manage in uncertain snow conditions make it a great option for forays into the deep wilderness. Credit: Jediah Porter
The wide, lightweight powder skis generally don't have the stiffness to back up this performance in firmer conditions. The Black Diamond Helio 108 will hold its own, even on firm, steep snow, but your turns need to be slow, methodical, and controlled. The Armada Locator 112 is a touch more squirrely, especially if your speed goes unchecked. The Voile Hyperdrifter is actually scary to use on firm and icy snow.
Spring skiing involves firm snow. And if you're in the Tetons, sometimes a boat commute. Even without the boat, if your approach looks something like this, you'll be happy to have a ski like the Backland 95 along for the ride. Credit: Jediah Porter
Powder Performance
All the skis we tested are a ton of fun in powder snow. This is a reflection of the nature of powder skiing and the fact that modern skis are so well-designed. Wide or narrow, stiff or floppy, rockered or not, good skis combined with good technique, combined with good powder snow, generally make for a transcendent experience.
If you bring the right technique to the table, wild powder skiing is going to be fun no matter what setup you have underfoot. Credit: Jediah Porter
We must mention the Voile HyperDrifter here. It has a lively ride that positively popped up and out of the fluffy stuff between each silky turn. Long turns or short, high speed or slow, it rides “dead center”, no matter your ski skill or style. It has been our testers' top choice for the best powder days since 2021. That's not referring to this model; that's a reference to the exact same pair of tester skis – we have five full seasons on the original pair we purchased. That said, this is a specialty ski designed to ski powder, and not much else.
We also want to highlight the skis we consider to be dedicated “powder tourers”. These are the skis that are wide enough to float, but not so much so that they can't handle the other types of snow en route to your powder stash. The Armada Locator 112 and Black Diamond Helio 108 are great examples – fat enough to ski powder well, lightweight enough to walk for it, but much more capable on firm snow than the specialized HyperDrifter.
In truly bottomless conditions like these, virtually any ski in our lineup is going to excel (minus the particularly skinny ones). Credit: Jediah Porter
The Blizzard Zero G 105, K2 Wayback 106, DPS Pagoda Tour 105, and Fischer Transalp 105 CTI are all-around skis with a penchant for powder skiing. We expect that you will have an amazing time in every sort of powder snow on these versatile, forgiving skis. You will float, carve, and pop around in both shallow and deep powder snow.
Not all powder is created equal, and the variable powder conditions we regularly experience in the Tetons allow us to test the powder prowess of these skis in a variety of conditions. Credit: Jediah Porter
You won't plane as much as you would on the bigger skis – even as much as you would on the slightly wider Locator 112 or Helio 108 – but that's the tradeoff for the versatility of these skis. While the Zero G 105 and Transalp 105 CTI are burly enough to arc huge turns in powder, the Wayback 106 and Pagoda Tour 105 respond better to shorter turns and a bouncier technique.
The wider the ski, the better they plane along the surface, and the faster you can go. But it's not all about speed when it comes to backcountry powder skiing. Credit: Jediah Porter
Crud and Poor Snow Performance
This is our favorite review category. Not because we like skiing crud and poor snow, but because it's here that a product can truly make itself known. As mentioned above, in great snow, whether powder or corn, all modern skis are fun and perform well. At speed and in the steeps, stable and firm snow-tuned products start to stand out. However, when the snow inevitably gets breakable or sloppy, it separates the wheat from the chaff. Overall, we found a significant range in poor snow performance.
More often than not, these are the conditions we're navigating when you go deep into the backcountry. Difficult snow conditions always favor cautious ski movement. Credit: Jediah Porter
We separated our scoring into how well a ski handled breakable crusts versus heavy, springtime slop. Generally, skis that did well in one did at least okay in the other, and vice versa. Both of these general snow types reward similar attributes. The rider wants equipment that comes up reliably out of the snow and turns gently and readily. Tips, tails, and edges must engage and disengage with the snow smoothly with little grabbing or hesitation.
Many claims get thrown around about how certain ski design attributes affect performance. We can make some construction generalizations, but we must do so cautiously. Flex pattern certainly plays an important role in a ski's ability to handle difficult snow conditions, because stiffer skis are less prone to getting knocked around when the going gets tough. However, material construction and size tend to make more of a difference. When it comes down to it, skis with more mass more easily bust through crud.
To establish a baseline, we flex test every ski. Here you can clearly see the difference between skis flexed longitudinally (along the length of the ski). Softer on the left, stiffer on the right.
The versatility of your backcountry equipment is crucial. In evaluating versatility on variable snow conditions, we looked at downhill performance in all kinds of snow. Most will want their one pair of backcountry skis to be able to shred powder on 25-degree Berthoud Pass laps just as well as ski off the summit of the Grand Teton. You are likely to encounter poor snow in any of these endeavors, and your equipment must be ready for this.
Snow is variable by nature. Surprises lurk around each turn, even on days where conditions are otherwise excellent. A versatile backcountry ski needs to be able to handle the lumps and bumps to help you stay on your feet. Credit: Jediah Porter
The wider, heavier skis like the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI perform amazingly well in bad snow. It plows right through challenging snow conditions, offering you a stable ride almost regardless of conditions. A ski cannot earn top award status without excellent performance in bad snow, which is the case with the Blizzard Zero G 105. It is similarly sized to the Transalp 105 CTI, but remarkably lighter in weight. The DPS Pagoda Tour 105 performed surprisingly well, especially given its weight and carbon construction, but not quite as well as these other two skis.
These are exactly the conditions you want the Transalp 105 CTI to help you tackle: a couple thousand vertical feet of wet, heavy snow. Credit: Jediah Porter
The Black Crows Camox Freebird earns high marks for its ability to adapt to whatever conditions you may find. In particular, it doesn't get tossed around like other skis in the same weight class. The Kastle TX94 is similar – it lends a smooth feeling to turns of all kinds. While the Black Diamond Helio 108 is remarkably unremarkable (which is a good thing), the tips on the Armada Locator 112 tended to get a bit squirrely, especially if you tried to ski through crud too fast.
On any given day, you may not find the conditions you were expecting. The Camox Freebird is highly adaptable, even if that powder snow ends up being heavier than expected. Credit: Jed Porter
The more narrow, lighter skis, like the Head Crux 93 Pro and Atomic Backland 95, tend to get pushed around a bit more when the going gets tough. While these skis will make it through if you slow down and ski methodically, it's obvious that they're really designed for consistent snow. Though similar on the surface, the poor performance of the Volkl Rise Beyond 96 is a little mystifying. The best we can tell is that Volkl compromised stability in order to make these skis really good for intermediate skiers on groomed snow. This makes them great for uphill skiing at the resort, but not very reliable as backcountry skis, where you will inevitably be met with inconsistent snow.
You may want a burlier ski to handle difficult snow conditions in remote settings. However, it's important to weigh the trade-offs, literally. Credit: Jediah Porter
Stability at Speed
A ski's stability makes a big difference in how comfortable you are at speed, and the security of landing jump turns in steep terrain. When you need to stick each turn, you will want a damp ski underfoot. Damp skis are less prone to deflecting off imperfections in the snow, and they also flex and rebound more slowly. If you want to go fast, stiffer, heavier skis with a larger turn radius will generally feel more stable.
Descending the flanks of the Middle Teton. This is the type of extreme setting where you need your skis to be reliable and stable through each turn. Credit: Jediah Porter
In our testing, these seemingly different moves reward the same attributes – that is, the same skis we wanted to go fast on were the same ones we felt comfortable sticking jump turns in steep, chunky snow. Heavier skis like the Transalp 105 CTI are more stable than the lighter ones. Again, the greatest determinant of stability – and other downhill performance attributes, for that matter – is the mass behind a ski. Of course, some skis transcend weight. The Zero G 105, notably, skis well at high speeds even though it is much lighter than the Transalp. That stability manifests as skier confidence; you just feel good on the Zero G.
Carbon fiber helps improve the stability of lightweight skis, which is why this material has become much more popular over the last decade. It works the same way in a ski as it does in an F1 racecar – it stiffens the ride without dramatically increasing the weight. Skis built with carbon fiber can replicate the stability of the heaviest skis at a lower mass. Modern, lightweight designs like the Helio Carbon 108, Pagoda CFL 105, and Head Crux 93 Pro can power through most types of snow better than their weight suggests. In these cases, thanks to carbon fiber.
High energy skiing in nearly perfect conditions. A stable ski allows you to pop, play, and ski fast. Credit: Jediah Porter
However, not all skis need carbon fiber to be stable. The choice of wood in the core and the amount of fiberglass in the construction can have a very similar effect. Skis like the Zero G 105, Camox Freebird, and, particularly, the Wayback 106 are recognized for a damp, reliable ride. These skis, of course, carry a bit more mass, and no matter what technology is included in a ski, mass improves stability. The lighter-weight skis we tested won't be as stable as the heavier ones, all else equal. However, as we've already pointed out a number of times, very little is equal when it comes to ski construction.
If you dream of making turns like this in the backcountry, the Zero G 105 is not only one of the most well-rounded skis in our lineup but also one of the most stable. Credit: Jediah Porter
Other Backcountry Skis to Consider
We've tested more than 60 of the best backcountry skis over the past decade, and we can say that ski technology has come a long way. Nowadays, top brands produce more than one great ski – in some cases, they have many popular skis. While it's our job to narrow our selection down to the highest-value options, there are some skis that are just too good to pass up. Here are some great options that didn't make our lineup, but may be just the ski for you:
Black Crows Corvus Freebird- We have tested two different versions of these skis over the years. And, of course, these notorious “pink skis” are seen on the feet of many backcountry skiers out in the wild. The Corvus Freebirds are big, damp, and super solid, but they're also heavy – more than two pounds heavier than the similarly sized Blizzard Zero G 105. Our experience suggests that sizing them is quite important – this is a powerful ski, so you may want to consider sizing down.
Steep, soft, variable, and fast. These are the conditions and circumstances under which one might justify lugging the pounds of extra mass in the Corvus Freebird. Credit: Jediah Porter
Black Crows Navis Freebird - Much of what we just said about the pink Corvus can be said about the “green ski”. We recognize these are highly regarded skis – they grace the feet of ski guides from the San Juans to the flanks of Denali. Like the Corvus, the Navis requires a powerful driver to handle this stiff ski. Even though they measure 101 mm underfoot, they're confidence-inspiring in the steeps, sticking every turn with power and precision. For ski mountaineering, we'd rather opt for the slightly more narrow, significantly lighter, and much more forgiving Camox Freebird.
A fine option for ski mountaineering, the Navis Freebird does well in powder, but really excels for its prowess in firm and difficult snow conditions. Credit: Jediah Porter
Conclusion
Our hope is to offer expert advice to make it a bit easier and a bit more fun, so that you can confidently choose the right ski. Consider some of the generalities, lean toward all-around performance, and consider your purchase in the context of the backcountry skiing you'll regularly get out and do. Remember that modern backcountry skis are, for the most part, surprisingly versatile – you can't really go wrong if you choose one of the all-around touring skis we've highlighted.
