How We Tested Backcountry Skis

By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor

Our test team consists of passionate backcountry skiers – some of us are backcountry ski guides who have been at it for decades, while others are brand new to the sport. Unlike some other reviews where the bulk of testing happens at ski resorts, the vast bulk of our testing was done while backcountry skiing. With any rating metric that matters and can be quantified with bench testing, we do so. These objective measurements only serve to complement and verify our field findings. We compare all these skis head-to-head and rank them based on five key metrics:

Weight (25% of the overall score)
Firm Snow (20% of the overall score)
Powder (20% of the overall score)
Crud and Poor Snow (20% of the overall score)
Stability at Speed (15% of the overall score)

Weight

We weighed each ski on a calibrated digital postal scale before mounting it. We also measured the length and width of the skis, then calculated the weight-to-surface-area ratio. Since wider skis are inherently heavier than narrower ones, this relatively simple calculation helps us level the playing field so that we can compare weights directly.

Using actual measurements is marginally better than relying on the manufacturer's claims, because we are the constant – there is no variability in the measurements that we take on our own workbench. There are many ways to calculate surface area, but we chose one that is simple and repeatable. If you wish to use this calculation for comparing skis we did not test, you may. (All dimensions are measured in centimeters.)

((Tip Width + Waist width + tail width) / 3) x length = surface area in cm^2.

(Weight of one ski in grams) / (surface area in cm^2) = weight per surface area in g/cm^2.

backcountry skis - these are objectively lightweight skis. however, they don't ski... — These are objectively lightweight skis. However, they don't ski “*light*” in a typical sense (nor do they ski particularly well). Credit: Jediah Porter

Firm Snow

The best testing for firm snow, we've found, is in steep ski mountaineering objectives. Our home range, Wyoming's Tetons, has no shortage of accessible ski mountaineering. We also test firm snow performance on long springtime tours and traverses, where snow surfaces tend to be either corn or wind-packed. And, to a limited extent, we test on inbounds groomers. (We reserve this only if there is little firm snow to be found.) We're considering how well the edges grab the snow, both in mellow and steep terrain, and how the torsional flexion (how a ski twists, as if you were wringing out a towel) influences how securely you feel attached to the snow.

Firm snow doesn't mean the conditions are bad. In fact, in steep terrain, sometimes firm, wind-pressed snow is ideal. Credit: Jediah Porter

Powder

Other times, our job is to take the latest and greatest backcountry ski gear and go hunt down the deepest powder we can find. We skied fast and open bowls, slow and tight trees, and insanely deep steeps. Not all powder snow is created equal, so we made sure each ski was ridden in a variety of conditions. To verify our first-hand accounts of powder performance, we also closely examine the longitudinal flex (the flex along the length of the ski when you bend it), the stiffness, and the shape of each ski.

Powder skiing is what we all came for, so when the gettin' is good, you want to make sure that you can make the best of these days. Credit: Jediah Porter

Crud and Poor Snow

We like it when we can get new skis into tough snow. When you understand ski performance, and you understand backcountry skiing, you understand that the discerning attributes of a ski come out in poor snow conditions. A high volume of backcountry skiing requires dealing with bad snow regularly, so we had plenty of opportunities to test these skis in all different kinds of crud. Weight certainly makes a difference in how well a ski performs in poor snow conditions, but flex, stiffness, and profile also matter – we consider all of these factors as we work through it.

It's not always blue skies and powder skiing. In fact, it's not that most of the time, which is why it's important to have a ski that can handle the tough stuff, too. Credit: Jediah Porter

Stability at Speed

We skied fast on firm and soft snow, at least, as fast as our risk tolerance in the backcountry would allow. On some occasions, with certain skis, we would visit the ski resort, where, if things went sideways, we could rely on the ski patrol's medical support. Quantifying stability is best done in a comparative sense, with one tester switching skis to compare back-to-back, which is exactly what we do.

Oftentimes, we're forced to move slowly and methodically in the backcountry. While stability at speed matters when you're able to open it up, it's not as important as it is for a pair of resort skis. Credit: Jediah Porter

How Do You Consider Construction?

To complement all of our observations while skiing – and because you expect us to do it – we conducted a classic “hand-flex” test on every ski in our lineup. We actually performed two variations of this test to assess flexibility along its longitudinal axis – the ski's length – and torsional flexibility by twisting each ski.

We find meaningful differences with these tests, especially the longitudinal test. However, with all of the other factors that ultimately determine performance, this is just one aspect of ski design. We're careful not to make performance assumptions based on any single assessment, especially when it relates to construction. Overall stability is a magical blend of weight, geometry, and flex characteristics.

Side-by-side flexion tests provide a good understanding of how construction might affect performance. But it's not until we get these skis into the wild to really “feel” them that we can pass judgment. Credit: Jediah Porter

Conclusion

Testing backcountry skis isn't all sunshine and face shots, but it isn't a tough gig either. Our objective testing requires that our team temper their own preferences. We challenge our test team to use a ski before they know anything about its construction or price – just to go ski and “see how it feels”. Once we set that baseline, we dig into the details, all of which come out in our review of the best backcountry skis.