The Finest Backcountry Skis of 2023-2024

Backcountry snowboarding helps you permit behind elevate traces, crowds, and bounds to work together with the mountains on an intimate stage. With that freedom comes ongoing avalanche security and backcountry schooling plus many decisions in regards to the gear that can get you there. Few different mountain sports activities require extra efficiency and reliability out of substances than a distant backcountry ski tour.

The most effective backcountry skis are those that match your backcountry ski priorities and elegance. If you wish to velocity to the highest, purchase a ski that’s mild. In case you’re all in regards to the downhill, put together to pay a weight penalty on the ascent for freeride efficiency while you’re carving down the mountain.

As with every ski, purchase a size that matches your skill and a width that matches the snow situations. Hone in on what matches and what issues, go to your native ski store, educate your self on backcountry security, and prepare for some critical enjoyable.

As we repeatedly take a look at backcountry skis, we bestow awards on those that stand out as favorites however that doesn’t make the others listed beneath any lesser fashions. Right here is our newest roundup of one of the best backcountry skis.

To study extra, you should definitely take a look at our complete purchaser’s information, FAQ, and comparability chart beneath. In any other case, scroll via to see all of our advisable buys for 2023-2024.

Editor’s Observe: We up to date our Backcountry Skis purchaser’s information on November 17, 2023, including newly launched and examined merchandise and academic sections.

The Finest Backcountry Skis of 2023-2024

Backcountry Skis Comparability Chart

Scroll proper to view all the columns: Worth, Size, Flip Radius, Profile, Building.

How We Examined Backcountry Skis

Our GearJunkie gear testing crew features a vary of skiers from intermediate to consultants {and professional} guides who’ve spent a long time exploring the backcountry and sidecountry throughout the US — from the West to East Coast and across the Rocky Mountains.

Amongst our lead testers, Kaylee Walden is a mountain information, avalanche educator, and author primarily based primarily in Southwest Colorado, the place she backcountry skis from her entrance door. Walden spends upward of 120 days per yr on snow, guiding every thing from sidecountry snowboarding in Colorado, to plane-accessed base camp ski expeditions within the Alaska Vary and mountaineering ascents of Denali.

One other lead tester, business veteran, and Vermont-based outside journalist is Berne Broudy, who has been a author for practically 25 years, and is a former skilled mountain climbing and bike tour information.

We’ve put these backcountry skis via the wringer. From glades to steeps, couloirs to low-angle meadows, powder to sastrugi, breakable crust to corn, the Rockies to the Alps, and every thing in between, we’ve examined these skis that can assist you make the choice of what to place beneath your ft this upcoming winter. Skis are like snowflakes: No two are the identical, which makes discovering the correct ski each a frightening and thrilling course of.

These off-piste skis have joined us on sled-accessed high-alpine tube missions, uphill exercise sprints, and distant hut excursions. Our testers additionally journey across the U.S. and abroad — together with the Italian and French Alps — hike in-bounds at ski resorts, and pursue skimo races.

Whereas testing for one of the best backcountry skis, we assessed a variety of things together with every design’s stiffness, maneuverability, and playfulness in addition to the ski’s power, damping, chatter, weight, form, edge maintain, and switch initiation. The dimensions, width, base, and edge tune additionally affect how a ski performs. We thought-about what kind of skier and situations are greatest for every ski.

We examined skis in a variety of snow situations affected by ice-cold temperatures, blizzards, blustery wind, intense solar, rain, and (in fact) powder. Actually deep powder.

Past our subject checks and private expertise, we thought-about the most well-liked, revolutionary, award-winning, and bestselling backcountry skis available on the market in addition to a broad vary of worth factors and functions to serve a variety of skiers.

Avalanche Security Schooling

Hunt down the right avalanche security schooling earlier than you head into the backcountry. Head out with companions who share your danger tolerance and targets, and search out skilled mentors. You should definitely carry the correct rescue tools for every mission and know find out how to use it nicely.

The place to begin? Join programs that meet the benchmark set by the American Avalanche Affiliation (A3) together with programs which can be authorized by the American Institute for Avalanche Analysis and Schooling (AIARE). That additionally contains programs taught by the Silverton Avalanche Faculty (SAS) and American Avalanche Institute (AAI). These are a number of of probably the most credible, historic organizations in the US that present standardized backcountry schooling programs. It’s best to decide on one group to finish a number of programs with than to switch as your schooling progresses. 

The mountains are a fantastic and inherently harmful place — the hazards of backcountry snowboarding shouldn’t be taken calmly.

Choosing the proper skis is a small piece of a big, complicated puzzle — as lots of you already know, particularly should you’ve been on the market enjoying the sport.

Important Avalanche Tools

In case you’re snowboarding within the backcountry, there’s a prolonged guidelines of kit that it is best to take with you. A transceiver, probe, and shovel are non-negotiables for snowboarding in avalanche terrain.

We additionally by no means head out into the backcountry with out additional insulating layers, snacks, water, a satellite tv for pc communication machine, a technique to navigate (telephone apps like CalTopo work nicely, with a paper map and compass backup), restore package, ski straps, first help package, and information of find out how to use all of this necessary gear. These all needs to be stashed in an appropriately sized, backcountry-specific pack; we like one thing within the 25 to 40L vary (take a look at our listing of our favourite packs for the backcountry).

Earlier than heading out the door, you should definitely examine each the climate and avalanche forecast, and be well-prepared for the situations that you simply’ll encounter.

Extra Backcountry Schooling

When you’ve taken your leisure Degree One course, it is best to search out some medical coaching so to reply to incidents within the backcountry and assist your group be self-sufficient. Each couple of years, we’d extremely advocate taking an Avalanche Rescue course to refresh your important fast response abilities to an avalanche burial. There are a handful of suppliers for avalanche programs which can be licensed by the American Avalanche Affiliation (A3).

Everybody who recreates within the backcountry ought to severely contemplate taking a Wilderness First Help (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder course, along with CPR. These programs give you the important baseline information that might enable you save your companion’s life within the case of an emergency, like after an avalanche burial or critical crash.

Navigation programs may help you discover your approach in difficult conditions, and we all the time advocate having your maps downloaded in your telephone while you head out so you possibly can all the time place your self within the terrain. CalTopo and FATMAP are our favourite backcountry mapping functions, and may help you discover your approach out of a difficult scenario or be sure you’re heading in the right direction in your most popular route. 

Backcountry Skis: A Purchaser’s Information

The sheer quantity of backcountry skis available on the market may be daunting. It may be difficult to type via the complicated attributes — like rocker, camber, core materials, or turning radius — all of which we’ll get into beneath, to nail down exactly what you need. The easiest way to seek out the proper backcountry ski is to consider your targets as a skier.

Backcountry skiers usually fall into three camps primarily based on precedence: The uphill, the downhill, or each. In case you’re largely after first tracks, search for one thing a bit wider to maximise float in powder, just like the Atomic Backland 117. A heavier ski can even glide via variable snow and grip on the ice higher, however it would probably be slower on the uphill.

In case you’re all about health or ease on the uphill, a light-weight ski (just like the Scott Superguide or Dynafit Blacklight 80) will enable you transfer quick and rack up vertical achieve whereas retaining your legs brisker. But it surely is probably not as steady or enjoyable on the descent.

Simply keep in mind, you often sacrifice a little bit of uphill or downhill functionality relying in your priorities. That stated, there are actually skis which can be nice “quiver killers.” We cowl all of these choices on this information.

Backcountry Particular vs. Hybrid Skis

Simply as with something, the specificity of a instrument usually decreases its utility. It’s arguably the identical with skis, though that doesn’t cease us skiers from in search of the final word quiver killer. 

Backcountry-specific skis are sometimes a lot lighter and made to spend the next share of time going uphill slightly than down. These skis allow us to go additional, extra effectively, whereas saving power for the downhill. Nice pure backcountry-specific decisions within the above information are the Scott Superguide, Blizzard Zero G 105, or Kästle TX103.

Hybrid, also referred to as “50/50” skis, are greatest used with a heavier binding just like the Shift, for individuals who plan to make use of the ski each on the resort for using chairlifts, for sidecountry snowboarding, or for shorter and fewer frequent backcountry touring outings. A few nice decisions on this information for 50/50 skis are the Blizzard Hustle 10, the WNDR Alpine Intention 108, and the Nordica Santa Ana and Enforcer Limitless 104.

In fact, it’s dearer to have a quiver of skis meant for various functions. However as you spend extra time snowboarding, and within the backcountry, it turns into a wiser option to have devoted skis for backcountry and 50/50 use.

Ski Size

As soon as you recognize what’s necessary to you, work out your ski size. The correct ski size is determined by your peak, weight, and skill.

A 5’10″ 180-pound male ought to contemplate a size of round 180 cm for a resort-focused freeride powder ski. In case you’re a hard-charging skilled, you might go for a ski nearer to 190 cm. In case you’re a newbie/intermediate, you might go for a ski within the 170 cm vary.

For a more recent skier, shorter skis are extra enjoyable and manageable as a result of they’re extra nimble and simpler to show. Some backcountry tree skiers additionally desire shorter skis as a result of they’re extra nimble turning.

Waist Width

Ideally, within the backcountry, we’re searching for out untracked, bottomless snow.  As backcountry skiers, we ideally are in search of one thing versatile that may tackle a wide range of situations. Chances are you’ll encounter an entire vary of situations in in the future, from deep powder to crust to corn.

Skis with 90-105 mm waist width will supply good floatation in delicate snow. They’re greatest for skiers who spend half their time on extra consolidated snow and half their time in delicate snow.

Select a ski with a 105-120 mm waist for powder. In case your commonplace situations are 6-12 inches of recent powder, wider skis will provide you with most float.

Go for a waist above 120, and also you’re firmly into the big-mountain powder class for particular days while you’ll be snowboarding two ft or extra of recent snow. “Over 120 waist is a dream-day quiver ski,” stated Quitiquit. “Don’t anticipate to take it out on a regular basis.”

Since usually we’re after extra adaptability in our backcountry skis, the widest set included on this information is the Atomic Backland 117, which ought to offer you greater than sufficient float for even the deepest of days. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the Dynafit Blacklight 80 cuts away all additional weight to make for the quickest and lightest development for the uphill and large days within the alpine, however would by no means be our selection on a deep day.

Flip Radius

Then, it’s time to contemplate a ski’s different traits and the way these match your preferences. A ski’s flip radius relies on the sidecut of a ski: the form of the curve alongside both facet of its size. This quantity is often measured in meters.

To a point, all skis have an hourglass form, however the radius of those curves has a vital impact on steering, velocity, and stability.

Skis which can be a lot wider on the tip and tail than on the waist could have a shorter turning radius. A shorter turning radius is nice for fast and nimble actions within the timber and moguls. Something lower than 16 meters may be thought-about a brief turning radius.

In case you prefer to carve super-G turns and ski quick, decide a ski with a flip radius over 20 meters, just like the Blizzard Zero G 105. In case you prefer to make tight turns, search for a ski with a flip radius of 15 m or beneath, just like the DPS Pagoda Tour 112. A shorter flip radius can be simpler to ski should you’re a newbie or intermediate. Some skis available on the market have what’s referred to as an adaptive turning radius, which creates a distinct radius flip intuitively relying on the way you have interaction the flip, just like the Völkl Blaze 94.

Typically, the candy spot for flip radius of a devoted backcountry ski falls within the 17m to 19m vary, relying on the size. A medium flip radius allows the ski to take care of stability whereas making huge turns, with out sacrificing nimble maneuverability in tight timber and couloirs.

Rocker and Camber

These two phrases describe the profile of the ski while you’re taking a look at it from the facet. A totally rockered ski is upturned on the nostril, and permits for optimum float in powder.

Add camber, which appears to be like like a bow underfoot, and it offers the ski potential power which you can have interaction while you strain right into a flip. Camber permits the perimeters of the ski to “chew” into the snow, enabling higher carving, edge maintain, and management. Most skis available on the market have this conventional camber form, which suggests the perimeters of the ski have interaction nicely into the snow underfoot. Reverse camber, whereas more and more uncommon available on the market, lends a extra surfy really feel, with a flatter form. The one reverse camber ski included on this information is the WNDR Alpine Intention 108, which we love for its playful journey.

Most all-mountain and backcountry skis use a mix of rocker and camber so skiers can have one of the best of each worlds. Rocker and camber collectively make a ski simpler to show. A ski with a rocker within the tip and tail received’t get attached in chunky snow or deep snow. The upturn permits the ski to drift via powder and it provides a extra playful, much less aggressive really feel.

Many skis have a rocker-camber-rocker profile, which makes them good carving and simple turning. Some even have a flat tail, just like the Black Crows Navis Freebird and the Faction Agent 3.0 and 3X, which provides the ski a “racier” profile for carving longer and extra highly effective turns with out washing out.

Supplies

Most skis have a wooden core, often beech, poplar, or aspen. Add steel to the development, and the ski positive factors spine and stability at velocity, however it additionally will get notably heavier.

To offset this, carbon, whether or not it’s used as a sheet or in strips referred to as “stringers” is stiff and light-weight. In quite a lot of backcountry-focused skis, it’s used as a lighter different to steel with a much less aggressive really feel. Stiff and light-weight carbon offers a ski grip and saves you power, however it may be extra chattery than steel in arduous snow.

Many ski producers strategically combine the carbon to enhance the journey with out including weight, like within the Nordica Santa Ana and Enforcer Limitless.

Components of a Ski

Excessive-quality backcountry skis are complicated instruments that pack a lot of know-how right into a streamlined bundle. The bodily development of your skis will outline your expertise utilizing them.

The components of a ski which have probably the most vital impact on efficiency are the core, laminates, sidewalls, and base.

Core and Laminates

The core of a ski is the innermost materials and partly determines a ski’s flex and form. Most backcountry skis characteristic a wooden core constituted of poplar, aspen, beech, or a mix.

Producers have a tendency to make use of thinner supplies in areas the place the ski ought to have the ability to flex and thicker supplies the place the ski must be inflexible. Across the core, steel and carbon fiber laminates could also be added to spice up or scale back traits comparable to pop, rigidity, and dampness as wanted.

Sidewalls

Sidewalls cowl the outer edges of a ski. Usually, sidewalls are constituted of dense plastic that protects the perimeters of the dear core layers. In some skis, the highest sheet layer could also be prolonged to hide the sting and function the sidewall.

Base

A ski’s base is the floor that is available in direct contact with the snow. There are two sorts of bases: extruded and sintered.

Usually, extruded bases are discovered on newbie skis on account of their low upkeep necessities. Most backcountry skis characteristic sintered bases. Although this sort of base requires frequent waxing and normal upkeep, they’re the best choice for constant long-term efficiency.

Sustainability

The ski business is just not all the time probably the most eco-conscious. Sadly, constructing skis on a big scale is just not sometimes an environmentally pleasant course of. Nevertheless, there are a handful of producers who’re breaking this pattern.

Extra firms are beginning to solid apart the outdated methods and refocus on sustainable and environmentally pleasant manufacturing strategies, incorporating recycled and bio-based supplies and nixing chemical substances, plastic, and petroleum-based components. 

Native Supplies, Photo voltaic Energy

A number of manufacturers have begun to supply their wooden domestically for the cores of their skis. Folsom Customized Skis now makes all of their wooden cores from responsibly harvested Colorado-sourced timber. DPS and WNDR Alpine have began integrating aspen from close to their Salt Lake Metropolis manufacturing amenities, respectively.

Wagner Skis, a small, customized boutique ski model primarily based in Telluride, Colorado, follows this pattern. After a historic avalanche season in 2019, Wagner determined to gather a considerable amount of deadfall aspen taken down by huge avalanches, and recycle them into skis. Wagner additionally builds all of their skis in a solar-powered facility. 

Upcycling Supplies

WNDR Alpine is main the cost as the primary ski producer to realize a detrimental carbon footprint. They do that, partly, by upcycling supplies each time potential, and utilizing their waste supplies from constructing skis to combine into different skis. Suppose utilizing the wooden scraps from one pair to make parts of one other.

Algal Supplies

DPS and WNDR Alpine are additionally utilizing proprietary algal merchandise and modified tree sap to interchange petroleum-based merchandise of their skis. You learn that proper: algae. These bio-based supplies remove the necessity for reliance on petroleum and plastic-based merchandise in manufacturing. Each DPS and WNDR Alpine have such an extended listing of aware manufacturing practices that we are able to’t identify all of them right here, from retaining their manufacturing in the US to eliminating plastic wrap for biodegradable supplies. 

Sadly, these practices are usually the exception slightly than the norm. The ski business, to its credit score, has come a good distance quick in only a few years. However we’ll proceed to maintain an eye fixed out for these firms going the additional distance to make a constructive distinction for the atmosphere. 

The most effective a part of elevated sustainability in skis is that these parts don’t sacrifice — and typically even add — efficiency, whereas additionally making us really feel even higher about snowboarding them. DPS stated it greatest after they famous that their sustainability initiative is rooted in preserving “the artwork of sliding on snow for future generations.”

Boot and Binding Compatibility

With a purpose to get probably the most out of your time within the backcountry, it’s necessary to fastidiously choose boots and bindings which can be a very good match in your skis and skillset. Take a look at our article on the greatest bindings for the backcountry to study extra in regards to the specifics.

Backcountry Ski Boots

It’s essential to match your boots to the efficiency profile of your skis. A delicate and flimsy boot paired with a stiff and aggressive ski will diminish the efficiency potential of each.

Of the numerous particular person items of substances in your touring package, your boots could have the best influence on bodily consolation. Like skis, touring boots include strengths and weaknesses.

In case you plan to prioritize downhill skill, you’ll probably need well-built and stiff boots that may deal with excessive velocity and arduous charging. Because of this, downhill-oriented boots are sometimes heavy and supply a restricted vary of movement whereas mountain climbing uphill.

In case you plan to prioritize uphill effectivity and luxury, you’ll need a comparatively light-weight boot that feels dexterous and nimble whereas in stroll mode.

The way to Select an Alpine Touring Binding

As for backcountry ski bindings, there are two fundamental varieties: tech bindings and body bindings.

The bindings you select in your backcountry skis could have a large affect on how the ski behaves. To make issues tougher, there’s an extremely wide selection of choices available on the market. Basically, making the correct choice for an alpine touring (AT) binding may be boiled down to 2 elements: Compatibility along with your skis and boots by way of weight and goal, and your snowboarding priorities.

In case you prefer to ski aggressively, you might wish to go for a extra sturdy binding. One other consideration can be should you’re doing a really excessive proportion of downhill to uphill, comparable to in a sidecountry setting, hybrid bindings are an incredible choice. In case you’re trying to make use of the ski for each resort and backcountry snowboarding, hybrid bindings are the reply. They provide the safety and responsiveness on-piste that pin bindings can’t.

Hybrid (Body) Bindings

A hybrid binding, also referred to as a body binding, will ski extra like an alpine binding. Hybrid bindings have an alpine heel and toe for descents. For ascending, they often even have tech pins. They’re heavier, they usually’re DIN-certified for predictable launch.

Body bindings are very very like conventional alpine ski bindings, besides they’re mounted on a body that releases on the heel for uphill journey. In comparison with tech bindings, body bindings are heavy, cumbersome, and fewer environment friendly whereas skinning. Body bindings are additionally sometimes reasonably priced, however we don’t advocate them on account of their restricted uphill mobility.

We haven’t but discovered a hybrid binding that may outperform the Salomon Shift. For these, ensure that your boots are MNC-compatible, in order that they’re capable of interface accurately in ski mode. Some ultralight boots, like Scarpa F1 or Dynafit TLTs, aren’t. Marker Duke PTs are one other nice choice, and go as much as a DIN 16 for these in search of the next retention worth than the Shift can supply. 

Heavier, hard-charging skis will pair greatest with a hybrid binding, just like the Blizzard Hustle 10.

Tech (AT) Bindings

Conventional alpine touring (AT) aka “tech” bindings connect to your boots by way of the pivot level holes within the entrance of the boot with steel pins, and with pins onto the again of your boot. Full-pin tech bindings may be extremely succesful in a a lot lighter, far more enjoyable-for-uphill bundle. They take some getting used to by way of a distinct really feel whereas snowboarding, with decrease energy switch, however your legs will thanks while you’re not carrying as a lot of a load uphill. 

Skis on the lighter finish of the spectrum, such because the Käestle TX103 or Blizzard Zero G 105, will pair greatest with a tech binding.

The design has a launch worth however isn’t DIN-certified. They usually don’t have as a lot elastic retention as a hybrid or alpine binding. So, should you hit a bump arduous, they’re extra prone to launch.

The tried and true Dynafit binding is our go-to for tech bindings, particularly the Pace Radical or Blacklights. ATK and G3 additionally make nice light-weight AT bindings which can be able to racking up the vert on each the ascent and descent. As a bonus, you’ll hold your legs a lot brisker for the downhill should you’re not hauling as a lot weight uphill. 

Climbing Skins

You received’t get very far within the backcountry with out your climbing skins, actually. Belief us, we’ve tried (unintentionally). Skins are probably the most underrated items of backcountry gear: They’re the true behind-the-scenes star of the present, those which can be truly getting us as much as the highest lap after lap. In addition they rapidly have the facility to destroy your day in the event that they don’t work as they need to. There’s nothing worse than an excessively gloppy pores and skin that leaves glue throughout your ski bases, or one which downright doesn’t stick for a couple of lap. We’ve skilled all of it. Allow us to prevent the trouble of virtually dislocating your shoulder to tug your skins aside, and take a look at these suggestions beneath.

Don’t use your pores and skin bag, or pores and skin savers, to move your skins within the backcountry. A superb pair of skins ought to have the ability to be merely folded again on themselves neatly, and stowed away till the following lap. Don’t be lazy and you should definitely take them out of your pack to dry on the finish of the day, as this may prolong the lifetime of the glue.

We’re solely profiling a choose few right here, however there are numerous choices available on the market. Pre-cut skins, in the event that they’re an choice in your skis (as they’re for a lot of skis on this information) are additionally a sensible selection, as they prevent the trouble of trimming and often keep on nicely lap after lap since they’re made for that ski. Think about if you wish to prioritize glide (if that’s the case, go for mohair) or grip (nylon is greatest).

Pomoca Skins

These skins, in our opinion, are unquestionably one of the best available on the market proper now. Light-weight, extremely packable, and simple to tear off your skis, Pomocas are available in a wide range of materials blends with the proper pores and skin for each skier. They actually have a enjoyable quiz on their web site that can assist you decide which pores and skin, categorized by their vibrant colours, is greatest for you (we’re huge followers of the pinks and the blues). Pomoca’s skin-cutting instrument is one of the best that we’ve used, and these skins will hold you gliding quick and climbing nicely for seasons to come back.

Professionals

• Many alternative fashions let you decide one of the best pores and skin for you
• Unimaginable glide and good grip multi function

Cons

• Will be much less sturdy on account of decrease weight
• Not one of the best for top grip or newbies who could slip backward on the skintrack

Contour Skins

Contour skins are nice as a result of they combine each conventional glue and glueless know-how, and actually present one of the best of each worlds. The glueless makes them much less susceptible to snow build-up beneath, and the standard glue helps keep away from issues of glueless skins, like not sticking for a second lap. Made in Austria, these skins have a glowing repute throughout Europe, and lots of skiers within the Alps swear by them for lengthy traverses. 

Professionals

• Glue and glueless combo make the pores and skin tremendous packable
• Nice for skimo-style pores and skin rips with skis nonetheless on

Cons

• Tail clip tends to interrupt 
• Extra development required than Pomoca for some fashions

Huge Sky Mountain Merchandise

A small firm primarily based in Bozeman, Montana, is making a number of the greatest climbing skins on the market proper now. We love supporting companies primarily based within the USA, particularly these run by fellow backcountry skiers beneath the Huge Sky. For added sustainability factors, Huge Sky Mountain Merchandise provides an in-house reglue service for when your skins begin to lose their stick. You’ll additionally flip some heads on the high of the run of their jungle print skins.

Professionals

• Tremendous sturdy and an incredible worth level
• Enjoyable graphics

Cons

• Most skins require person meeting
• Some fashions are black, which may “glop” greater than others

Worth

We absolutely perceive that backcountry snowboarding is a large funding and the skis listed above run a reasonably extensive unfold of monetary dedication. You’ll pay a premium for sure additions, like recycled supplies, sustainable practices, and types made within the USA, so contemplate these added advantages when in search of your subsequent ski. Think about that you simply’ll need to additionally purchase bindings and skins for the ski as nicely, which add a number of hundred {dollars} of further price.  The price of skis, like the price of every thing globally, has risen rapidly over the previous couple of seasons.

The bottom worth level of skis on our listing is the Volkl Blaze ($600). From there, quite a lot of skis are available in at a mid-range worth between $700-800, just like the Dynafit Blacklight ($700), the Faction Agent 3X ($749), the WNDR Alpine Intention 108 ($799), the Blizzard Hustle 10 ($799), Nordica Santa Ana and Enforcer Limitless ($800), and Atomic Backland 117 ($800).

Others, above $800, price extra of a premium, usually for light-weight and proprietary supplies, just like the Scott SuperGuide ($850), Black Crows Navis ($899), Blizzard Zero G 105 ($899), and Kästle TX103 ($989).

The costliest skis we reviewed, the DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP ($1,549), is on the very excessive finish of backcountry skis accessible available on the market.

FAQ