They’re the Goldilocks of the ski world, the Swiss Army knives, the jack of all trades. So many skiers are looking for all-mountain skis since they can tackle whatever Mother Nature throws your way. All-mountain skis generally measure somewhere between 88mm and 102mm underfoot. The name of the game with these skis is versatility. Whether you’re on firm snow, carving in the morning, skiing slushy bumps in the afternoon, or finding some powder, these skis are designed to do it all. To help you narrow the field, we polled our staff and customers to suggest some of the best all-mountain skis on the market today.
We know all-mountain skis can be a highly contentious topic. Some people can’t imagine them being wider than 90mm underfoot. Some people can’t imagine them being narrower than 100mm underfoot. So we try to cover the gamut in this category. If you’re shopping, the two biggest things you’ll want to consider are waist width and ski style. Narrower skis are generally better if you stay on trail and don’t seek to ski much powder. Wider skis typically handle soft snow and off-piste conditions better. Meanwhile, demanding and directional skis want to carve and attack the fall line, while more playful skis facilitate smearing, slashing, and playing around…or just skiing with a more relaxed approach.
What is an all-mountain ski?
In a nutshell, an all-mountain ski is designed to handle varying snow conditions and terrain. These skis are versatile and allow you to ski “all over the mountain”, including groomed runs, trees, bumps, and some soft snow. These skis have the most variation in shape, size, and construction, to give you a slightly different specialty depending on what you do the most. Additionally, your typical all-mountain ski may vary on the region and snow conditions you get. Often in the west, we ride on slightly wider skis in this category to give you more platform for soft snow conditions. Out east, or even in places like the PNW you might ride something narrower with less snow between storms for firm snow conditions.
Generally, we find all-mountain skis to be around 88mm-102mm. You can go narrower if you’re skiing on firm snow more often, and go wider if you ski on soft snow (or off trail) more often. Overall, something in the mid-90s will give you enough platform in soft snow, while still being quick enough to roll over on edge for a carve or tight bump line. If you want to learn more about how to choose the right ski width, click right here.
All-mountain skis also come in a variety of shapes. Most often, you’ll see a modern blend of rocker in the tip, and less rocker in the tail. This gives you a versatile ride that offers easy turn initiation and better float in powder from the tip rocker. But, with the flatter tail, you get an elongated effective edge that increases edge hold on firm snow. Here’s our guide to rocker and camber if you want to learn more.
Who should buy an all-mountain ski?
Anyone who wants a versatile ski that can handle different conditions well. We also often call these skis something suitable for a “one-ski-quiver”. We recommend all-mountain skis to progressing intermediates, who are ready to start exploring more of the mountain and going off-trail. Experts and advanced riders will also like an all-mountain ski in their quiver to handle whatever the day throws at them.
A note on men’s vs. women’s skis
Men’s and women’s skis are largely the same. Often, men’s and women’s skis are identical aside from a graphic change. In some cases, ski manufacturers build skis with “women’s specific constructions”, which is really just a construction geared towards a generally lighter rider. Some women’s skis will also have a recommended mount point that is more forward than the men’s, but that can vary. The women’s list below has both women’s specific construction and unisex constructions. Our descriptions often note if something is women’s specific. But again, they’re not just for women. As long as something is an appropriate size and style for you, you can ride it! Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions.
Best Women’s All-Mountain Skis
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 uses Blizzard’s Trueblend wood core, which concentrates heavier and stiffer wood underfoot for stability, with softer flexing woods towards the tips and tails for easier turn initiation and a more forgiving ride. This design tech gives you confidence underfoot for edge control and dealing with firm snow conditions, with more forgiving ends for exploring tighter terrain.
For the 24/25 season, Blizzard dove into developing modern updates to the series, without losing the Black Pearl DNA that makes so many skiers swoon. Blizzard adds a unique titanal construction, with a single sheet of metal split into two layers. The Black Pearl never had metal before, and this update balances adding extra stability at speed and a more damp ride with a less torsionally rigid option compared to full-width metal. The new Black Pearl raises the ceiling for lady shredders, while still being an accessible model for women progressing everywhere on the mountain.
Read the full review here.
Nordica Santa Ana 92
One of the most versatile women’s specific models on the market, the Nordica Santa Ana 92 delivers the definition of “all-mountain”. Some of us in the ski industry are a little tired of using the word all-mountain. The problem is, it’s just too good at describing what we skiers like to do most days on the hill. If you spend your day split between carving groomers, slicing and dicing bumps, and exploring the trees, the Santa Ana 92 is purpose-built to excel in all those places.
Nordica’s terrain-specific metal is a partial sheet of metal that provides power where you need it. Extra material underfoot and towards the tip and tail give you the ability to power through variable snow, while the partial sheet keeps enough flexibility to not beat you up through a long day of skiing. The modern all-mountain shape is intuitive, easy to release, but supports a full carve. It’s not often you find a ski that caters to stoked intermediates all the way up to experts. The Santa Ana consistently delivers to all those lady shredders, and the Santa Ana 92 is particularly ideal for shredders of all skills and ski locales.
Read the full review here.
Elan Ripstick 94 W
If you needed an endorsement of the Elan Ripstick 94W then look no further than Powder7 staffer’s exultations on our yearly trip to Wolf Creek. Exuberant shouts to anyone within earshot of “I love this ski!” were heard each run. To our relief, the Ripstick series remains unchanged for 2024. Elan’s made some updates over the years. Adding a carbon weave (Carbon Line Tech) to add stability, but maintain that light-on-your-feet feel. The Ripstick 94 W is incredibly intuitive with each turn feeling natural and easy to start, while the Amphbio profile and carbon reinforcements really let you rip and lay a carve down. In fact, the lightweight Ripstick 94 makes for an awesome backcountry touring ski or hybrid ski with no compromise on the downhill. Similar skis: Nordica Santa Ana 93 Unlimited, Faction Agent 2X, Kastle FX 96 W.
Best Men’s All-Mountain Skis
Nordica Enforcer 99
Getting a fresh upgrade for the upcoming season, the Nordica Enforcer 99 delivers precise, powerful performance to the whole mountain. The Enforcer series’ calling card is two full sheets of metal. That’s right, two. This ski hand flexes stiff and rides as planted to the snow as a snow plow on dry roads. Nordica’s performance wood core provides the perfect blend of stability and adds significant pop and energy when you flex into the ski. The updated construction and design features a little more tail rocker and tweaked sidecut dimensions to make the ski more maneuverable, without losing the power that Enforcer fans have loved for years. The Enforcer 99 is perfect for folks who like a planted and consistent ride no matter the snow conditions, and like a traditional, directional shape.
Read the full review here.
Volkl Mantra M6
A cult classic favorite for decades, the gear heads over in Germany have spent years refining and redesigning the Mantra. The latest iteration of the Volkl Mantra M6 is the best yet. The titanal frame provides a stiff flex that feels bulletproof and supremely damp. This style of ski is great for high speeds, rough snow conditions like ice and chop, and/or an aggressive skiing style. The carbon-tailored tips have been precisely designed to dampen the tip of the ski and reduce chatter.
The ski has a relatively low camber compared to some other skis on this list, and when combined with Volkl’s unique 3D Sidecut Radius, this ski feels more pivot-y and lets you play with your turn shapes more than you might expect. The ski is still plenty directional, and prefers an experienced pilot that likes to pressure the shovels of the tips.
Atomic Bent 100
An instant classic as soon as it hit shelves, the Atomic Bent 100 keeps skiing fun. The softer flex and high camber encourage a poppy and playful style. It’s easy to engage, but thanks to the significant amount of camber, finds a surprising amount of stability when carving. The HZN Tech tip features a beveled tip to help the tips find more float in softer snow, making this a great bang for the buck in deeper conditions. Updates for the 2025 model (available now!) also include an increased tail rocker for an even more maneuverable and playful ride. The Bent 100 maximizes all-mountain terrain by being exceptionally maneuverable in tight terrain like bumps and trees, capable and fun to carve on, and making the most of powder conditions when you get it. And, it’s just plain fun. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Blizzard Rustler 9
The Blizzard Rustler 9 fits into the men’s all-mountain ski category as the slickest jack of all trades. Blizzard has fine-tuned the technology and design of this ski to provide the most versatile ski in variable conditions. It features their new Flux Form metal shape—two strips of metal running along the ski’s edges with a metal plate underfoot. With the strips connected at the middle, but not through the meat of the ski, the strips are free to flex independently. The ski remains more torsionally flexible than some of the other metal laminate skis on this list but still gives some more power and stability where you need it.
The moderate tip and tail rocker add maneuverability and a bit of pivot for easy turning in bumps and trees. We love this for skiers who want something that has some playful qualities but need more stability for faster skiing or firm snow conditions.
