Choosing the Right Ski Width
Ski width is one of the most important factors to consider as you decide which skis to buy. A ski’s waist width measures how wide the ski is under your boot or underfoot. This is usually the narrowest point of the ski (with some experimental exceptions like the Armada ARG), and correlates to how quickly a ski can roll over on edge. Wider skis tend to perform better in powder, while narrower skis love to carve on groomed trails. Skis in the middle—and there are loads of them—seek to optimize performance in all conditions in different terrain.
There’s plenty of advice thrown around on internet forums and YouTube comments. But, with a team of skiers from around the country and over a decade of helping customers around the world find their perfect ski match, we’ve learned a thing or two about skis. We’re here to share some of our expertise and insight on how to find the right ski width for you and your skiing. Let’s dive in.
Less than 82mm: Carving
Carving skis are focused on one thing: carving. Finding the perfect turn on corduroy is this ski’s dream. Carving skis perform best on groomers or hard snow. They are usually quick and nimble with great edge hold. Because they’re optimized for carving, they typically feature less rocker to maximize edge hold. That makes them less forgiving for exploring off-trail. Their narrow size and smaller surface area will also cause them to sink in deep snow.
You’ll find a few different kinds of skis in this category: stiff, race-oriented models or more casual, recreation-focused skis. Many rental skis for beginners also fall in this category because they can be easy to turn and control. You’ll notice this quickly based on the price point, or how stiff the ski flexes.
Examples: Volkl Peregrine 82 Head Supershape e-Magnum, Stockli Montero AX
82-88mm: Frontside
If you love to carve a groomer and normally ski on firm snow, but need some more versatility, the frontside category is for you. We also call this “narrow all-mountain”, since some skiers would ski this category across all terrain and snow. But if you tend to ski on firm snow, something in the mid-80s underfoot will give you a lot more stability compared to the wider all-mountain category.
There are a lot of skis in this category that balance carving with a little more maneuverability than the carving category. You’ll typically find a splash of tip rocker and taper to give you intuitive and easy turn initiation. But, this is typically balanced with a traditional, directional shape for enhanced edge hold on firm snow. The narrow(ish) waist width will give you agile turns and will feel more responsive underfoot compared to the wider all-mountain category.
To sum up: the frontside category is perfect if you mostly enjoy carving groomed terrain, ski on hard snow, but want just a sprinkle of versatility for exploring off-trail or navigating soft snow when it comes to town.
Examples: Stockli Stormrider 88, Blizzard Anomaly 84 / Black Pearl 84, Icelantic Riveter 85
88-102mm: All-Mountain
We define “all-mountain” as skis designed to ski across the whole resort. Groomers, bumps, off-piste back bowls, trees, you name it. These are the most versatile of all the ski classes.
Some might lump the previous category in with all-mountain, but we’ve separated them here since the construction and shapes of these waist widths vary significantly. The narrower, the better the ski will be at navigating firm snow conditions and carving. Wider will provide better stability in choppy soft snow, and powder.
There are oodles of skis in this waist-width group, with shapes and constructions that optimize them for different ski styles and snow conditions. For example, the Kastle Paragon 93 features metal and a directional shape. Great for aggressive skiers or folks who deal with more icy or heavy snow conditions. The Salomon QST 92 hosts deep rocker and no metal, ideal for playful skiers who don’t prioritize stability on firm snow. Both are excellent all-mountain skis, but offer different styles and excel in different areas.
This category is best if you are looking for something versatile for all conditions and terrain. Skis in this class will carve well, but give you more surface area for finding float in deeper snow. G
Examples: Elan Ripstick 88, Faction Prodigy 2, K2 Mindbender 99Ti
102-112mm: Big-Mountain / Freeride
“Big-mountain” skis refer to skis that tackle steeper, deeper, and more variable terrain and snow. They’re similar to all-mountain skis in the variety of options available and their versatility but are just the next width class up. You’ll find soft, butter-y, playful models (like the K2 Reckoner 110), and more charge-y, directional, stiffer models (like the Volkl Mantra 108).
The extra width will give you more float and support in deep snow as you hunt for powder around the mountain, without being a full-on powder skis. They feel at home in steeper, off-trail terrain like the East Wall at Arapahoe Basin.
You might choose this over a powder ski for soft snow conditions because they’re more nimble for navigating less-than-perfect-powder, or tighter terrain. This makes them more versatile for skiing the whole mountain after the powder disappears compared to a powder-specific ski. But, because of their extra width, these skis are less concerned with edge hold and stability on firm snow. Compared to all-mountain skis, they may feel more sluggish carving and less confidence-inspiring on firm snow.
You’ll see some folks using these as their daily driver out West if they like to ski off-trail a lot, especially in the 102-106mm range. These skis also work as powder skis for lighter skiers, folks looking for something more versatile.
Examples: Black Crows Atris, Dynastar M Free 108, Line Optic 104
112mm +: Powder
Looking to eat powder for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? This is your category. Where some folks might make do with their daily drivers on powder days, powder skis maximize fun. Extra width gives you extra flotation when moving through deep snow, ultimately giving you more control and stability. This also helps maintain speed on lower angle terrain.
Because these are wider than those “big-mountain” skis, they tend to be a little more sluggish edge-to-edge. They may feel bulky in tight terrain like bumps or steeps. But, some folks like the wide platform for the stability a large surface area provides and don’t mind sacrificing edge hold performance when conditions are less deep. If you ski in particularly deep conditions quite a bit (think Alaska), these are probably your daily drivers.
A quick note on powder ski sizing: some folks like to size up their powder skis. Most powder skis will come with substantial rocker to help maneuverability and float in deep conditions, which makes them ski a little shorter. A longer length will also give you even more surface area to stay on top of the snow. Feel free to go with a slightly longer size than you might normally have for your all-mountain ski. I like to keep my powder skis close to or just a few centimeters longer than my all-mountain skis, to retain maneuverability in tight terrain like trees.
Examples: Salomon QST X, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Black Crows Nocta
Other Considerations
Of course, these are just guidelines. Not rules. You’ll see some hooligans skiing 120mm+ skis year-round at Arapahoe Basin. Or, folks like my friend Powder Pat, whom I met skiing Blizzard Brahma 88s at Wolf Creek on a 12-inch powder day. The biggest deciding factor for these folks is just their personal preference. And if you’re new to the sport, it’s okay if you don’t have a personal preference yet! It would be unusual if you did. That’s why these guidelines are here, to help navigate the wild inventory ski manufacturers offer. Decide what terrain/snow conditions you’ll be skiing most of the time, and look at skis in that category.
When powder float is a concern, heavier skiers may consider going on the wider side of things. We can’t escape gravity, and heavier skiers might find they sink a little more than someone lighter on the same ski. Don’t let this be your main deciding factor, but if you’re stuck between a 112mm and a 118mm ski for your dedicated powder ski, maybe consider the wider set.
Another thing to consider might be your fitness or physical shape. Wider skis give you more float, but also are more work. They have added weight and require more effort to roll over on edge. Some skiers also find that wide skis can tweak their knees. The additional work you need to do to angle a wide ski over on edge properly can be too much torque for some knees. Always check with your doctor about their recommendations if you’re feeling knee pain, but if you’ve always skied wide skis your whole life and are now getting some twinges where you wouldn’t normally, demo a narrower set and see how it goes.
