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The Best Skis Made in the USA

This post was originally published in June 2018 and has since been updated with new skis.

O say, can you ski? 

If your love for powder days makes you see fireworks, you need bomber skis that do the same.  This Independence Day, support American businesses with gear designed and manufactured under the stars and stripes.  Celebrate Christmas in July with Powder7’s handpicked selection of the best skis made in the USA.

Our Top Picks: Skis Made in the USA

icelantic nomad 115 skis in usa

Icelantic Nomad 115

It’s not a new face, but it’s a favorite.

Our Take: The Nomad 115 turns its nose up at lift lines and groomers. Made for big mountain lines away from the piste and crowds with the playful feel you can expect from the Nomad line-up. Unchanged for 2023, except for a new badass topsheet and a brand new 176cm size, this ski hits the sweet spot for skiers who know where to go days after a storm. 115mm underfoot keeps this ski floating on fresh and leftover powder, but can bust through the crud and chop when it’s necessary. Tip and tail rocker allow the ski to swivel through trees and butter over pillow drops. The Nomad 115 is the perfect powder ski if you find yourself on the east coast, or a killer big mountain ski for the western mountains.

folsom cash 106 skis in usa

Folsom Cash 106

Built right down the street from us in Denver, CO, Folsom is a custom ski company that builds unique shapes and constructions. With everything from easy-going carving shapes to hard-charging freeride builds (like the Cash), there’s something for everyone. Literally.

Our Take: We partnered with Folsom to build three custom skis of our very own to share with customers. A Spar 88, Completo 100, and Cash 106 seen above. We love them all in their own ways, but with our penchance for wide skis the Cash 106 was perhaps taken out the most this season by staff. A directional freeride shape gives you tons of versatility. It carves groomers along with the skinny models and holds its own through cruddy chop conditions. Our staff found it confidence inspiring in techy, tight terrain, and plenty float-y when the snow gods delivered the goods. Folsom’s refined lamination techniques give this ski plenty of dampness. Combine that with a forgiving-when-you-need-it rocker profile, and the Cash 106 works for stoked intermediates looking for their first wide pair all the way to seasoned experts who like a good time on snow.

dps kaizen 105 skis in usa

DPS Kaizen 105

Surrounded by the Salt Lake City skyline, DPS ski geniuses constantly dream up new innovations. Their latest brainchild? Kaizen.

Our Take: The all-new DPS Kaizen 105 is the brainchild of all the innovations and designs DPS has developed over the years. Combining the wood lamination techniques developed in their Pagoda series with their updated carbon sandwich design from the Pagoda Tour series, the new Kaizen lineup is some of the dampest and most stable builds they’ve created so far. DPS refined its directional shape with the Kaizen 105 with a more pin-shaped tail to help increase the driftiness of the ski without sacrificing edge hold or stability. It quickly rose to some of our staffers’ favorites during ski testing. But that’s nothing unusual for DPS.

icelantic nia pro 105 skis in usa

Icelantic Nia Pro 105

Our neighbors at Icelantic Skis debuted the Nia Pro for the 2020-21 season, and the skis looked as good as they skied (per usual with Icey, right?). Since the debut, these skis have constantly “wowed” our staffers and customers.

Our Take: A fan favorite from customers to staff alike, the Nia Pro always impresses. Its build, which was led by the members of the Icelantic womens pro team, makes it unique. At 105mm underfoot, the Nia Pro storms into the hot category of mid-fat all-mountain/big mountain skis with a new twist: Reflective Rocker. This fresh design matches the rocker profile of the Nia with its sidecut radius. So, you get all the benefits of a fully rockered ski, like superb powder surf and ultimate maneuverability, plus extra edge hold. That means you can spend your whole day exploring the mountain and sessioning your stashes with a ski prepared to handle just about everything you find, except maybe the deepest pow or hardest (iciest) groomers. The Nia stomps landings, links carves, pivots on a dime, and reimagines what an all-mountain ski can feel like.

Best Skis Made in the USA: DPS Pagoda Tour 112 C2

DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP

For 2022-23, DPS spiced up their already impressive Pagoda Tour construction. You won’t find a more fun powder touring ski than the 112 RP. Not here, not anywhere.

Our Take: DPS calls the brand new DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP their strongest downhill touring model they’ve ever developed, and we won’t argue. Combining their classic 112 RP shape with the new Tour construction, DPS created a rock solid touring ski that can handle anything the conditions throw at it. All while maintaining that ultra light weight we’ve come to know and love from DPS touring skis. The Pagoda Tour 112 RP specifically is your powder partner in crime. A heavily rockered shape and deep taper lines allow the ski to float seamlessly and respond quickly for great maneuverability, even in the deepest snow. So, take that extra lap or two, it’s worth it.

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