This ski is not a great choice for beginner to intermediate skiers who are still gaining confidence; these skis are bossy. When skied on groomers at high speeds, these rockered tips often have the appearance of being unstable (as they flap their wings). Liberty added a new width to its Origin series this year in the ever-popular 100-mm-plus category and Libertys construction has the secret sauce to make it stand out from the competition. We would recommend this ski to ladies who most prefer front-side skiing, who already know how to carve deep trenches, and who can appreciate the quickness of a skinnier ski. The inside edge of each is built with regular camber to provide edge grip on harder snow. The Faction Dictator loves to be on edge, and set us at ease with its carving prowess.
However, if you are a highly skilled and assertive skier who wants a dependable ski for a good price, look no further than the Faction Dictator. Some of these more freeride-focused skis are reinforced with heavier materials like Titanal, skis in this category easily transition between hardpack and fresh snow without an ounce of hesitation. The ski's rebound is one element of playfulness that seems consistent throughout the models that excel in this metric. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 feels like there is solid construction underfoot and all along the length of the ski. Some skis will rock quickly over from one edge to the next, instantly engaging the new edge and initiating a new turn. The Elan Ripstick 94 W makes powder skiing feel like flying through the clouds with the Amphibio profile that helps smooth out the ride. Our team of female rippers has tested 60 of the best all-mountain skis for women over the last six years and recently bought 13 of the 2021-2022 ski season's best offerings for a side-by-side comparison on the snow. The Revolt 104 remains unchanged for 2021-22, maintaining its place as a stout, freestyle-forward ski with wicked deep rocker lines. Neither the Nordica Santa Ana 98 nor the Faction Dictator 2.0X are exactly "playful" in a conventional manner, but the feeling of confidence they gave us inspired us to attempt new stuff, which is always fun in and of itself. While this new Ripstick doesn't have quite the extreme rebound that caused us to issue the old version an award for playfulness, it still gave even the lightest of us a thrill with its spring-back. Some skis, such as the Rossignol Black Ops W Rallybird Ti just felt like dead boards under our feet and didn't make us feel much joy while skiing them. When the snow gets deep, some of these all-mountain models just can't hang. Complete your kit with the best ski jackets and pants available on the market. But its not just for devotees like Sam: the bit of early taper and sturdy flex pattern make it a dream for anyone with alpine ambitions, and its flat tail with extended camber gives the Agent that extra bite on the steeps. Whether dropping into a steep couloir or mobbing down the groomer back to the chair, this ski had our backs and built our confidence. Despite their difference in weight, lighter testers found both the Volkl Secret 96 and the Faction Dictator 2.0X to be more difficult to bend and maneuver. Some models, like the particularly lightweight Atomic Maven 93 C and Black Crows Captis Birdie, feel unstable at speed and flap crazily down the hill. These all-mountain skis represent some of the most popular models available, so a low score doesn't mean a particular pair isn't worth consideration. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. The outside edge has a fully rockered design, shaped like a banana, with each end lifting off the snow, allowing for more flotation in powder and agility in soft snow. The Volkl Secret 96 has excellent stability and edge hold in its turns throughout a range of speeds. We're evaluating how fun the ski is to use in this metric. Others in this category have more of a freestyle flavor and are ready to butter and play in deeper snow. Edge hold within a turn is an important element of our carving metric. To this end, we examined how each pair of skis performed at higher speeds. For women looking for a bit more stability, we suggest the Volkl Secret 96, or the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 if you spend most of your time carving up groomers. The Riveter 95's ability to pivot quickly and accurately made for some very fun mogul skiing. 
Rockered designs on skis like the Blizzard Sheeva 10 shift the contact area between the ski and the snow towards the center of the ski, effectively shortening the "skiable" length. The Faction is a decently versatile option suited for high-level skiers who can reign it in, and the Elan is a powder hound and a wildly playful ski. The stunning mountain graphics were icing on the topsheet for this lightweight, springy ski. Another entry into the playful all-rounder category that has a serious big-mountain backbone, the Enforcer 104 Free is an excellent addition to Nordicas stalwart series. We loved a lot about the Elan Ripstick 94 W, but the most impressive was its ability to keep trucking along, no matter how deep or dense the snow. This ski just laughs its way over the chop, gaily bouncing wherever its sent and somehow making it feel purposeful. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. However, we would say that if you plan to spend any more than 5% of your time purposefully seeking out moguls, you may want to research more on-piste-specific models. If you're still skiing in your warped and scratched the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Crud blaster, dependable, great one-ski quiver option, good for every ability level, Awesome powder tool, fabulous fun factor even for light skiers, affordable price, Great stability at high speeds, good on hard snow and crud, more affordable than others, Superbly stable at high speeds, great edge hold, Very lively, makes pivoted tight turns, twin tips, beautiful artwork, Gets bouncy in crud, slight tip flap, doesnt carve perfectly, Only for shallower pow days, needs strong skier to guide them, A great all-rounder ski that we think is the most versatile option for a one-ski quiver, A fun and responsive toy for powder days, groomer antics, and bumps, with a value-oriented price tag, This model will do great in everything but the deepest powder and is ideal for an aggressive skier, A good choice for hard-charging speed demons that still performs decently off-piste, A fun ski that likes to pivot and get airborne, but lacks high-speed stability, especially for larger women, Rocker tip and tail, cambered inside edge, Amphibio tech, Perfect for those looking for a single ski to rule them all, A blast to ski in fresh snow, mogul fields, and popping around on groomers, A high-quality ski for all snow conditions, including up to 6 inches of fresh powder, but it takes a strong skier to bend and maneuver them, For those who love to ski fast and also want to be confident exploring away from the groomers, This ski is so much fun, pivoting on a dime and popping airborne instantly, but unfortunately it did not have the stability we wanted at higher speeds, particularly for our taller testers, The stability we felt on the new Mindbender, especially compared to older K2 skis we remember, was a welcome sensation. We were also pleased with this ski's performance in chopped-up conditions after a storm. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 earns recognition for its carving performance since its stability underfoot and narrower waist help it cut deep tracks in the snow when tipped on edge. Here is the theory behind all-mountain skis: skis designed to take you all over the mountain through all types of snow conditions. We'd recommend this ski to girls who want to play in the park and take the same ski into the bumps. The next slimmest ski, the Black Crows Captis Birdie at 90 millimeters, was, in fact, quick from edge to edge, but we felt that its lack of grip strength and solid construction meant that we couldn't offer it high ratings in this metric. However, the joy it gave us in powder and through its amazing poppiness all over the mountain made it one of our favorites, and the price tag made our wallets feel fine. The graphics coming from this Colorado-based company have always been stunning, and this ski is no exception. Instead of having to pack a ski for groomers and a ski for powder days, the Nordica provides you with an all-in-one option. We could only go so fast on this ski without feeling a bit unstable. The tapered tips and tails added to the freestyle looseness weve come to expect from the Avon, CO brand. Like speed? On the other end of the spectrum, both the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 and the Black Crow Captis Birdie tended to sink under deeper snow, making skiing more laborious. Even when conditions bounced the Riveter 95 off course, it took the redirection in stride. The Salomon QST Lumen 99 is another powder-oriented option on the lower end of the scale. But the metal backbone of this ski is where it starts to get interesting. Icelantic updated the topsheet graphics (shown above) since we last tested this ski, but the specs and performance are the same. The new Volkl Secret 96 is a versatile all-mountain ski with a penchant for speed and grip. The ski's nimbleness inspired our testers to try some spins, where the Riveter 95 felt very maneuverable, and landing switch on the twin tips felt smooth and secure. A quick edge-to-edge transtion and a damp, reliable feel makes the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 our favorite ski for carving. Theyll make you see the mountain in a new light, seeking out every roller and windlip. Most of them will make even the seasoned fat-ski chick feel like a superstar in the soft stuff. We were huge fans of The Metal, the predecessor of the new Hotshot from J skisand were always a little hesitant when brands mess with a favoritebut Levinthal really proved us wrong on this one. How can we improve GearLab? We want our all-mountain skis to make us feel like super-heroines while flying down the mountain instead of making tentative or unsure. The large rockered tips that kept us cruising in deeper snow were also a bit floppy when brought to higher speeds on harder snow. Unfortunately, it does seem common that when a ski is very stable at higher speeds, it also tends to be stiffer, heavier, and perhaps a little unwieldy for lighter, less powerful skiers. Hilary and Renee will often put their students on the skis they're testing for GearLab to get a wide variety of feedback; they also offer the skis to fellow instructors, coaches, and skier friends to consider their thoughts. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, We bought and tested skis from top brands like Nordica, Elan, Faction, Volkl, K2, Atomic, and others, to help you find the best. At only 7.2 pounds per pair, the Atomic Maven is one of the lightest skis we tested, making it fun and lively but not necessarily stable at speed. However, if you are already a true all-mountain skier, the Black Pearl 88 lacks versatility across the board. While it topped our charts for stability, it also performed well in nearly every other metric, making it an excellent choice for anyone wanting to ski the entire mountain in any condition. Our testers were blown away by this freetouring plank. While the German giant excelled at making big-mountain skis and jib skis, it had been a while since it built a ski that crossed over into both territories. We gave special attention to how each ski performs in various conditions, taking into account the playfulness and the stability-at-speed of each ski. If we turn at speed, will these planks hold their course through the turn, or will they stutter or slip away? In half a foot or less, it performed well, staying on top and showing us the same lively, smeary personality we loved about it elsewhere. Instead of reinventing the wheel with an entirely new ski, it beefed up the chassis of the already beloved Ripstick 106. Getting airborne on the Icelantic Riveter 95 was so easy and fun. This ski also lacks the exceptional flotation in powder that some skis in our review boast. We cover the best of women's ski boots, and even the best ski socks to slide into them. We could take this ski anywhere, at any speed, and feel confident that it would maintain course and do so with style. How easy is it to turn each competitor? You are probably a sensible person who only wants to own a single rockin' pair of skis that will take you anywhere on the mountain, any day. You need to tell them who is actually in charge rather than allowing them to rule with impunity.
They are both damp enough not to get tossed around in chunky snow, barrelling through it instead. The Dictator 3.0 is built for the steep faces and the ample snowfall of Snowbird, Jackson Hole and Zermatt. the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Crud blaster, dependable, great one-ski quiver option, good for every ability level, Awesome powder tool, fabulous fun factor even for light skiers, affordable price, Great stability at high speeds, good on hard snow and crud, more affordable than others, Superbly stable at high speeds, great edge hold, Gets bouncy in crud, slight tip flap, doesnt carve perfectly, Only for shallower pow days, needs strong skier to guide them, A great all-rounder ski that we think is the most versatile option for a one-ski quiver, A fun and responsive toy for powder days, groomer antics, and bumps, with a value-oriented price tag, This model will do great in everything but the deepest powder and is ideal for an aggressive skier, A good choice for hard-charging speed demons that still performs decently off-piste, Rocker tip and tail, cambered inside edge, Amphibio tech. A versatile ski makes us smile, no matter what terrain we find ourselves in. Despite its penchant for higher speeds and larger turn shapes, the Nordica Santa Ana 98 can still hold its own in a mogul field. This ski is so quick, agile, and easy to maneuver that it doesn't take much effort to get it back on track, even when it goes astray. The Dictator needs a highly competent skier to drive it precisely. The most versatile contenders in our review are the Nordica Santa Ana 98, the Elan Ripstick 94, the Faction Dictator 2.0X, and the Volkl Secret 96. The top-rated all-mountain skis are all capable of handling a wide variety of conditions, and they all emerged as high-performers within the women's all-mountain ski realm, where versatility is crucial. It does not remain on top of more than 6 inches of powder. It doesn't plow or slice through the chop like some of our highly rated crud skis but attacks it in a completely different way. Like its bigger namesake, the Declivity X, the 108 is shaped with a perfectly matched rocker and taper profile that excels in soft snow. What sets the Mindbender apart is its all-terrain rocker profilegradual rise in the tip, camber underfoot and short rise in the tailwhich can be bent into a variety of turn shapes without straining your quads to oblivion. The Coalition SOS is a powder-slayer because it has the fattest waist and some of the most prominent rocker of all the models in our review. The Icelantic Riveter 95 has a different method of handling chunky snow; instead of blasting through like stiffer skis, it helps absorb the undulations and easily changes direction when things get too tough. It's also a hoot to feel the Faction Dictator 2.0X simply remold the mountain to its liking, basically just razing the bumps that accidentally got in its way. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. We were pleasantly surprised by their powder performance, even on the deepest days. Additional rocker (the more a ski's tip turns upward away from the snow at a certain point along the length of the ski) helps a ski float without the addition of extra width. But at the end of the day, it is, overall, an average all-mountain ski with an average price tag. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. If speed is your game, this ski should be on your list. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 and the Faction Dictator 2.0X love laying down tracks and can easily hold an edge throughout the turn. And if you're headed into the backcountry this season, we've got you covered there as well. Unfortunately, there's nothing that makes them jump out at us as a truly special ski, We loved skiing this in bumps and in powder, but it wasn't as versatile as we'd hoped in other terrain, A solid carving ski that is reliable on-piste if you can stay on top of it, but it lacks the waist width and pop to make it really fun elsewhere, We enjoyed the Sheeva in powder but weren't as impressed with its stability or performance in crud, Wont replace the Soul 7 in your ski closet, but its not all bad news, Decent showing in crud and powder, but a strange ski elsewhere, Reliable choice for upper-intermediates, but not for expert skiers, A blast for mellow skiers, but not dependable for more advanced birds. The Riveter 95 did not impress us as much as we hoped in fresh snow. Overall, a more traditionally cambered ski will tend to excel in this regard, yet we did find that the Elan Ripstick 94 (with a bizarre Amphibio-profile) had an exceptional rebound. For our review, we refer to "crud" as any version of variable snow (but not powder) on an ungroomed (or groomed too long ago to be noticeable) trail. The Revolt 104, back for its second year on the roster, continues to fill a gap in Vlkls lineup. It is only slightly more expensive than the average, and its ratio of dollar-per-use increases if it means only purchasing one ski for every day of the season.
The Riveter 95 is an excellent ski for someone looking to get a little jibby in the park after a day of big mountain skiing, and it could also function well as a lighter-weight backcountry ski. Renee Lemmer McCormack, Lead Women's Tester. Subtle tweaks to the taper profile and sidecut work magic on this ski: its both more stable on firm and rough snow due to the extended sidecut, and surfier on wind lips. We felt confident enough in its abilities that we could choose the zipper-line or the mellow surf line and enjoyed them both on this ski. We design our testing metrics to be both comprehensive and mutually exclusive and assign awards when a ski excels for a particular purpose. Whether you're a hard-charging West Coast chick who sometimes skis heavier fresh snow with higher water content, or you're new to powder skiing of any variety, this ski gives you a full access pass to the amusement park. Another factor within the carving metric is a ski's agility when moving from one set of edges to the other. There's no better sight than a wide-open groomer when you have a powerful ski like the Volkl Secret 96 underfoot.
We'd like to help! The rocker profile enabled easy pivoting and serious quickness in tight and technical terrain. It neither barged through it nor sucked it up, throwing us around and resulting in some minor humiliations. Zag be nimble, Zag be quick! While all of the skis in our review are a huge step up compared to a standard rental ski or a race ski, there is an equally huge jump up to the next best type of ski in these conditions a true powder ski (110 millimeters and above in the waist). Made to carve wide trenches in open bowls and boost the biggest airs you dare to hit, Armada took its freestyle spirit and gave it a big-mountain foundation. A low score only means that a certain ski didn't perform well relative to the rest of the field, and often, low-scoring models still shine in certain situations. It also lacks some pizzazz in most conditions. Got feedback? The Saba Pro 107 was collaboratively designed Read the full review in our Deep Dive into the Saba Pro 107. Over the past six years, our team has tested more than 60 of the best all-mountain skis. The Nordica ski is particularly adept at high speeds and in crud but performs well all over the mountain as well. The tip of the Coalition SOS comes off the snow pretty far back, making for great flotation but also a smaller usable edge for grip and stability. A smart and sleek pairing of taper lines and rocker profile delivers float well above its 106-mm waist. Lightened a bit to pivot with the quickness, the stiff platform underfoot is still ready to rage. If you need a ski to chop up crud, look over at the Nordica Santa Ana 98, which is reliable and damp enough to eat up variable conditions. Models with a tighter-feeling turn radius, such as the Icelantic Riveter 95, perform better in the tight, firm, evenly spaced bumps. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Choosing the Perfect Pair of Women's All-Mountain Skis. Our two expert ski testers are industry professionals in Mammoth Lakes, California, USA. We enjoyed carving the Riveter 95 so much more than we thought we would. You ever cruise down a cat track like Snowbirds Road to Provo and dream of whipping cork 10s into the steeps like Karl Fostvedt? Reliable at high speed in any terrain, you can take the Nordica Santa Ana 98 anywhere. The Vlkl Blaze 106 returns with a renewed focus on soft-snow versatility. The Devastator is one of the more versatile full-rocker skis weve ever tested. A new addition to the Foundation line, the Koala 103 will challenge any preconceived notions you might have about DPS. But, a few years ago, Elan was looking to give skiers a little extra boost of power. One tester considered whether its softness helped dampen the bumpy ride; it felt like the ski absorbed some of the jolts rather than transferring those to your body to deal with. This versatile ski has been turning heads for four seasons now, a powerful machine that can rally groomers with enough agility to billy goat through rocky entrances, pop off pillows and snake through bumpsRead the full review in our Deep Dive into the Ranger 102 FR. Others, like the Blizzard Black Pearl 88, were reliable and strong but didn't have the spring to their step to make us truly gleeful. Built on a fir and aspen core and reinforced with K2s Spectral Braid Technology with Carbon Boosta special weave of fibers that intersect at variable anglesthis twig is soft in all the right places, but stable enough to handle big landings and fast run-outs. Can you tip them on edge, have them engage, and ride the rail? Despite those downsides, if you are a hard-charging front-side ripper, this ski could make a dependable partner, especially for those early morning groomer carving sessions. Conversely, if you're looking for something with more on-piste capabilities, then the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is a good deal for a well-made ski. Edge-to-edge quickness is often a function of a ski's waist width (skinnier skis being generally faster to switch edges). Hilary is a powder piggie. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Start by asking yourself questions about What Other Women's All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider? After you've pressured the skis through the turn and you let go, do they pop back and spring easily towards the next set of edges? This ski wants you to open it up and put the pedal to the metal. Treat yourself. While we appreciated the Atomic Maven 93 in softer, smaller moguls, we wouldn't be thrilled to ski it through firmer Volkswagon-sized bumps. Let us know! Are they dampening, softly absorbing bumps and uneven terrain, or do we get bucked around and launched out of balance? It feels as though it is a quality-made ski, not surprising from this manufacturer, and its construction remains steady all along the length of the ski from tip to tail. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. No sponsored content. If youre going to make a ski as eye-catching as the Fischer Ranger 102 FR, it has to rip. Dont be fooled, though, its flat tail and metal construction will buck you if you dont stay on top of it. We balance performance and price to help you find the best value for your next one-ski quiver. How to decide? It also floats well in powder, feels stable at high speeds, can carve a mean arc, and pivots easily around a mogul field. The shape of a ski's tip certainly plays a role in its keenness to float. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 is the type of ski you could buy, throw in the rooftop box, and not have to worry about having enough space for the rest of your stuff. This means easy turn initiation and stellar suspension thanks to its beefy layup. We rode these skis all over the mountain while floating through dreamy soft powder, muscling through thick Sierra cement, plowing through crud and chop, and shredding smooth groomers. If a ski has an hourglass shape (wider at the tip and tail and skinnier underfoot), it will likely offer a smaller radius turn. Our testers were wowed at how versatile the Stance 102 was on snow: Sure it rages on-piste, but once you get it into a wide open bowl or some serious steeps, the Stance starts to feel like a true game-on kind of ski. Strap on some hybrid boots, a set of Duke PTs and let er rip. The Faction Dictator 2.0X is an ideal ski for the value-seeking ripper-chick. Dictators dont respond to subtlety, so make sure youre on point driving this despot. Quick and agile, with a penchant for buttery pivots, this ski was a riot in the moguls. To make it come to life, DPS heeded the call of its team riders Read the full review in our Deep Dive into the Koala 103. Many days in springtime, the snow will be frozen sheets of ice in the morning and then forming giant slush waves by the mid-afternoon. The big buzzword among all our testers for this ski was how reliable it was. The Nordica Santa Ana 98 is at the higher end of the group for cost; however, the value that it provides through its versatility will make it worthwhile for many. The Black Crows Captis Birdie gave all our testers, regardless of their size, a very exciting rebound and made it fun to ski within appropriate terrain - nothing too steep, deep, or choppy. While we knew it would excel as a versatile, all-mountain player, what we didnt guess was how fun itd be to carve and play around on blasting off side hits and rollers. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Very lively, makes pivoted tight turns, twin tips, beautiful artwork. Cover all of your bases with the best of essentials like gloves, helmets, and goggles. Freeriders have long marked the Ripstick 106 as a versatile weapon that possesses a friendly and maneuverable feel with enough girth to float through a surprise snowstorm. Building off the shape and success of the Dictator series, the Agent 3.0 is a lightweight touring/freeride machine. And while Volkl has made a concerted effort to construct the shorter skis a bit softer for smaller ladies, our testers found that even their appropriate length ski was fairly burly. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Well this is his weapon of choice. This outcome was particularly disappointing in the case of the Rossi, as the old discontinued Rossignol Soul 7 HD W was one of the most responsive and playful skis we'd ever tested. Born in the mountains of Chamonix, the Slap 104 is more than capable at munching all the in-bounds terrain you can throw at it. A stable charger thats actually fun and surfy? We were often seen smiling while on this fun, pivoty ski.
However, the tips started to dive underneath when the snow got deeper, making everything feel more laborious and less fun.
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