Our contributor has tested hundreds of skies from dozens of brands on thousands of runs. These stand the test of time.
I’ve been testing skis for nearly a decade—a dizzying number of pairs across a multitude of brands. I've taken them on hot laps at local resorts, long volcano missions, heli trips to Alaska, among many other testing grounds. It’s a huge privilege and a unique opportunity to see the market almost holistically and deduce what the best skis of the decade truly are.
To close friends, colleagues, and ski reps who ask for real, honest feedback, I’ll often say the same thing: Most skis are, for the most part, the same. If you were to blackout the topsheet graphics, pick a random pair of all-mountain skis, and rip a few laps of corduroy, crud, chop, or even powder, it would be hard for you to decipher the brand. Don’t believe me? Hit up your next demo day.
Andy Cochrane
The reason is pretty obvious. Most skis use eerily similar materials, layups, sidecuts, and camber profiles, because skis are relatively easy to reverse engineer. Brands are able to replicate what other, more clever brands have already made and gradually the market becomes fairly homogeneous. For better or worse, it’s hard to differentiate a new pair of skis.
Related: We Tested the Best Ski and Snowboard Gear of 2023
However, there are always exceptions to the rule. Occasionally I find a ski that stands out. Often it’s an instance of small design tweaks adding up to a big impact and better on-snow performance. These are the ones I never get rid of. I go back to them year after year, even with plenty of other options, because I trust they can hold an edge on ice, float in deep powder, or reasonably handle a wide variety of conditions and terrain.
Best Skis of the Decade, Tested and Reviewed
1. Faction Agent 3.0
Best for: A Do-it-All Daily Driver
The Agent 3.0 won numerous awards, but more importantly, it won over my heart. These days, I spend three-quarters of my time in the backcountry, thus my so-called “daily driver” has pivoted from a true all-mountain ski to a slightly lighter version. The Agent is exactly that. It's hard-charging—not floppy or chattery—while being light enough to tour bell-to-bell in any condition you run into.
According to Faction, “You'll love this if: You want a "tourable" ski that puts a huge emphasis on the downhill experience; you think light weight is important but durability and stability are better; you want a modern tip that'll help you rise above snow and easily initiate turns, and a stiffer tail that supports a strong finish; you want one ski to do it all—long tours, short tours, inbounds.”
This is the one ski to travel with.
[$524; factionskis.com]
2. K2 Mindbender 116C
Best for: Fat, Floaty, Reliable Fun
“If you're an old friend of dreamy powder days but a stranger to fatty skis, allow us to introduce you to Mindbender 116 C Skis," according to K2. Since its launch in 2019, Mindbender 116 hasn’t changed much, which tells you a lot. If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, as they say. When your resort reports a new foot overnight, you gotta bring the big guns—something that floats, pops, and is playful in the deeps.
The 116C, the largest in the Mindbender line, is everything you’d want in powder and can still handle the leftover chop when the resort is fully tracked out.
"Release these light-yet-hefty powder players into their natural habitat to surf through deep snow, or find a sturdy edge hold and plow through chop and crud without missing a beat. The Mindbenders are sure to make you a convert.”
[$600; k2snow.com]
3. Blizzard Hustle 9
Best for: Sufferfest Touring Days
As the lovechild of two widely acclaimed skis, Rustler and Zero G, the brand new Hustle series launched with high expectations. Wait, how is a brand new ski on this list? If it seems like I have a recency bias, fear not, my friend. I spent all of last spring on a prototype pair and was blown away. They can hold an edge on anything and are easy to jump turn, making them the perfect volcano ski.
“A proud sponsor of pocket bacon and backpack beers, Hustle 9 is built for the backcountry skiers who are out there to have as much fun as possible," per Blizzard. "Whether you’re bagging vert before the sun rises or farming pow until it sets, Hustle works as hard as you do and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face."
[$750; blizzard-tecnica.com]
4. Atomic Bent 100
Best for: An All-mountain MasterClass
A good all-mountain ski is a jack of all trades and master of at least a few. It should be able to arc big turns on cord, handle chop and crud, be fun in powder and trees, and most importantly, allow you to find your flow state, somewhat often. This slimmed down version of the award-winning Bent 120 is just that.
“The Bent 100 is a do-everything freeride ski, designed by ski legend Chris Benchetler and the Atomic Freeski team," according to Atomic. "With a versatile 100-mm waist, the directional shape features HRZN Tech in the tip and tail for increased surface area and float.
It’s made for the full gamut—hard charging, slashing, jumping, carving, and exploring the whole mountain.
"The Light Woodcore and generous Powder Rocker encourage you to slash and slarve the entire mountain from peak to the park.”
[$725; amazon.com]
5. Black Crows Freebird Ferox
Best for: Backcountry Powder Days
The last ski on the list is also the one I’ve had in quiver the longest. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve gone to war with Freebird Ferox and come back impressed.
“The Ferox Freebird was born out of the need for a powder-oriented touring ski that still has an efficient grip," per Black Crows. "We wanted to create the sensation of floating in powder, but the soul remains in the alpine with the ability to adapt to all conditions."
I couldn't agree more: While it's marketed as a powder touring ski, I trust it in hardpack and it seamlessly holds its own in variable chop, slop, or crud. Heck, you can even have a damn fun time carving on groomers on these skis.
"With a twin tip and a double rocker, it offers a very good feeling in powder with its immediate lift and pivot, but keeps a good base on hard snow thanks to its progressive sidecut.”
[$1,100; black-crows.com]
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/5GbUBal
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