Ski buying guides
Lists ranked by the same engine as the quiz, from published specs, with no paid placements. And short answers to the questions people ask before buying.
Best skis by skier and snow
- Best all-mountain skis of 2027The all-mountain skis that cover the most of a typical season, ranked from real specs: groomers, chop, trees and the odd powder day.
- Best women's all-mountain skis of 2027Women's all-mountain skis ranked from real specs for an intermediate-to-advanced skier, with the length to look for.
- Best skis for beginners of 2027Beginner skis that are easy to turn and forgiving, ranked from real specs, plus the length a beginner should ride.
- Best skis for intermediate skiers of 2027Skis for intermediates moving onto blues and the first blacks, ranked from real specs: forgiving but with room to grow.
- Best skis for advanced skiers of 2027Stable, powerful skis for advanced skiers on blacks, bumps and chop, ranked from real specs with the length to ride.
- Best skis for the East Coast of 2027Skis that hold an edge on hardpack and ice, ranked from real specs for East Coast conditions.
- Best skis for tree skiing of 2027Quick, playful skis for trees and bumps, ranked from real specs, plus why to size a few cm shorter.
- Best powder skis of 2027Wide, rockered skis that float in deep snow, ranked from real specs, with the length to size up to.
Before you buy
- Ski waist width explainedWhat ski waist width means, which width is right for groomers, all-mountain and powder, and how many skis come in each width.
- Rocker vs camber skisRocker, camber and everything in between, drawn side by side: what each profile does and who it suits.
- What is a ski quiver?One-ski, two-ski and three-ski quivers explained: how to pick skis that cover each other's gaps instead of doubling up.
- Should I rent or buy skis?When renting makes sense, when buying does, and what to buy first: boots or skis.
- Ski terms, in plain EnglishWaist width, turn radius, rocker, camber, flex, damp: every word on a spec sheet, explained.
- What size skis do I need?A length calculator and a chart for every height from 4'10" to 6'6".