Best skis for the East Coast of 2027
East Coast skiing is mostly firm groomers, with ice on cold mornings and the occasional storm. That favours narrower skis, roughly 80 to 95 mm, with camber underfoot and often metal for grip.
These are ranked for an intermediate-to-advanced skier at an Eastern resort.
- 1
Elan, 2026/27
Ripstick 84
84 mm all-mountain. For a 178 cm skier: 168 cm.
- At 84 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 168 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 5-8 skiers, matching your level 6
- 2
Rossignol, 2026/27
Arcade 82 Xpress
82 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 168 cm.
- At 82 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 168 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 4-7 skiers, matching your level 6
- 3
Head, 2025/26
Discovery 82 Sport
82 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 170 cm.
- At 82 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 170 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 5-8 skiers, matching your level 6
- 4
Völkl, 2025/26
Blaze 82
82 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 173 cm.
- At 82 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 173 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 5-8 skiers, matching your level 6
- 5
Black Crows, 2026/27
Octo
84 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 173 cm.
- At 84 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 173 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 6-9 skiers, matching your level 6
- 6
Rossignol, 2026/27
Arcade 84
84 mm carving, metal. For a 178 cm skier: 168 cm.
- At 84 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 168 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 6-9 skiers, matching your level 6
- 7
Atomic, 2026/27
Redster Q9
85 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 174 cm.
- At 85 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 174 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 6-9 skiers, matching your level 6
- 8
Atomic, 2025/26
Redster Q7.8 Revoshock C
85 mm carving, metal. For a 178 cm skier: 173 cm.
- At 85 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 173 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 6-9 skiers, matching your level 6
- 9
Kästle, 2025/26
DX84
84 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 172 cm.
- At 84 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 172 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 3-6 skiers, matching your level 6
- 10
Kästle, 2026/27
M8 84
84 mm carving. For a 178 cm skier: 172 cm.
- At 84 mm it handles firm groomer, soft groomer and trees and bumps well (about 86% of your days)
- Comes in 172 cm, inside your 167-175 cm range
- Rated for levels 6-9 skiers, matching your level 6
How this list is made
No paid placements. Every ski from the last two seasons that fits the guide is scored by the same engine behind the quiz: how much of this skier's season its shape handles well, how well it matches their level and style, and some variety so the list isn't ten versions of one ski. Your own list will differ, because it depends on your height, level, home mountain and the skis you already own.