Ski waist width explained
Waist width is how wide a ski is under your boot, in millimetres. It is the single number that says most about where a ski is happy: narrow skis tip onto their edges quickly and grip on hard snow; wide skis float on soft snow but take more effort to roll from edge to edge.
Specs list three widths, tip / waist / tail (for example 133 / 98 / 120). The tip and tail are wider than the waist; that hourglass shape is the sidecut, and it sets the turn radius. A short radius makes quick turns, a long one prefers big, fast arcs.
Which width for what
Under 85 mm
Carving and firm snow. Quick edge to edge, easy to learn on, sinks in powder.
212 ski models current in the last two seasons.
85-94 mm
The classic everyday width in the East and for groomer-first skiers out West.
196 ski models current in the last two seasons.
95-104 mm
Western all-mountain: still carves, floats a few inches of new snow, handles chop.
194 ski models current in the last two seasons.
105-114 mm
Freeride and soft-snow days. Slower edge to edge on hardpack.
118 ski models current in the last two seasons.
115 mm and wider
Powder skis. Float first; groomers are just the way back to the lift.
47 ski models current in the last two seasons.
The site groups skis the same way: carving (66-84 mm), all-mountain (84-98 mm), wide all-mountain (98-106 mm), freeride (100-112 mm), powder (112 mm+), park (84-100 mm), touring (85-110 mm).