Ski Equipment

Alpine skis generally fall into various categories based on the conditions and purpose:

• Big Mountain (Freeride) skis: wide under foot and often with a little rocker so that the tips don't dive under the powder. Sure footed in off-piste conditions.
• Powder skis: single purpose skis which are very wide under foot and with a lot of rocker so that the ski floats on the powder and the tips don't dive. The excess rocker often makes them unsuitable for anything other that for deep powder days as they do not have the ability to hold a good edge on packed groomed runs.
• All Mountain skis: these skis have to be able to perform in-bounds on the groomers, bumps and chutes while still maintaining some floatation in the powder. These typically have little rocker to maintain edge on icy or packed surfaces.
• Frontside or Giant Slalom (GS) skis: these tend to be stiffer to hold an edge and have less sidecut for gentle large high speed turns.
• Freestyle or Park skis: designed for the terrain parks. These skis have twin tips so that they ski equally well backwards as they do forwards. They are designed to hold an edge in the pipes and for general in-bounds terrain.
• Slalom racing skis: these tend to be narrow and have a deeper sidecut for quick turns. These are tuned for racing. All mountain skis have taken over the consumer market in this category.

Other ski categories include Back-country (also known as Randonee or Alpine Touring (AT) skis), Telemark and cross country skis.

Manufacturers Links:

• 4FRNT
• Armada
• Atomic
• Black Diamond
• DPS - carbon fiber
• Dynastar
• Elan
• Faction
• Fisher
• G3 - back-country and mountaineering skis
• Head
• Icelandic
• K2
• Kastle
• KF: Kitten Factory - carbon fiber back-country and mountaineering skis
• LibTech
• Line
• Liberty (uses bamboo)
• Movement
• Nordica
• Prior
• Rossignol
• Salomon
• Stockli
• Vist
• Volkl

Complete list of links to ski manufacturers.

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Ski Features and Designs:

Rocker: The importance of "Rocker" is most noticeable for freeride skis where you might end up skiing backwards or in back country powder. It is physically apparent when you hold the skis together in the middle and the tips and tails are not in contact but bent apart while the ski is flat under your foot.. Rocker is measured with two numbers measured in millimeters, the first is the distance of the tip rise from the ground. The second measurement is the distance from the end of the ski where the rise or rocker begins.

"Tip Rocker" will lead to more floatation in powder but more washed out turns in packed and groomed slopes. Increased rocker will also reduce the length of the ski which is in contact with the snow reducing your edge hold (not a good East Coast ski).

"Tail Rocker" will allow the skis to pivot more easily and spin as there is less hold on the ground. It allows you to perform a landing switch to ski in reverse more easily. One will usually require a longer ski if rockered to get the enough edge control. Add 5 cm to the length to get your rocker ski length.

Camber: This is the opposite of rocker, where the mid section of the ski is raised off of the ground if unloaded. Rocker is sometimes referred to as reverse camber.

Tip Design: Pointed tips (knife tips) are the traditional pointed designs which have been around since the dawn of skiing. This design is versatile.

Wide tips are more common on powder or wide ski designs. These tips tend to influence the carve of the turn as they will actually engage the ground during a turn. The wide tip has become more popular with the "shaped skis".

Flex: Longitudinal flex refers to how much the ski bends along the length from tip to tail. A stiffer ski holds an edge better on an icy surface as it distributes the full weight of the skier along the ski edge but recoils a rider in the moguls making them uncontrollable.
Torsional flex refers to the resistance to longitudinal twisting. This is important in maintaining an edge on an icy surface. Torsional stiffness allows the ski to hold an edge at the tip and tail of the ski.

Dimensions:

• Side Cut: This is measured in meters and is the radius of the arc of the imaginary circle which matches the side of the ski. A smaller radius equates to a more aggressive sidecut and a tighter/quicker turning ski. A larger radius gives the ski more straight-line high speed stability but it will take more effort to turn.
• Length: A longer ski will have more floatation but will require more effort to turn. A longer ski will offer more edge and grip in a turn and on packed or icy surfaces. The ski length is typically chosen to match the skier's height in cm. Advanced skiers will add 5 cm while beginners will subtract 5 cm from their height. When ordering rocker skis it is typical for advanced skiers to add 5 to 10 cm to account for the decreased edge effectiveness. Beginners will want to subtract 5 to 10 cm for stiffer and non-rocker skis. Physical strength can add a few inches as well.
• Width: Width (in mm) is measured at the tip, waist and tail in mm. Wider skis float better in deep powder.

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2018/2019 Ski Review:

Author has no affiliation with any ski manufacturer or distributor.
This years' review focused on wide deep powder skis starting with the author's favorites

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]
The number associated with the model is the width under foot.

• Volkl Confession 117
  [186 cm: 144/117/133mm 23.8m] available in 179, 186, 193 cm lengths - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  Multi-layer beech and poplar wood core and Titanal
  

  Best of the wide powder skis for use on the "front-side" mountain. Best of the wide skis in the moguls. Solid on ice. Tip and tail rocker with a middle camber and wide for the powder but maintains the quick response and rapid turning capability. Stable at speed. My favorite.

• Icelandic Nomad 115
  [181 cm: 150/115/140mm 19.0m] available in 171, 181, 191 cm lengths
  

  Good in-bound and not bad in the moguls. Holds an edge on the groomers. Versatile even though it is constructed for free ride powder. Slow edge-to-edge when trying quick turns (to be expected for a wide powder ski). Rocker tip design.

• SEGO Ski CO Prospect 120
  [181 cm: 146/120/130mm 34.0m] available in 181, 187, 194 cm lengths
  

  On par with the Icelandic skis. Made for "big mountain" powder but good all-mountain ski. Rocker tip design. Zero camber. Good shovel flex and rebound.

• Faction Candide Thovex (CT) 4.0
  [188 cm: 140/118/134mm 25.0m] available in 176, 182, 188, 194 cm lengths
  tip-camber-tail rocker: 600mm - 1mm - 590mm
  

  Made for powder. Similar to the Icelandic Nomad and SEGO Prospect. Solid all mountain and free ride big mountain ski.

• Line Magnum Opus (made in China)
  [188 cm: 148/124/146mm 17.0m] available in 188 cm length only
  tip-camber-tail rocker: 20mm - 4mm - 20mm
  

  Similar to the Icelandic Nomad, Sego Prospect and Faction CT. Rocker tip design.

• Icelandic Nomad 125
  [190 cm: 152/125/148mm 25.0m] available in 170, 180, 190 cm lengths
  

  Same as the Icelandic Nomad 115 except that it is even slower turning edge-to-edge. Rocker tip design.

  

  Significant front rocker (less on the tail) for deep powder conditions

• Faction Prodigy 4.0
  [186 cm: 136/112/128mm 24.0m] available in 175, 181, 186, 193 cm lengths
  

  Dissapointed. Bad rebound, no dampening from the shovel. Avoid any bumps with this ski as it will throw you back on your seat. Brakes get tangled easily when carying. Look at the Faction "Candid Thovex" as it has a much better response. Faction needs to re-examine its construction and materials on the "Prodigy".

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2017/2018 Ski Review:

Author has no affiliation with any ski manufacturer or distributor.

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]

• Volkl RTM 86
  [182 cm: 132/86/114mm 19.3m] available in 167, 172, 177, 182 cm lengths - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  

  Best "front-side" mountain ski. Best in the moguls. Solid on ice. Rocker/camber/rocker with a wide tip bests the previous generation in the powder but maintains the quick response and rapid turning capability needed in the moguls. Rocker is moderate. Employes the Ultimate Vibration Object (UVO) dampener mounted on the tip to improve high speed stability. Seemed to perform better than the RTM 84.

• Volkl RTM 84
  [177 cm: 131/84/112mm 17.9m] available in 167, 172, 177, 182 cm lengths
  

  Good ski but not as good as the RTM 86.

• Faction Candide 3.0 Thovex
  [186 cm: 136/108/132mm 22m] available in 176,182,186,192,204 cm lengths
  

  Good overall ski, good edge on ice and good in the moguls. Long rockered tip, camber under foot, medium rockered tail. Stable at speed with little vibration. Hybrid balsa-flax core.

• K2 Pinnacle
  [184 cm: 132/95/115mm 17m] available in 170, 177, 184, 191 cm lengths
  

  Good overall ski, very good good edge hold on packed snow and ice. Mediocre in the moguls. Titanal and fiberglass laminate. Rocker-camber design with lots of rocker.

  
  K2 Piannacle rocker

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2016/2017 Ski Review:

Author has no affiliation with any ski manufacturer or distributor.

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]

• Black Diamond Boundary 107
  [184 cm: 138/107/123mm 20m] - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  [160 cm: 135/107/121mm 17m]
  [168 cm: 136/107/121mm 18m]
  [176 cm: 137/107/123mm 19m]
  [192 cm: 139/107/125mm 21m]
  

  Tried it in the powder in the trees and found it to be quick turning and responsive.

• Icelandic Pioneer 109
  [182 cm: 144/109/131mm 19m] 4,133 grams, Rocker tip: 31cm, Rocker tail: 21cm - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  

  Tried it in the powder in the trees and found it to have good float in the deep snow and quick turning (but not as quick as the Black Diamond Boundary 107 but it had more float in the powder)

• Icelandic Pioneer 96
  [182 cm: 131/96/118mm 19m] 3,538 grams, Rocker tip: 31cm, Rocker tail: 21cm - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  

  Quicker turning than the Icelandic Pioneer 109 with less float

• 4FRNT Hoji
  [187 cm: 130/112/121mm 30m] 1,950 grams - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  

  Quick turning in snow. Full rocker but still controlled quick turns even on ice.

• Salomon XDrive 8.8 FS all mountain ski
  [184 cm: 131/88/117mm 18.3m] 2,141 grams - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier
  

  Great ski for moguls, groomed and powder. Wider tip and tail than their previous generation. Deep sidecut for quick turns. I highly recommend this ski for advanced inbound skiing (not that the beginner can't use this ski, they will probably not recognize the performance).

• Salomon QST 106
  [181 cm: 140/106/126mm 20m] 1,900 grams - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier

  Carbon fiber with a stiff shovel making it good for icy surfaces but no good in the moguls.

• Volkl 100eight
  [181 cm: 141/108/124mm 22m] 1,900 grams - tested with 6'2", 185 lb male skier

  Stable (no chatter) and OK in the bumps.

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2015/2016 Ski Review:

Author has no affiliation with any ski manufacturer or distributor.

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]

• Kitten Factory: All Mountain - all carbon, camber ski
  [185cm:124/105/121mm]
  

  Excellent! Groomers, steeps and moguls.

• Kitten Factory: "Carbon Pow" - all carbon (New graphics for 2017)
  [187cm:138/119/135mm 24.5m]
  

  Excellent!

Alpine ski bindings perform the simple function of attaching ones ski boot to the ski with the ability to release when there is too much load on the skier's leg, with the intent of avoiding injury. Some large ski manufacturers will require their own brand of bindings due to a custom ski mounting geometry (eg. Volkl RTM), others keep the ski geometry simple and flat to allow the mounting of third party bindings. Release geometry of the binding should allow release upon overloading the binding beyond the DIN settings during a fall. Typically this is performed by the toe binding for side to side and foot twisting articulation and by the heal binding for extreme vertical or body forward falls. An Anti Friction Device (AFD) under the toe of the boot helps allow a sideways sliding and movement required to release the binding.

Elasticity: The binding is designed for a certain amount of elasticity to allow minor movement without release. This range of elasticity varies among manufacturers but is intended to allow the skier shock absorbsion rather than release while skiing moguls and aggressive terrain.

Stack Height: This is the heigth from the surface of the ski. A lower stack height allows for better feel and control. Higher stack heights are often a result of adjustment mechanisms used in rental skis or for AT touring bindings to allow for a frame which articulates for walking mode.

Manufacturers Links:

• Atomic
• Fisher
• KneeBinding - Claims to be much safer for ACL. Made in USA.
• Look
• Marker
• Rossignol
• Salomon
• Tyrolia
• Vist

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DIN Settings: (Deutsches Institut fur Normung)

The binding settings are determined by the size, weight and skill (on a scale of 1:beginner to 3:advanced) of the skier. The higher the DIN setting, the more force required to release the boot. The following categories specify the skill level:

I - Cautious skiing at lighter release/retention settings. Skiers who designate themselves "I" must accept a narrower margin of retention in order to gain a wider margin of release.

II - Average/moderate skiing at average release/retention settings. Skiers who designate themselves "II" must accept a balanced compromise between release and retention.

III - Aggressive, higher speed skiing at higher release/retention settings. Skiers who designate themselves "III" must accept a narrower margin of release in order to gain a wider margin of retention.

The DIN chart is a guideline and subject to change. Third party standards organizations such as ISO and TUV (Technischer Uberwachungsverein) test and validate the settings to maintain normalization among brands. To be conservative, choose the next lower weight category or height category to resolve chart conflicts. If over 50 years of age, go one letter lower (one row higher) in the "Skier Code" resulting in a lighter, more releasable setting.

For a chart with torque settings, see: DIN Calculator

For coverage of ski bindings for back country Alpine touring and ski mountaineering, see our Back-country Skiing, Mountaineering and Alpine Touring equipment web page.

Ski boots serve the purpose of transferring control inputs from our body to the ski. The pressure and articulation from our foot needs to control the ski to guide it, typically in all axis and even in three dimensions while in powder. The beginner skier will typically be more interested in warmth and comfort and flexibility when walking. A ski racer will want the nuance of each roll of the ski, each pressure point and every slight twitch to be imparted to the ski so that it responds immediately and obediently. The ski racer typically has a tight fitting boot which is stiff and conforms to skiers foot and leg. Mogul skiers, terrain park skiers and free skiers want the same thing but with a little more flexibility so that their extra body movement is accommodated. Weight and strength are also factors when choosing a boot's flexibility. A stronger and heavier skier will want a stiffer boot. Boot flex is measured on a scale where the higher number represents a greater stiffness with a range from 50 to 140. This number is often used in the boot model number defined by the brand. Boot performance and cost also rise with stiffness.

Flex Chart:

Skier Ability	Men's Flex	Women's Flex	Kid's Flex
Beginner	50-70	40-60	30-50
Intermediate	70-100	60-80	40-60
Advanced	100-130	80-110	60-90

Foot fitting measurements include foot width (narrow 95-99mm, medium 100-103mm or wide 104-106mm), length (cm) and overall volume (low, medium and high). The boot shell will have a length used to set the binding (printed on the sole of the boot in millimeters) and an interior length (Mondo point size in centimeters) to define the appropriate foot size. Lengths tend to be in whole numbers with half (0.5) size options. Note that women's and men's have their own foot size scales and they are different for each gender and also different than shoe sizes (although there is a correlation). The interpretation of these sizes by each of the manufacturers also may be different. Women's boot sizes also tend to run narrower with more taper from tip to heal than a man's.

Foot Length Sizes:

Men's US	Women's US	UK	Mondo Point
4	5	3	22-22.5
4.5	5.5	3.5	22-22.5
5	6	4	23-23.5
5.5	6.5	4.5	23-23.5
6	7	5	24-24.5
6.5	7.5	5.5	24-24.5
7	8	6	25-25.5
7.5	8.5	6.5	25-25.5
8	9	7	26-26.5
8.5	9.5	7.5	26-26.5
9	10	8	27-27.5
9.5	10.5	8.5	27-27.5
10	-	9	28-28.5
10.5	-	9.5	28-28.5
11	-	10	29-29.5
11.5	-	10.5	29-29.5
12	-	11	30-30.5
12.5	-	11.5	30-30.5
13	-	12	31-31.5
13.5	-	12.5	31-31.5
14	-	13	32-32.5
14.5	-	13.5	32-32.5
15	-	14	33-33.5
15.5	-	14.5	33-33.5

Modern boots (especially high priced boots) come with a plethora of adjustment options including those to control forward lean (hold you to a racing body position), cuff adjustment (compensate for any bowlegged or knock knee) or the walk/hike switch (when unlocked it makes it easier to walk).

In the absence of a foot measurement tool, one can stand on a blank piece of paper, outline the foot size capturing the length and width and then measure it.

The sport of "Alpine Touring", where one hikes up the mountain on skis, has developed a whole different and incompatible line of ski boots with a pinned toe. While obvious, cross coountry ski boots are also different and incompatible with alpine skiing. The boots used for "Alpine Skiing", also known as "downhill skiing", are defined by the Alpine ski boot ISO standard 5355 and are the ski boots referenced here in this article. This standard defines the reference properties for strength of materials, hardness, density, size, durability and fit of Alpine ski bindings.

Manufacturers Links:

• Apex - soft boot in stiff harness
• Dalbello
• Daleboot
• Fisher
• Head
• Lange
• Nordica
• Rossignol
• Scarpa - back-country
• Salomon
• Technica

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Boot Insoles:

• Sofsole - air chambers in heel and arch

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Boot Accessories:

• Buckle Master

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Videos on bootfitting tools:

Masterfit boot fitting tools

Nordica boot fitting tools

Manufacturers Links:

• Masterfit
• Nordica: Boot fitting academy
• Sun Valley Tools: Boot fitting supplies

Skier Height		Pole height
inches	cm	inches	cm
5'3" - 5'5"	160 - 164	41" - 43"	105 - 110
5'5" - 5'7"	165 - 169	43" - 45"	110 - 115
5'7" - 5'9"	170 - 174	45" - 46"	115 - 120
5'9" - 5'11"	175 - 179	47" - 49"	120 - 125
5'11" - 6'1"	180 - 184	49" - 51"	125 - 130
6'1" - 6'3"	185 - 189	51" - 53"	130 - 135
6'3" +	190 +	53" +	135 +

Manufacturers Links:

• Armada
• Black Diamond - carbon fiber, self arresting grips, adjustable, ...
• Goode - carbon fiber poles
• Komperdell - carbon fiber racing, park and pipe
• Leki - Aluminum, Carbon, Kevlar
• Quickpoles - ski carrying system
• Rossignol
• Scott
• Spark R&D [video] - collapsible poles
• Swix - unique handle helps hand to pole position even when not gripped.

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Black Diamond Poles:

Helio: fixed length, all carbon poles

These are ridiculously expensive for a pair of ski poles ($300 in 2017!) but they are also ridiculously AWESOME! They are 100% carbon fiber and is the lightest ski pole you can buy. It only weighs 256 grams/9 ounces! (not a misprint). Its like they weigh nothing at all. An amazing ski pole experience.

Compactor: Collapsible. Handle designed for self arrest on steep faces.

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Leki Trigger Poles

These poles click on and release with a thumb press. One can use gloves with the Leki "trigger" attachments or wrap a Leki "trigger" strap around one's glove. This mechanism eliminates fussing with straps. There are two Leki designs:

1. The "Trigger S" (my preference)
2. The "Trigger One"