Best Backcountry Touring Skis of 2024
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The Safe Bet: The new Salomon QST 106 Echo is probably the easiest touring ski to recommend on the market right now. It will work really well for most skiers.
For the Adventurous: Armada might not be the first brand you think of when it comes to touring skis, but their Armada Locator 112 is an awesome option.
Backcountry touring, AT, earning your turns, whatever you want to call it, human-powered skiing has never been better. Touring bindings are light and reliable, brands have finally figured out how to make touring boots that ski well, walk well, and stay comfortable all day, and the skis, well, the skis are really, really good.
Overview:
Best for all-round versatility: Salomon QST 106 Echo
Best for playful versatility: Moment Deathwish Tour 104
Best for strong skiers who earn a LOT of powder turns: Moonlight Skis Cruiser Carbon Superlight
Best for playful skiers, in or out of bounds: Atomic Bent Chetler 120
Best for the backcountry powder realist: Moment Wildcat Tour
Best for directional soft snow skiers: Armada Locator 112
Best for lightweight directional do-it-alls: Armada Locator 104
Best for a little bit of everything, with plenty of powder: Fischer Transalp 105 CTI
Best for playful skiers in a variety of conditions: blackcrows Draco Freebird
Best for directional powder skiers who might spend some time inbounds as well: Volkl Blaze 114
Best for those looking for something lightweight but versatile: Renoun Citadel 106
There’s a fine balance to be maintained when building a backcountry ski. Obviously, lighter skis are easier to walk uphill on. They make it possible to go further, faster, with less effort. But, not many skiers are heading out into the backcountry solely focused on the climb. We want skis that can be pushed hard on the way back down too. Luckily, brands continue to innovate and raise the bar for backcountry touring skis.
There are three main things to think about when you’re shopping for touring skis: weight, conditions, and location.
Weight is the simplest, and most objective factor. We wrote a whole piece about how to think about ski gear weight. Here’s a breakdown of how we contextualize ski weights for backcountry skiers:
- Sub-1000 grams: A skimo race ski, or something similar that’s probably too small for everyday touring for most people.
- 1000-1500 grams: Lightweight touring skis
- 1500-1800 grams: “Average” touring skis
- 1800-2100 grams: Heavy touring skis or light inbounds skis
- 2100+grams: Sure, you could put touring bindings on them, but why?
Most of the skis on this list weigh somewhere between 1600 and 1900 grams.
The second factor is conditions. Are you planning on skiing a lot of low-density powder in the backcountry? Or are you buying a touring ski to keep skiing late into the spring, after the resort is closed. The conditions you’re planning on skiing in will make a big difference in what ski makes the most sense for you. In this list, we cover skis that are appropriate for everything from huge powder days to long spring missions, and we break down which skis will work best for any sort of conditions.
Finally, location. And no, we don’t mean where you live, but instead, where you plan to use these skis. Lots of folks have their skis do double duty between the resort and the backcountry. Others prefer to only tour on their touring skis, and never ride a chairlift with them. And that choice affects what sort of bindings you’ll want to use, as well as which skis you should be shopping for. So think about where you’re going to be using these skis. Only touring for untracked powder? Awesome, go light and wide. A little bit of everything? Go narrower and heavier. Again, we’ll discuss what sort of bindings we think pair nicely with each of these skis in their descriptions.
About Powder’s Best Ofs
Our Best Of lists are collections of the skis, boots, outerwear, and other gear that stood out to us while testing. If you want to learn more about how reviews work at Powder, we’re very transparent about our process.
These lists are constantly growing and evolving as we try new gear. If you’ve got a favorite piece of equipment that you think we should write about, let us know here. And, if you represent a brand or company and think your gear deserves a writeup, we’d love to get in touch.
Waist Width: 106 mm
Weight (181 cm): 1803 g
Best for: versatile skiers looking for a versatile ski
Read Powder’s Full Review Here
Salomon’s QST Echo 106 was the first ski we reviewed this winter, for good reason. It’s one of the cleanest encapsulations of what a modern, do-it-all touring ski can be. Light (enough) yep! Capable in most conditions? Absolutely! Ready to be skied inbounds, or out? Definitely! The Salomon QST Echo 106 is one of those skiers that almost any skier can ski, on almost any day in the mountains, and have a lot of fun. A lot of that comes down to how it handles inconsistent snow. The QST Echo 106 does a good job of absorbing chatter while still being lightweight and lively.
It floats very well for its waist width in fresh snow, while also being narrow enough for hop turns in spring snow. The Salomon QST Echo 106 isn’t necessarily a class leader in any one category, instead, it ranks highly in all of them. So, if you’re looking for one touring ski to do it all, mounted with either a crossover binding like Shift, or a full pin setup, look no further than the QST Echo 106. This is one of those rare skis that you can reach for, without reading the weather report, and never be disappointed.
Waist Width: 120 mm
Weight (186 cm): 1286 g
Best for: Strong skiers who earn a LOT of powder turns
Read Powder’s Full Review Here
The Moonlight Skis Cruiser is pretty wild. It’s the lightest ski we’ve reviewed so far, while also being one of the widest and longest. It’s made by a small brand in Norway, and it’s really, really cool. If you have never toured on a sub-1300 gram pow ski, be careful, the Cruiser might just ruin you. It goes uphill really efficiently.
When it comes time to go back down, the Cruiser has a whole bunch of float, combined with a more traditional, directional nature. That means that it’s great for skiers who like to drive their tips and stay over the front of their skis. Folks who like to slash and jib more might find the Cruiser a touch more locked in than they prefer. Thanks to its low weight, the Cruiser definitely shines when the snow is soft and consistent. This is not the ski to be shopping for if you ski a lot of crud and ice. But if you like to go uphill, efficiently, a lot, and ski deep pow on the way back down, the Moonlight Cruiser is phenomenal.
Waist Width: 120 mm
Weight (192 cm): 1871 g
Best for: Playful skiers, in or out of bounds
Read Powder’s Full Review Here
Atomic’s Bent Chetler 120 is a great example of a versatile powder touring ski. It’s at its best in fresh, soft snow, but can handle more variable conditions with aplomb as well. And there’s no real wrong answer when it comes to bindings. Throw some sub-200 gram pins on it and go for long walks. Mount more traditional touring bindings, and head out to pop pillows and slash stashes. Mount crossover bindings like Shift and use it for deep days, in or out of bounds.
In deep snow, the Bent 120 isn’t quite as loose and playful as the Armada ARV 117 JJ UL, but it’s more capable when things aren’t perfect. Similarly, the Moment Wildcat Tour handles variable conditions a hair better, and is more precise feeling, but isn’t quite as loose in the deep stuff. That makes the Bent 120 the middle ski of that trio, and an easy choice for anyone looking for a powder ski that’s as happy on the skin track as it is on a chairlift.
Waist Width: 116 mm
Weight (175 cm): 1735 g
Best for: The backcountry powder realist
Read Powder’s Full Review Here
Dedicated powder skis are a whole bunch of fun. But, in the backcountry, conditions often change over the course of a run. Things get wind loaded or scoured, they deteriorate or improve. In short, conditions can be a crapshoot. The Moment Wildcat Tour is a great ski for the backcountry realist, the skier who does their best to ski powder, but knows there’s no guarantee.
The Wildcat Tour is an absolute blast in fresh snow. It’s loose and playful and poppy. But, when things get cut up, it handles variable conditions with a little more stability and suspension than the Bent 120 or ARV 116 JJ UL. So if you’re looking for a touring ski, for real ski conditions, not just those “best days ever” the Moment Wildcat Tour is a solid option.
Waist Width: 112 mm
Weight (187 cm): 1779 g
Best for: Directional soft snow skiers
Read Powder's full review of the Armada Locator 112 here.
Armada effectively makes two lines of touring skis, their “UL” line, which includes lighter weight versions of their playful ARV lineup, and their dedicated Locator touring lineup. That means skiers can choose not just by weight, but also by skiing style. So, if the ARV 116 JJ UL sounds too jibby and playful for your style, check out the Locator 112. It’s an excellent powder touring ski, that can handle variable conditions really well too.
The Locator 112 has a fairly traditional shape and mount point, it’s meant to be driven directionaly through the tips. And, if you do that, you’ll be rewarded in spades. This is one of the most capable skis for its weight we’ve found. It crushes variable snow harder than it has a right to. When things are soft and deep, it’s got plenty of float on tap. If you don’t ski that much fresh snow, consider bumping down to the Locator 104, but if you like to ski directionally in fresh snow, the Locator 112 is a great option.
Waist Width: 104 mm
Weight (186 cm): 1539 g
Best for: Directional do-it-all
Read Powder's Full Review of the Armada Locator 104
The 104-108 mm underfoot category is a real hot spot for touring skis. The skis in this class are generally made to handle a little bit of everything, instead of being stuffed into one particular niche. But, there are plenty of ways to make a do-it-all touring ski, and, like many things in life, there’s no one right answer. Instead, it’s up to you, as a customer, to find the skis that best match your goals. While the Salomon QST 106 Echo leads in all-out versatility, that doesn’t mean it’s the “best.” And the Armada Locator 104 makes that abundantly clear.
At almost 300 grams lighter than the QST 106 Echo (even in the 5 cm longer length) the Locator 104 is much better suited to long, efficient days. You’ll notice that ⅔ lb with every step. And the Locator 104 provides more support and stability for directional skiers. It punches through variable snow much more powerfully than any stats sheet would suggest, and remains very predictable when things get steep and scary. For year-round ski mountaineering objectives, the Locator 104 is a clear leader. And it’s fun enough in powder and mellow terrain to be a fine one-ski-quiver for a lot of folks.
Waist Width: 105 mm
Weight (185 cm): 1630 g
Best for: A little bit of everything, with plenty of powder
Read Powder's Full Review of the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI.
The Fischer Transalp 105 CTI vs. Armada Locator 104 matchup might just be one of the tightest we’ve ever seen. These skis are quite similar. Like the Locator, the Transalp is a great choice for a do-it-all directional touring ski. It handles variable conditions a touch better than the Locator, but isn’t quite as loose and playful in powder. They both do a better job of plowing through cut up snow than you’d expect at this weight, and both can handle deep days just fine.
At the end of the day, it’s a hard choice, because these skis are both excellent. If you’re counting grams, go Armada. If you want a touch stronger ski, that is a little less work to ski fast in variable snow, go Fischer Transalp 105. Either way, you end up with a dependable, reliable backcountry ski.
Waist Width: 110 mm
Weight (181 cm): 1845 g
Best for: Playful skiers in a variety of conditions
Read Powder's full review of the Black Crows Draco Freebird.
Black Crows’ latest touring ski is tailor made for playful skiers looking for something that’s happy to spin and slash in the backcountry, but can still handle bigger lines and variable snow. If your favorite inbounds skis all have twinned tails and more centered mount points, the Draco Freebird should be high on your list of prospective touring skis. It’s got great float in fresh snow, and is easy to pivot and slash. But, when the terrain gets steeper, and the snow is less perfect, it’s easy to hop turn on, and holds an edge nicely.
The Draco Freebird falls solidly into the do-it-all category. Not, it’s not our top choice for tours where you know the snow is going to be firm. And if you aren’t really a playful skier, you’ll be better served by something a little less playful. But, if you like being in the air, throwing your skis sideways, and making every snow covered stump into a launcher, the Draco Freebird is ready to rumble.
Waist Width: 114 mm
Weight (184 cm): 1900 g
Best for: Directional powder skiers who might spend some time inbounds as well
Read Powder's Full Review of the Volkl Blaze 114.
If we had to describe the Blaze 114 in one word it would be “smooth.” It’s smooth to turn, smooth to pivot, and it smoothes out imperfections in the snow really well. As skis get wider they also often become more playful and less directional. Volkl avoided that with the Blaze, making a powder ski that directional skiers will love. If you like to leave smooth arcs in your wake, as opposed to frenetic slashes and slarves, the Blaze 114 will leave you smiling.
The Blaze 114 is a great compliment to an inbounds ski like the Volkl Mantra 102. It’s got enough suspension and stability that it will handle inbounds pow and soft chop days just fine, but it’s light enough to haul uphill for big touring days in deep snow. It’s heavier, and more locked in, with better suspension than the Tracer 112. So it’s a great candidate for a binding like the Marker Duke PT. If you’re a directional powder skier, looking for one powder ski that can handle any form of uphill conveyance, the Blaze 114 fits the bill nicely.
Waist Width: 106 mm
Weight (169 cm): 1,516 g
Best for: Folks looking for one ski that can handle everything from pow, to slush, and everything in-between
Read Powder's Full Review of the Renoun Citadel 106 here.
The Citadel 106 is a lightweight ski that performs well on backcountry ascents while still being fun and playful on the descents. Mounted with a proper, light weight touring binding, the Citadel 106 goes uphill really efficiently. When it comes time to go down, the Citadel can hold its own in powder while also maintain stability and minimizing chatter on rougher terrain. The design of the Citadel 106 also makes it quite maneuverable and a great option for navigating tight, gladed runs in addition to open powder bowls.
The Citadel 106 is a great option for touring in variable terrain. It’s an easy ski to walk uphill on but can hold its own on the descents, offering a playful ride through powder but also being easy to turn in tighter terrain. And as far as lightweight skis go, the Citadel 106 can hold its own in rougher, choppier snow. Renoun’s Citadel 106 may not be the best at any one thing but it’s pretty good for whatever a backcountry tour may hold, making this a good one ski quiver if that’s what you’re looking for.
Moment Deathwish Tour 104
Waist Width: 104 mm
Weight (186 cm): 1765 g
Best for: Playful skiers who still want a touring ski with a backbone.
Read Powder's full review of the Moment Deathwish Tour 104 here.
With the Deathwish Tour 104, Moment has delivered an effective answer to the new Salomon QST 106 Echo. The Deathwish Tour 104 has the same approachable, easy to control nature of the new QST Echo. It's absurdly maneuverable in bad snow, and in tight areas, but then has an impressively high speed limit, and amount of suspension on tap when you want to go fast and take chances.
That makes for a really fun combination in a touring ski. The Deathwish Tour is reliable and consistent when the snow is questionable and you're just trying to get home safe, and then, when things are soft and smooth and you just want to ride the lightening, it's ready to go. More directional skiers may find the QST has a bit of an edge, while more centered and playful skiers will love the Deathwish Tour 104.
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