Best Narrow All Mountain Skis of 2024
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The Safe Bet: The Volkl Mantra 102 is a longtime favorite for a reason, it's absurdly dependable and reliable.
For the Adventurous: Armada's Armada ARW 100 brings some fresh new energy to this category, and has the chops to match.
We get it. Powder skis are fun to dream about. They’re exotic and aspirational. Everybody wants to think about gear purpose-built for the best days ever. And that’s fine. But, sometimes you’ve got to think about the rest of your days on the mountain. No, they might not be bottomless, the stuff of ski movies, but every day on skiing is a good day. And for all those good days, a narrower all mountain ski makes a whole lot of sense. For folks skiing a lot of powder, we’ve got our list of wide all mountain skis, but for the rest of us, here’s the best all-mountain skis less than 105 mm underfoot that we’ve spent time on.
Best for folks looking for a lighter weight do-it-all: Atomic Bent 100
Best for a nice mixture of carving and pivoting: Moment Deathwish 104
Best for making the most of otherwise mediocre days: blackcrows Mirus Cor
Best for powerful consistency, everywhere: Volkl Mantra 102
Best for folks looking for an easily approachable ski: Icelantic Pioneer X
Best for steep terrain and variable snow: Dynastar M-Pro 99
Best for playful all mountain skiing with a backbone: Dynastar M-Free 99
Best for skiing playfully all over the mountain: Armada ARW 100
Just like with our breakdown of the best wider all mountain skis, it’s worth remembering that the skis in these categories are really versatile. The ski industry is in a great place right now, where most brands have figured out how to make their one-ski-quivers do a whole bunch of things really well, instead of just specializing in one category. That means that the skis on this list have a very broad range. Most of them will handle anything from refrozen crud, to a foot of fresh snow, just fine. So the question is less “what can the ski do” and more, “what do I prioritize doing on skis?”
There are two main ways to go about this. Some folks like to lean into their strengths. Say you’re a directional skier who loves laying deep trenches on groomers. Maybe the move is to shop for a ski that will help you do that, even more aggressively.
But others like to tailor their skis to their weaknesses, to help expand their range as skiers. So playful skiers could look for something more stable and powerful, knowing that they have the skills to ski it playfully if they so desire.
Neither of those approaches is inherently better, but it’s worth thinking about where you fall on that spectrum. Do you want a ski that does the things you already like doing really well, or are you looking to expand your comfort zone? It can be exhilarating to commit to a ski that’s out of the norm for you, and let your skiing be shaped by it.
Regardless of how you choose your next pair of all mountain skis, these are our top picks we’ve been on so far, along with relevant stats and comparisons to help make your choice easier.
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: 100 mm
Weight (180 cm): 1784 g
Best for: Folks looking for a lighter weight do-it-all
Read Powder’s Full Review of the Atomic Bent 100
The Atomic Bent 100 is one of the lighter options on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s just a featherweight jib stick. Instead, this is a very versatile ski that can do a lot of things well. The most playful skiers will want to mount it a little closer to center, to help make it feel more balanced and playful, while more traditional, directional skiers will prefer it at its recommended line, or even further back. But, wherever you choose to mount it, the Bent 100 delivers a responsive, intuitive ride.
The Bent 100 is a great choice if your all mountain skiing involves some touring as well. It’s light enough for big days in the backcountry, but not so light that it gets overpowered inbounds. If you’re looking for something powerful, to plow through variable snow with, the Bent 100 won’t be your best choice. It’s more happy dancing and popping down the hill. But, if you’re looking for a lightweight, versatile ski, the Bent 100 is a great choice.
Waist Width: 104 mm
Weight (184 cm): 1988 g
Best for: A nice mixture of carving and pivoting
Read Powder's Full Review of the Moment Deathwish 112.
Moment’s Deathwish 112 was an easy choice for our best wider all mountain skis. The Deathwish 104, predictably, takes that excellent package and slims it down into something that makes sense for a lot more skiers. Like the regular Deathwish, you can ski the Deathwish 104 with a variety of styles. Get it on edge and drive it hard and you’ll be impressed with its edge hold. Or, stand up a little, and use your ankles to pivot and slarve your way around the mountain.
The Deathwish 104 doesn’t float as well in fresh snow as the regular Deathwish, but it feels more powerful and has better suspension in variable snow. It also feels like it has a higher speed limit that allows it to plow through cut up snow pretty well. If you like the sound of triple camber, but aren’t sure you can justify a 112 underfoot ski, the Deathwish 104 is the ski for you.
Waist Width: 87 mm
Weight (184 cm): 1942 g
Best for: Making the most of otherwise mediocre days
Read Powder’s Full Review of the blackcrows Mirus Cor
The blackcrows Mirus Cor is not a traditional all mountain ski. In fact, it’s not a traditional anything ski. Instead, it’s got its own, unique take on skiing that will really gel with some folks. It’s got the narrowest waist, and the tightest sidecut on this list, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s very quick and nimble. This is a ski that you can slap back and forth between carved turns with minimal input. But, it’s not just a carving ski. It’s comfortable in a little bit of fresh snow, and brings that unique personality to every aspect of skiing.
If you feel like your skiing is stuck in a rut, and you’re not sure how you’d like to progress, you should spend a day or two on the Mirus Cor. It’s less versatile than most of the other skis on this list, which is a good thing. It makes skiing more fun, as long as you bring the right attitude to the hill. No, it’s not necessarily one of those skis you can throw in the car knowing it will crush whatever conditions you encounter, but it is a ski that you can take to the hill on any day, knowing that it will motivate you to push your skiing in new directions.
Waist Width: 102 mm
Weight (184 cm): 2200
Best for: Powerful consistency, everywhere
Read Powder's Full Review of the Volkl Mantra 102.
There’s a reason so many people reach for the Mantra 102 every day, regardless of conditions. This ski is incredibly consistent. It’s strong and powerful, it’s easy to drive through chop and crud, but it doesn’t punish you too much if you find yourself a little off balance from time to time. That’s a pretty sweet combination. It’s a lot heavier than skis like the Bent 100, and that weight means that it’s much more stable, and has a higher speed limit. This is one of the easiest to push skis on this list.
In powder, the Mantra 102 isn’t exceptional, but it holds its own. If you don’t want to worry about which ski you should bring to the hill for any given day, the Mantra 102 is a great choice. Unless it’s a truly deep powder day, it’s never the “wrong” ski. Folks looking for a more playful ski should consider the Deathwish 104, and less experienced skiers might find themselves having to work hard to drive the Mantra, but anyone who’s looking for a consistent, powerful ski, the Mantra 102 is a great choice. And we found that the women’s version, the Secret 102, delivers the same package in smaller sizes.
Waist Width: 96 mm
Weight (182 cm): 1904 g
Best for: Folks looking for an easily approachable ski
Read Powder's Full Review of the Icelantic Pioneer X.
Icelantic’s Pioneer X might be the beefed up version of their regular Pioneer, but that doesn’t mean it’s a scarry, mean ski. Instead it’s very approachable. This is one of those skis that a lot of folks will be able to figure out, pretty quickly. It’s a lot of fun in slush and on soft groomers, and it’s easy to get into the air and play around on. This ski is consistent and approachable.
That said, it doesn’t have the highest top end in this class. If you’re looking for a playful ski that you can drive harder, the Deathwish 104 is a good choice, and if you’re looking for a more directional ski that you can drive, the Mantra 102 has a much higher speed limit. But, if you’re looking for an approachable, easy ski, that can handle a wide range of conditions, the Pioneer X fits the bill.
Waist Width: 99mm
Weight (186 cm): 2051
Best for: Steep terrain and variable snow
Read Powder's full review of the Dynastar M-Pro 99 Open
Like its wider brother, the M-Pro 108, the M-Pro 99 is a great choice for aggressive skiers looking for something that can hold up in any snow conditions. But, unlike the M-Pro 108, the 99 is a little more approachable, you don’t have to be on the gas all the time to make this ski work. It’s a touch more forgiving, and quite a bit more nimble in tight or steep terrain. That makes it a better option for a lot of skiers, especially those of us who don’t necessarily have the open terrain and deeper snow that the M-Pro 108 shines in. Instead, the M-Pro 99 is happy to work its way through the glades, or billygoat through rocky, steep terrain. And when the time does come to open it up, it holds up well.
The M-Pro feels a little more nimble, and quick than the Mantra 102, and doesn’t have quite the same “erase everything” suspension. Instead it’s easier to drive in tight terrain. The M-Pro 99 is at its best, off piste, in variable snow, making the most of the conditions. If that sounds like your jam, check out the M-Pro 99.
Waist Width: 99 mm
Weight (185 cm): 2051 g
Best for: Playful all mountain skiing with a backbone
Read Powder's Full Review of the Dynastar M-Free 99.
Dynastar does a great job of maintaining the character of its skis, through their respective lines. The M-Free 99’s relationship to the 108 is very similar to the M-Pro 99’s relationship to its respective 108 version. AKA, it’s a quicker, more approachable ski that brings the best parts of the 108 to a more versatile package. The M-Free 99 feels more like an all-mountain capable park ski than a narrow pow ski. It’s quite playful and easy to pop and spin off anything. But, it holds up better to more aggressive skiing than the Bent 100 or ARW 100. It has better suspension, and a more stable ride.
That means that it’s a great choice for playful skiers looking for something with more of a top end, or more directional skiers who want to dabble in playful skiing without giving up too much performance. The M-Free straddles the divide between jibby, park-influenced skiers, and more traditional types better than a lot of other skis, which makes it a great choice for versatile skiers looking for a ski that can keep up.
Waist Width: 100 mm
Weight (179 cm): 1731 g
Best for: Skiing playfully all over the mountain
Read Powder's Full Review of the Armada ARW 100.
The Armada ARW 100 is in direct conversation with the Atomic Bent 100, and the two skis actually offer a fun contrast. While the Bent 100’s rocker profile is a little more biased towards directional skiers, the ARW 100 looks more like a wide park ski with symmetrical rocker. But don’t let that fool you. We found that the ARW has better suspension, and a higher top end than the Bent 100. It just absorbs inconsistencies in the snow a little better, and holds up better at higher speeds.
And it does all that while still coming in at a tour-friendly weight. So if you like the Bent 100, but just want, well, a touch more ski, the ARW 100 is a great choice. And, similarly, if you want something a touch lighter and more mellow than the Deathwish 104, the ARW 100 slots in nicely. It’s light enough to tour on, and strong enough to push in any snow conditions. What more could you want?
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