The Best Women’s All-Mountain Skis of 2024
This article originally appeared on Outside
This article was first published by SkiMag.com.
The best all-mountain skis can tear up the groomed, demolish chutes with ease, and eat bumps for breakfast. A wider waist and more tip rocker make these skis party in the front, business underfoot, and capable in everything but the deepest powder. The women's all-mountain skis listed here are for ladies who explore all aspects of the mountain, from frontside groomers to tracked-out bowls, and everything in between. If you're seeking one pair of planks to do it all--and do it all well--these versatile all-mountain skis with a little more underfoot will help you tackle the whole mountain, whatever the conditions.
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Looking for the best unisex all-mountain skis of 2024? You'll find those here.
How We Test
Number of all-mountain skis tested: 21
Number of testers: 11
Testing location: Sun Valley, Idaho
Average age of tester: 38
Average height of tester: 5'6"
Average weight of tester: 139 lbs
SKI has been running its annual ski test for decades now, but we're always tweaking and perfecting the process. As in the past, we invited a crew of seasoned industry professionals--ski instructors, ski shop employees, coaches, and former World Cup racers--to join us for a week-long gear test in Sun Valley, Idaho, a resort known for its steep and manicured groomers, legendary bump runs, perfectly gladed tree runs, and of course, "the Burn," sidecountry terrain that powder dreams are made of.
The mission: Jump on every pair of skis entered into our five categories (Carving, Frontside, All-Mountain, All-Mountain Wide, and Powder), put them through their paces all over the mountain, and then fill out a digital scorecard with comments and impressions of how each pair of planks performed across various skill categories--from carving chops and crud performance to stability at speed and responsiveness. We ask our crew of 24 testers to identify a ski's primary strengths, its weaknesses, who it's designed for, and what terrain and snow conditions it's most adept at. At the end of the week, we have enough hard data on the 100-plus pairs of skis tested to make your head spin, and we use it all to bring you these reviews of the best skis of the year.
When judging an all-mountain ski, we primarily assess how versatile it is in terms of the type of terrain and snow conditions it can handle. So in Sun Valley, we put the all-mountain skis through the wringer, testing them on groomers, in the bumps, in glades, and even in Sun Valley's famous Burn zone, where powder stashes can be found days after the last storm. Lucky for us, we didn't have to make do with stale powder--it was nuking on the day of our All-Mountain category test. The skis that impressed us the most with their balance of skills on hard snow and in powder, in tight terrain and on wide open groomers, made this list of the best all-mountain skis of the year.
Women's Skis vs. Unisex Skis
The idea of women's-specific skis is still a contentious one today. Some brands don't make anything but unisex skis because they argue that gender doesn't factor into how a ski performs--only weight, height, strength, and skier ability counts. They therefore only produce unisex skis, but make them in shorter lengths (sometimes down to 162 centimeters or even 158 centimeters) to be more inclusive towards women.
Other brands have invested a lot of time and money into developing truly women's-specific skis--skis that feature construction modifications from their unisex counterparts to account for a woman's physique and body mechanics. Finally, some brands appear to offer women's-specific skis, though often those skis are exactly the same as their unisex counterparts and just feature a different top sheet and women's-specific model name.
Read more: What do women want in a ski? These ladies will tell you.
This makes the whole idea of testing "women's" skis a little complicated. Because many of the skis we've covered on our "best women's skis of the year" lists in the past are, in fact, unisex skis that female testers loved, we decided to change things up this year. This time around, we allowed brands to enter their unisex skis into our women's categories provided the ski comes in an approachable length for women (in the 170-centimeter range or below), and the brand doesn't offer a women's-specific alternative. So some of the skis on this list are unisex skis that our lady testers loved and would not hesitate to recommend to other ladies. If you, like many of our female testers, prefer a longer ski that has some heft to it, don't be scared off by the "unisex" designation. Rest assured that all the skis on this year's list (whether unisex or women's-specific) are tested by women and recommended for women.
How to Use These Ski Reviews
The following skis appear in ranked order, with the ski that tested best at the SKI/Outside 2024 gear test in Sun Valley, Idaho listed at the top. In each review, we list the ski's overall score, a product of how eight female testers scored the ski across nine different skills categories: Hard-Snow Integrity; Stability at Speed; Responsiveness; Quickness; Forgiveness; Carving; Flotation; Crud Performance; and Versatility. SKI's scoring system exists to determine and call attention to the skis that most impressed our testers, a crew of ski industry professionals and advanced and expert skiers from across the country.
We believe the sticks listed here set the benchmark for what an all-mountain ski is designed to do. That said, remember that ski testing (and skiing) is somewhat subjective. While we're big fans of the category-winning Blizzard Sheeva 9, it may not be the best choice for every skier. So don't just look at a ski's score--read our testers' feedback to understand the nuances of each ski and who it's best suited to. Otherwise, you might wind up with a great ski, just not the right ski for you.
Meet the Testers
Kimberly Beekman
Age: 47 | Height: 5'4'' | Weight: 112 lbs
Kimberly Beekman has been testing skis and writing gear reviews for longer than she'd like to admit. She's a former editor of SKI and freelance contributor to both SKI and Outside. She lives in Steamboat Springs with her wonderful daughter and terrible cat.
Avery Pesce
Age: 40 | Height: 5'6'' | Weight: 138 lbs
Pesce lives in Whitman, Mass., and calls the ski areas of Vermont and New Hampshire home. She's an expert skier with an aggressive style that she applies to any and all type of terrain and snow conditions. As the head ski buyer for Boston Ski & Tennis in Newton, Mass., she knows a thing or two about skis--how they're built, how they perform, and who they're best suited to.
Jenny Wiegand
Age: 35 | Height: 5'5'' | Weight: 140 lbs
Wiegand is SKI's gear test director and associate gear director for Outside. She grew up in Garmisch, Germany and cut her teeth on the World Cup slopes of the Hausberg. She started out as a competitive figure skater before realizing skiing was more fun. She ski raced in high school and college, then promptly got herself a job in the ski industry, first as a ski instructor at Crested Butte, Colo., then as an editor at SKI.
The Reviews: The Best Women's All-Mountain Skis of the Year
Editor's Choice: Blizzard Sheeva 9 ($750)
Overall score: 8.47/10
Lengths (cm): 150, 156, 162, 168, 174
Dimensions (mm): 129-96-118.5
Radius (m): 14 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,765 (162)
Pros: Versatility, Quickness
Cons: Flotation, Stability at Speed
Last year, the Blizzard Sheeva 9 won best in test. This year, it repeats the feat, but while boasting a complete redesign that hones its strengths and eliminates its weaknesses--"favorite ski of the day" was our testers' refrain. The new iteration is 4 millimeters wider underfoot and has a longer effective edge to both float in powder and carve on groomers. It also boasts Blizzard's Freeride TrueBlend Woodcore, which consists of denser wood where a stiffer flex is desirable, and softer wood in the tips and tails lends forgiveness and ease of turn initiation. A new fiberglass plate underfoot replaces the metal one, allowing the ski to go from tight slalom corkscrews to long, fast downhill turns just by thinking about it. The Sheeva 9 is quick and playful, and testers agreed that it's the most versatile within the Women's All-Mountain category in terms of both ability levels and terrain. "Amazing all over the mountain," said Avery Pesce, a Sugarbush and Jay Peak, Vermont, skier.
Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.
No. 2: Fischer Ranger 96 ($850)
Overall score: 8.05/10
Lengths (cm): 159, 166, 173, 180, 187
Dimensions (mm): 128-96-119
Radius (m): 17 (173)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,850 (173)
Pros: Versatility, Responsiveness
Cons: Crud Performance, Flotation
It used to be that our testers found the Fischer Rangers polarizing--until the brand debuted its revamped line last year. For 2023-24, the positive consensus was even more resounding, and the unisex Ranger 96 floated to No. 2 overall for Women's All-Mountain skis. Testers lauded its versatility for both ability level and terrain. "I recommend this ski for almost everyone," said Lily Krass, an expert skier from Jackson, Wyoming. Our crew found this ski responsive, playful, dependable, and easy--a fun ride that they didn't have to work too hard to figure out. It had just enough heft to be reassuring when the powder turned to chunder, plus a sheet of metal and a flat tail gave it edge grip and a strong turn finish on the groomers. A few worried it might be too forgiving, making stronger or heavier skiers feel like they're going over the handlebars--surprising, considering the unisex construction--but overall the Ranger 96 is "an incredible all-mountain ski that zips through bumps, lays an edge, and feels easy to initiate," said Krass.
Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.
No. 3: Volkl Secret 96 ($750)
Overall score: 7.96/10
Lengths (cm): 149, 156, 163, 170, 177
Dimensions (mm): 135-96-113
Radius (m): 24-14-20 (163)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,723 (156)
Pros: Carving, Flotation
Cons: Crud Performance, Playfulness
The Volkl Secret 96 is a study in contradictions: carvy and surfy, stable and playful, damp and lively, quick and strong. "The versatility is great," said Tracy Gibbons, a former U.S. Ski Teamer. "Lay it up on edge, take it in the trees, take it wherever." But the true test of an all-arounder, according to our ex-racer set, is a firm, steep groomer--and this is where the Secret 96 shone, earning category-topping scores for Carving and Stability at Speed. That bulldog grip might be due to all that Titanal along the edges and underfoot, which damps vibration and gives the ski a stuck-to-the-snow feel. Generously rockered tips hooked up beautifully with the nudge of an ankle, and the rockered tail released gracefully out of the turn. While the Secret 96 is perhaps best for experts who will properly appreciate its strengths--a couple of testers mentioned it could feel burly to beginners--advanced skiers on up will benefit from its confidence-inspiring versatility. "It's perfect for the ex-racer gal who wants not just her frontside performance, but also the width she needs for the crud and sidecountry," claimed Pesce.
Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.
No. 4: 4FRNT MSP CC ($729)
Overall score: 7.74/10
Lengths (cm): 159, 165, 171
Dimensions (mm): 132-99-121
Radius (m): 16 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,750 (165)
Pros: Responsiveness, Hard-Snow Integrity
Cons: Playfulness, Crud Performance
Last year, testers found the MSP CC to be the perfect machine for pinning the throttle on fall-line steeps, but not necessarily for easy Sunday cruising. This year, 4FRNT revamped its women's best-seller to be every bit as powerful as before, but with a little added forgiveness and ease. "It read my mind and won my heart," said SKI executive editor Samantha Berman. The major update is a new maple-and-aspen core (replacing poplar), which gives a more responsive (read: fun) ride. Testers found this ski initiated turns instantly and effortlessly, while a Titanal laminate damped vibration and gave it stability at speed. It was so confident in any kind of terrain and conditions that testers hardly noticed what was under their feet. The MSP CC is on the Women's All-Mountain category's wide side, which makes it best for soft snow, but its scores in Hard-Snow Integrity and Carving were very respectable. "This ski gets more fun the faster you go," said Taos, New Mexico-based tester Erika Northrop.
Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.
No. 5: Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition ($950)
Overall score: 7.72/10
Lengths (cm): 146, 154, 162, 170, 178
Dimensions (mm): 136-94-110
Radius (m): 15 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,590 (170)
Pros: Quickness, Hard-Snow Integrity
Cons: Playfulness, Crud Performance
The Ripstick 94 W Black Edition is all knives out, slicing, dicing, and dissecting hardpack like a ski half its size. With a No. 2 score in Hard-Snow Integrity and a No. 3 in Carving across the Women's All-Mountain skis we tested, it's a great choice for ex-racers who are unwilling to sacrifice good old-fashioned cambered edge grip. "This is a ski for those who still care about edge performance and precision even in this category," said Jenny Wiegand, Outside's associate gear director. The downside, some felt, is that it's a little too directional to be playful. Elan's mad scientists designed the Ripstick 94 W Black Edition to have a dedicated left and right ski, cambered on the inside edge and rockered on the outside, and put carbon tubes in the core to increase stability without adding weight. But what all those bells and whistles boil down to is a solid ski you can trust in any conditions. "It outperformed most of the skis in the category," said Michelle Nicholson, a tester from Jackson, Wyoming. "It's a total standout. I was blown away."
Read the full review for category scores, strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.
No. 6: Peak 98 by Bode ($1,090)
Overall score: 7.41/10
Lengths (cm): 160, 168, 178, 184, 190
Dimensions (mm): 126-98-114
Radius (m): 22.3 (168)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,918 (178)
Pros: Carving, Stability at Speed
Cons: Versatility, Playfulness
If you've ever wanted to know what it feels like to be Bode Miller, buckle your boots down tight and click into his new ski, the Peak 98. Like a racehorse that smells the track, this unisex ski wants to move. And the faster you go, the more it goads you. It champs the bit at slow speeds and feels a little burly for bumps, but for those who want to trench going mach schnell, this is the ski for you. The Peak's revolutionary design comes straight from Miller's 2004 World Cup GS title, which he won on a ski that had a small keyhole cut out of the metal laminate in front of the binding. The cutaway gave the forebody a more forgiving flex, allowing him to turn while still in a tuck without sacrificing underfoot edge grip. The Peak 98 may not be for everyone, but it's "definitely a winner for the ex-racer or hard charger who likes to carve," stated Gibbons.
No. 7: Dynastar E-Pro 99 ($900)
Overall score: 7.13/10
Lengths (cm): 154, 162, 170, 178
Dimensions (mm): 125-97-116
Radius (m): 15 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,700 (162)
Pros: Versatility, Playfulness
Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity, Stability at Speed
Testers were of two minds on the Dynastar E-Pro 99. "Easygoing ski," offered Nicholson. "Not for the timid," countered Pesce. Technically unisex in everything but name and graphic, this ski is energetic and poppy, carving as if on a metronome--as long as you know how to find its edges. Its core is made of poplar and, curiously, polyurethane (the same damping material in many sidewalls), with a metal laminate that tapers in the tip and tail for ease of turn initiation. It's supremely versatile in all conditions, happily bounding down the fall line in any turn shape and in every sort of terrain, though, as a wider offering in the Women's All-Mountain category, its natural habitat is softer snow. That said, the Dynastar E-Pro 99 prefers to be driven, not ridden, so it's best suited for the expert set. "An unsung hero of the all-mountain category," claimed Pesce, who works as a hardgoods buyer.
No. 8: Line Pandora 94 ($650)
Overall score: 7.05/10
Lengths (cm): 151, 158, 165, 172
Dimensions (mm): 131-84-117
Radius (m): 14.5 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,491 (165)
Pros: Versatility, Quickness
Cons: Flotation, Stability at Speed
There are skis that take skiing seriously--and then there's the Line Pandora 94. In short, this ski likes to party. Described as "nimble" and "energetic," it reminded our testers why they started skiing to begin with: "Easy fun!" exclaimed Northrop. Made with lightweight aspen and carbon, and bereft of dance-move-damping metal, it's playful and eager to please. The Pandora 94 is quick underfoot, diving through tight trees and bumps, and forgiving enough to throw sideways when you need to scrub speed. It's a bit too lightweight and soft to drive hard on firm groomers, and it's not quite wide enough to float through the deep, but it's an absolute blast everywhere else. Testers proclaimed this model perfect for intermediates looking to improve and experts who just wanna have fun. "This ski's for anyone who's as happy making turns as she is having an early apres," Northrop said. Our kind of ski indeed.
No. 9: Rossignol Rallybird 92 ($650)
Overall score: 7.04/10
Lengths (cm): 154, 162, 170
Dimensions (mm): 127-92-117
Radius (m): 14 (162)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,600 (162)
Pros: Responsiveness, Forgiveness
Cons: Flotation, Crud Performance
This proud French brand is doing for women's skis what Julia Child did for its motherland's dishes: making them smooth, buttery, and approachable. The Rallybird 92 is case in point. Initially intimidated by its dice-ready waist width, testers found it to be surprisingly soft and forgiving, capable of coaxing lesser experts from skid to carve. "This felt like an easy-skiing option for intermediates--and maybe even beginners--to grow with," said Berman. Rossi's winning recipe is a lightweight paulownia wood core with a carbon-fiber-weave laminate that loads this model with energy and pop to zip through bumps and tight trees. Testers did complain that it's not wide enough for fluff (it scored dead last in Flotation) or grippy enough for ice, but for all-mountain cruisers who like to venture off-trail from time to time, it's an energetic yet chill ride. "It's playful and has good rebound energy," Berman added.
No. 10: Nordica Santa Ana 98 ($750)
Overall score: 7/10
Lengths (cm): 151, 158, 165, 172, 179
Dimensions (mm): 131-98-118
Radius (m): 15 (165)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,745 (165)
Pros: Crud Performance, Stability at Speed
Cons: Playfulness, Versatility
When Nordica's first Santa Ana 98 came out, in 2016, it led the charge in the revolution against wimpy women's models. While it's no longer at the top of our rankings, it should be credited as the inspiration for many of those that are. Redesigned in 2022-23 to be a bit friendlier (which caused a few testers to note that it felt as if it had lost its tail), the Santa Ana 98 is still a beast at heart: full-wood core, sandwich construction, and a damping sheet of metal. Accordingly, testers found it crushed crud (where it earned an impressive No. 2 in the category) and craved speed--but it's too much of a blunt-force instrument to be operated with finesse. It's not playful or forgiving, but it is solid. "A versatile all-arounder, but definitely more work in bumps, trees, and tight terrain," claimed Wiegand.
No. 11: Salomon QST Lumen 98 ($600)
Overall score: 6.99/10
Lengths (cm): 152, 160, 168, 176
Dimensions (mm): 131-98-119
Radius (m): 15 (168)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,740 (168)
Pros: Quickness, Responsiveness
Cons: Stability at Speed, Carving
The Salomon QST Lumen 98 is the champagne of the Women's All-Mountain test: light, effervescent, and easy. While its happy-go-lucky nature won the hearts of some, it left others wanting something stronger and with more bite. "Little Bunny Foo Foo, hopping through the forest," joked Northrop, the New Mexico area manager for Christy Sports. Indeed, a few testers complained that the QST Lumen 98 got nervous at speed and deflected off hardpack, but most agreed that as long as you're in soft snow, it's a quick, nimble, playful, comfortable, and forgiving ride that won't tax your quads. Boasting the same poplar core with carbon fiber and flax laminates as the unisex QST line, the Lumen 98's secret sauce is cork in the tip and tail that damps vibration without adding swing weight. "Fun for a gal looking to expand her horizons off-piste," said Gibbons, who calls Crystal Mountain, Washington, her home terrain.
No. 12: Armada Reliance 92 Ti ($850)
Overall score: 6.82/10
Lengths (cm): 156, 164, 172, 180
Dimensions (mm): 130-92-116
Radius (m): 16.5 (164)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,625 (164)
Pros: Hard-Snow Integrity, Responsiveness
Cons: Forgiveness, Flotation
Armada, formerly a freestyle-oriented park-and-pow brand, has slowly but surely established itself as a serious contender in the all-mountain market--and for good reason. The Reliance 92 Ti has been a tester favorite since it came on the scene in 2021, earning high marks for its tenacious edge grip and power. A rockered tip initiates easily and a fully cambered tail doesn't release from the turn until it's good and done, while a caruba wood core reinforced with Titanal responds instantly to skier input. The downsides, testers noted, are that it can feel unwieldy in bumps, it's a little too serious to be playful, and it's too narrow to be versatile when the low-pressure front moves in. It's also best driven by experts who don't mind firing a muscle or two. "It surprised me how tiring it felt to ski the Reliance 92 Ti," said Outside associate gear editor Kelly Klein. All in all, though, it's a "bomber all-mountain ski," said Nicholson, who's a patroller for Wyoming's Jackson Hole.
No. 13: Stockli Nela 96 ($1,149)
Overall score: 6.77/10
Lengths (cm): 156, 164, 172
Dimensions (mm): 134-96-121
Radius (m): 15.8 (164)
Weight (per ski in grams): 1,650 (164)
Pros: Stability at Speed, Carving
Cons: Versatility, Playfulness
Stockli is renowned for its unparalleled quality and buttery smooth feel--it's a Swiss brand, after all--and it has the price tag to match. The Nela 96 boasts all of that, earning No. 1 scores in Stability at Speed, Carving, and, shockingly, Flotation. It's the brand's widest women's offering, and, with rockered tips and tails, it offers terrain versatility that's uncharacteristic of this brand. (Many of Stockli's thoroughbreds are one-trick ponies that, to be fair, do that one trick really, really well.) But when it comes to versatility for ability level, the Nela continues to turn up its nose at lesser-skilled skiers. "Too much ski for smaller women or those who can't put enough strength into steering," said Berman, who skis mostly in Colorado's Front Range. But for experts who eat their spinach, it's "super dependable and responsive," said Pesce. "A blast to ski on anywhere on the mountain."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best all-mountain skis for women?
Peak 98 by Bode
Dynastar E-Pro 99
Line Pandora 94
Rossignol Rallybird 92
Nordica Santa Ana 98
Salomon QST Lumen 98
Armada Reliance 92 Ti
Stockli Nela 96
What is an all-mountain ski ?
From groomed runs to moguls to the steep-and-deep freeride terrain, all-mountain skis are designed to take on the entire mountain. They usually feature a waist between 85-100mm and are sold without bindings. The majority of all-mountain skis that our testers prefer feature wood cores and two sheets of metal--but there are exceptions that include no metal at all in favor of keeping the ski light and more playful. It's hard to beat the versatility of an all-mountain ski, though these skis can be too wide for those who spend the majority of their time on groomers, and too narrow for those who ski mountains blessed with regular and bountiful snowfall. Read more: Can wider skis hack it back East?
What's the difference between men's and women's skis?
In truth, most skis are unisex and not gender-specific. Many brands produce the ski with the exact same construction technologies for both genders, but often create two different top sheets to appeal to men vs. women. A handful of brands are making truly women's-specific skis, where the ski takes a woman's physique into account when building the ski. Men and women can ski on the same ski but may want to choose different lengths depending on their height and their skiing ability.
What's the difference between the All-Mountain and Frontside ski category?
Truth is, the line can be blurry between these two ski categories since ski manufacturers started throwing everything they have at producing well-rounded and versatile skis in both. As a result, you can now find narrow all-mountain skis that also rail on groomers and frontside skis that can hold their own in crud. That said, there are still some key differences between frontside and all-mountain skis, the biggest being that frontside skis are primarily designed for on-trail performance, while all-mountain skis (even the narrower ones) are engineered to tackle conditions and terrain off the groomers. Learn more here.
How long do skis last?
With proper care and regularly performed tuning by a professional ski tech, skis can last for 200-300 days on snow depending on the size and aggressiveness of the skier. Larger skiers and people who are harder on their equipment will not get as many days on snow before the wood core, edges, or other aspects of the ski become compromised. Bindings should be tested by a professional ski tech every season, and replaced when they do not meet standardized norms.
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