Because all mountain skis are built with an “ok everywhere” mentality, they won’t be as specialized. You can consider them the generalists of the ski world. All mountain skis are durable, reliable and expertly created to handle a little bit of everything. Take a look at our list of the best all-mountain skis for 2023.
- Volkl M6 Mantra
- Atomic MAVEN 93 C
- Armada DECLIVITY 92 Ti
- HEAD Kore 93
- Rossignol EXPERIENCE 86 BASALT SPX12 K
- Atomic MAVERICK 88 TI
- Black Crows Camox Birdie
- Salomon QST LUMEN 98
Best Overall All-Mountain Ski
This best all-mountain offering from Volkl is a lot of fun to ski, especially at speed. Carving on this ski is a breeze, and it can manage a good amount of powder as well. The one knock is the weight, which is noticeable any time you have to drag your skis around a resort parking lot.
- Width: 96 mm underfoot, 135 mm tip, 119 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Very fun to carve on
- Can manage a good amount of powder
- Good stability at higher speeds
- Versatile and handles variable conditions
Cons
- The Volkl M6 Mantra is nice but quite a bit heavier than other all-mountain skis
Brand Name | Product Type
Best All-Mountain Ski for Intermediate Skiers
Another strong pick for the best women’s all-mountain ski, the MAVEN 93 C is a great intermediate all-mountain ski. It’ll help develop and grow skiing skills but won’t be the most stable for hard chargers. If you’re looking to explore terrain like off-piste, trees, and bumps, and want a reliable ski to help you gain confidence, the Maven 93 C is a good choice.
- Width: 93 mm underfoot, 126 mm tip, 110 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Can make tight turns easily
- Very responsive
- Reliable at slow-medium speeds
- All-mountain capabilities
Cons
- Uncomfortable at high speeds
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Best All-Mountain Ski for Advanced Skiers
This nimble all-mountain ski is thinner and lighter than a lot of other models but holds its own with ease. The stability is a highlight, along with its responsiveness and carving abilities. While it won’t float on the deepest powder, the DECLIVITY 92 is a great advanced all-mountain ski with a lot to love.
- Width: 92 mm underfoot, 131 mm tip, 117 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Good for hard-chargers
- Powerful carver
- Can handle variable terrain
- Great for piste skiing
Cons
- Can't handle much more than low-end powder days
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Best Lightweight All-Mountain Ski
The HEAD Kore 93 is another standout best all-mountain ski offering. The ski is incredibly lightweight, which contributes to its smooth transitions and agile nature. Aggressive skiers will enjoy what this maneuverable ski can do.
- Width: 93 mm underfoot, 133 mm tip, 115 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Lightweight
- Can handle low-end powder days
- Great for aggressive skiers
- Maneuverable in the bumps
Cons
- A little less stable at high speeds
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Best All-Mountain Ski for Resorts
This candidate for best all-mountain ski is a hard charger. With the Experience 86, initiating carves is easy and maintaining that edge is smooth. This ski absolutely flies down front-side trails and does a good job of dampening the vibrations from variable conditions.
- Width: 86 mm underfoot, 132 mm tip, 120 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/semi-flat tail
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Solid carving ability
- Responsive edge control
- Flies down groomers
- Good dampening
Cons
- Not much backcountry appeal, a decidedly front-side resort ski
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Best All Mountain Ski for Speed
The Atomic MAVERICK 88 TI is a downhill resort-focused all-mountain ski. It can cut up firm snow, stays smooth in a bit of fresh snow and is very easy to initiate a carve turn with. The ski also stays very stable at speed, which helps on those days when you’re trying to get as many laps in as possible.
- Width: 88 mm underfoot, 125 mm tip, 110 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Can cut up firm snow
- Smooth in low-end powder
- Easy carve initiation
- Control in the bumps
- Stable at speed
Cons
- Harder to pivot than other all-mountain skis
Brand Name | Product Type
Most Playful All-Mountain Ski
This playful women's all-mountain ski is the cousin to the standard Black Crows Camox. It hauls down groomers and can handle widely spaced moguls with ease. The ski runs into a bit of trouble with tight terrain and deep powder. If you want one of the best women’s all-mountain piste skis, the Camox Birdie is an excellent pick.
- Width: 97 mm underfoot, 125-129 mm tip, 114-117 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Lightweight
- Shreds groomers with stability
- Easy to carve with
- Descent performance in light to moderate powder
- Great for hitting smaller jumps
Cons
- A bit stiff in the bumps
Brand Name | Product Type
Best All-Mountain Runner-Up
This fun and energetic women’s ski is a great one-quiver solution. The Lumen 98 stays stable at high speeds, and it’s really easy to hop on your edges and start carving. While the ski does quite well in the powder, it vibrates uncomfortably in the crud.
- Width: 98 mm underfoot, 131 mm tip, 119 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Stability at high speeds
- Edge grip
- Supportive in the bumps
- Easy to transfer weight from one ski to the other
- Good powder performance
Cons
- Not a top performer in crud
Brand Name | Product Type
How to Choose All-Mountain Skis
Before settling on the best all-mountain ski, make sure to check out the points below.
Skiing Level
The best all-mountain skis are for skiers that have made it to the intermediate ability level. An intermediate skier can connect full parallel turns, stop on a dime, is starting to play with weight shifting between skis and is keen to explore variable terrain. Some all-mountain skis are for advanced or expert skiers.
For beginner skiers, it’s important to select an all-mountain ski that’s flexible and shorter. Some all-mountain skis are fantastic for hammering out new skills, but they need to be forgiving and maneuverable.
Type of Terrain
All-mountain skis can handle a lot of different terrain but usually perform best in a certain environment. There are all mountain skis taht reach their full potential in the bumps, groomers, trees, or on powder days. Make sure the conditions the ski is designed for occur with regularity wherever you ski most frequently.
Ski Width
The best all-mountain skis are wider than carving skis but thinner than some backcountry skis and most powder skis. A good range for all-mountain skis is somewhere between 85 mm and 100 mm underfoot. A ski with a thinner width will excel on hard-pack but suffer in softer conditions. A ski with a wider width will excel in soft conditions but could get damaged in the hard pack.
If you’re wondering about ski length, visit our article here.
Ski Profile: Rocker & Camber
Camber is a natural bend in the shape of a ski. It is most obvious when laying a ski down on a flat surface and looking at it from the side. If a ski has a camber, you’ll see that the middle of the ski is elevated.
The purpose of camber is to help maintain edge control while skiing. When you turn, you push down on your skis, which pushes down the camber. When you exit a turn, the pressure is relieved, and with the natural camber, you’ll bounce back up faster and with less energy burned.
Rocker is a camber in reverse. In this scenario, the center of the ski is the lowest to the surface, while the ski bends up at the tip and tail. More rocker and less camber means your maneuverability increases but your stability at speed and on icy terrain goes down.
The best all-mountain skis will usually come in a few varieties. You can have a hybrid rocker profile with camber underfoot. Some backcountry skis have a full rocker with no camber, and some others have rocker up font, camber underfoot and a flatter tail.
Ski Bindings and Boots
Skis are only one part of the equation. Make sure to check out our selection of men’s ski boots and women’s ski boots. To tie it all together, take a look at our selection of bindings as well.
We also have a great article on mounting ski bindings, and how to choose ski boots.
FAQ
What is the most versatile ski?
An all-mountain ski. These skis can handle a bit of everything and can be considered the generalists of the ski world.
What skis are good for the park and all-mountain?
The best all-mountain skis for the park have more rocker with less or no camber to allow for quick adjustments on rails, boxes and in the air. Look for hybrid freestyle and all-mountain skis.
What are all mountain skis?
All mountain skis are skis that are designed to handle the whole mountain. From moderate powder to ice and everything in between, good all mountain skis can handle a wide range of conditions.
Conclusion
All mountain skis are for people looking for one pair of everyday skis that can handle a bit of it all. These skis will get you through most conditions like hard pack, groomers, trees, crud, powder and slush. Some all-mountain skis can even excel in backcountry conditions as well. Its wide appeal has made it one of the most popular varieties of skis you’ll see out on the slopes.
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