With winter on the horizon, our snowy escapes aren’t looking so far away. From freerider fanatic to all-mountain adventurer, the world of skis offers an array or options fit for every terrain. Each model has its own set of features and intricacies, designed for wherever your next trip takes you. We’ve reviewed our favourite women’s skis for 2024, so you can carve the trail with your best pair.
In this article, we highlight the following models:
Best Women’s All Mountain Skis
Women’s all-mountain skis can handle most types of terrain present at a mountain ski resort. All-mountain skis are perfect for elevating your skiing game while being able to limit the amount of skis you need to purchase. Often called a one-ski quiver, all-mountain skis can usually hang with all the conditions you can expect to find throughout the winter. The best women’s all-mountain skis can carve groomers, slice through hardpack, and provide some flotation through powder.
These narrower all-mountain skis from HEAD provide excellent grip on hardpack snow and a lightweight design that's easy to flick around. This is a stable ski at higher speeds and lays down fantastic carve turns.
The flexibility and versatility are highlights, but the powder performance of these all-mountain skis is below average. If you ski on the East Coast or in hardpack and icier conditions, I’d give them a look! If you find yourself on a powder day with moderate to deep accumulations, I’d opt for wider all-mountain skis.
- Waist Width: 79 mm.
- Tip Width: 131 mm.
- Tail Width: 109 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Easy to hold an edge and lay down carve turns
- Light and playful
- Stable underfoot
- The ski performs well in variable conditions
Cons
- Cannot handle more than a few inches of fresh snow
Brand Name | Product Type
The Atomic Maven 93c are aggressive all-mountain skis that cater to advanced and expert skiers. The carving is easy, and the skis are highly durable. You can plow through most conditions with these all-mountain skis. The two areas to avoid are extreme speeds, where the skis may chatter underfoot, and deeper snow. However, with a wider base than many similar all-mountain skis, the Mavens can handle moderate amounts of fresh snow well.
- Waist Width: 93mm.
- Tip Width: 126 mm.
- Tail Width: 110mm
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Useful in variable conditions (hardpack & ice)
- Great carving ability for all-mountain skis
- Smooth ride through chop
- Can handle light to moderate powder days
Cons
- Skis chatter at high speeds, which can lead to control loss
Brand Name | Product Type
The K2 Mindbender 90c is one of the best all-mountain skis out there. It's a fun, poppy, and forgiving ski, making it a huge hit for intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers. You can shred groomers, lay down precise carve turns, and whip these skis through bumps and tight trees with no issues. The Mindbenders are also reliable in hardpack and choppy snow, making them an all-around versatile all-mountain ski. The biggest knock against these skis is at high speeds on steep terrain, where stability takes a hit.
- Waist Width: 90mm.
- Tip Width: 127mm.
- Tail Width: 113mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Nimble and easy to turn
- Great for moguls, tight trees, and short turns
- Fun and versatile
- Can handle light to moderate powder
Cons
- Not the best for deep snow
- Feels unstable at high speeds
Brand Name | Product Type
The Black Crows Captis Birdie are fun, lightweight all-mountain skis that should have no problem appealing to intermediate skiers. If you love short turns and skiing through tight trees and moguls, this is a great option. It’s a lot of fun to pop off jumps with it as well, adding to its playful allure. However, for skiers interested in chasing max speeds with stability underfoot, these women’s all-mountain skis fall short. Additionally, the Black Crows Captis Birdie has trouble floating in soft snow, which makes it less appealing for powder days.
- Waist Width: 90 mm.
- Tip Width: 125-127 mm.
- Tail Width:112-113 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Fun and playful
- Great for moguls
- Excels in the trees
Cons
- Chattery at higher speeds
- Poor powder flotation
Brand Name | Product Type
The Salomon Stance 84 all-mountain skis are a dream on groomers and firm snow. They’re reliable drivers with good edge-to-edge control and can handle most terrain at a ski resort. Given its narrower waist width, you’ll have to work harder to float above softer snow. However, for hardpack, the edges lock in quickly, and you can connect carve turns without too much effort. These all-mountain skis are for intermediate skiers and lower advanced skiers who spend most of their time on hardpack, groomers and soft snow at the ski resort.
- Waist Width: 84 mm.
- Tip Width: 121-122 mm.
- Tail Width: 104-105 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Stable at speed
- Good carving ability
- Dependable & smooth
Cons
- Not as playful as lighter skis
- Won’t handle deep powder well
Brand Name | Product Type
Best Women’s Touring Skis
Ski touring, or backcountry skiing, has taken off in recent years thanks to a dedicated focus on product efficiency by ski manufacturers. The best women’s touring skis can handle all types of variable snow conditions while providing good stability underfoot. The best options can be used both as a touring and all-mountain ski, which increases their overall appeal.
The Rise Beyond 96s from Völkl are poppy, energetic, and playful skis. They’re also surprisingly powerful and can be used at the resort as an effective all-mountain ski and in the backcountry. However, because they’re so light, they tend to get bounced around in rough conditions like crud, chop, or hardpack. Advanced and intermediate skiers will have a lot of fun on these.
- Waist Width: 96 mm.
- Tip Width: 138 mm.
- Tail Width: 119mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Versatile & Lightweight
- Surprisingly powerful
- Good for a variety of skiers
- Skinclip for easy transitions
Cons
- Tough to ski through deeper snow
- Bouncy ride through choppy snow
Brand Name | Product Type
The Rossignol Escaper Nano Open 87 is an ultralight pair of touring skis. With a weight range between 1100-1350 grams, it’s an efficient uphill traveller. The narrower profile also elevates edge hold and quick turns. The downside to the thinner profile, narrower than many all-mountain skis, is that it takes more energy to float in powder. The versatility and poppiness come at the expense of a smooth ride through rough conditions. These skis should appeal to hardpack and intermediate skiers.
- Waist Width: 87 mm.
- Tip Width: 123 mm.
- Tail Width: 109 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Energetic skis
- Good edge hold
- Lightweight for easy uphill travel
- Skinclip for easy transitions
Cons
- Not wide enough to handle deep powder
- Bouncy ride at higher speeds
Brand Name | Product Type
The Black Crows Orb Freebird is a maneuverable and responsive pair of skis built to support backcountry skiers in spring conditions. At the resort, the skis lay down precise carve turns and shred through choppy snow like some of the best all-mountain skis. For touring, the skis are light on the uphill but provide more support on the downhill than ultralight options. At 90 mm, it can handle decent amounts of soft snow but won’t be able to hang with massive accumulations. It’s best for springtime backcountry objectives and on the feet of advanced and expert skiers.
- Waist Width: 90 mm.
- Tip Width: 126 mm.
- Tail Width: 110 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Smooth in most conditions
- Fantastic carving ability
- Maneuverable in tight terrain and fun
- Excellent springtime corn chaser
Cons
- Not built for deep powder days
- Lower top speed than other skis
Brand Name | Product Type
Sometimes, it's just nice to have a few things included in one package. That’s the approach Dynafit took here, and while the package itself is pricey, you get skis, skins, and bindings all at once. Seven Summits is a great ski built to handle a variety of snow conditions while touring. The big downside is a narrower width. However, if you ski in an area with lots of hardpack, dust on crust and the occasional powder day, this package is a great buy for the whole mountain.
- Waist Width: 82-85 mm.
- Tip Width: 111-116 mm.
- Tail Width: 101-105 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
The Atomic Backland 98 is a wonderful women's touring ski that handles piste terrain well while providing a great excuse to get into the backcountry. It’s a lightweight and easy-to-control option best for intermediate and advanced skiers. Whether you're chasing knee-deep powder or slicing through hardpack, you’ll find a use for this highly versatile ski.
- Waist Width: 98 mm.
- Tip Width: 126.5-128.5 mm.
- Tail Width: 117-119 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Lightweight
- Surprisingly great piste skiing performance
- Good powder flotation
- Intermediate skier focused
- Easy to handle
Cons
- A generalist ski that works well for most situations but isn’t the most specialized powder shredder or on-piste ski.
Brand Name | Product Type
Best Women’s Freeride Skis
A freeride ski, at first glance, just looks like an all-mountain ski. But there’s more going on here. Freeride skis have wider widths, often equating to better powder flotation, and are used to explore the whole mountain while providing enough pop and energy to butter or ski switch. They are often more playful than a regular all-mountain ski and will encourage you to try some basic tricks.
The Rallybird 102 from Rossignol is a great freeride option for resort skiing. This lightweight and playful ski can hang with moderate and deep snow conditions while providing a lot of fun. It has a softer flex, so aggressive skiers may want a stiffer ski.
However, for the majority of intermediate and advanced skiers, this is a great way to handle variable snow conditions at any downhill resort. Even at 102 mm underfoot, the Rallybirds behave like all mountain skis, a testament to their well-rounded, versatile appeal.
- Waist Width: 102 mm underfoot.
- Tip Width: 137 mm.
- Tail Width: 127 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Light and fun
- Good powder flotation
- Maneuverable
Cons
- Isn’t smooth at high speeds. Aggressive skiers take note.
Brand Name | Product Type
The Salomon QST Lumen is another stellar freeride skiing option. It's a lightweight and playful ski, which makes skiing on it a joy. The edge grip is noticeable, which helps it grind out carve turns at high speeds. You can also bust through difficult terrain and snow conditions without the ski losing its smooth ride.
Bulletproof hardpack and long stretches of crud or chop can throw you around, but most skiers won’t be chasing those conditions. Since they are twin tips, riding switch and buttering are easy. The emphasis, with a lightweight ski like this, is to increase the fun factor.
- Waist width: 98 mm
- Tip Width: 130 mm
- Tail Width: 118 mm
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Energetic and lightweight skis
- Nice maneuverability
- Easy to butter, ski switch, and hit kickers
- Surprisingly consistent edge control for carving at speed
Cons
- Not a powder ski
- Needs to be skied with confidence; may not be the best for a casual skier.
Brand Name | Product Type
The Volkl Blaze 106 is a great ski that shreds across the resort like the best all-mountain skis and excels in the backcountry. Given the variety of skiable terrain and snow conditions, it pays to have a ski that can deal with all of it effectively, and the Volkl Blaze 96 makes a worthwhile pitch.
The ski construction is solid, allowing you to ski aggressively without worrying about damage. It isn’t the most energetic ski, but it provides a consistent ride and excellent flotation, similar to a true powder ski. Intermediate and hardpack skiers probably want to opt for a narrower ski, which helps with turn shape, high speeds, and edge hold. But for skiers who see their fair share of powder, this is a delightful option.
- Waist Width: 106 mm
- Tip Width: 146 mm.
- Tail Width: 128 mm.
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Can handle deep powder
- Excellent one ski quiver (freeride, backcountry & downhill)
- Good carving ability
- Durable in tough conditions
Cons
- Chatters at high speeds over rough conditions
Brand Name | Product Type
Conclusion
Investing in a great ski is one of the best decisions you can make. A reliable ski, whether it’s a touring, freeride or all-mountain ski, will act as your primary winter adventure vehicle for years to come. While most skis are similar, women-specific skis have some important advantages. They sport adjusted binding mounts, increased flexibility and narrow widths to cater to a lower center of gravity. With these small but consequential differences, you can find a ski will responds to your specific body shape and movements.
Whether you’re looking for women’s all-mountain skis, freeride skis or a touring ski variety, Altitude Sports has the best skis for your winter needs. And our selections don’t stop there. We’ve got unisex skis, men’s skis and women’s skis. Peruse our massive ski gear collection for the best options and the most up-to-date information. For more gear reviews:
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