Ready to glide over the snow this winter?
Whether you’ve progressed past skiing on blue pistes and are tackling more advanced terrain or you’re a pro looking to replace your old faithful with a new model, we’ve got the skis to suit you this winter.
Do you need to own your own pair of skis?
If you’re a beginner heading to the mountains on your first snow sports holiday or you just make it to the Alps to ski once a year, then probably not. You can just rent skis in a resort, and you might be better off just buying ski boots instead. If, however, you ski regularly, are progressing in your ability and are starting to tackle off-piste or jumps in the park, or you’re off to work a winter season and will be skiing daily, your own pair of skis will be worth the spend. Once you own the right skis to suit your height, weight and ability, you’ll see an instant improvement in your confidence and performance on the snow.
Before you go shopping for new skis, check your weight and height, and think about the terrain and snow conditions you’ll be exploring. There’s a model of ski to suit every kind of snow adventure in our round-up, as well as some good all-mountain all-rounders that can happily go on and off-piste.
What size skis suit my ability?
If you are new to skiing it’s a good idea to hire skis to start with so that you can try out a few shapes and sizes and then purchase your own set of skis when you’ve found the type of skiing you love.
Skis are sold at different lengths depending on whether you are a beginner or intermediate skier. Look for a ski length that sits between your chin and the top of your head. Shorter skis are ideal for beginners as they are easier to control and turn. Longer skis give a faster ride, suiting a more confident and able skier. Advanced skiers may wish to choose skis that are taller than they are to achieve adrenaline-fuelled speeds or to head off-piste.
What features should I look out for?
Skiers often lean towards a certain type of snowy adventure and will find skis on the market designed to match – free-riders need stiffer skis for stability, ski tourers need skis that can take skins for climbing as well as skiing down the mountainside, speedy on-piste skiers look for narrow, responsive models and freestylers need short and soft skis for agility when riding in the park. Think about where you spend most of your time on the mountain before you shop.
As we’ve mentioned, getting the right length is important. Next, check the ‘turn radius’ of the ski – ‘carving’ skis have a short radius, skis with a medium radius are good all-rounders (or all-mountain skiers) and skis with a long radius are great for powder.
The camber (the curvature of the base of the ski) will also differ depending on the type of skiing or terrain you are tackling. Most piste skis are cambered (this means they curve up) to grip groomed pistes. Reverse camber skis provide more buoyancy and make it easier for the ski to come out of the snow so are suitable for powder. Skis may also have ‘rocker’ raised tips and tails – a more pronounced rocker is great for deep snow, while touring and freeriding skis often have little to no rocker.
Do I need gender-specific skis?
Historically, women’s skis have been designed to be lighter in weight, softer and shorter, since women are usually shorter and lighter – but the bottom line is that buying the right skis is all about your individual style of skiing and your measurements, so unless you’re on the petite side you shouldn’t need gender-specific kit. There are many unisex options on the market, and it’s more important that you buy the right size ski for you.
We’ve included two great female-specific skis in our roundup that may suit shorter women better than a unisex model.
Shop the best skis below
Nordica Enforcer 94
For the true all-rounder who loves to explore all kinds of snow each winter, all-mountain skis are just the ticket. Nordica’s Enforcer is an ever-popular design that boasts new graphics for 2024.
The model stands out for its great grip on both ice and powder and a lovely balance of stability and playfulness that will suit advanced skiers who like to hop from piste to the backcountry or pop to the park all in one day. Available in four lengths that will suit men and taller women.
Buy now £550.00, Ellis Brigham
Salomon Women’s S/Max N8
Founded in Annecy in the Alps, Salomon knows a thing or two about snow sports – and if you’re after a female-specific ski to progress with, the S/Max N8 is a solid choice. Three lengths are available to help you find the right fit. The skis are easy to manoeuvre when you’re working on carving, with great grip for added confidence as you find your feet on the pistes. Ideal for beginners who want a ski to go the distance with them as they progress to more technical snow adventures.
The price includes bindings.
Buy now £480.00, Snow + Rock
Atomic Volant
The Volant from Atomic is an eye-catching model that is constructed with a lightweight stainless steel top sheet, a strong beech and poplar wood core and a black metal coating for durability (and to make you look super-slick).
These race-ready skis are seriously speedy and have great grip even on slippery ice, so they’re ideal for confident skiers who like to push their limits in a resort. Six sizes are available, and you can even add your own engraving to the Volants. If James Bond were shopping for skis in 2024, he’d probably buy these.
Buy now £2200.00, Atomic
Black Crows Navis Freebird
Born to ski the backcountry? The Navis Freebird will be your new best friend. Lightweight, reliable on any terrain and happy in deep powder, these skis can go uphill and downhill with you all day long.
Despite being liberatingly light to pull up the mountain underfoot, the attractive skis still feel solid and reliable underfoot when you’re tearing down it again thanks to a well-designed mix of wood, fibreglass and carbon. Ideal for confident tourers.
Buy now £691.51, Glisshop
Wedze Ski Touring Pack
Fancy giving ski touring a go? Decathlon has created the perfect starter pack with this all-in-one combo of skis, bindings and skins. Head off the beaten track to earn your turns. But you can also use these skis on groomed pistes and cross-country trails, so they’re a great choice if you want one intermediate ski that can do it all. Experienced tourers may want something more advanced.
Decent bindings are included, and two lengths are available. All in all, Wedze offers fantastic value for money here.
Buy now £349.99, Decathlon
Armada L’Arv 94
While looks aren’t the most important factor when shopping for good skis, they don’t hurt. We love the bold and beautiful Armada L’Arv, which features rainbow-bright artwork designed in collaboration with artist David Alabo.
Playful freestyle skis that are happy on packed snow in the park but could still deal with a bit of powder if needed, this model is a freestyler that leans towards working as an all-mountain model thanks to a poplar wood core that gives a lovely balance of sturdiness and light weight.
Buy now £378.00, Ellis Brigham
K2 Distruption 75 Women
If you’ve finished a round of lessons and want to invest in your first set of skis, K2’s Disruption is a great female-specific all-rounder that will suit more casual winter outings.
These skis offer a comfy ride, so make the perfect first choice for progressing on piste up to black runs or even trying a few park jumps. They give you confidence with their soft, flexible design. Perfect for seasonnaires and newbies who’ve been bitten by the skiing bug.
Three sizes will suit shorter women and the price includes bindings.
Buy now £279.95, Absolute Snow
Verdict
There’s a ski out there to suit everyone, but our top all-rounder for confident skiers is Nordica’s Enforcer 94. Female beginners will love K2’s Disruption, and anyone getting into ski touring won’t find a better bargain than Decathlon’s skis and skins package.
