Our top 10 list of the best touring skis for 2026

Our best touring skis for men and women

Keen to experience the mountains in a different way? Discover our selection of the 10 best touring skis for winter 2025–2026. Whether you enjoy long ascents or prefer powder-filled descents, this line-up covers every skier profile. Our team has chosen models that combine lightness, performance, versatility and safety, enabling you to reach the summits with ease and make the most of the downhill, whatever the conditions. Get your bindings ready, prepare your skins: it’s time to find the touring ski that matches your playground.

In short

• 10 models selected by our experts
• Waist widths from 85 to 96 mm
• For intermediate to expert levels
• Suitable for all-round ski touring, freetouring and ski mountaineering
• Comparison chart and FAQ included at the bottom of the page

Blizzard Zero G 96

Skier type: Advanced to expert
Construction: Trueblend Woodcore with three wood densities
Waist: 96 mm
Profile: Light, stable, precise
Recommended use: Ski mountaineering, demanding freetouring

The Blizzard Zero G 96 is a ski designed for those who are not afraid of climbing and want to fully enjoy the descent. It stands out for its high stability and excellent damping at speed and on uneven terrain. Thanks to its carbon construction, it delivers strong responsiveness and smooth turns, without weighing down the ascent. This is a model for technical skiers seeking a reliable ski in demanding alpine conditions. With its 96 mm waist, it floats with ease in deep powder while maintaining good manoeuvrability on icy surfaces.

Atomic Backland 85

Skier profile: Intermediate to advanced
Construction: Poplar wood core with fibreglass reinforcements
Waist: 85 mm
Characteristics: Light, agile, accessible
Recommended use: Long tours, fast ascents

The Atomic Backland 85 is one of the lightest and most accessible skis in this selection. Perfect for those who want to enjoy long outings without excessive fatigue, it climbs easily thanks to its very low weight and delivers excellent edge grip on descents thanks to its traditional camber. Its predictable behaviour makes it enjoyable to handle on hardpack as well as in spring snow. With its 85 mm waist, it offers very good manoeuvrability on groomed runs.

Scott Explorair 88

Skier profile: Advanced to expert
Construction: Wood core, carbon and titanal
Waist: 88 mm
Characteristics: Versatile, smooth, balanced
Recommended use: All-round touring, mixed terrain

The Scott Explorair 88 is a touring ski that inspires confidence in all conditions. It performs well on groomed slopes and delivers great results weaving through the forest between the runs. Highly manoeuvrable, it ensures smooth kick turns on the climb and allows you to pick up the pace with its 15 m turn radius, which favours short turns on the descent. This is a ski that requires solid skills to be used to its full potential and will delight advanced skiers who enjoy increasing the pace on the descents.

Salomon MTN 91 Carbon

Skier profile: Intermediate to advanced
Construction: Carbon and titanal, double rocker
Waist: 91 mm
Characteristics: Responsive, stable, lively
Recommended use: Demanding touring, deep snow

The Salomon MTN 91 Carbon is built for those who need float and liveliness on the descent. It delivers a dynamic and precise ride, even in chopped-up snow. Its double rocker improves the ability to lift in powder, while its construction with carbon reinforced by titanal ensures stability at high speed and rebound out of turns. Although still light, it is one of the heavier models in our selection. It requires a bit more effort on the climb, but this added weight is ultimately what makes it so incisive and manoeuvrable on the way down.

Zag Ubac 95

Skier profile: Advanced to expert
Construction: Semi-cap, fibreglass and carbon
Waist: 95 mm
Characteristics: All-round freeride
Recommended use: Deep-snow, big faces

The Zag Ubac 95 is designed for skiers who prioritise the downhill. Its modern shape ensures outstanding float in powder while maintaining solid edge grip on hard snow. It performs very well on varied terrain and delivers maximum enjoyment on the descent, whether you are carving a line through the forest or tackling a steep chute. Its construction includes fibreglass and carbon reinforcements to increase responsiveness and stability without adding too much weight.

Line Vision 96

Skier profile: Advanced to expert
Construction: Lightweight wood core, THC reinforcements
Waist: 96 mm
Characteristics: Playful, smooth, dynamic
Recommended use: Freetouring, Freestyle, fun skiing

The Line Vision 96 is the perfect ski for those who want a playful pair that’s comfortable to ride. Its width provides good float in fresh snow and it delivers real thrills on the descent. Perfect for freeride enthusiasts who like to venture off the beaten track, it even allows for a bit of freestyle when the terrain lends itself to it. Weighing 3000 grams per pair, it’s one of the heavier skis in our selection, but that extra weight is what lets you push hard on the descent, at the cost of a little more effort on the climb.

Faction Agent 1.0

Skier profile: Advanced to expert
Construction: Wood/carbon, double rocker
Waist: 86 mm
Characteristics: Stable, precise, robust
Recommended use: Fast touring near ski areas

The Faction Agent 1.0 stands out for its robust, high-quality construction, which makes it just as effective on the climb as it is on the descent. Its stability provides confidence in hard snow conditions and delivers a very comfortable glide at high speed. It is perfectly suited to those who want to alternate between technical touring and resort skiing. Designed for seasoned skiers, its carbon reinforcements give it excellent responsiveness for lively descents and plenty of rebound out of turns.

Dynafit Blacklight 88

Skier profile: Advanced to expert
Construction: Carbon, paulownia wood core
Waist: 88 mm
Characteristics: Ultra-light, high-performance, demanding
Recommended use: High-altitude touring, ski mountaineering

The lightest model in our selection, the Dynafit Blacklight 88 is designed for pure uphill performance. With a featherweight of just 1080 grams per ski, it will delight fast tourers and ski mountaineering enthusiasts. While it lacks float in deep snow, its behaviour remains efficient even on icy or technical terrain, making it a reliable ally for long, demanding outings. It excels on groomed sections and allows you to make the most of mixed conditions.

Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95

Skier profile: Intermediate to advanced
Construction: Carbon, double rocker
Waist: 95 mm
Characteristics: Versatile, stable, technical
Recommended use: Demanding touring, deep snow

The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 combines lightness and float, making it effective for long ascents and enjoyable descents in fresh snow. It remains stable at high speed without losing manoeuvrability. This model is an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile pair of skis with a balanced flex. With its 95 mm waist and rockers, it floats quickly and performs very well in powder. Its carbon and fibreglass reinforcements provide lively responsiveness for skiers who like a fast pace on the descent, while keeping things light for the climb.

Comparison table – Top touring skis 2025-2026

FAQ

Which touring ski should I choose as a beginner?

The Dynastar M Vertical 88 or the Atomic Backland 85 are perfect to get started. They are accessible to skiers who already have some basics and feel comfortable on resort slopes, while still offering plenty of room for progression.

Which is the lightest ski in this selection?

At just 1080 grams per ski, the Dynafit Blacklight 88 is the lightest model in our selection. It allows for faster ascents that require less energy compared to the other models presented on this page.