If you are looking for a ski to tear up every run on the resort while still enjoying fresh side country snow, then you need an all-mountain ski! These days, most manufacturers have an all-mountain range, a ski family designed primarily for carving on groomed snow but which can also handle piste edges or soft spring snow. For this category, we’re talking about waist widths between 80 and 100 mm, a good range for the snow conditions typically found in European resorts. This year is a vintage one, with several excellent all-mountain skis available in our shop. To help with your purchase, our ski sales staff have been able to test different very cool models; here are their favourites for this season:
Contents
Comparison table
| Ski | Level | Waist width (mm) | Gender | Strength | Ease of use /5 | Powder /5 | Piste /5 | Freestyle /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rossignol Arcade 84 | Intermediate - Advanced | 84 | Men's | Built for performance on hardpack | * | ** | **** | - |
| Atomic Maverick 88 Cti | Advanced - Expert | 88 | Men's | Stable and precise at high speed | *** | ** | **** | - |
| Dynastar M-Cross 88 | Intermediate - Advanced | 88 | Men's | Eco-designed core, smoothness and pop | *** | ** | **** | - |
| Völkl M7 Mantra | Advanced - Expert | 96 | Men's | The only one truly at home in powder | ** | **** | *** | - |
| K2 Mindbender 90 | Intermediate - Advanced | 90 | Men's | The lightest, with no metal reinforcement | **** | ** | *** | * |
| Elan Ripstick 88 | Intermediate - Advanced | 88 | Men's | Amphibio profile, natural turns on all terrain | *** | *** | *** | - |
| Black Crows Mirus Cor | Intermediate - Advanced | 87 | Unisex | The most balanced unisex ski between piste and mixed snow | *** | *** | **** | ** |
| Nordica Unleashed 90 | Intermediate - Advanced | 90 | Unisex | Neutral and predictable behaviour | *** | ** | *** | ** |
| Salomon QST 94 Lilac | Intermediate - Advanced | 94 | Unisex | The widest unisex ski, floating better as soon as the snow builds up | *** | *** | *** | * |
| Zag Mata Red | Advanced - Expert | 90 | Unisex | Asymmetrical design, explosive rebounds | *** | ** | **** | - |
Men's models
Rossignol Arcade 84
The Rossignol Arcade 84 is a piste-oriented men's all-mountain ski, which carves confidently on hard snow while still being capable of handling fresh snow. Its LCT wood core and titanal reinforcement provide stability and precision at pace.
What sets it apart from the others?
The most performance-focused ski in the line-up: its titanal reinforcement and narrow waist make it built to rip on hard snow, not to be gentle on the edges.
Who is it ideal for?
For seasoned skiers with solid technique, who are primarily looking to improve on groomers and push their limits on hard snow.
Strengths:
Versatility
Stability
Power
Atomic Maverick 88 Cti
The Atomic Maverick 88 Cti is a piste-oriented men's all-mountain ski, precise on hard snow and easy to handle as soon as the snow softens up. Its CTI Powered construction, combining carbon and titanium, provides torsional stiffness and stability at speed.
What sets it apart from the others?
Its CTI Powered construction makes it particularly stable and precise at high speed, where other skis of the same size start to lose composure.
Who is it ideal for?
For good skiers with solid foundation skills, looking for precision and solid edge grip at pace.
Strengths:
Versatility
Manoeuvrability
Grip
Dynastar M-Cross 88
The Dynastar M-Cross 88 is a men's all-mountain ski that links piste and piste-edge terrain seamlessly. Its directional double rocker and eco-designed Hybrid Core 2.0 offer a smooth ride, rebound out of the turn and confidence-inspiring stability.
What sets it apart from the others?
The only ski in the line-up with an eco-designed core (Hybrid Core 2.0), without sacrificing smoothness or rebound out of the turn.
Who is it ideal for?
For experienced skiers who are comfortable linking piste and piste edges, and who want a responsive ski with environmental credentials.
Strengths:
Versatility
Stability
Fluidity
Völkl M7 Mantra
The Völkl M7 Mantra is a men's all-mountain ski, the brand’s flagship model, geared towards off-piste use while still retaining good ability on hard snow. Its construction, combining a multi-layer wood core, carbon and titanal, optimises energy transfer and reduces vibration at high speed.
What sets it apart from the others?
The widest of the men’s skis in the selection and the only one that really lives up to its promise in powder while still performing on hard snow: a true all-mountain ski that doesn’t pretend in the backcountry.
Who is it ideal for?
For seasoned skiers with excellent technical and physical ability, who want to explore the whole mountain without compromising on performance.
Strengths:
Precise
Powerful
Grippy
K2 Mindbender 90
The K2 Mindbender 90 is a lightweight, lively men's all-mountain ski, built around an Aspen core and a Spectral Braid carbon weave, with no metal reinforcement. It covers the whole mountain without excessive fatigue, from piste to short forays into shallow fresh snow.
What sets it apart from the others?
The lightest in the men’s selection, with no metal reinforcement: it covers the whole mountain with minimal fatigue, even at the end of the day.
Who is it ideal for?
For experienced skiers who are comfortable all over the mountain and prioritise lightness and liveliness on long, varied days.
Strengths:
Light
Responsive
Manoeuvrable
Elan Ripstick 88
The Elan Ripstick 88 is an intuitive men's all-mountain ski, linking groomed runs and piste edges with ease. Its Amphibio profile and flax fibres damp vibration, while its carbon-reinforced wood-composite core adds rebound out of the turn.
What sets it apart from the others?
Its Amphibio profile, with one side featuring rocker and the other camber, gives it different behaviour depending on the edge engaged: it pivots easily on one side and grips on the other, making turns feel natural on varied terrain.
Who is it ideal for?
For skiers well along in their progression, looking for an intuitive ski that adapts to their style rather than forcing a technique on them.
Strengths:
Manoeuvrability
Stability
Comfort
Unisex models
Black Crows Mirus Cor
The Black Crows Mirus Cor is a versatile unisex all-mountain ski that balances piste and off-piste. Its wood core and titanal layer give it both stability and agility, and its double rocker helps with float in powder as well as quick turns on groomed snow.
What sets it apart from the others?
The most balanced unisex ski between edge grip on hard snow and composed behaviour in variable snow, in a compact format that makes it lively and manoeuvrable.
Who is it ideal for?
For experienced skiers of both genders who are comfortable venturing off piste and want a responsive ski on groomers as well as in transformed snow.
Strengths:
Versatility
Approachability
Power
Nordica Unleashed 90
The Nordica Unleashed 90 is a forgiving unisex all-mountain ski that moves from groomers to the side country without losing coherence. It combines the grip of traditional camber with the manoeuvrability of a double rocker, making it easy to pivot and get off the beaten track.
What sets it apart from the others?
It offers neutral and predictable behaviour, ideal for those who want to feel the snow directly under their skis.
Who is it ideal for?
For progressing skiers looking for a sound, no-surprises ski to build their technique on groomed runs and in the side country.
Strengths:
Versatility
Grip
Forgiveness
Salomon QST 94 Lilac
The Salomon QST 94 Lilac is a unisex all-mountain ski, ideal for skiers who want to progress and explore everything the resort has to offer. Its wood core and cork inserts improve vibration damping for a smooth ride when the terrain turns rough.
What sets it apart from the others?
The widest unisex ski in the selection: it floats better than the others as soon as the snow builds up, while remaining easy to handle on groomed snow.
Who is it ideal for?
For skiers with a good foundation and a desire to explore everything: piste, piste edges and first outings into fresh snow.
Strengths:
Versatile
Damped
Manoeuvrable
Zag Mata Red
The Zag Mata Red is an explosive unisex all-mountain ski, built for short, carved turns. Its titanal plate and asymmetrical design deliver strong edge hold and pronounced energy return, backed by a wood core for snap out of the turn.
What sets it apart from the others?
Its asymmetrical design and titanal plate allow it to return energy from the turn in explosive fashion: rebounds that other unisex skis of the same size simply do not offer.
Who is it ideal for?
For seasoned skiers with solid technique, looking for a lively, dynamic ski to string turns together with intensity.
Strengths:
Liveliness
Power
Grip
