Announcing the 2016 Editors’ Choice Awards, selected from more than 400 skis, splitboards, bindings and boots tested at Powder Mountain, Utah and Crested Butte, Colo. For more than 100 additional gear reviews, plus in-depth tester feedback on each of these Editors’ Choice winners, check out the 2016 Gear Guide. And if you subscribe now, you’ll be entered to win more than $3,000 in prizes from Salomon, Strafe & Electric.
SUBSCRIBE | RENEW
—
DPS WAILER 99 TOUR1
$1,050 – dpsskis.com
SIZES (cm): 168, 176, 184
DIMENSIONS (mm): 125/99/111
WEIGHT/PAIR: 6 lbs. 3 oz. (184)
Bottom Line: A versatile, touring-focused option featuring DPS’s lightest construction yet.
VÖLKL 90EIGHT
$700 – volkl.com
SIZES (cm): 163, 170, 177, 184
DIMENSIONS (mm): 133/98/116
WEIGHT/PAIR: 7 lbs. 11 oz. (177)
Bottom Line: “No matter what I was skiing, this ski rocked it all—a ski I’d purchase.”
DYNASTAR CHAM 97 2.0
$700 – dynastar.com
SIZES (cm): 166, 172, 178, 184
DIMENSIONS (mm): 133/97/113
WEIGHT/PAIR: 7 lbs. 8 oz. (178)
Bottom Line: The Cham line is better than ever, headlined by this springy ski that maintains stability.
LA SPORTIVA VAPOR SVELTE
$1,200 – sportiva.com
SIZES (cm): 168, 178, 188,
DIMENSIONS (mm): 126/96/113
WEIGHT/PAIR: 4 lbs. 8 oz. (188)
Bottom Line: A true standout among lightweight skis, particularly for its downhill prowess.
K2 PINNACLE 95
$850 – k2skis.com
SIZES (cm): 170, 177, 184, 191
DIMENSIONS (mm): 132/95/115
WEIGHT/PAIR: 7 lbs. 11 oz. (177)
Bottom Line: Versatile and fun, K2’s new Pinnacle 95 is a quiver-of-one knockout.
SALOMON MTN EXPLORE 95
$850 – salomon.com
SIZES (cm): 169, 177, 184
DIMENSIONS (mm): 130/95/116
WEIGHT/PAIR: 6 lbs. 3 oz. (177)
Bottom Line: At home on corn, steeps or even a groomer.
Skied the K2 Pinnacle 95 at SIA. Talked with many people and found it got mixed reviews. Some loved it others hated it. For me it felt squirrely and unstable. K2 seems to be lost when it comes to making men’s skis. The Dynastar Cham 2.0 is improved with new sidecut and less weight. But I have to admit, I liked the old Legend series better.
When it comes to K2 skis in general it’s the opposite for me. I currently work at a rental shop and I’ve ridden all sorts of brandname skis this year such as elan, Fischer, volkl, Salomon, rossignol, and icelantic. None of those brands offered the same play and control I enjoyed with the pinnacles from K2. These guys brought rocker to the ski world and are still currently the masters of that in my opinion. The ski initiated very turn with ease and allowed me to fly through moguls and powder with ease. I clocked myself at over 55 mph on these bad boys and still felt like I was in compete control whilst zipping down some double black diamonds. I would recommend these to anyone who enjoys powder but doesn’t want a ski entirely dedicated to it!