What are the best skis of 2026? It's actually kind of a trick question, because there's no such thing as one set of skis that will be the best at everything. Skis will excel on different kinds of terrain, and in different snow conditions, depending on their shapes, lengths, waist widths, and use of different materials.
The best skis for someone who's mostly cruising down groomed, blue pistes will not be the same as the best skis for someone who is hooning down Alaskan spine lines in waist deep powder. Individual preference also has a part to play. Some people are happy riding 98mm wide skis all over the mountain; others find them ungainly, and tricky to turn on hardpack.
"The best skis for cruising down groomed, blue pistes will not be the same as the best skis for hooning down Alaskan spine lines"
So how did we choose the skis on this list? Well, our testers joined the week-long industry event in La Clusaz, France, last January, where they tried out nearly 60 pairs of skis. From there, they chose their favourite models across four different categories: Piste Skis, All Mountain Skis, Freeride Skis, and Touring Skis. The list below contains a mix of all of these types.
Many—although not all—of the skis featured here have also been skied on all season long—giving our testers a chance to try it in all conditions. We haven't included skis we didn't like on this best-of list, for obvious reasons. But we have, hopefully, included enough variety that whatever kind of skier you are, you'll find something you do like.
Happy shredding!
Head Kore 104 Ti W
Women's Skis
RRP: £835 (including bindings)
Type: Freeride Skis
Waist width: 104mm
If you're an intermediate or advanced skier getting stuck into the powder, who still wants to spend time on piste, the Kore 104 Ti is your new best mate. It’s light, confidence-boosting, and now with added Titanal, it charges harder without losing that easygoing feel.
Perfect for freeride-curious skiers who want one ski to do it all, from late day lumps to cutting into the soft stuff. Playful, stable, and never too serious.
Buy Head Kore 104 Ti 2026: From £835 on Head's site
Salomon Stance 80
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £469 (including bindings)
Type: Piste Skis
Waist width: 80mm
For someone moving from easy blues to steeper groomers and mixed snow, the Salomon Stance 80 is a killer choice. With an 80 mm waist, it’s nimble enough to turn up nicely on piste, but solid enough to give you confidence when things get a bit rough.
It’s ideal for ambitious beginners or intermediates who want stability without feeling like they’re weighed down. Expect smooth carves, a forgiving ride in the crud, and enough pop to push your limits. If you want something a little more off-piste friendly, check out the Stance 84 (reviewed below).
Buy Salomon Stance 80 2026: From £400 from Absolute Snow, including M10 Gripwalk bindings
Rossignol Arcade 94
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £650
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist width: 94mm
The Rossignol Arcade family of skis are true all-mountain workhorses. The new Arcade 94s—the 9.4cm-wide version shown here—rip groomers with the precision of race skis, thanks to a metal layer and stiff tail, but still feel playful and quick when you duck into softer snow.
If you’re looking to mix it up on your next trip away, take a closer look at these—they’re perfect for confident intermediates and up who want versatility without sacrificing fun or edge grip.
Buy Rossignol Arcade 94 2026: £650 from Rossignol
Salomon Addikt
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £780
Type: Piste Skis
Waist width: 76mm
Back for another season, the Salomon Addikt Pro 76 is still a firm fave! With a slalom-inspired shape and a 14m radius, it darts through turns with precision, while Blade and Motion Tail technologies balance power and forgiveness.
Lively and quick, it thrives on carving tight arcs yet won’t punish you in chop or bumps. Add in recycled sidewalls for eco-cred, and it’s no wonder this ski remains a test favourite!
Buy Salomon Addikt Pro 76: £790 including bindings from Salomon
Black Crows Sato
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £599
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist width: 90mm
Carving lovers will feel right at home on the brand-new Black Crows Sato. With its quick 90mm waist and lively, energetic character, it thrives on those laps where precision and playfulness matter most.
Ideal for strong intermediates building confidence or advanced skiers chasing fun, responsive turns, the Sato is all about keeping your edge work sharp while still letting you enjoy a spirited, all-day ride.
Buy Black Crows Sato: £520 from Absolute Snow
Atomic Maverick 96 CTI
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £700
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist width: 96mm
This is the ski that you grab when you want more than just groomers. It thrives everywhere from fresh powder to chopped up steeps. Built for skiers who are seeking performance across various terrain types, it has a 96mm waist and new carbon and Titanal layers to ensure added stability and dampening.
It carves clean arcs, holds edges when you push hard, yet doesn’t punish you when the snow turns sloppy. A great ride for advanced riders who want one ski to rule them all: fast groomers, chopped up snow, and everything in between.
Buy Atomic Maverick 96 CTI: £650 from Ellis Brigham
Dynastar M-Free 100
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £575
Type: Freeride Skis
Waist width: 100mm
New for 25/26 the Dynastar M-Free 100 is a freeride ski that feels completely at home wherever you end up adventuring. Narrower than its big 108mm sibling, it blends a forgiving, playful shape with a powerful, stable underfoot section that slices through firm snow and floats in powder.
The supportive tail gives confidence in bumps, whilst it's still poppy so invites you to play, pop off features, and then charge it back to the lift. Perfect for freeriders chasing versatility.
Buy Dynastar M-Free 100: £575 from Dynastar
Blizzard Zero G
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £650
Type: Touring Skis
Waist width: 88mm or 96mm
Blizzard’s Zero G is back and lighter than ever: perfect for skinning up before you earn your turns. The updated Trueblend woodcore keeps things smooth and predictable on the way down, without adding extra weight on the ascent. An ash insert underfoot improves binding stability, so you can ski confidently.
Available in the Zero G 88 and 96 (the women’s versions are slightly softer), this is a touring ski that rewards your uphill effort with playful, effortless descents.
Buy Blizzard Zero G 2026: £522 from Snow Leader
Scott Explorair 95
Men's and Women's Skis
RRP: £555
Type: Touring Skis
Waist width: 95mm
The Scott Explorair 95 is your ticket to a mega day out. Lightweight enough to make the climb a breeze, yet confident on the descent, it floats through powder and carves on harder snow with equal ease. With a 95mm waist, carbon reinforcements, and progressive rocker, it’s playful where you want it and solid where you need it.
Perfect for adventurous skiers who want to earn their turns and then have serious fun ripping it home.
Buy Scott Explorair 95 Skis: £555 from Scott
Blizzard Black Pearl 94 Skis
Women's Skis
RRP: £660
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist Width: 94mm
Blizzard’s Black Pearls have been a popular ski the last few years at the test, and last year we were treated to a full redesign. The Black Pearl can be categorised as a hard-pack ripper. Their narrower waist and lack of rocker means they haven’t been designed with float in mind for deeper snow or chop, however, what they lack in full all-mountain shredability, they make up for in power on the piste.
The two-piece titanal layer adds an element of stability to the ski for the more powerful skiers, however, the softer than average flex makes it an easy and enjoyable ski to initiate the turn and feel in control, as well as being forgiving on those side hits and bumps.
Buy Blizzard Black Pearl 94 Skis: £550 from Ski Bartlett
Fischer Curv GT 85 Skis
Women's Skis
RRP: £810 (including bindings)
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist Width: 85mm
New from Fischer last year, the Curv GT series replaced their RC one series as their frontside, all conditions offering. The Curv GT 85 is one of the wider skis in the range in terms of being in the middle of stiffness ratings, flex ratings, and waist width. The rockered tip allows for easy turn initiation but they were not that grippy on the firmer snow and less stable at speed.
A great ski for women wanting something easy and smooth to turn, and great for those wanting to start to explore a little further with their skiing on piste. The Curv range does offer a ski for everyone with wider waist widths and stiffer construction so a good choice of series to look at for skiers who have an idea of what stiffness and width they might like to suit their favourite terrain.
Buy the Fischer Curv GT 85 Skis: £718 from Amazon
K2 Mindbender 96C Skis
Men's Skis
RRP: £550
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist Width: 96mm
The K2 Mindbender 96C is an all mountain ski that lands on the softer side of the K2 2023-2024 range, the ‘C’ standing for carbon, as opposed to the titanal plate built into the more aggressive side of the range.
The K2 Mindbender 96C is therefore ideal for more entry level freeriders and lighter skiers, but don’t let that put you off in any way, it’s a fun and playful ski that delivers fun with a capital ‘F’. Turns are sharp and snappy on piste, and around the edges of pisted areas they offer balance, poise, and an overall responsive feel that boosts confidence without papering over essential feedback.
A truly versatile ski that would suit a huge range of ability levels, making them a perfect all mountain ski: fun, yet undemanding for a more advanced skier that wants to play in a variety of snow conditions through the season.
Read our full length review of the K2 Mindbender 96C for more info.
Buy the K2 Mindbender 96C Skis: £454.50 from Amazon
Salomon Stance 84 Skis
Men's Skis
RRP: £610 (including bindings)
Type: Piste Skis
Waist Width: 84mm
With a stable yet controlled demeanour - thanks to the poplar wood core and Titanal layer - the Stance 84 from Salomon delivers exactly what you’d want from a classic all mountain ski—even if it's still, at least, 75 percent focussed on piste work. Very much at home on the chopped snow beside marked runs, they’re responsive and lively everywhere, but easy to turn and mild-mannered to boot. There’s rebound on offer, but not too much to unsettle, and there’s power available when needed.
The 84 version sits towards the lower side of the width scale within the wider Stance collection, with a 90, 96 and 102 above it.
Read our full review of the Salomon Stance 84 skis for more info.
Buy the Salomon Stance 84 Skis, with M11 Gripwalk bindings: £548.95 from Absolute Snow
Armada Declivity 92TI
Men's Skis
RRP: £600
Type: All Mountain Skis
Waist Width: 92mm
The Armada Declivity 92TI - named after a downward slope or inclination - hits the sweet spot for versatility in a range that spans between 88mm to 115mm under foot.
The ‘Ti’ moniker indicates that a stiffening titanal layer is present and correct, but here it’s combined in a banding layer with an elastic compound layer and caruba wood core, which results in a more forgiving ski overall.
The result is a high-performance on-piste carver that’s got enough gumption to justify the all mountain tag, but while keeping plenty of fun in hand for pisted runs.
Read our full review of the Armada Declivity 92TI for more info.
Buy Armada Declivity 92TI 2026: £540 at Absolute Snow
