Finding the perfect pair of touring skis can be challenging, especially if you’re shopping for randonnée skis. Factors like length, weight, and waist width are some of the key characteristics you need to consider. In this article, we’ve compiled our top tips on what to think about before buying your next pair of touring skis!
There are more and more touring skis to choose from, but unfortunately, no ski is perfect for every scenario. By considering the type of skiing you do most, you can find the ski that works best for you and your needs. That’s why we recommend thinking through the following three points when shopping for new randonnée skis.
1. When during the season will you use your randonnée skis? All winter or just in spring?
Traditionally, the touring season has been associated with spring, when the snow tends to be firmer and more stable compared to early winter. Firmer snow means you don’t need the widest powder skis for an enjoyable touring experience. Early winter, on the other hand, often brings dry, fluffy powder, increasing the need for a wide ski that floats well in soft snow.
If you plan to use your skis throughout the season and want to be prepared for all conditions, we recommend a ski with a moderate waist width, ideally between 90–110 mm.
If you’ll only be skiing in spring, you can save a lot of energy by choosing a narrower and lighter pair of touring skis. A ski with a waist width under 95 mm will still provide a great experience on spring snow.
2. What kind of tours do you take? Long trips or short ones? Chasing powder in the forest or tackling alpine peaks? Maybe a few days at the resort too?
If you’re the type who dreams of long ascents and covering thousands of vertical meters in a day, a lightweight and narrow ski is the clear choice. However, if you have more moderate plans and focus on the downhill, you might consider a slightly wider ski for a better experience on the descent.
Many people want touring skis they can also use at ski resorts. In this case, we don’t recommend the narrowest and lightest skis. You’ll have a better experience on variable conditions at the resort with a ski that has a bit more weight and width.
There are also wide touring skis with a waist width of over 110 mm, perfect for those deep powder days on your favorite mountain or in the forest.
3. What’s your skill level? Are you a beginner or a pro? Or perhaps, like most of us, somewhere in between?
Your skill level primarily influences the length of skis you should choose.
We recommend starting with your height as a reference. If you’re a beginner, consider choosing a ski slightly shorter than your height. This will give you a more maneuverable and user-friendly ski. If you’re an experienced skier who enjoys high speeds and large turns, you might prefer a ski slightly longer than your height for better floatation and stability
Based on these three points, we hope you feel more confident in choosing your next pair of touring skis. Below, we’ve put together a list of four ski models that might be exactly what you’re looking for:
