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The best all-mountain skis for this winter

All-mountain skis suit both on and off piste - ROSS WOODHALL
All-mountain skis suit both on and off piste - ROSS WOODHALL

All-mountain skis are designed to deal competently with snow conditions all over the mountain. In practice, this requires a ski waist width of about 80 to 90mm – narrow enough to provide decent grip on hard snow, wide enough to float in powder. If you can take just one pair of skis on a trip, and you plan to try a bit of everything, these are definitely the skis for you.

Confused by all the lingo? Check out our jargon buster and learn what the specialist terms in our ski reviews mean.

For intermediate/advanced skiers
Best for easy handling

Dynastar Speed Zone 4X4 82

£570*

dynastar
dynastar

The standard Speed Zone we tested is aimed mainly at piste skiing but still has a drifty, freeride feel. Dynastar has softened the flex at the tip and tail to make it easier to turn, and this softer flex and slight tip rocker helps in variable snow off piste. A great ski for intermediate to advanced skiers wanting easy handling in short to medium turns on piste and some fun off the sides. If you ski hard and fast then opt for the stiffer Pro version.

+ Playful and fun in variable snow, easy to handle at lower speeds.
- Grip suffers when skiing fast on hard snow.

Lengths: 164, 171, 179, 185
Sidecut: 128/82/112 (179) 
Radius: 16m (179)
dynastar.com

Best on test / Best for inspiring confidence

Fischer RC One 82 GT

£560*

fischer
fischer

This is an incredible pair of skis. They felt the lightest of the men’s all-mountain skis we tested, but still performed superbly well at high speed. Fischer uses a material called Bafatex in the tip and tail. This reduces weight as well as softening flex at these contact points, making turning so easy it’s confidence-inspiring. A wood and metal core gives plenty of power and grip, while ease of use, both on and off piste, combined with upper end performance on firm snow made this one of the best all-mountain skis we tested.

+ Light, confidence-inspiring, nimble, grippy, versatile.
- Hard to fault.

Lengths: 159, 166, 173, 180 
Sidecut: 126/82/112 (173)
Radius: 16m (173)
fischersports.com

Best on test / Best for varying turn shapes

Head Monster 83 X

£455*

head
head

More of an obedient, playful hound than a Monster, these new skis from Head have one layer of metal, rather than the two found in the Monster 83 Ti. This makes the 83 X £60 cheaper (great value) and far easier at lower speeds and in tighter turns. At speed they’re still super stable and grippy on piste. The softer flex works well with the tip rocker when skiing challenging off-piste conditions. The playful, versatile nature of the Monster 83 Xs made them one of the best men’s all-mountain skis we tested.

+ Great value, works for different speeds and turn shapes, suits a broad range of skiers.
- Hard to fault.

Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177
Sidecut: 131/83/110 (177) 
Radius: 16.7m (177)
head.com

For advanced skiers
Best for funky tech

Elan Wingman 86 TI

£570*

elan
elan

The new Wingman range uses Elan’s asymmetrical construction, with more rocker on the outside edge to make turning easier and a longer camber on the inside edge for enhanced grip. It sounds a little strange but it works and the 86 Ti is a great all-mountain option for advanced skiers. There’s more structural material on the inside edge than its predecessor, increasing power and enhancing on-piste performance. When skiing in changeable snow off piste the shovel provides good floatation.

+ Unusual profile works superbly well for advanced all-mountain skiers.
- Labelling of left and right skiscould be clearer.

Lengths: 160, 166, 172, 178, 184 
Sidecut: 130/86/115 (178) 
Radius: 16.5m (178)
elanskis.com

For advanced/expert skiers
Best for grip & off-piste forays

Nordica Enforcer 88

£530

nordica
nordica

The 88s are a new width Enforcer from Nordica. They have quite a long camber with tip rocker and a little rise at the tail. This profile, combined with new carbon layers, gives a fantastic blend of grip and rebound for firm snow, with a playful freeride feel for softer snow. If you like to ski off the sides of the runs whenever you can, but want a strong, stable ski for firmer snow days then the Enforcer 88s are a superb choice.

+ Masses of grip for something that skis so well off piste, stable at speed, expertly judged freeride feel. 
- Quite pricey.

Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186
Sidecut: 121/88/109 (172)   
Radius: 15.5 (172)
nordica.com

Best for premium performance

Völkl Deacon 84

£775*

deacon
deacon

What a blast! The strong construction provides masses of grip at speed and the new three radius sidecut allows you to easily change turn shape, even mid-turn. The tip and tail rocker helps with turn transition, on and off piste. They skis like a performance piste ski on the groomers then when you head off the side the tip flex is soft enough to aid off-piste skiing. They’re expensive but you can feel the quality when skiing on them.

+ Expensive construction oozes quality, excellent grip, adaptable across turn shapes.
- They’re expensive.

Lengths: 162, 167, 172, 177, 182
Sidecut: 132/84/115 (177) 
Radius: 16.9cm (177)
volkl.com

Women’s skis

For intermediate/advanced skiers
Best for ease at lower speeds

Dynastar Intense 4X4 82

£495*

dynastar
dynastar

These skis are easy and playful at lower speeds on groomed snow, and are really fun when nipping off the side of the piste. The tip rocker works well with the soft flex in the front of the ski when skiing softer snow. They’re not the stiffest skis but this can help those developing their skiing technique or just starting to head off the sides of the runs. This softer nature means they suffer at higher speeds, although they do offer a stiffer Pro version for experts.

+ Forgiving flex, smooth ride, shorter turns and lower speeds.
- Edge can break away at speed.

Lengths: 156, 164, 171 
Sidecut: 130/82/110 (164) 
Radius: 16m (164)
dynastar.com

For all levels
Best on test / Best for ease and grip

Atomic Vantage 80 Ti W

£500*

atomic
atomic

The Vantage’s innovative construction looks quite different. Held up to the light you can see through the ski in front of and behind the binding. But this isn’t just about reducing weight – Atomic also wanted to increase performance and these skis have tip rocker and a beautifully smooth flex through the front for effortless turn initiation, which also helps when skiing variable conditions off piste. These are so easy to ski with bags of grip when you ramp up the speed that they’re one of the best all-mountain skis we tested.

+ Easy at low speed, powerful at high speed, suits a broad range of abilities. 
- Hard to fault.

Lengths: 151, 159, 167
Sidecut: 119/80/105 (159cm) 
Radius: 14.9m (159)
atomic.com

For advanced skiers
Best for making mid-size turns

Blizzard Black Pearl 82T

£480

blizzard
blizzard

The Black Pearl skis have a strong following, but the 82 is a new width. It has softer flexing and is lighter than the men’s Brahma, making it a more versatile ski. The carbon-reinforced woodcore is still a powerful construction, performing well in medium arcs at speed and ideally suited to stronger skiers. The tip and tail rocker make the ski more forgiving on piste but you really notice their benefit off piste with their stability that encourages you to increase the revs.

+ Really fun off piste for a narrow ski, stable at speed, longer turns on piste.
- Hard to fault.

Lengths: 152, 159, 166, 173 
Sidecut: 121/82/105 (173)
Radius: 17m (172)
blizzardsports.com

Best for off piste aspirers

Scott Slight 93 Women’s

£550

scott
scott

Although not actually 93mm underfoot this is the widest women’s all-mountain ski we tested and it performs amazingly well on piste, skiing better than many narrower models. Air channels in the wood core make the women’s Slight 93 lighter and easier to flex than the men’s. Off piste the light weight and extra width is a massive benefit in softer and variable snow. If you want to get into off-piste skiing then this will help.

+ Ease of use, extra width helps in softer snow, grip and stability in longer turns on piste
- Price, slower edge to edge than some narrower skis

Lengths: 155, 160, 165
Sidecut: 132/89/120 (165) 
Radius: 13.6m (165)
scott-sports.com

For advanced/expert skiers
Best on test / Best for a beautiful smooth flex

K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance

£535

k2
k2

Superb skis with a lovely smooth flex, which advanced and expert skiers will have an absolute blast on. Easy and forgiving at lower speeds, when you turn up the dial on piste they really come alive. Heading into the variable snow off the side is just as much fun, making easy work of these more challenging conditions. The ability to make every day a big grin day is why the Mindbender 88 Ti Alliances are one of the best pairs of all-mountain skis we tested.

+ Smooth flex, grip, versatile performance, grin factor.
- On the pricey side.

Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170
Sidecut: 125/88/112 
Radius: 14.7m (163)
k2skis.com

Best for stability at speed

Black Crows Orb Birdie

£600

black crows
black crows

Black Crows has changed the shape and construction of the Orbs this season, as well as adding a women’s version; the Orb Birdie. It’s a light ski and has a softer flex than the men’s, but this doesn’t make it a meek and timid noodle. A poplar wood core and two layers of metal mean the ski is really stable at speed. The Orb Birdie is superb for technically strong female skiers wanting one pair to blast about the mountain, both on piste and off the sides.

+ Stable, light and fun on and off piste.
- Quite pricey.

Lengths: 159, 164, 169 
Sidecut: 124/88/108 (164) 
Radius: 19m (164)
black-crows.com