2013 Editors' Choice

Women's skis have been one of the fastest growing segments in the industry—with technological breakthroughs and more attention paid to female skiers, these skis are better than ever. Within that segment, All Mountain is the most-popular category. 

These skis can do it all—play in the pow, cruise the corduroy and crush the crud. Each pair was put through the ringer by former World Cup racers, ski instructors, mountaineers and OTS staff at our annual ski test in Aspen last season. Find your one ski quiver here:

BLIZZARD SAMBA

Blizzard's women's Free Mountain line includes three skis (ranging from 88 mm to 108 mm underfoot), all constructed with tip and tail rocker, a sandwich sidewall construction, a wood core with bamboo added to reduce weight and Blizzard's Flipcore technology, which adds rocker in the molding process rather than bending it in. The Samba impressed testers with its stability and versatility. "Great for 98 mm underfoot," said Koehn. "Excels in big radius turns and feels super stable everywhere." "It handles speed really well," agreed Alder. "Like the bull on the topsheet: a little stubborn but really strong," said Sutton.

Brand: Blizzard
Name: Samba
Category: ALL MOUNTAIN
Editors' Picks: ?
MSRP: $0
Price flat? ?
Gender: Women
Core: Wood, quadrax
Turning radius (in m): 20 at 173
Lengths (in cm): 159-166-173
Sidecut: 131-98-116
Overall Rating: 4.18 out of 5
Carving: 3.80 out of 5
Playfulness: 4.00 out of 5
Versatility: 4.20 out of 5
Stability: 4.40 out of 5
Float: 4.50 out of 5

FISCHER KOA 98

Fischer's All-Mountain twintip is designed to offer control in all conditions. Testers said it shines in mixed snow: "The crud became smooth!" said Alder. "Could even conquer Sierra Cement," commented Sutton. Fischer's Freeski Rocker contributes to the KOA 98's crud-taming talent. A long rockered tip provides flotation and easy turn initiation, coupled with a rockered tail that releases quickly out of the turn. Sandwich sidewall construction, a poplar wood core and a layer of carbon fiber helps keep weight down without loosing liveliness. "It's light enough to ski hard all day," said Sutton.

Brand: Fischer
Name: KOA 98
Category: ALL MOUNTAIN
Editors' Picks: ?
MSRP: $695
Price flat? ?
Gender: Women
Core: Wood, carbon
Turning radius (in m): 19 at 176
Lengths (in cm): 156-166-176
Sidecut: 130-98-122
Overall Rating: 4.00 out of 5
Carving: 3.20 out of 5
Playfulness: 4.40 out of 5
Versatility: 4.30 out of 5
Stability: 4.00 out of 5
Float: 4.10 out of 5

KÄSTLE FX94

Though the FX94 has metal, it’s one of the lightest metal laminated skis offered by Kästle. It was designed with alpinist and big mountain skier, Chris Davenport, who wanted a ski that was light enough for uphill travel, but a bomber for the downhill.

Brand: Kastle
Name: FX94
Category: ALL MOUNTAIN
Editors' Picks: ?
MSRP: $1149
Price flat? ?
Gender: Women
Core: Wood (ash, silver fir), titanal
Turning radius (in m): 18 at 166
Lengths (in cm): 166-176-186
Sidecut: 124-94-117
Overall Rating: 4.18 out of 5
Carving: 4.30 out of 5
Playfulness: 4.10 out of 5
Versatility: 4.20 out of 5
Stability: 4.30 out of 5
Float: 4.00 out of 5

NORDICA WILD BELLE

Five new models join the Nordica women's line—including an update to the All-Mountain Nemesis at the widest waist, down to the narrowest First Belle. At 84 mm underfoot, the Wild Belle is a lightweight, carve-happy ski. "Really playful and super stable from short turns on the groomers to bumps to crud," said Koehn. Early rise camRock technology increases flotation for forays into soft snow and simplifies turn initiation. Women's specific Wi-Core reduces weight in the Wild Belle thanks to two composite stringers in the wood core. "These skis will make you smarter, sexier and more athletic… or at least you'll feel like it," joked Sutton.

Brand: Nordica
Name: Wild Belle
Category: ALL MOUNTAIN
Editors' Picks: ?
MSRP: $749
Price flat? ?
Gender: Women
Core: Wood
Turning radius (in m): 16 at 162
Lengths (in cm): 154-162-170
Sidecut: 126-84-112
Overall Rating: 4.20 out of 5
Carving: 4.40out of 5
Playfulness: 4.00 out of 5
Versatility: 4.40 out of 5
Stability: 4.20 out of 5
Float: 4.00 out of 5

VOLKL KENJA

Last season Völkl added women-specific Bio-Logic technology to the venerable Kenja, designed to reduce leg stress and fatigue through a level stance, progressive sidecut (wide tip and narrow tail) and an ultra light wood core that’s stiffer in the front and softer in the tail. By adding tip rocker this season, however, the newly revamped 87 mm-waisted ski is even easier to turn and more oriented toward the one-ski quiver standard.

Brand: Volkl
Name: Kenja
Category: ALL MOUNTAIN
Editors' Picks: ?
MSRP: $775
Price flat? ?
Gender: Men's
Core: Wood, titanium
Turning radius (in m): 17.7 at 163
Lengths (in cm): 149-156-163-170
Sidecut: 127-87-106
Overall Rating: 3.68 out of 5
Carving: 4.25 out of 5
Playfulness: 3.50 out of 5
Versatility: 3.50 out of 5
Stability: 3.40 out of 5
Float: 3.75 out of 5