Ski Width, Explained
How to choose the right planks for the right conditions—and your ski style.
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If you’re in the market for a new pair of skis, the number of options out there can be daunting. Brands flood the market with more models every year, with a new gaggle of names, specs, and topsheets that might make your head spin like a grom in the mini terrain park. While there’s no “try this one simple trick!” hack to choose the correct ski for you, having a ski width range in mind will narrow down the field quite a bit. Here’s everything you need to know about how ski width is measured, why it matters, and which skis we like in each width category.
Defining Ski Width
When you hear a brand, shop tech, or your ski partner mention ski width, they’re talking about the measurement at the middle of the ski, also called its waist. A ski’s waist width is its narrowest point and is measured in millimeters—as opposed to ski length, which is in centimeters—and you may also see it referred to as the “underfoot” section of the ski. (So, “this ski is 104 underfoot” means that the waist of the ski is 104 millimeters wide.) Ski brands will usually include a ski’s waist width in its product name for easy perusal, e.g., the Salomon QST 106 measures 106 millimeters underfoot. When you’re glancing at ski specs, the tip, waist, and tail widths will be written in succession; the notation for the QST 106’s measurements is thus 136/106/125.
Modern skis are shaped, which means that they have a subtle hourglass silhouette. The front end (or “shovel”) of the ski is widest, and then the ski tapers to its waist width before gradually expanding again towards the back (or “tail”). Out of those three areas—shovel, waist, and tail—the waist is the one that matters most for a ski’s performance and intended use. Generally, a ski with a narrow waist will be more agile than one that’s wider underfoot. Conversely, a wide-waisted ski will float better in deep snow and usually feel more stable in variable snow.
There are dozens of caveats to those generalizations—a ski’s materials, subtleties in its shape (including the amount of camber and rocker, which is a whole ’nother story), snow conditions, and other factors come into play. But for the purpose of this article—and getting you out on the slopes instead of stuck in front of a screen—let’s stick with them, as well as separate ski widths into three broad categories: medium/all-mountain, narrow/groomer, and wide/powder. Here’s how they stack up against each other.
Ski Widths 101: From Groomers to Powder
Getting a ski with a medium waist width, which we define as between 88 and 105 millimeters underfoot, is hedging your bets for having fun across the majority of the mountain in the majority of snow conditions. Medium-waisted skis are quicker edge-to-edge than wider models (i.e., they’re easier to turn), but stay on top of powder and handle variable snow better than narrower ones. If you want a one-ski quiver that you’ll enjoy clicking into way more often than not, choosing a model with a waist width in this size range is the way to go.
Refine Your Search Based on Local Conditions
This category has subtle—but important—gradients within it, which mostly revolve around the type of snow that you’ll usually encounter. If you’re an East Coast skier who’s running laps on firm snow more often than not, a model towards the narrower end of the all-mountain spectrum is a smart choice. Case in point: It’s quite a bit easier to engage the edges on the 90-millimeter version of K2’s Mindbender than it is the 106-millimeter version. The narrower model is lighter, requiring less effort to move, and feels nimbler underfoot as a result.
Conversely, Rocky Mountain- and West Coast-based skiers will benefit most from an all-mountain ski that’s 95 millimeters or wider underfoot. The probability of gliding through soft snow is much higher in those regions (sorry, Ice Coasters), and the more surface area a ski has, the better you’ll stay on top of powder. Additionally, the wider a ski is, the more proficient it is at keeping you stable through the crud that builds up between storms as well. Choose the right all-mountain ski—no matter if it’s on the wider or narrower side—and it should be able to keep you smiling from bell to bell across most days spent in your home zone.
Our Favorite All-Mountain Skis
West Coast All-Mountain Pick: Blizzard Rustler 10 ($850)
At 102 millimeters wide, the Rustler 10 can handle all but the deepest days with ease. And its easy-to-drive yet stable platform hits that sweet spot that so many advanced and expert riders hope for: playful, powerful, and just plain fun.
East Coast All-Mountain Pick: Fischer Ranger 90 ($700)
Its 90-millimeter width and medium-stiff flex makes it easy to manage on both groomed runs and in light powder. For intermediates to through advanced skiers, it’s a ski that’ll feel just right. If you want even more power, however, consider stepping up to Volkl’s Mantra 88 ($850).
Intermediate All-Mountain Pick: Rossignol Sender Soul 92 ($550)
Featuring a versatile 92-millimeter width and a lightweight construction, the Sender Soul 92 pairs nicely with intermediate skiers who are starting to explore more of the mountain. It’s easy to control both on and off trail, and it won’t overpower you with stiffness or too-large of dimensions.
This is a category that’s as much about ski style and experience as it is snow conditions. As we’ve been saying, it’s easier to tip a narrow ski onto its edge than it is a wider one. Due to that difference, skiers who enjoy carving wide, fast turns on hardpack might prefer a model that’s skinnier than an all-mountain ski, which won’t take to getting trenched as naturally. This is the reasoning behind why race skis are so narrow. (We’re not saying that you can’t carve on wider skies, but it takes more skill and a bit more effort.)
Because narrow skis are the best models for edging and have relatively short turn radii, they’re also the preferred width for beginners to learn on. Easy turn initiation is ideal when you’re learning to perfect your form, and it’s more likely that a new skier will feel overmatched by a relatively wider ski that you have to drive harder to get on edge. It’s also more likely that someone at the beginning of their ski career will be sticking to groomed slopes, so they won’t need a ski that offers decent float in soft snow and stability in mank.
Now, you can certainly go off-piste in a narrow-waisted ski, especially if you possess solid form and know how to drive your skis. But they'll be more prone to sinking in the deep stuff and will feel jittery in variable snow—less area means less weight, so you’ll get bounced around a bit. Descending through tight, gladed terrain might be the exception, but keep in mind that if there’s powder between the trees, you won’t have as fun of a run as you would with a wider ski.
Our Favorite Narrow Skis
Carving Specialist: Stöckli Laser SC Skis + MC11 Bindings ($1,709)
With a width of 72 millimeters, the Laser SCs are a far cry from the do-it-all skis above. But the smaller surface area and seriously high-end build deliver tremendous results: this ski arches turns with the best of them. And unlike most “race style” models, the Stöckli is predictable and won’t punish you if you tune back the effort.
Beginner Ski Pick: Rossignol Arcade 78 + Xpress 10 GW ($500)
Its 78-millimeter width, low weight, and soft flex all add up to a beginner-friendly setup. The Arcde makes it easy to rotate and manage the skis, while retaining enough stiffness and edge control to take your skills beyond the bunny slope.
Here come the big boys. On deep days, you’ll want a ski with a wide waist. The broader a ski is underfoot (as well as in the tip and tail), the more surface area it has, with your weight distributed more evenly across it. The result of all that? It takes less effort to keep you afloat in powder. These models aren’t designed to carve perfect turns, but in soft snow, you probably won’t be tipping them on edge very much. “Slarving,” or a sliding carve, is the name of the game on a pow day, and so you won’t be as focused on engaging the full length of the ski.
As you’ve probably intuited by now, ski use cases are relative to frequently encountered conditions. The models at the narrower end of this spectrum (say, 105mm to 108mm or so) could be considered all-mountain daily drivers by people who live in regions that see a ton of snow, like the Wasatch or British Columbia. In those regions, the snow is (ideally) soft enough that you won’t be relying on your skis to guide you down icy hardpack.
The fatter you get, though, the more specialized wide skis become. From about 110 millimeters on up, they’re basically boats made for cruising through powder. If you’re heading to an ultra-snowy place, like Japan or Alaska, you might even opt for a model with a waist width in the high 110s or low 120s. With the right powder skis—and the correct form, of course; hands forward! Tips up!—you’ll be able to surf on top of the snow rather than fighting against sinking, as you would with a narrower all-mountain or carving ski.
Our Favorite Powder Skis
Powder Skis with All-Mountain Skills: Salomon QST 106 ($800)
With a width of 106 millimeters, the QST 106 is just over our threshold for a powder ski. And it straddles the all-mountain and soft-snow categories with aplomb—impressive flotation in knee-high powder (and more) with sufficient juice to ski hard on a couple of groomer laps as conditions shift.
Freeride Powder Legend: Atomic Bent Chetler 120 ($850)
If you know, you know. The 120-millimeter-wide Bent Chetler looks cool, floats like a dream, and tackles big and ambitious lines with the best of them. It’s a niche item, however, and if you’re not seeing Hokkaido-level conditions, you may prefer the still-capable and slightly narrower Bent 110 ($750).
Shovel and Tail Width
We’ve focused this article on the waist width of the ski, as it’s the most important for assessing expected performance, but the tip (shovel) and tail of the ski also provide useful insights. To start, it’s important to understand that two skis with the same underfoot width will not always have shovels and tails that are the same—or even roughly the same—size. For example, the Salomon QST 94 (in its 172 cm length) has tip/waist/tail measurements of 133/94/119 millimeters, while the Nordica Enforcer (at 173 cm) comes in at 127/94/115 millimeters. As we’ve mentioned a few times already, more surface area means more float, and so you might expect the QST to perform a little better in powder. The Enforcer might be easier to pivot and carve with, due to its slightly more svelte profile.
It’s best to take those predictions above with a snowball-sized grain of salt, though. Waist width is a good starting point, and the rest of the ski’s dimensions undeniably play an important role, but there’s a lot of nuance here that requires on-snow use to truly suss out. One ski’s core materials, stiffness, or rocker/camber profile might cause it to outperform or come up short in an area you might not expect.
The Best Ski Width for Moguls
Although the sight of moguls might have you wishing for a wide, heavy ski to bash through them, the opposite is actually the case. A ski with a relatively narrow waist—somewhere between 80 and 90 millimeters—will have the short turn radius you need to quickly shift side to side and ride those bumps the right way. Nimbleness is the key when you’re pivoting between moguls, and the skis that will keep you lightest on your feet are ones we’d classify as skinny, or at least all-mountain models at the relatively narrow end of that category. Elan’s Ripstick 88 checks the right boxes with moderately narrow dimensions (88 cm at the waist), a low weight, and a snappy and energetic personality that’s downright fun in the bumps.
How the Industry is Trending
Until fairly recently, ski brands were trying to outdo each other by going wider in every category. Banana-shaped, soft-snow-specific skis with reverse camber were common, and even all-mountain models were subject to waist inflation. Lately, though, manufacturers are dialing things back, mostly in the name of versatility. And we’re here for it: There are a ton of fascinating, high-performing skis in the 85- to 104-millimeter-underfoot range, many of which will serve your every need unless you’re bashing gates or need a snorkel.
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