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Shredding groomers is a blast, but the backcountry has adventurous terrain. Only daring skiers venture into the trees to find playful and challenging snow often hidden from sight on the front-side slopes.
A lot of people think that front-side carvers are the best option when it comes to skiing. However, they’re not your best bet for taking a trip off groomed trails. If you want to take some time out in the backcountry and enjoy all types of terrain, then keep reading my guide to find the best skis for tree skiing that will give you an epic ride no matter where you go!
Preview | Product | Link |
  | Nordica Enforcer 94
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  | Volkl Kendo 88
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  | Salomon QST 106
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Table of Contents
Review: Best Skis For Tree Skiing
#1. Best Overall: Nordica Enforcer 94
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The Nordica Enforcer series has been a staple in the skiing world for years. The introduction of these skis as part of their lineup was met with excitement from all within the alpine community and continues to be loved by every single person who buys them. This year’s release is no exception; it will give you that “real deal” feeling without taking up too much space.
Dimensions: 127-94-115.5mm
Turning Radius: 17.1m
If you’re looking to explore the untamed parts of a mountain and enjoy skiing safely, then these skis are your best bet. The Enforcer 94 can ski any terrain while still being agile enough for quick turns on groomed slopes as well!
The Enforcer is the perfect ski for those that love to go fast but still enjoy a challenging course. Although it has quite an aggressive turn radius and can sweep down long trails with ease, The Enforcer’s lightweight tips allow you to make quick turns.
This ski is a lot of fun for those just getting into skiing, but the deeper powder days will be tough to navigate. The ride in these conditions still feels above average, and that’s all thanks to it having an underfoot measurement of 94mm.
The Nordica 94 Pro Ski has been a favorite of skiers for years, and now it is even better. With two sheets of Titanal and an extended wood core that can withstand high speeds on the mountain, in addition to its lightweight design, which makes turning easier than ever before, this ski will be perfect for any level rider who wants success without sacrificing fun.
#2. For Intermediate Skiers: Volkl Kendo 88
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The Volkl Kendo is a perfect ski for those looking to take their skiing skills off of the groomers and into the trees. This ski will help any intermediate skier start shredding on steeper terrain!
For someone who likes speed, this would be an excellent choice because it has enough stability in its construction that you can go fast without worrying about blowing out your turns or flipping over backward when making sharp corners at high speeds.
Dimensions: 129-88-111mm
Turning Radius: 17m
The ski is designed to be a frontside-focused ski for intermediate skiers. The aggressive sidecut and rocker profile is perfect for skiing groomers with ease, while the softer flex ensures that you can still push hard on this type of terrain too!
This ski doesn’t chatter much on rough conditions, making it perfect for anyone who prefers a stable ride. This is the best choice if you’re looking to have fun with every turn with great control and stability. Edging can be easy too, and these are ideal in more extreme situations where precision matters above all else.
With an 88mm underfoot, this ski is the perfect size for a wide range of powder conditions. It’s very versatile and shreddable, making it ideal for skiers that are still refining their skills on the mountain.
The Kendo 88 ski is the newest, lightest model to be released by this company. The cut-down weight makes it easier to turn and more forgiving than past models while not sacrificing stability for an increased agility factor.
This ski is the perfect all-mountain model for intermediate skiers who want to make any turn with ease and thrive in challenging terrain.
The tip and tail are a little curved, allowing you to flow through turns without feeling like they’re being pushed out of shape; while still giving plenty of edge underneath your feet so that it doesn’t feel slippery even when making hard cuts or quick cuts, turning back toward yourself.
The Kendo 88 is the perfect model for intermediate skiers. It’s designed to help you improve your skills and make more advanced maneuvers safely, all while having a good time on the slopes!
#3. For Advanced Skiers: Salomon QST 106
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For the experienced backcountry skier who likes to fly through trees, Salomon’s QST 106 will be your perfect companion. This ski is responsive and playful, with a quality you can feel as soon as it lands on snow.
Dimensions: 138-106-124mm
Turning Radius: 18m
The world of skiing is ever-changing, and Salomon has been at the forefront, constantly adapting to create a better experience for their customers. Their newest model QST was designed with all advanced skiers in mind; it outperforms anything else on the market today!
The latest innovation from Salomon is a model of stability – A ski made exclusively for those looking to take their skills up another level or two.
The wooden core of this ski is what makes it so popular. The tips and tails have been changed from the original model to enhance performance, but I liked how the redesigned shape performed on snow.
Salomon is one of the oldest and most prestigious ski companies in America. They are known for cutting their skis down from a tapered design to something more stable. This is what you need if you want an easier time on challenging trails or even during those inevitable times when Mother Nature throws some crazy conditions at you mid-run.
The QST 106mm underfoot design is perfect for powder days and backcountry skiing. Even with wide width, you can get on edge quick and take control of tough tree terrain — and it still holds up well when the mountains are choppy!
Skis are considered to be a major investment, but the benefits outweigh any negatives that come with it. Skiers often have an idea of what they want out of their skis, and if you’re looking for something specific like performance on deep powder or agility in tight terrain, then investing is worth considering because these kinds of goals can’t always be accomplished by renting equipment.
Buying Guide for Tree Skis
If you want to find the perfect pair of skis, the above three are all great options. However, if none of them seems like a good fit for your needs and goals, here’s what you should look into when picking out the best skis for tree skiing!
The Ski Width
When it comes to the width of your ski, you need a pair that will fit what type of skiing you plan on doing. For skis to be flexible and allow good movement, they should have an underfoot width from 80-110mm.
When it comes to skiing, there are always tradeoffs. A wide ski allows one to glide through deep piles of fluffy snow and could give you a competitive edge when competing on loose snow or if the course features steep terrain with tight turns. On the other hand, shorter lengths can be beneficial for icy tracks requiring agile ski performance and hard-packed courses where stability is key.
You’ll need different gear depending on what type of conditions your skiing experience entails.
It’s a mystery what you’ll find in the trees. Sometimes it could be powder, sometimes ice and slush, which is more difficult to navigate than snow because of how thin it gets. You need to think about your area’s typical weather conditions when deciding if backcountry skiing is worth the risk for you or not!
If you’re not lucky enough to live somewhere where powder abounds on every run, I would suggest sticking below 100mm when choosing a pair of tree-skiing-specific sticks. Everyone will have their own opinion about which size runs they like most, though – this should be based on how much control or maneuverability are important aspects to look into while browsing gear online.
The Ski Design
Once, there was only one type of ski design: camber. But now that we understand the different snow conditions and know how to tailor our skis for those specific needs, companies are coming up with new designs like Rocker, which features tips raised on either end.
The camber shape is perfect for groomers. With easy access and an abundance of groomed trails, the mountain offers great winter fun!
The rocker design is perfect for tougher snow areas.
For those looking for a ski that can handle anything, there is a mixed design. It’s able to adapt and thrive in any situation on the mountain during tree skiing because it has both wide-bodied tips and tails as well as narrower waist widths elsewhere.
Turn Radius
A ski’s turn radius is an important measure determining how easy it will be to execute turns. The measurement of a turning radius refers to the shape and dimensions of each part of the ski, as well as its intended use.
Different skiing styles require specific types of equipment that can make your ride smoother depending on where you enjoy riding most often. For example, if someone is a fan of carving down an icy slope- which takes precision and good form across multiple layers – then he’d likely want a narrower turn radius.
It’s always better to have a shorter turn radius when navigating the trees because it will allow for quick maneuvers and give more control on tough snow.
A long, sweeping turn is easier to control on hard snow but can be slower when you’re making quick maneuvers in the trees.
The ride should be able to turn sharply but also let you move quickly down the slope. A turning radius of 16-20m is ideal so that you can make sharp turns in even tighter spaces like tree skiing and still have enough mobility when moving across open areas of the hill.
Versatility
If you want to enjoy a backcountry adventure on your next ski trip, I recommend investing in an all-mountain model so that you’re ready for any terrain conditions, from thick snow on groomed trails to powder off of icy slopes.
All the tree skis that I reviewed above are versatile for various skiing conditions. You should assess what kind of skiing you like to do the most, as well as your skill level, before deciding which one would be best for you.