The Best All-Mountain Skis for Women of 2024-2025

Atomic’s Maven 103 CTI ($975) is a confidence-inspiring women’s ski that we were happy to have on our feet every time we took it out, anywhere on the mountain, in conditions ranging from hardpack to powder. It’s a ski that beginners can grow into and one that’s ready to rock and roll for intermediate and advanced skiers. Redesigned in 2024 by Daron Rhalves, an Olympian and one of the most accomplished downhill racers of all time, according to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, this ski grips confidently in all kinds of snow. Click in and it’s easy to maneuver, and it’s versatile. And, like Daron, it’s not a “slarver,” but a carver.

The 2024/25 Maven is a serious upgrade from the previous version of this ski. You can ski cruisy, smooth runs, soaking in the winter sunshine, or get your skis on edge, trench turns, and soar down the mountain. This all-conditions charger now uses less metal, fiberglass, and resin than its predecessor. It also uses a highly engineered blend of ash and poplar at its core. That enhances the Maven’s stability and reduces its vibration at speed. In short, it turns the Maven from a good ski to a great ski.

The Maven CTI construction blends carbon and Titanal metal. That makes this ski energetic on the slopes and in the woods without compromising its agility on tight trees. The carbon and Titanal are springy in the bumps, and on crowded slopes, they made the ski responsive and predictable. If you’re in the mood to cruise, not hammer, the ski performs just as well. Though Atomic builds this ski to last, even if you ride it hard every time you take it out.

One of our favorite features of the 2024/25 Maven is its HRZN tip. Atomic uses HRZN on many of its skis. It’s a hollow, beveled three-dimensional tip that increases the ski’s surface area so that the tip stays afloat in deep snow. And, when the grooming is less than perfect, and the slopes are littered with icy chunks, the HRZN tip deflects those imperfections without interrupting your flow.

Many women’s skis top out at 170cm. We appreciate that Atomic made a 178 in this ski so that advanced skiers and women who prefer a longer ski can find a good fit with the Maven.

The Black Pearl was first introduced in 2011, and since then, it’s just gotten better. Women’s-specific designs are a core part of Blizzard’s philosophy, and the 2024/25 Black Pearl 88 ($700) showcases just how every element of this ski’s design is unique to the women’s all-mountain category.

Answering the needs of female skiers from coast to coast who ski anything from firm groomers to chalky steeps to chopped-up bumps, the new Black Pearl 88 uses Titanal, but the metal is in thinner sheets than in the men’s equivalent ski. It’s also segmented into three sections placed in two distinct layers. That makes this ski stable and damp from tip to tail. Because the metal plates shear slightly as you ski, they have less torsional rigidity. That makes entering and exiting turns easy, natural, and instinctive. We never felt like we had to muscle this ski into a turn.

In the core, stringers of dense beech are concentrated underfoot for power and stability where you need it. They taper toward the tip and tail, giving way to softer poplar. The result is a wood core that is specifically designed to be stiffest underfoot and get progressively softer toward the ends of the ski to match the rocker profile and metal layup for a smooth, balanced flex. Because the layout of the stringers is specific to each size, every core for every ski and every length ski is specifically designed. Every ski and every length ski has its own specific core, fine-tuned to optimize the performance of that one ski for that one skier.

The Black Pearl 88 is as approachable as ever but gives skiers more confidence and control. It rips groomers, and it holds well on harder snow better than previous versions. Hit a lump, and it plows through. It’s damp and forgiving. More camber gives it a more lively feel than previous versions. And more tip and tail rocker make it easier to get out of one turn and into the next; whether you’re bopping between bumps or slashing, GS turns down fresh corduroy. It carves at all speeds.

Most women have smaller feet than men, and we carry our body mass differently. The Black Pearl embraces that physiology. Each ski is tuned by length. Shorter skis are slightly softer and more flexible to accommodate smaller skiers with shorter boot sole lengths. In contrast, longer skis are stiffer. to accommodate more weight. This ski has a smooth flex pattern that doesn’t lock you in; it delivers good pop and rebound. It’s a ski you can drive or dance down the mountain.

If you’re skiing deep snow, opt for a wider waist width. The Black Pearl 88 is best for groomers, even when it’s piled with spring corn. It’s comfortable at speed, but you don’t have to drive them hard to have fun.

This is the first true frontside ski that Black Diamond has made in a while, and it was worth the wait. The Impulse Ti 104 W ($850)is an all-mountain charger with a 104-mm waist that provides nimble turnability when needed and playful, floaty performance in deep powder. The ski’s flat, solid-core construction has been enhanced by a Titanal sheet and full ABS sidewalls. Both add torsional stiffness and provide power transmission, dampness, and stability which was particularly notable when we were charging on harder snow.

Usually, when a manufacturer adds metal to a ski it increases the weight. For 2024/25, Black Diamond added metal to the existing Impulse Ti but was able to keep the weight the same by reducing fiberglass content and maintaining the poplar wood core. The single layer of Titanal gives this ski a constant level of stiffness across all axis and a high level of torsional rigidity. Black Diamond also upgraded the Impulse Ti’s top sheet to a lighter, more durable material which helps save weight. Women get shorter lengths in the Impulse Ti than men. They also get a women’s-specific graphic. Other than that, the men’s and women’s skis are identical. The shortest Impulse Ti W is 158, and the longest is 170 cm. If you want a longer ski, get the men’s.

Though the Black Diamond Impulse Ti W is primarily designed for soft snow, Titanal has improved its performance in firmer snow, making it more stable at higher speeds and easier to initiate turns. A rockered tip and tail and traditional camber underfoot make this a ski that feels familiar in a good way. It’s made for 70% soft snow and 30% hard snow. It excelled in both. Skiing extremely icy, scraped-off manmade snow groomers one icy Vermont afternoon, this ski gripped with the best of them. In spring corn, when we dipped into the bumps, they were forgiving enough to have fun.

If you’re scared of wiping out when you hit a patch of ice, get these skis. We skied the Peak 98s By Bode ($869) more than any other skis this winter because whenever the conditions were questionable, we had confidence that this ski almost guaranteed a great day on the slopes. We put these to the test in Idaho while skiing deep powder via lifts and snowcats. We also tackled the bluest hardpack Vermont could dish up, and we never regretted our ski choice.

This is a ski you can dance on and also lay trenches with. Made for 50% on-piste and 50% off-piste, it’s the most versatile ski we’ve skied and the one we defaulted to any time we weren’t sure what the day would hold.

A lot of times, when a ski has a good grip on a chattery hardpack, it’s not fun in the trees. This one was fun everywhere we took it. Inside, a paulownia and ash core is sandwiched by two partial sheets of metal with a vertical cutout in the upper metal that makes for buttery turn initiation. For performance in bowls and on big lines, Peak also cut the bottom sheet of metal short so it doesn’t run wall-to-wall. Peak calls the cutout: KeyHole technology. It made turn initiation a breeze, and it never compromised grip or fun.

For 2025, the Peak 98s will come with an embedded tracking device to help you find them in the lodge rack, in the deep snow, or when the airport loses them. This feature was not available during our testing window. The 98s were made to rip on packed snow at least 50 percent of the time, but you can also rip them off trail, too.

The new K2 Reckoner 102 W ($750) is a soft and playful all-mountain ski that really hits its stride while you’re jibbing, jumping, sliding, and spinning. If you want to ski everywhere on the mountain, but the terrain park is your favorite zone, this is the ski for you.

Made for intermediate to advanced skiers the Reckoner W–the same ski as K2’s unisex Reckoner with a different top sheet graphic and shorter lengths–uses the brand’s patented Spectral Braid technology, the same construction K2 uses in its freeride and freestyle skis.

Inside the ski, strands of fiberglass are woven around a milled wood core. That weave lets K2 tune torsion by tightening up the weave for stiffness and opening the weave for flex. In these skis, the weave is tight underfoot for stability. At the tip and tail, the weave is more open, so those zones can bend and contour. Longitudinal carbon stringers woven into the braided core give the ski pop and help it rebound after you land a jump. The Reckoner now uses a plant-based BioResin that has superb cold-temperature toughness and increased bond strength, and it’s more sustainable than oil-based resins.

The previous Reckoner lacked durability. The 2024/25 version uses durable, full-length, twin-tech sidewalls for edge feel and performance and a tougher top sheet that’s better resistant to ski impact damage. Together, those elements will increase the life of this ski.

This ski is extremely playful, which means that you have to ski it a little differently than some of the more traditional skis in this review. On groomers, it’ll get on edge and carve hard as long as you’re willing to put some effort into turn initiation. It’s not as intuitive as a lot of skis. You have to think about what you want the ski to do.

On the other hand, this twin-tip ski has near instantaneous edge release, which makes it fun to zip around in the trees, and super forgiving in bumps. If you’re looking for a ski for fast and steep slopes, there are better choices. If you’re a skier who likes to wiggle and play, bumping off side hits and exploring, and you want a ski that will give you some suspension on the landings, the women’s Reckoner from K2 is a great choice.

The ski makers at Blizzard describe the Blizzard Sheeva 10 ($800) as a “do-it-all boss lady,” and we wholeheartedly agree. The versatility, reliability, and unflinching edge hold make these skis a solid choice anywhere you love to ski.

The Sheeva 10 is maneuverable and forgiving, and it’s a top performer when pushed into long-radius, GS-style turns, whichever size you ride. The sidecut is graduated with length for a consistent ride feel across all sizes of this ski. Blizzard offers a broad size range in the Sheeva 10, with 156 cm for beginners and smaller women and up to 180 cm for more aggressive skiers.

We found that the Sheeva is equally as at home on firm groomers and steep powder runs. The wood core uses a precise blend of woods — poplar, beech, and pawlownia- which together give it a chameleon-like personality and maximum versatility on the slopes. In this ski, Blizzard has engineered harder flex into the center of the ski for strength, stability, and grip, medium flex in front of and behind the binding for control, and softer flex in the tip and tail for easy entry into turns and release. The result is a smooth and balanced ski that’s a great tool for meeting your skiing goals and reaching your potential on the slopes.

Metal in the Sheeva 10 construction is part of what makes it feel planted, grippy, and reliable in all conditions. But it’s not so heavy that you can’t mount this ski with a hybrid binding for uphill skinning at the resort or dabbling in more remote backcountry adventures.

Blizzard offers several different widths of Sheevas, including the Sheeva 9 (96 cm underfoot) for those who seek fast carving and the Sheeva 11 (112 cm underfoot) for free-riders and powder hunters. For us, the Blizzard Sheeva 10 hits the sweet spot. It’s a great everyday ski for most skiers, inspiring confidence no matter the conditions. We recommend beginner skiers size down and that intermediate and advanced skiers go with your normal ski length.

A great ski for someone who doesn’t want their ski to ski them, Elan’s Ripstick 94 W ($699) was one of the easiest models to ski. The ski takes input well. You can push it and ski fast and arc turns, or you can meander down the mountain and enjoy the day without having to fight the ski. It’s a frontside ski, but one that’s not so heavy that you couldn’t mount it with a hybrid binding and try some touring.

For this season, Elan improved the Ripstick W’s tip stability, integrity at speed, and turn finish through new geometry, construction enhancements, and a new 3D shape. The ski still uses Elan’s acclaimed wood core with carbon rails. But this year, Elan tweaked the ski toward a more transitional profile, narrowing the tips for more stability and mixed snow performance and widening the ski’s tail to help skiers finish turns with power and strength.

The 24/25 Ripsticks debut a state-of-the-art Carbon Deck Technology, unidirectional carbon edge bands that give the ski a strong, stable platform with top-notch responsiveness and powerful rebound. Elan also adds a layer of flax fiber to the tip to neutralize vibrations and chatter and deliver a smooth ride at high speeds, even in variable conditions. We can confirm that the changes make the Ripstick 94 transitioning in and out of turns a whole lot easier. It doesn’t over hook, and there is more platform to stand on for finishing turns.

The most unique design element of the Elan Ripstick 94 is that skis are left and right-foot specific. Elan’s Amphibio profile integrates both rocker and camber profiles into dedicated left and right skis. This gives the skis a cambered inside edge for best-in-class edge grip and stability, and a rockered outside edge for easy turning. The ski was fun on groomers, in bumps, and bopping around the trees.

The Ripstick is a solid ski, but it’s light and lively because it uses carbon, not metal. This is another ski that can expand a skier’s horizons if you mount it with a hybrid binding like an Atomic Shift. On and off-piste, the ski flexes through bumps without feeling too bouncy. On ice, it doesn’t grip quite as well as skis with metal. For 2024/25, it comes as small as 147 cm, which is great news for beginners and smaller women.

The Völkl Secret 96 ($850) has been in Völkl’s lineup for years, and for 2024/25 the brand makes the Secret more accessible to more skiers. In the past, this ski was a frontside trencher that only shined when driven hard. This year, the ski is still hard-charging, but it’s easier to get in and out of turns, and it’s fun when you’re dallying down the slope as well as when you’re soaring.

The new Secret 96 is more stable, lively, and maneuverable, which makes it a more versatile ski and better adept both on and off groomers. The ski uses Völkl’s proven Tailored Titanal Frame, a cutout sheet of metal that follows the ski’s profile along the ski’s edges. Völkl’s adjusts the frame width by ski length to minimize ski weight and maximize ski agility with less effort from the skier. That tweaks the ski’s power and stability to a skier’s height, weight, and strength.

Tailored carbon tips contribute to the Secret’s precise control in variable conditions and make the front of the ski nimble for quick turns. The orientation and thickness of the fibers enable the ski to load for energy for entering and exiting turns. In the new Secret, the layout of the carbon stringers has been re-configured to optimize torsion and rigidity in the tip for precise ski control.

While this ski has a stated turn radius, it turns how you want it to when you want it to, without tip deflection in chunky crud. The new Secret 96 features four different radii along the length of the ski. creates a unique combination of tip precision, resilience, and agility. A tight 20m radius in the shovel helps the ski engage fast. Just behind the shovel and in front of the binding, a more open turn radius, around 40 m, gives the Secret the chops to excel in variable conditions and at higher speeds. A tight radius—15 m—underfoot amplifies the Secret’s agility and ability to respond intuitively to any edge movements from the skier, whether that skier jumps into a series of short turns or lays into sweeping GS turns. A moderate radius, approximately 25 m, in the tail gives the Secret a feeling of control at the end of a turn, and it supports the skier’s entrance into the next turn. Size up for full GS performance. Size down for a ski that’s a little more nimble and turny.

A ski for free spirits and free riders, the super versatile Faction Dancer 2 ($799) uses two razor-thin sheets of metal over a poplar core for a light and nimble ski that balances weight savings, agility, stability, and edge hold even at mach speed.

Generous tip and tail rocker enhances this ski’s turnability and gives it float and the ability to blast through less-than-ideal snow as you explore. For 2024/25, Faction got rid of its X series skis, which were women’s-specific and focused on skis for all freeskiers. The Dancer 2 uses recycled materials. It’s made in Austria in a factory powered 100% by renewable energy.

This is the only ski we tested with three designated mounting positions: classic, progressive, and new school. We mounted our demos classic, which is the best for more traditional skiers, those who like to ski with their tips generally pointing down the mountain not up it, and those who prioritize carving.

The progressive mounting point is slightly forward of the classic mark and still offers excellent carving while also setting you up for success if nose butters, smearing, and slashing are on your to-do list. The new school is the farthest forward mounting point. If you ski switch and generally horse around while on skis, try that one. While Faction is historically a new school brand, the Dancer 2 ski excels when you’re pressuring the tips in a classic, forward-facing stance.

The Line Pandora 106 ($650) is a hard-charging all-mountain dream ski that somehow manages to make just about everything fun. Weighing just over 1650 grams, this ski feels light and incredibly nimble while maintaining its dampness and reliability at speed. That’s partially thanks to Line’s integrated “Carbon Magic Fingers” system, which saves grams while adding stiffness to the ski.

The Pandora 106 is a quiver killer. Pair it with a hybrid binding, and it can take on anything that the resort, side country, and backcountry throw at you. The Aspenlite core also achieves a delightful balance of responsiveness, pop, and reliability.

These skis inspire confidence from the moment you step in. The only time this ski left us wanting a little more was with the edge hold on icy groomers.

For 2024-25, the Pandora collection is now unisex with gender-inclusive sizing across the full collection. The Pandora 106 (and every ski in this collection) is as energetic a carver as ever, delivering predictability and confidence all over the mountain. The collection utilizes Line Optic-inspired shapes with turn versatility and energy in a price-conscious package. Other new features: the ski uses LINE’s new Bio-Resin, which has better bonding, better cold-temperature toughness, and is more durable and sustainable. It also now has an FSC-certified wood core.