The Best All-Mountain Skis for Women of 2025

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. Compare that to the Volkl Secret 96. The brand softened up the Secret for 2024/25, but it’s still a ski that wants to be driven, not danced down the hill. Where the Secret is geared to intermediate and expert skiers, the Black Pearl is a handholder. It feels safe and controlled at any speed and will help beginners grow into it as they progress in their skiing.

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.

We also skied the Black Pearl 88 into a sidecountry zone at Stowe Mountain Resort called the Bench; here, they felt too stiff to make quick turns to get through the trees. Part of the problem is that in this waist width, the Black Pearls aren’t really meant for deep snow. And they’re stiff but not springy like the Peak 98 by Bode, which was a blast everywhere on 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, the weight increases. 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. That effectively limits which women can ski the women’s version of this ski. Since Black Diamond makes the skis in longer lengths, and since the men’s and women’s skis are the same except for the graphic, why not offer this ski at least up to 178 in the women’s graphic? Enough ranting. If you want a longer ski, get the men’s.

These skis also come in two waist widths, which is unusual. Some skis, like Faction’s Dancer 2, come in a single waist width, while others, like Blizzard’s Black Pearl, come in multiple waist widths for different conditions. The Impulse Ti W comes in two waist widths — 98 and 104. Arguably, they are for East Coast powder and West Coast powder. But there should be at least one wider-waisted ski for truly deep days.

That said, this ski was fast and fun in a variety of conditions. We primarily skied the east on this ski, lapping blue and black runs and side-country shots at Sugarbush and Stowe resorts in soft snow, this ski’s natural habitat, and in refrozen mixed spring conditions that corned up in the afternoon. We were super impressed with how it handled the more challenging conditions on Stowe’ Perry Merrill and Liftline trails. It edged in the morning on crust and hardpack and had the beefiness to play through wet corn and soft bumps in the afternoon with a playful feel. Some other skis, like the K2 reckoner, got overwhelmed by variable conditions. And while the Elan Ripstick was good at plowing through chunky stuff, it didn’t have the same playfulness that the Impulse Ti 104 did, partly because it has a significantly narrower shovel.

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.

One of the most fun and versatile skis we’ve gotten to try this season, the 2025/2026 Elan Ripstick 100 W ($750) was the perfect companion on a flat, light, windy February day at Utah’s Snowbird Resort when the slopes were hardpacked to icy, but there was still powder in the steep trees.

Utah often has champagne powder… and sometimes it does not. Standing in line for the Gadzoom lift, it looked windblown and bony. As soon as we slid off the ramp at the top of the lift, however, we knew we had the right skis for the day because the Ripstick 100s are true all-mountain skis.

The first run — a groomer to the base — had been dragged, but the corduroy and a lot of the snow was skied off. The Ripsticks held an edge thanks to their “carbon deck technology,” which uses carbon bands and carbon rods in the core of the ski for grip. Flax fiber in the tip absorbed vibration and chatter. So even when we were going fast, these skis weren’t slapping around. We skied the Ripstick 100s after a few days on DPS’ new frontside Pisteworks skis, so the bar was high for frontside performance. Yet, we remained impressed with the Ripstick 100s grip. While they’re not pure carving skis, they proved their mettle-slicing smooth arcs down the mountain.

On our next run, we headed for the trees of Black Forest, Organ Grinder, and Carbonate. The trees in that zone are tight for Utah, but they were pleasantly spaced for a Vermont skier. The Ripsticks pivoted through moguled steeps intuitively and confidently, steering around trees, cliff bands, and other skiers and riders.

Elan built two super lightweight Carbon tubes into the Ripstick 100’s lightweight laminated wood core. The tubes follow the arc of the sidecut along the length of the ski. They give the ski side-to-side stability and a lively, energetic feel at a reasonable weight. Combined with carbon, not metal, in the core, the ski was super responsive and easy to ski, which meant we had an awesome day on the slopes, even in sub-optimal conditions. And like most good skis, the more drive we put into them, the more performance we got back.

Elan Ripticks come in pairs of dedicated right and left skis. Yes, it can take a minute to remember to check your skis are on the correct feet. But it’s worth it. Elan says the asymmetrical design uses more camber on the inside for grip and stability and more rocker on the outside of the ski for float and control.

We say that whatever Elan did, the Ripstick 100W is the ski we’ll reach for when we truly don’t know what conditions we will encounter. They had great float and solid grip, and they were playful and responsive. That’s about all anyone can ask for from an all-mountain ski. Sure, if it’s a blower day, grab your powder boards. But you can feel confident skiing these the other 99% of the time.

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. However, we’re not sure if it has the extreme durability of the Peak 98 by Bode or the Atomic Maven 103.

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. If you’re looking for a truly intuitive ski, nothing beats the Black Pearl 88. The Black Pearl seems almost intuitive when its rider wants to turn, whereas the Reckoner requires some effort. And if you want a ski with a new school feel that’s also fun bopping on and off groomers, try the Faction Dancer 2, which has a broader breadth of skills. But nothing plays around in the park like the twin-tipped Reckoner.

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, which we found on a powder day at our local hill, Bolton Valley Resort. There are better choices if you’re looking for a ski for fast and steep slopes. 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.

When a friend who used to ski but hasn’t skied for a while asked us to recommend a ski she could use on the slopes and in the backcountry, one that she would grow into, not grow out of, this is the ski we recommended. On a soft snow day, we ripped all over the mountain at Stowe Mountain Resort on this ski, including dropping off the backside on the Spruce Side, and had a blast. In technical steeps, its edges held. Bopping down a soft mogul field at Sugarbush, we got cheered on by onlookers while having so much fun. These skis are aggressive underfoot but softer in the tips and tails, which makes it easy to bring them around quickly. By comparison. the Peak by Bode wasn’t the ski we’d prefer to take in the bumps. In soft snow it had a similar capable and controllable feel to the Maven.

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.

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.

As experts, we loved this ski. We ripped all day top-to-bottom groomers on it at Stowe Mountain Resort and lapped Sugarbush’s freshly groomed Organ Grinder repeatedly. We had a blast shredding down Spring Fling, also at Sugarbush, and playing with this ski’s multiple-turning radii. We skied it in 177, which is our standard ski length, and carved sweeping GS turns down the mountain. Then we played with it in 170 and wiggled through the woods.

The Secret is relatively stiff, and though Volkl worked to make it more approachable by more skiers for 2025, it’s still a ski that shines with an expert skier clicked in. Beginners said they felt like the ski skied them more than they skied the ski, which shows us that you get out of it what you put into it. But those skiers were happy on the stiff but turny and intuitive Black Pearl, so everyone had something they loved. That said, we’d put a strong, athletic beginner/intermediate skier with aspirations on the Secret. It is stiff and aggressive, but an athletic woman who wants to be a charger will grow into it.

This is a ski that has your back in any terrain and that will quickly respond when you decide to change direction. If you’re spending all your time in the woods, you probably want something softer, but this ski was tops for high-performance playing all over the mountain.

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.

A 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. That’s a bummer for women who want a gender-specific graphic, and it means that Faction loses wall space in retail shops by having a unisex Dancer 2, not two distinct models. But plenty of companies make great unisex skis that we’d argue are also the best skis for women. There is no standard definition of a women’s skis. Sometimes women’s skis have softer construction, or they’re built to suit a lighter-weight rider better.

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. None of the other skis we review here recommend alternate mounting points. Though the K2 Reckoner W trends toward new school skiers and excels in the park, Faction’s Dancer works for more kinds of skiers, including those who want to carve soft groomers and play around on the edge of the woods and sides of the trail off the gondola at Stowe Mountain Resort as well as off the Forerunner Quad. 

Because of its light weight and youthful temperament, this isn’t a ski that we reached for every day. But it was a great ski when the snow wasn’t the deepest, and the slops weren’t the iciest. With the Dancer 2, we could find fun everywhere on and near the slopes on this ski. 

The Line Pandora 106 ($650) is a hard-charging all-mountain dream ski that makes 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.

On a trip to Pico in Southern Vermont, we stepped into the Line Pandora 106 skis to blast down the Outpost Double Chair. It was fun in the bumps on Broco and Pipeline, and it was floaty and responsive between the trails where we found fresh snow in the woods. The carbon gave the ski an energetic feel which helped us launch little side hits, and it was stable, which helped us land them. It was more springy than the Maven, but it didn’t feel flighty, and it was easy to ski. We’d choose the Maven for more groomer skiing and fewer trees and the Pandora 106 for more tree skiing and less groomers since it doesn’t shine in the hardpack.

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.

Handmade in Denver, Colorado, and extensively redesigned for the 2024-25 season, the Icelantic Maiden 102 ($850) is now a more lively ski, with pop, playfulness, and rebound that makes any day on the mountain a hooting and hollering good time.

In redesigning this ski, Icealantic’s goal was to make the ski more predictable and freeride-ready. To give it its energetic personality, the brand integrated four vertical carbon strips above and below the sustainably sourced poplar core with unilateral fiberglass, and they doubled the underfoot camber from 2mm to 4mm. That also enhanced the ski’s responsiveness.

Rubber foil adds damping to keep the ski from feeling nervous and chattery. The Maiden’s new FLY-cap construction in the tip and tail reduces the tip fill Icelantic used in this ski. It also lets Icelantic extend the light poplar wood core and carbon further toward the tips and tails. That lowers the Maiden’s swing weight, which makes this ski easier and less tiring to ski and keeps the flex more consistent throughout the length of the ski. Underfoot, a dual-layer fiberglass mounting plate is a solid platform with reliable binding retention.

Finally, for 2024-25, Icelantic modernized the shape of the Maiden. It now has more symmetrical freeride-style tips and tails and a more progressive mounting point. We also love the new Wild West artwork. The new Maidens feature cowgirls, cactuses, and desert moonrises.

The updated 4FRNT MSP CC ($769) wants you to lean forward and charge — this well-crafted design performs at higher speeds, maneuvers intuitively through moguls, and handles variable conditions mountain-wide.

We loved how this ski’s energy carries through the end of each carve. The 16-meter turning radius hits a sweet spot, arcing moderate turns down the frontside. It’s a tad heavy, which gives this ski a solid feel even in challenging conditions. During a dry spell in the Tetons, it plowed through crud, but then it also performed well in soft snow when we finally did get a big storm. The MSP CC features camber underfoot and a little bit of rise in the tip and tail, but not too much. A wider 132-millimeter shovel helps it stay afloat on powder, but carving with it is also a blast

The new core of the 4FRNT MSP CC is made from durable maple and aspen sandwiched by Titanal — a layer of metal that includes aluminum, zinc, magnesium, and copper — for grip and responsiveness. The updated core makes the ski a little heavier than previous versions, but we found it more responsive. Neoprene inserts in the tips reduce chatter. A sintered base has a carbon component that helps this ski glide like a racehorse.

The 4FRNT MSP CC is the ideal ski for advanced skiers looking for one pair of planks that can conquer everything but the iciest conditions.

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 skis are versatile, and this one tops the list. On a surprise powder day at Idaho’s Magic Mountain, we thought we’d regret having these skis. But we had a blast chasing locals on top top-to-bottom runs that jumped between groomers and trees. The ski’s reliable stability didn’t compromise its agility. They held tenaciously where the Black Diamond Impulse Ti couldn’t securely grip, and they carved as good as the Maven. They were rock solid at speed — more so than the Sheeva 10, which is another fast ski.

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.