The Best Backcountry Skis of 2026

The Dynafit Blacklight 88 ($750) is a lightweight backcountry ski built for skiers who prioritize efficiency on the climb while still wanting precise, confidence-inspiring descents, all at a price that undercuts many skis in its category. With a Paulownia wood core reinforced by carbon and fiberglass, it delivers a focused, no-frills design that emphasizes performance and value over flashy extras.

On the skin track, the Blacklight 88 feels quick and efficient, making long approaches, steep skin tracks, and frequent transitions noticeably easier. Downhill, it skis with a crisp, responsive feel, offering strong edge hold on firm snow, spring corn, and wind-affected surfaces. The narrower waist and directional shape reward good technique and make it especially well-suited for couloirs and mountaineering-focused objectives.

The trade-off is forgiveness. In softer snow and chopped-up conditions, the Blacklight 88 can feel demanding compared to wider, heavier skis, and it lacks the suspension needed to smooth out truly rough descents. It is a ski that favors precision and efficiency over playfulness, especially when conditions turn deep or inconsistent.

While it may lack the premium dampness that earned the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 our Uphill Performance award, the Blacklight delivers nearly identical climbing efficiency for significantly less cash. In the end, the Blacklight 88 stands out as a strong value for skiers focused on human-powered travel. It combines low weight, reliable edge hold, and a competitive price into a streamlined package that makes sense for big days, big vert, and technical terrain where efficiency matters most.

The Voile Hyper Manti ($850) is one of those skis that makes you grin the moment it touches snow. Intuitive, maneuverable, and light on its feet, it quickly became a tester favorite for big backcountry days and deep powder missions.

Voile’s “Hyper” construction replaces the traditional poplar core with a double layup of carbon and paulownia wood, creating an impressively light ski that still feels stable on the descent. With early rise in the tip and a subtly rockered tail, the Hyper Manti floats easily, engages turns smoothly, and lets you flow through trees and powder with confidence.

Across steep Tetons couloirs and high Colorado peaks, the ski delivered reliable control and playful response through soft snow, wind crust, and breakable slabs. It’s one of those rare skis that feels predictable in nearly every condition. On storm days, it surfed through deep powder with buoyant ease, while on firm spring mornings it still held a dependable edge without feeling nervous or twitchy. When the terrain tightened or conditions changed, it responded intuitively — quick to pivot, steady when driven.

The lightweight carbon build does introduce some chatter on hardpack, so if you spend most of your time on groomers or resort laps, the heavier “Ultra” version may be the better call. But for backcountry skiers chasing fresh snow and variable conditions, the Hyper Manti remains one of the most rewarding skis in Voile’s lineup.

After multiple seasons of testing, our team remains impressed by its blend of agility, stability, and pure fun factor. For those looking to earn turns in deep snow or explore big alpine terrain without carrying extra grams, the Hyper Manti is a playful, high-energy touring ski that rewards effort with smooth, confident turns and a big smile at the bottom.

The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 Skis ($825) are built for big objectives and long days when speed and efficiency matter as much as downhill confidence. Whether you’re cranking out a dawn patrol lap or tackling an all-day sufferfest, these ultralight boards deliver a rare mix of uphill ease and reliable performance in technical terrain.

Among the lightest skis in our lineup, the Helio 88s became our go-to for sunrise skins up the steep slopes of Snow King in Jackson. They cruise uphill effortlessly, yet remain impressively composed on the way down. Thanks to their stiff construction, short turning radius, and carbon fiber layup, they stay stable through variable snow and damp out most chatter. From icy groomers and tight trees to spring corn and fresh refills, these skis held their own.

Over a full year of testing in Wyoming and Colorado, we logged more than 30 tours on the Helio 88s. At 88 mm underfoot, they’re not made for bottomless powder days, but the early-rise tips kept us floating better than expected through the Tetons’ regular 8- to 12-inch refreshes. Even in deeper snow, they skimmed just below the surface with some careful balance work, proving more capable than their dimensions suggest.

The Helio 88s excel in mixed conditions. They cut cleanly through crud, hold a strong edge in refrozen corn, and respond quickly when jump turns are needed on steep descents like Colorado’s Mount Taylor or Mount Aetna. While the Dynafit Blacklight 88 took home our “Best Value” award for offering similar weight savings at a lower price, the Helio Carbon 88 edged it out for “Best Uphill Performance” thanks to a slightly damper, more composed ride that justifies the extra investment for big objectives.Their nimble feel and snappy rebound made technical terrain more approachable, while the featherweight build saved energy on long approaches and boot packs. A thoughtful touch — a small tail bumper — keeps climbing skins securely centered to prevent snow creep and skin slippage.

The main drawbacks are their width and weight class limits. You’ll want something wider, like the Voile Hyper Manti or Atomic Bent Chetler 120, when storms dump over a foot of snow. And though they hold a solid edge, they can chatter a bit when really pushed on hardpack or resort groomers.

For high-alpine missions, big traverses, or technical tours where light weight and precision matter most, the Helio Carbon 88s are hard to beat. They climb fast, descend confidently, and strike the perfect balance between efficiency and control for dedicated backcountry skiers.

The Atomic Bent Chetler ($850) was significantly redesigned for 2025 by its namesake, Chris Bentchetler, who calls it the harmonic convergence of art and skiing. We agree — this is the ski that turns powder days into pure play. With its fun, poppy feel and responsive new construction, it’s our favorite touring ski for deep snow and creative lines.

Built around a lightweight poplar wood core that’s slightly stiffer than before, the latest Bent Chetler maintains its trademark surfy personality while feeling more energetic and precise. The twin-tip design, generous rocker, and updated HRZN 3D tip and tail help it float higher and stay balanced, even in the deepest powder. The long turn radius gives you freedom to carve big, arcing turns or pivot quickly through trees, while the full-wrap tip and tail profile improves float and predictability.

In soft snow, it’s effortless. The exaggerated rocker keeps the tips up and smooths out inconsistencies, taking the sting out of windblown crust or early-season obstacles. It’s more versatile than its 120 mm waist might suggest — able to handle moderate conditions when you still want that floaty feel. But make no mistake, this ski lives for the big storm days. When the snow stacks up, the Bent Chetler inspires creativity and confidence, encouraging you to pop, smear, and draw new lines through the powder.

Atomic also gave the Bent Chetler a meaningful sustainability upgrade. The new core uses more poplar and less metal, fiberglass, and resin, reducing its environmental footprint. A recycled topsheet cuts carbon emissions by 13%, and a new ash wood binding insert replaces metal reinforcement while increasing strength by 10%. Add Chris Bentchetler’s signature artwork, and you have a ski that rides as beautifully as it looks.

You’ll want to reserve these skis for the deepest days. They’re not built for groomers or hardpack, but when it’s dumping, there’s nothing better. For mixed conditions, the Backland 109 or Line Vision 104 are more versatile, but when it comes to float, fun, and freeride style, the Bent Chetler 120 stands alone.

The Salomon QST Echo 106 ($850) brings the freeride spirit of the QST line into the backcountry with a lightweight design made for touring. Featuring a 106 mm waist, a karuba and poplar wood core, and a generous tip rocker, this ski floats well in powder while offering reliable edge grip when conditions become firm or variable.It’s a versatile width for big mountain adventures, soft snow missions, spring volcano tours, and 50/50 use, including sidecountry laps and occasional resort days.

At 3,400 g per pair (173 cm), it’s a reasonable weight for long skin tracks and moderate vert days, but not so light that it feels twitchy on the descent. The ski stays balanced at high speeds, handles chop well, and feels smooth and predictable in steep, challenging terrain. Compared to other lighter touring-specific skis, it provides a noticeably more confident ride.

However, the Echo isn’t the lightest option available. If you prioritize maximum uphill efficiency or often tackle big and fast days with 5,000 feet of vertical or more, leaner skis like the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 are better suited to that niche. But you might have to sacrifice the downhill performance that makes the Echo stand out.

For skiers looking for a single ski to tour big lines, chase powder, and explore deep into the backcountry, the QST Echo 106 offers a combination of power and downhill fun, with a bit of added heft to justify its edge.

Blizzard completely reworked the Blizzard Zero G 96 ($850) for the 2025–26 season, and the result is one of the most balanced crossover skis on the market. Long known for being light and playful off-piste, the Zero G now feels noticeably calmer, stronger, and more composed on edge. The new TrueBlend core and underfoot ash plate give it the kind of smooth, damp ride that’s rare in the touring category.

On the climb, it’s efficient and steady without feeling fragile, while on the descent, it holds an edge, absorbs chatter, and carves like a much heavier alpine ski. It’s not a pure uphill tool, but that’s exactly the point. It rewards skiers who care as much about how it skis down as how it climbs up. For those splitting time between the skin track and the resort, the 96 is impressively confidence-inspiring on both sides of the rope line.

It’s not the lightest option for long traverses, and on icy, refrozen surfaces, it can still get knocked around, but those are minor trade-offs for the level of stability and power this ski delivers. The women’s version, built with a softer flex and no carbon, adds another layer of accessibility for a wider range of skiers.

For anyone looking for a single pair of skis that can handle everything from dawn patrols to steep couloirs to spring corduroy laps, the Zero G 96 is hard to beat. It’s the rare touring ski that’s crushes steep untouched snow and is just as fun to keep on when the lifts start spinning.

A light and reliable downhill performer, Volkl’s Rise Beyond 96 ($850) is a great ski for East Coasters and other backcountry skiers who want good float and fun carving on the downhills without dragging a heavy weight on the uphill. And it’s 100 g lighter than its predecessor, which makes touring on it even better.

The ski’s 3D radius sidecut, a signature Volkl design, lets you choose how you want to ski it based on conditions and terrain. It’s a quick turner and a sweeping GS turn carver. Volkl’s 3-D sidecut gives the ski three radii including a shorter one in the waist of the ski for agility and easy turning, a huge boon in tight East Coast trees like those in Vermont’s Mount Mansfield Thunder Basin.

Wider radii in the tip and tail areas kept this ski from being twitchy and unpredictable when skiing fast, especially when the hill had wind-blown, crusted, or tracked-out snow. When a ski does what you want it to quickly and intuitively, it saves energy so you can focus on the experience.

At 96 underfoot with a decently wide shovel and tail, we expected these skis to carve easily, but in heavier snow, they got bogged down. Because of the pure wood core, they also got pushed around when snow conditions weren’t ideal. While expert skiers wanting to keep their swing weight down report being able to drive them in all conditions, the rest of us preferred these in soft conditions in the Vermont side-country. In a handful of inches of fresh powder, when we wanted to click off some miles, this ski excelled. When the snow was more variable, we preferred Blizzard’s slightly wider Zero G or the spunkier Faction LaMachine 2 Mini.

Use Volkl’s Smart Skin clip system with pre-cut mohair or hybrid skins, or skin up with your favorite aftermarket option. A discreet indentation in the tip gives the Smart Skin hook lateral guidance and prevents it from coming off when you walk. But they didn’t have as good glide as the Pomoca pink or yellow skins we typically prefer.

The Rise Beyond 96 also comes in a women’s version with the same features as the Rise Beyond 96, but in shorter lengths and with different graphics. A sunset graphically inspires the unisex model, while the women’s model takes its design cues from dawn.

The closest thing to a freeride ski that’s uphill-oriented, Dynafit’s Ridge 95 ($800) weighs in at just 1330 g. This is one of the lightest skis we can recommend to skiers who aren’t just in it for exercise but want a fun ski to carve on the way downhill.

Yes, this ski is light. And it’s one of the most playful lightweight touring skis in its class. Dynafit keeps the weight down with a paulownia core augmented with extra thin strips of Titanal, a metal usually found in freeride downhill skis along the ski perimeter. The Titanal Boost technology gives this ski notable torsional rigidity for its weight.

The pronounced rocker at the tip and tail made the Ridge 95 highly steerable, even in tight trees and deeper snow. The tip rocker is gradual and progressive, shortening how much of the ski edge is on the snow, which made this ski an agile handler. It’s responsive and not overly springy or squirrelly. Full sidewalls give this ski some durability and add damping for a less rattley, chattery ride. A longer sidecut means more control. On firm and variable snow, we were able to carve turns. The progressive tip rocker helped this ski float and made it easy for us to initiate turns.

This ski is a smidge lighter than La Sportiva’s Tempo, and we liked its edge hold. The Dynafit Ridge skis feel slightly higher performance than the LaSportiva Tempos, and are very predictable in the way they handle. They are more energetic than the Volkl Rise Beyond.

This ski is a quiver ski. We skied this ski for resort laps at home in Vermont, uphill adventures in Aspen, and recon in the San Juans. When the snow is firm, it’s a great choice. When it starts to get deep, there are better skis. For speed uphill, pick this ski. If the downhill matters more to you than the uphill, a heavier ski will be easier to control.

Pair this ski with Dynafit’s precut Speedskins. Tip and tail notches mate with those skins to save even more weight on the uphills. This ski is a great choice for uphill-focused adventures when a light ski means you can get further faster.

Scott is leading the charge for versatile, lightweight skis with its freeski-inspired Scott Superguide 95 ($750). Designed to help skiers conquer new summits and have more fun and control on descents, this backcountry ski is an ultralight performer that can handle big terrain. Its low swing weight makes it ideal for hop-turning in steep terrain, snappy kick turns, and a superior uphill touring feel.

For the newest Superguide, Scott swapped carbon stringers interlaid at a 45-degree angle for straight carbon stringers down the ski’s length, making them more responsive than previous iterations. Thanks to its paulownia and beechwood core, the ski was poppy and lively.

Scott added thicker, concave, elliptical sidewalls to help the ski hold better in mixed conditions. We felt this when laying into a long radius, GS-style turn on the Superguides without slipping out. A longer tip and tail sidecut with less sidecut underfoot gave the ski a longer transition zone for smoother carving.

The Superguide 95 has Scott’s 3D touring sidecut for versatility and maneuverability, which means it can operate at various radius turns. Full-length sidewalls gave the ski torsional stability, and the ski’s edges held well in ice and punchy sugar snow. The Superguide’s 95 mm waist was quick on the uphill, elegant, and reliable on the down. Although narrow for deep powder days, the wider rockered tip had solid float and forgiveness in fresh snow. Camber underfoot let us power the ski’s edges when things got firm.

The Scott Superguide 95 is unquestionably light, but after skiing challenging terrain in a mixed bag of conditions, we can report that despite their weight, they held an edge, didn’t get tossed around, and never distracted us from the task at hand. As a bonus, Scott makes pre-trimmed, compatible skins that clip into cutouts in the ski’s tip.

These skis are best for expert skiers looking for a daily driver that can also handle big missions in steep, demanding terrain and for those who prioritize the uphill. This ski is one of the lightest of all that we tested, and it’s a solid performer to boot. This would be our ski of choice for a long glacier traverse in the Alps, which is where we mostly put the Superguide through the paces.

The Vision collection, including the Line Vision 104 ($865 ) was revamped for 2024/25 to be backcountry free tour skis with a freestyle soul. Line’s Designers took the shape of the Optic skis, ditched the metal, increased the rocker profile, and added a new THC layup. The catchy acronym indicates carbon, glass and flax on the inside for damping. While Titanal is an isotropic layer that has the same flex when you bend it in any direction, THC is a quasi-isotropic layer with the same stiffness in any direction you bend it. So it’s a ski that stays quiet, doesn’t chatter, and doesn’t get thrown off its line when you ski across an avy path.

The redesign made the Line Vision 104 a lightweight and stable ski for the uphill, with versatility and performance for the downhill. In fact, we’d say that the Vision 104 is the most versatile ski in Line’s collection. Mount it with a hybrid binding and ski it front and backside. The tails deliver control for tricks, progression, and play. With the Vision 104, the goal wasn’t weight savings; this ski is heavier than its predecessor the Line Vision 108. But it’s a ski that you can tour on and that will deliver stability and freeride performance on the descent.

If you love resort skiing and want to try our backcountry, this is a great ski for the job. It’s a well-rounded ski that’s easygoing on the slopes, whether those are lift-served or accessed by skinning or bootpacking.

The Vision 104’s mid-range turn radius gives the skier control. Want to sniggle through tight East Coast softwood forests? This ski can do it. Want to play in snowy pillows? This ski has the pop. It’s not as stable as some other skis in this roundup, but it has excellent float in powdery conditions, and it lets you play and explore. It’s not as poppy as the Faction LaMachine 2 Mini, and it’s not as light and fast as Blizzard’s Zero G 96, but it’s the perfect ski for beginner to expert skiers who want to try some tricks, get surfy, and generally have a low key good time.

Can a ski be a legit downhill performer and dish out the fun without being a burden on the skin up? The Faction La Machine Mini ($900) proves that it can. If you’re looking for a good mix of uphill efficiency, all-mountain performance, and a ski that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this ski checks all the boxes.

With this 99-mm underfoot freeride touring ski, Faction delivers surfy and playful soft snow performance to skiers who equally appreciate its agile and energetic uphill feel. It’s not the lightest ski, but it has a personality that will resonate with the freeride skier exploring the backcountry. It also delivers the weight savings of paulownia and carbon in a superlight touring ski.

Compared to other skis with a similar waist, including the Weston Skyline, Dynafit Ridge 95, and Volkl Rise Beyond, the La Machine Mini 2 has more taper and reverse camber and is relatively stiff. Expert skiers will get the most out of this ski. It needs to be intentionally maneuvered through the backcountry to deliver truly. At least that was our experience riding this ski in the Grand Tetons backcountry in conditions ranging from crust to blower powder.

Faction gave this ski good grip and maneuverability, with full-strength sidewalls and a good dose of tip and tail rocker that allowed us to ski the La Machine Mini aggressively on the open slopes in the San Juans and off the backsides of some of Vermont’s highest peaks. Taper in the tips and tails kept it floaty in soft and deep snow, where this ski is happiest, whether carving creamy turns or jibbing off natural features in the snow.

This ski is a playful backcountry partner compared to DPS’ Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 105, which is much more serious and focused on ripping. The La Machine Mini can handle the line, but it will inspire you to veer off in search of soft pockets of fun instead of passing them by. It’s lightweight but more surfy and freeride feeling than Volkl’s Rise Beyond or Dynafit’s Ridge 95, even though the tip is narrower than the Dynafit.

Faction’s La Machine Mini 2 has the soul of a freeride ski and the body of a ski made for crushing lap after lap and peak after peak. Mount it how you want it. Progressive skiers might choose a hybrid bunding, but this ski also performs with a pintech binding. We’re also fans of Faction’s focus on sustainability. Faction recycles excess/scrap base, sidewall, and top sheet material, uses bio-based resins, and makes skis with 100% renewable energy.

If you’re looking for a true jack-of-all-trades, quiver-killer ski, look no further than the Black Crows Navis Freebird ($999). As backcountry skiers, we’re always looking for one tool to do it all and do it well, and the Navis does precisely that. It’s light enough to tour well and keep you going all day on the uphill, reliable enough to handle any type of snow you can throw at it, and fun to ski on the whole spectrum of terrain choices.

The 102 underfoot waist hits the sweet spot between float, maneuverability, and weight. Progressive rocker in the front and long traditional camber underfoot, reinforced with Titanal and fiber, all lend to the ski’s solid and predictable nature.

The Navis punches well above its weight class in terms of downhill ability. Weighing in at 1550 grams per ski, the Navis is toward the lighter end of the spectrum but doesn’t make much sacrifice in attributes that many light skis lack, like stability at speed. The early rise profile in the tip also allows the ski to float well in powder without too hefty of construction to haul uphill. 

Where most backcountry skis lose points is their performance in less-than-ideal snow conditions, like icy hardpack and breakable crust — that’s when the Navis continues to shine. This is due to the reinforcement of the wood core with fiberglass and carbon to keep the ski both light and damp rather than reacting sharply to changes in riding conditions.

If you’re headed out on a ski trip where you may not know what conditions you’ll get or want a ski that can see you through all of your days of backcountry skiing from mid-winter powder to spring corn missions, the Navis can do it all.

The Navis has a 19 m turning radius, but due to its stiffness under-boot, it skis a bit longer than that and tends to prefer big, arcing turns. As a result, this ski may not be the best choice for beginners. While the construction lends the Navis a reliable, smooth ride, they can occasionally get a little chattery when pushed past the speed limit on firm snow.

As a bonus, we always like the simple and clean monotone graphics of Black Crows, especially with their witty mottos hidden on the sidewall of each model. The Navis quips, “Emporte-moi au bout du monde,” which translates to bring me to the ends of the earth. 

We’ve put hundreds of days on different iterations of these skis, from deep powder in the southwest Colorado backcountry to long, technical spring missions on Pacific Northwest volcano descents. If you’re an intermediate to strong skier who really wants to drive the ski to get the most out of its performance, we think you’ll love the Black Crows Navis Freebird.

DPS’s Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 105 ($1,696) ski is a trusted backcountry performer. For 2025, the ski has fresh updates and a new waist width. DPS has tested these skis in mid-winter, record-breaking Wasatch powder, mid-summer ice at the summit of Mt. Hood, and New Zealand’s notoriously variable skiing conditions. We tested them in Colorado, and we agree with DPS when they say that the Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 105 is a one-ski quiver.

In redesigning this staple of the DPS line, the company focused on three qualities they weren’t willing to compromise on — durability, performance, and sustainability. To meet the high bar they set for themselves, they developed a unique new carbon and flax laminate (CFL), which reduces torsional chatter while retaining that signature energetic DPS feel and durability, which is key to sustainability.

CFL is a unique, woven fiber, high-performance laminate that showcases the potential of embedding flax plant fibers within pure carbon construction. DPS Designers also shifted to Entropy bio-based (25%) epoxy resin and integrated Checkerspot Algal sidewall technology (~60% bio-based), which lowered its carbon footprint and accelerated DPS’ progress toward more sustainable skis.

The core of the Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL is solid paulownia instead of the foam/ash/algal rail used in the previous Carbon Pagoda Tour. It’s sandwiched between two sheets of CFL laminate, with a binding reinforcement layer of P-Tex 4000 base material. The addition of flax woven into the carbon layer made the Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL a damper ski while retaining the energy, longevity, and durability of carbon.

The Voile Charger ACE ($995) is a backcountry-focused ski that balances uphill efficiency with a playful, freeride-inspired ride. Built with an ultralight paulownia wood core and reinforced with carbon fiber, the ACE is designed for skiers who prioritize speed on the skintrack without sacrificing fun on the descent. With a 106 mm waist and early-rise tip and tail, it’s well-suited for powder days, tree runs, and big alpine tours alike.

On the downhill, the Charger ACE feels quick and maneuverable. The lightweight construction makes jump turns easy in steep terrain, and the early-rise profile helps the ski plane up in soft snow with less effort. It’s responsive in tight spots and has enough backbone to stay steady in chopped-up snow, especially when skied with a centered stance. In powder, it’s a blast — surfy, floaty, and energetic.

That said, the ultralight build comes with some trade-offs. The ski lacks the dampness and stability of heavier options, which becomes noticeable at high speeds or when skiing through variable or refrozen snow. It also doesn’t offer the same grip on hardpack or icy skin tracks. Edge hold is decent but not confidence-inspiring on firmer surfaces. If your backcountry days include lots of boilerplate or big, fast descents, you might feel the ski’s limits.

The Charger ACE excels at long tours, big vert, and soft snow-focused objectives. It’s ideal for skiers who want to keep their gear light without sacrificing the ability to enjoy the ride down. If playful turns and efficient climbs are high on your list, this ski is definitely worth considering.

The Fischer Transalp CTI 105 is a fun, lively ski designed for tourers who want strong downhill performance and don’t mind a bit of extra weight on the skin track. Weighing 1540 g per ski in the 178-centimeter length, it falls in the middle range for the 105-millimeter waist class. With a carbon-reinforced paulownia core, extended rocker lines, and a flat tail, it’s built for efficiency, grip, and dependability in big mountain terrain.

The Transalp CTI 105 performs well on descents. It feels precise and responsive in technical terrain and handles soft snow and spring corn with ease. In firmer or wind-affected conditions, the carbon backbone provides enough stiffness to stay composed, though it doesn’t have the power of heavier freeride skis like the Salomon QST Echo 106. However, it climbs more efficiently.

The main trade-off is stability. At high speeds or in rough, variable snow, it can be pushed around. Aggressive skiers who like to charge hard might find it lacks the dampness and power of heavier builds.

For backcountry skiers who value precision and efficiency but don’t want to sacrifice downhill performance, the Transalp CTI 105 is a great choice. It’s a solid option for long tours, multi-day traverses, and ski mountaineering missions where dependable downhill performance still matters.