The best skis for women will not only elevate your riding experience as a whole, but also help you attain that sleek aesthetic look you’re looking for, adapt more towards your riding style, and keep our legs fresh while we ride. Luckily, there are quite a few viable options out there from numerous brands. However, how are we supposed to find “the best”? Our best skis guide could help you there, but today we want to focus strictly on the best pairs of skis we’ve been able to find for one particular population — ladies! Let’s get into it.
How to pick the best women’s skis
- Your budget – Skis aren’t necessarily cheap, especially if you’re looking to grab a high-quality pair to elevate your existing setup. We were able to find a decent range here — some are viable under $200 others can get up to the $500 and higher range. We do recommend saving up if you don’t as much cash as you’d like at the moment, but if you’re in a hurry and the winter season has already started, we have a few budget-friendly picks for you as well.
- What type of skis? Although we’ve already been able to narrow our search down to women’s skis (yes there is a decent difference here when it comes to ‘male’ and ‘female’ skis — women’s skis are more catered to our anatomical shape, weight and stance many women have), there are still a few “types of skis” to keep in mind. We’ll list them below.
- All-Mountain: Directed towards “most women’s skis”, all-mountain skis are extremely versatile and span across mostly all conditions out there we’ll find on the mountain. Whether it’s conditions or “speeds”, an all-mountain pair will most likely have you covered.
- Twin-Tips: The tips of these skis are ‘turned up’ and were originally made for freestyle and tricks. They allow you to land both forwards and backwards, however are also pretty versatile nowadays (nearly as much as all-mountain), so if you want skis that can span across conditions and speeds and you also plan on nailing some tricks, grab these.
- Powder: These skis are a lot wider than most and are preferred fresh and deep snow. The width helps ladies float better on the powder and not sink, but at the same time will make it more difficult to hit sharp and versatile turns. Usually ladies have a pair of both all-mountain and powder skis to have some options.
- Preferred ski profile – A skis profile is how it’s shaped. The different “shapes” help with different skiing styles and preferred ways of how you want your balance.
- Cambered: This profile is the most common and traditional shape — you have the center of the ski slightly raised when you’re flat on the ground, giving the best stability and balance for trails.
- Tip Rocker/Camber: These have a slightly raised tip to help with quick turns while the camber (as explained above) helps with balance at the same time.
- Rocker/Camber/Rocker: As we’re starting to catch the drift with the previously mentioned profiles, you have both slightly raised nose and tail, while having a slightly raised center to keep balance. This is the most versatile profile to have, which we love.
- Full Rocker: This is essentially a full on curve with skis. It’s essentially a “U shape” with some dramatic raises on the tail and nose with a flat center. They’re becoming more popular as time goes on.
- Color\aesthetics – Are you looking to match your jacket or pants? Perhaps your snow helmet and snow goggles? Maybe you haven’t shopped for those yet and want to start out with your skis as your foundation? This is of course something to keep in mind since we all (or shall we speak for ourselves?) care at least a little about our looks on that mountain.
The best skis for women
Volkl Aura
To start off our list of the best skis for women, we include a top of the line pair we’ve seen very popular among users around the world, designed for aggressive advanced to expert level skiers. The power and strength these skis can produce as well as the various abilities they offer make these one of the best skis for women looking for a top-tier choice. They are all mountain as well as big mountain skis, meaning they can handle any and all terrain you throw at them. The Volkl Aura’s are full rocker, giving them the ability to easily maneuver through soft snow and providing a smooth predictable ride. They contain a partial twin tip tail shape giving them the ability to perform well in essentially all conditions. In terms of build, these skis are composed of a wood core that varies in density around different areas to aid in balance. The vertical sidewalls and twisting interior construction provide great control and consistency. The Volkl Aura are an all mountain pair of skis with great features, making them a reliable purchase for the present as well as a future investment for ladies.
Nordica Santa Ana
Next up we include an all mountain pair of skis with a trendy, exotic look. They fall on the upper end of the price spectrum, but the unique features and abilities these skis contain make them one of the best women’s skis on the market today. The Nordica Santa Ana’s are rocker/camber/rocker giving them great edge hold, as well as the ability to make quick turns and practically float on top of soft snow. They are known for their ability to rapidly maneuver through most obstacles. The partial twin tip tail shape maximizes snow contact, allowing the skis to reach great speeds and take sharp turns. The carbon laminates on the edges of the skis are another nice highlight, which help to provide great stability and control. These skis also contain a balsa wood core, which help to make the skis lightweight and swift. The Nordica Santa Ana are the perfect pick as the best skis for women in search for speed and adventure.
Blizzard Samba
If our previous picks were too expensive and you are looking for a budget friendly pair of freeride, all mountain skis, then look no further then the Blizzard Samba’s. These skis are one of the best women’s skis for the advanced to expert rider looking to explore all that the mountain has to offer. The rocker/camber/rocker profile gives them the ability to practically float over deep powder, but provides intense grip in icier conditions. These skis perform well in any conditions and on any terrain. The partial twin tip tail gives them the ability to maneuver through tight trees and over intense moguls and they’re also known for their quick and powerful turning capabilities. The bamboo wood core and carbon sidewalls provide the strength and stability needed to perform daring stunts, all while keeping the skis lightweight. The Blizzard Samba skis are the ideal choice for the skilled, audacious woman rider willing to take on any and all conditions the snowy Earth can offer.
Armada Victa 93
The Armada Victa 93 skis are an extremely affordable pair of skis with great features, geared towards the intermediate to advanced level skier. These skis were designed to be versatile in many aspects, making them another one of our favorite picks as the best women’s skis on the market today. They are stable, predictable, and smooth. They are all-mountain skis, giving the rider the ability to take on any terrain, in any conditions, but mostly suitable for that deep and soft powder. They have a rocker/camber profile making them lightweight and energetic. The build has a ] wood core to provide power and durability through your sessions and these skis too have partial twin tips giving them the ability to maneuver through tight spaces and even ski backwards if you fancy that. The skis are a very sleek pair that are narrower than most, allowing them to move and turn easily but you’ll need to keep that balance up for sure. For the skier who wants to venture off trail and into fresh powder, the Armada Victa 93 are an ideal choice as the best skis for women.
DPS Nina 99 Foundation
As we reach the middle of our list, we include one of the most innovative and performance driven skis for advanced to expert level riders on the market today. Although they come at a hefty price, the energy and stability the DPS Nina 99 Foundation skis exude make them well worth it, and of course one of the best skis for women. The partial twin-tip tails allow the skis to reach great speeds and make quick turns — these skis are known for their responsiveness in any and all conditions and the strong edge hold they provide. The rocker/camber/rocker profile gives them the ability to float over snow but provide great grip at the same time. The aspen wood core makes these skis lightweight but strong and powerful at the same time. The DPS Nina 99 Foundation skis are the ideal choice for the experienced adventurous and aggressive rider looking for an extremely reliable and energetic pair of skis — we just hope your budget allows.
Dynastar Cham 2.0
Next we include an affordable pair of skis aimed towards the intermediate female skier. These are the best skis for women who enjoy all mountain skiing as well as backcountry skiing and are looking for a dependable, stable pair of skis. The Dynastar Cham 2.0 skis are unique in the fact they can handle all types of terrain and are lightweight enough to double as alpine touring skis. The short turn radius gives these skis great carving abilities and they have full-length vertical sidewalls, which provide stability and precision. Like the others, the core is composed of wood and fiberglass, which provide balance and control for those long backcountry sessions we all adore. If you are looking for a versatile pair of skis that are durable and stable, but extremely lightweight at the same time for less aggressive riding, then the Dynastar Cham 2.0’s are a perfect choice.
Rossignol Soul 7-Women’s
Here we have the Rossignol Soul 7 Women’s Skis, which in our opinion are the perfect choice for the beginning to intermediate level rider who loves high speeds and sharp turns. The affordability, dependability, and versatility of these skis make them one of the best skis for women. These are big mountain skis as well as powder skis, allowing them to perform well at high speeds through fresh, deep powder. The unique Powder Turn Rocker profile allows the board to perform well over soft powder at higher speeds, something many other skis have a hard time balancing. These skis are powerful and stable with excellent edge grip and the core is made of paulownia wood, making the skis very lightweight and easy to maneuver. The skis also have the popular partial twin tips, which allow them to move well in and out of tight spaces and ski backwards. The carbon and basalt laminates top it all off to help with versatility. The Rossignol Soul 7 were designed for the adventurous lady rider who loves to take risks and shred fresh powder.
RMU Valhalla
If you are an advanced or expert level skier who loves big mountain riding in deep, fresh powder then the RMU Valhalla skis are for you. These skis were designed for successfully charging through deep levels of snow through any conditions and on any terrain. These are the best women’s skis for the confident, bold skier who loves fresh powder riding, not to mention we love the look and styles RMU offer with this one. They were designed to be tough, strong, and powerful. The widths of these skis are fatter than most, giving them the ability to float through powder but grip on icier terrain and help with balance if you prefer larger than most skis. The partial twin tip tails give these skis great edge hold and the ability to maneuver well. These skis are durable and hard charging and the rocker/camber/rocker profile provides the skis with great stability and control. The RMU Valhalla are the ideal choice for the skier who is looking for skis in the middle to upper price range that are powerful and stable and designed for intense powder. We also recommend them for those who like bigger skis — it’s all personal preference.
Blizzard Sheeva
The Blizzard Sheeva’s are a slick pair of skis that are extremely high performing for an affordable price, making them near the end but still have a viable place as one of the best skis for women. The rocker/camber/rocker profile places the weight in the middle of the ski and reduces pressure on the tips, making the skis more lightweight and easier to maneuver. The bamboo core decreases the weight of the skis as well but the carbon frame provides power and flex. The Sheeva’s are big mountain and powder skis — they can handle any and all conditions Mother Nature throws at them and were designed to take on fresh powder. The short turning radius gives them the ability to move well through thick powder as well as icy conditions. They have partial twin tips, which allow them to move in out of trees and tight spaces and give them the ability to ski backwards. The Blizzard Sheeva are the ideal choice for the skier who is on a budget but needs a powerful versatile pair of skis.
K2 Luv Boat 105
To conclude our list we include one of the most versatile skis on the market today for an affordable price. The Luv Boat 105 by K2 were designed for all mountain, big mountain, and powder skiing and are ideal for advanced to expert level riders. The trendy look paired with the powerful features makes these a reliable purchase. These skis have a wooden core, made of both aspen and paulownia wood, making them lightweight yet flexible. Like many others we’ve seen in the guide, the short turning radius makes these ideal for carving and the all-terrain rocker profile allow these to perform well in all snow conditions with power and energy. The traditional flat tail type allows the skis to have edge contact extending through the tail. The K2 Luv Boat 105 skis are the perfect choice for the skier who likes to ride on and off trail at high speeds, and top off our list of the best women’s skis in the market.