Choosing your all-mountain skis? Consider the waist width!

We are referring to the ski waist width, naturally! The trends in skiing, especially all-mountain, have evolved significantly in recent years. One of the major changes is in the millimeters around the waist.

When did you last purchase a pair of skis?

Over the past five years, ski manufacturing has seen significant advancements, including new materials, construction methods, and improved technologies. All-mountain skis have become even more all mountain.

So if your last purchase was a while ago, you might be pleasantly surprised and slightly confused.

Waist width indicates how off-piste you can go

Of course, many factors come into play when choosing your skis, but waist width is important to consider. For more information, check out our '5 steps to choosing the right ski for you'.

Nowadays, skis with a waist width of, for instance, 76mm and 99mm can both be categorized as all-mountain. Consider this season’s Rossignol 84 Experience and the new Völkl Mantra M5 (see the video reviews at the bottom). The difference is that the wider the waist, the more off-piste capability the skis have, and vice versa.

One way to interpret this is by considering what the waist width offers you. A narrower waist will be easier to maneuver, allowing you to execute both short and long turns on the track. These skis will also keep you afloat in tight powder conditions but are generally designed for a ratio of approximately 80% piste and 20% off-piste.

Skis with a wider underfoot also perform well on the track but require a bit more effort to transition from edge to edge. At the same time, they allow you to venture into slightly deeper and fresher powder. Therefore, the ratio shifts towards 60% piste and 40% off-piste.

Your experience level is crucial!

It is all-mountain, indeed, but when it comes to carving turns, your experience level and the ski's underfoot width are significant factors.

As mentioned earlier, the wider the underfoot, the more effort it takes to go from edge to edge, but it is easier to ride in powder. So, a wider waist will make you work harder for turns on the piste, requiring more skill compared to a thinner one.

A thinner waist makes the skis easier to maneuver, facilitates turns, and is more forgiving on your legs on the piste. This type of all-mountain ski is ideal for those who prefer a relaxed ride primarily on the tracks, with little off-road or hardcore skiing.

So, be clear about what you want from your skis and check out our all-mountain ski section to find the ones that suit you. Also, remember to follow us and subscribe to our YouTube winter channel for more ski reviews.