The best 6 multi-use skis

January 12, 2012

Credit: John Johnston

Our picks for this season’s best do-it-all skis

How many pairs of skis do you have in your closet? Most of us don’t have a ski for every occasion and condition jamming things up, so we asked ski companies to give us their best do-it-all, Swiss Army knife, quiver of one, in their collection. But we didn’t just want a ski for groomers and bumps. We ski for powder, be it days at the hill or the odd easy access backcountry lap. So for this ski to be crowned champion of the test, we decided it would have to rail on corduroy, float through the light stuff and still zip up a skin track. When the snow settled here’s what we found.

Best all around: K2 Hardside
Best for strong intermediates and mellow skiers: Blizzard Bushwacker
Best for newschoolers: G3 Infidels
Best for hard charger, A-types: Nordica Hell and Back
Best deal: Line Blend
Best for powder snobs: Black Diamond Amp

Details for each ski can be found below.

This ski test was performed by Ryan Stuart and Paul Karchut

Ski review: Blizzard Bushwacker

If you’re an east coast intermediate skier, this would be a great ski for you. Its easy flex is perfect for a mellow day of…

Ski review: G3 Infidel

The Infidel one of two true twin-tip ski in the test. It has a focus on freestyle skiing and therefore has a more central mounting…

Ski review: K2 Hardside

The Hardside is part of K2′s backcountry line and is focused on all-round performance. The ski has a moderate flex perfect for a variety of…

Ski review: Nordica Hell and Back