The Best Skis of 2026: Piste | All Mountain | Freeride
The Ski Podcast26 Sep

The Best Skis of 2026: Piste | All Mountain | Freeride

We review the Best Skis for the new 2026 winter season, covering the best piste skis, best all mountain skis and freeride skis. Host Iain Martin was joined by The Ski Podcast’s equipment expert Al Morgan.

Tirol in Austria sponsors The Ski Podcast, which means that this winter we'll be able to find out more about some of the great destinations in Tirol, and how you can connect with the wonderful ‘feeling of life’ there.

SHOW NOTES

Iain and Al will be at the London Snow Show in October (3:00)
Best Skis of 2026 means the best skis of winter 2025/26 (4:00)
What are the different types of skis (4:15)
How important is that figure for width under your foot? (7:45)
What is meant by ‘side cut’? (10:00)
What is a ‘rocker? (12:00)
How long should your skis be? (15:15)
Is sustainability still important in ski production? (18:45)
The Ski Sustainability Forum is organised by POW, Atomic and FESI (21:00)
When and where did testing take place? (22:15)
SIGB is the Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (22:45)
Most testing takes place at SIGB’s annual ski test in La Clusaz (23:15)
How much do bindings cost? (25:00)

THE BEST PISTE SKIS OF WINTER 2026

K2 Blur 74 W (women) (26:30)
£600 / 148cm-169cm

Blur is K2’s new piste ski range for winter 25/26. The 74W has a little lift through the front and back, is built around their aspen wood core and uses Flax with channels milled into it.

They only do this in this ski and the Blur 79W to enhance agility. It should also save a little weight, although the 74 is about performance and a perfect partner for advanced and expert female skiers shredding the groomers.

It has a 13.9m radius in the longest length and testers reported it as silky smooth, easy to ski yet snappy, with great boost turn-to-turn. It’s super reactive underfoot, quick to pivot and rotate for short turns.

Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC FDT (29:00)
£930 including binding, 160cm-185cm

The Multipista is new for this season, focussed equally on fun and performance. It may look similar to the Steadfast skis in its outline, but there’s a lot more going on than simply a curvy figure.
It has Dobermann in the name, which hints at this ski’s powerful drive, and when you open the throttle you’re rewarded by the bucketload!
The rise though the front and back, paired with the taper at each end, means you never feel like your locked into a turn. It can lay trenches on the groomers, but if you want to nip off the side, take on some slush or get a little airtime, it's as composed as you could ask for.

It’s built around their Energy 2 Ti Double Core (DC) construction. An elastomer layer is sandwiched between two beech and poplar wood cores, beefed up by two layers of Titanal metal, one above the wood-elastomer sandwich and one below.
Even though Nordica states the ski as having a Full Camber Profile, it has a longer rise through the shovel and tail than a regular full camber ski. This rocker profile is part of the Multipista’s magic, bringing a delightfully versatile nature. The tapered profile through the shovel and tail further adds to its performance across a range of conditions. The 74mm waist width, in all lengths, partners with their race on-piste shape underfoot for confidence-rocketing grip. This width is bang-on the money, with plenty of punch through the edge and enough float and stability to tackle a broad array of terrain and snow conditions.
THE BEST ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS OF WINTER 2026

Völkl V.Werks 100(32:00)
£1,750 flat, 170cm-186cm

Völkl has taken all they’ve learnt from ski manufacturing and turned the dial up to eleven with this ski! The company was founded in 1923, and in honour of this they have made exactly 1923 of these skis, with a retail price of €1923.

This ski is see-through. If you place your hand behind the ski, when holding it up to the light, you can see where your hand is. It’s quite spectacular. It also highlights the complex structure they’ve perfected for the fibre placement.
They combine carbon and natural flax fibres, which work in harmony with the superb 3D H-Woodcore. This is made of two enviro friendly FSC-certified poplar and beech cores, with a central reinforcement, and this all has a very noticeable and technical 3D shape.
The fibres, translucent layer and wood core allows the designers to transfer the movements and forces from the skier through the ski and to the edges, for a ridiculously intuitive control. You get a regular camber underfoot but enough rocker in the shovel and tail for a mega-versatile shape.
Atomic Maven 88 CTI (Women) (35:00)
£570 without bindings, 147cm-172cm

This ski is based around an ash and poplar wood core, boosted by the addition of carbon and Titanal. These laminates add greater damping and energy to the ski, whilst helping to keep the ski light.
The change of shape through the shovel, as we saw in the wider Maverick and Maven models last season, keeps this ski incredibly playful. This HRZN 3D Maverick/Maven tech sees the wood core extend right up to the very front of the ski, designed to improve stability and smoothness when charging hard.
These skis can certainly be skied fast, but the thing you notice most with all skis with HRZN tech is just how much it enhances the fun nature of the skis. They are not twin-tips, and have a directional shape, although the rise in the back means you can ski switch if you really want to. Atomic builds in a 15% rocker through the shovel and a 10% rocker at the back, with standard camber in the middle of the ski.
Salomon Stance Pro 86(Unisex) (38:00)
£640 flat, 151cm-185cm

Salomon’s Stance range sees significant change, taking what were already great skis and making them industry leading.
It has a full poplar wood core, with the Powerflex Ti metal layer sitting full width underfoot and tapering out in front of and behind the binding. The metal edge is made thicker to aid grip and power, and will endure more services, therefore lasting longer. The base has a 50% recycled content. The profile delivers regular camber underfoot with a 15% rocker through the front and a milder 12% rocker at the rear.
THE BEST FREERIDE SKIS OF WINTER 2026 (40:00)

Head Kore 99 Ti W(Women) (40:30)
£650 without bindings, 156cm-177cm

The Kore skis are redesigned for this season. This 99mm underfoot model has the same length options as the women’s Kore 97 of last season, but otherwise it’s a very different ski.
Where the men’s new Kore skis use beech and karuba, the women’s Kore models combine poplar with PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is a thermoplastic polyester polymer. Think of your favourite fleece, and the chances are it’s made of the same material.
This is complimented by a layer of Titanal, using at least 40% recycled material, above and below the core, along with a Graphene layer between the metal and top of the core. They add a damping layer between the bottom metal layer and the edges of the ski, to further smoothen the ride.
Again, as in the men’s, they add flax to the boundary of the topsheet to improve durability. Rocker front and back, with standard camber underfoot, gives the ski it’s undeniable freeride profile.

Salomon QST 100(Unisex) (43:30)
£570 without bindings, 148cm-188cm
New for this season in widths ranging from 92 through to 106, the 100 is an incredible freeride ski and was a hit with everyone at testing. It’s a unisex model, offered in a choice of two colours.
The new QST’s have full poplar wood cores with basalt and glass fibres, as well as Salomon’s proven Cork Damplifier, where they inlay a cork and TPU border at the tip and tail to dampen vibrations. The 106 has a 22% rocker up front and 18% rocker in the tail. As you step down in width to 100 then 94, they reduce the rocker proportion by 1% at each end, for each drop in width.

FEEDBACK

I enjoy all feedback about the show, so if you enjoyed this episode, or if you have any questions about skis we didn’t cover, then please let us know by leaving a comment at Instagram or Facebook – we are @theskipodcast – or by dropping me an email theskipodcast@gmail.com

There are now 273 episodes of The Ski Podcast to catch up with. There is so much to listen to in our back catalog, just go to theskipodcast.com and search around the tags and categories: you’re bound to find something of interest.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the podcast, there are three things you can do:

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Avsnitt(286)

60: Quarantine Latest, 80s Ski Technology, Silvretta Montafon & Jasmin Taylor

60: Quarantine Latest, 80s Ski Technology, Silvretta Montafon & Jasmin Taylor

Iain is joined this week by Dave Burrows (Director, SnowPros Ski School) & Lucy Aspen (Online Ski Editor, Telegraph). We discuss quarantine and the #Test4Travel campaign and ski technology predictions from 1988. Iain interviews Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor and Robin reports from Montafon in Austria. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. Show Notes Dave skied in Diablerets last week, which opened early Lucy skied in Scotland in February Mike covered skiing in Scotland last winter in Episode 58 A negative test result is now required for entry to Italy   Brits have to quarantine for 10 days to enter Switzerland   Tignes & Les 2 Alpes are both opening on 17 October Some skiers will definitely travel Find out more about the Telegraph #Test4Travel Campaign  Government Task Force will report early-November   Find out more about the Common Pass Project   There may be no apres-ski (more on this in Episode 58) More info here on what it's going to be like in France and in the USA  You can listen in Episode 56 about how Australia dealt with  Thanks to Robin from Sport Harry in Silvretta Montafon for his report Both LISTEX & WLSS cancelled (ref Episode 58) Mike has more positive views about the new Bham Show  You can listen to our Ski Podcast Special on Jasmin Taylor here Or watch it as a Facebook Live Other Ski Podcast Specials include Benjamin Alexander, Graham Bell, Avalanche Safety and Train Travel We have another Podcast Special with Picture Organic coming up Thanks to Andrew Brannan for sending us these features from Ski Survey magazine 1988 David Goldsmith was the author of this article - thanks for your time in talking to us David Current ski tech options include Skitracks, Carv, Peakfinder and Strava If you'd like to hear more about ski touring, then listen to Iain's previous reports from Morocco and Andermatt Dave presents the Ski Instructor Podcast This includes an amusing Eurotest meme Find out more about the Ski Club of Great Britain survey Reviews: Amy Moore: I absolutely love your ski podcast...it really cheers you up especially during the pandemic to hear all the ski chats! Wish you had more podcasts more often!    Thunderer on Snowheads - Just discovered your Podcast, really enjoying it Bennyboy on Snowheads: Good podcast. I haven’t listened before. Thanks! @theovalball1 on Twitter: Really good listen! Coming up in Episode 61  Our guests will be Krystelle from Sno.co.uk and Alex from 150 Days of Winter Mount Noire on diversity in skiing Remo Kaeser from the Jungfrau region Ski Book Group: A Whole Life  If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

13 Okt 20201h

Jasmin Taylor, Team GB Telemark Skier (Bonus Episode #5)

Jasmin Taylor, Team GB Telemark Skier (Bonus Episode #5)

In this Ski Podcast Special, Iain interviewed Jasmin Taylor, telemark skier and Britain's most successful Alpine skier of all time.  We discuss how Jasmin discovered telemark skiing, while on a British Ski Academy training camp and her first ever turns on skis in Ipswich.  She explains what telemarking is, how racing works and her hopes that the sport might be included in the Olympics at some future point.  Jasmin was one of the most modest people we have interviewed for the podcast and we're sure you're going to enjoy listening to her and finding out more about this part of our sport that often passes under the radar.  Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

6 Okt 202029min

Train Travel to the Alps (Bonus Episode #4)

Train Travel to the Alps (Bonus Episode #4)

For this Ski Podcast special Iain has his Ski Flight Free hat on and is joined by Daniel Elkan from Snowcarbon and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK to discuss train travel to the Alps. Great options for checking your carbon footprint include the WWF Footprint Calculator and Ecopassenger  Find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign on Facebook You can sign the petition here Changing stations in Paris is not difficult. This video shows Iain’s journey to Courchevel last winter Train travel in the ‘new normal’ is very different Iain referred to this study about the chances of catching Covid on a train You can hear more about Iain’s trip to Zermass and Saas Fee by train in Episode 57 of The Ski Podcast Iain likes to book direct with Eurostar and SNCF Anna has travelled to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper on multiple occasions It’s possible to travel overnight to Austria with the Alpen Express service  Iain has previously written for Ski2 about taking the train to Champoluc  Sam Haddad travelled on the ski train to Les Arcs Daniel recommends the Railmap of Europe Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

28 Sep 20201h 9min

59.5: Emily Sarsfield, #SaveTheSkiTrain & Cahaya Straits (Full version)

59.5: Emily Sarsfield, #SaveTheSkiTrain & Cahaya Straits (Full version)

[Some listeners may have downloaded an unedited version of Episode 59 - please listen to this version instead] Iain was joined in Episode 59 by Megan Hughes, Digital Content Manager at InTheSnow.com and Olympian Emily Sarsfield. We discuss the current quarantine situation, the impact on ski holidays for this winter, and Crystal’s decision to stop offering chalet holidays. Emily tells us about her experiences at PyeongChang 2018, while Benjamin Alexander suggests a title for movie as he aims to represent Jamaica at Beijing 2022. Plus we have interviews with new skiwear brand Cahaya Straits and Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan on the campaign to ‘Save The Ski Train’. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. Show Notes You can find out more about the new Eiger Express in Grindelwald here  We covered Emily’s Meribel Ski Yoga weeks in Episode 41  Does skiing on the Zermatt glacier from Cervinia require a quarantine? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter  Is this the season to try skiing in Poland?  Megan skied in Garmisch in Germany  Les 3 Vallees have confirmed that masks will not have to be worn while skiing this winter  There will be no chalets at Crystal Ski this season   Mt Buller is letting season pass holders choose their refund amount   You can listen to our interview with Miss SnowItAll (Rachael Oakes-Ash) in Episode 56  Listen out our Ski Podcast special interview with Benjamin Alexander, who is hoping to be the first Jamaican Olympic Skier (or you can watch it on Facebook)   Emily Sarsfield competed in Skier Cross at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics  You can listen to our PyeongChang specials here  Cahaya Straits are a new company producing sustainable skiwear  We interviewed Rachael Westbrook from Eco Ski in Episode 57  We love Patagonia! You can find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign here  Don’t forget to sign the petition  Watch our Train Travel as a Facebook Live, broadcast by Ski Flight Free  It will be released in an edited version as a Ski Podcast Special on 29 September Find out more about Protect Our Winters  Thanks to ‘Whacker London’ for their 5-star review  Also to Chris Howie: "Great episode! Keep up the good work."  We will be reviewing ‘A Whole Life’ by Robert Seethaler for Ski Book Group in Episode 60   Coming up in Episode 60  Iain will be joined by Dave Burrows, who’ll be looking at the impact of Brexit  Lucy Aspden, ski correspondent for The Telegraph, will be joining us  Interview with Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor  New and old ski tech discussion with David Goldsmith If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

23 Sep 202058min

59: Cool Runnings 2022, Emily Sarsfield, #SaveTheSkiTrain & Cahaya Straits

59: Cool Runnings 2022, Emily Sarsfield, #SaveTheSkiTrain & Cahaya Straits

Iain was joined in Episode 59 by Megan Hughes, Digital Content Manager at InTheSnow.com and Olympian Emily Sarsfield. We discuss the current quarantine situation, the impact on ski holidays for this winter, and Crystal’s decision to stop offering chalet holidays. Emily tells us about her experiences at PyeongChang 2018, while Benjamin Alexander suggests a title for movie as he aims to represent Jamaica at Beijing 2022. Plus we have interviews with new skiwear brand Cahaya Straits and Snowcarbon founder Daniel Elkan on the campaign to ‘Save The Ski Train’. Show Notes You can find out more about the new Eiger Express in Grindelwald here  We covered Emily’s Meribel Ski Yoga weeks in Episode 41  Does skiing on the Zermatt glacier from Cervinia require a quarantine? Let us know what you think on Facebook or Twitter  Is this the season to try skiing in Poland?  Megan skied in Garmisch in Germany  Les 3 Vallees have confirmed that masks will not have to be worn while skiing this winter  There will be no chalets at Crystal Ski this season   Mt Buller is letting season pass holders choose their refund amount   You can listen to our interview with Miss SnowItAll (Rachael Oakes-Ash) in Episode 56  Listen out our Ski Podcast special interview with Benjamin Alexander, who is hoping to be the first Jamaican Olympic Skier (or you can watch it on Facebook)   Emily Sarsfield competed in Skier Cross at PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics  You can listen to our PyeongChang specials here  Cahaya Straits are a new company producing sustainable skiwear  We interviewed Rachael Westbrook from Eco Ski in Episode 57  We love Patagonia! You can find out more about the Save The Ski Train campaign here  Don’t forget to sign the petition  Watch our Train Travel as a Facebook Live, broadcast by Ski Flight Free  It will be released in an edited version as a Ski Podcast Special on 29 September Find out more about Protect Our Winters  Thanks to ‘Whacker London’ for their 5-star review  Also to Chris Howie: "Great episode! Keep up the good work."  We will be reviewing ‘A Whole Life’ by Robert Seethaler for Ski Book Group in Episode 60   Coming up in Episode 60  Iain will be joined by Dave Burrows, who’ll be looking at the impact of Brexit  Lucy Aspden, ski correspondent for The Telegraph, will be joining us  Interview with Team GB telemarker Jasmin Taylor  New and old ski tech discussion with David Goldsmith

22 Sep 202058min

Benjamin Alexander, Jamaican Skier (Bonus Episode #3)

Benjamin Alexander, Jamaican Skier (Bonus Episode #3)

In this special episode of The Ski Podcast, we interview Benjamin Alexander.  'Benji' is aiming to be the first alpine skier to represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics. Benjamin tells us how he segued from DJ-ing around the world to skiing and then on to racing, as he seems to bring his FIS points to Olympic qualification levels.  He has the full support of the Jamaican Olympic Committee, is extremely fit and very determined, so why not listen now to hear about 'Cool Runnings 2020'. Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

15 Sep 202027min

58: Norway, Swiss memories & the end of Après Ski?

58: Norway, Swiss memories & the end of Après Ski?

In Episode 58, Iain is joined by the super-experienced Mike Richards. We discuss skiing in Scotland and Norway, plus the latest news on how apres ski might look this winter in the Alps after both Ischgl and Mayrhofen announce plans to scale back partying. There’s ski show chat, both virtual and physical, and an interview about LISTEX 2020 and we wonder if a drone could ever tow a skier? Intersport Ski Hire Discount Code Save money on your ski hire by using the code ‘SKIPODCAST’ at intersportrent.com, or simply take this link for your discount to be automatically applied at the checkout. SHOW NOTES Mike Richards has previously featured on the pod, talking about his experiences in Georgia (Episode 37), Montenegro (Episode 39) and Japan (Episode 41) Mike was skiing in Scotland in March at Glencoe and the Nevis Range Do you have memories of skiing in Switzerland back in the day? Switzerland Tourism want to hear about them… You can find out more about the Telegraph’s ‘Test4Travel’ campaign here – we strongly encourage you to follow and share as much as you can Mayrhofen have announced that ski boots will be banned after 8pm and apres-ski will be scaled down Ischgl are also scaling down their apres-ski for this winter (understandably) Amazon have applied for a patent for a Drone Ski Tow The ‘World’s Largest Ski Show’ – a new virtual ski show – has shifted its dates from October to November There is a new ski show scheduled for October 2021 for the NEC in Birmingham LISTEX will be taking place at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead in October Mike Smith asked why we’ve had no coverage of skiing in Norway? Mike visited Narvik and Stranda in Norway Thanks to Mike Smith for his review: “I am very much enjoying the podcast. Keep at it!” Also to Loobzy and Bramski Please do give us a review on iTunes, or contact us via Twitter or Facebook Coming up Watch out for our Train Travel special in conjunction with Ski Flight Free coming up soon In Episode 59 we’ll be discussing new technology including predictions from the 1980s If you enjoy The Ski Podcast, you always can buy us a coffee…

7 Sep 20201h 4min

57.5: The August Holiday and Jim Goodbye Special

57.5: The August Holiday and Jim Goodbye Special

Just a short episode as we are mid-holidays and/or quarantine time, but we have news of our next episode, plus we say goodbye and thanks to Jim.

14 Aug 20203min

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