The width of your ski primarily depends on the snow conditions and the terrain you encounter. You'll need a different ski width for on-piste skiing compared to off-piste.

What do we mean by the width of your ski?

When viewed from above, a ski has a tapered shape. It's wider at the nose, narrower in the middle, and wider again at the back. The different widths are given from the front to the back of the ski. So: 136/104/128.

Our ski collection is divided into eight categories. When we talk about ski width, we're referring to the middle, and therefore the narrowest, section. We also refer to it as the width underfoot because you stand with your feet approximately in the middle of a ski. You'll find skis ranging from 60 to 150 millimeters (mm) wide in our collection.

When to choose narrow or wide skis?

The width of the ski affects its characteristics. A narrow ski changes edges more easily when turning, resulting in a direct and sporty feel. Narrow skis work well, especially on-piste.

A wider ski has a larger surface area, providing more flotation in soft snow conditions. Additionally, wider skis often have a rocker profile, which further contributes to flotation. Thus, wide skis are highly suitable for slushy pistes and surfing in fresh powder snow off-piste.

Which ski width for what use?

But what ski width do you need for which purpose? Below is a basic overview of which ski widths correspond to which uses. We discuss freestyle skis and touring skis separately below this overview.

Ski type Width underfoot % on-piste % off-piste
Race skis 60 - 80 mm 100% 0%
Piste skis 60 - 85 mm 95% 5%
Piste / all-mountain skis 70 - 100 mm 70% 30%
All-mountain / freeride Skis 90 - 110 mm 40% 60%
Freeride skis 100 - 115 mm 15% 85%
Powder skis 110 - 130 mm 0% 100%

 

Which width for freestyle skis?

Freestyle skis come in all widths. The terrain where you'll ski the most should determine the width. If you primarily ski in the fun park, you don't need to go wider than 100 mm. If you ski all over the mountain, consider skis over 100 mm. And if you're looking for freestyle skis that perform well in fresh snow, feel free to choose a width of more than 110 mm. Tip: If you carve a lot on the pistes, don't go too wide.

Where is the focus in the fun park all over the mountain off-piste
Freestyle skis <100 mm >100 mm >110 mm

 

Width of touring skis

Touring skis also come in many different widths. Whether you go narrower or wider depends on your use. Wider skis are generally heavier. When climbing and walking uphill, you want as little weight as possible. If you make more than 1000 vertical meters every day, we recommend not going wider than 100 mm. If you do shorter tours focusing on finding that beautiful line and having fun descending, opt for wider touring skis.

Snowcountry extra tips: Which ski width

Would you like some additional tips? Here are a few Snowcountry tips.

  • If you only ski on-piste in all conditions and you're not a racer, choose a slightly wider piste ski instead of a race ski. Slightly wider skis are easier to control and often faster on soft or slushy pistes.
  • Be honest with yourself. If you ski more than 80% of the time on-piste, don't choose a ski that's 100 mm wide. On-piste, you'll have more fun with a narrower all-mountain ski with a rocker in the nose. The rocker provides enough flotation for small trips off-piste.
  • If your focus is on off-piste skiing, don't hesitate to choose a ski wider than 95 mm. We often see that people who are buying their first pure freeride ski tend to opt for a narrower ski. But that's a shame. If you're primarily off-piste, skiing with a wider ski is easier and, above all, more enjoyable.
  • Feel free to deviate from the basic widths. Especially if you're looking for maximum performance in specific conditions and are willing to compromise on other aspects. For example, if you love racing and carving long hard turns but also ski leisurely on the pistes with short turns or in slush. You can enjoy a long race ski for tight pistes. However, these skis may be less suitable for other conditions. It's the same for wide skis. If you spend 50% of your time on-piste and 50% off-piste but you want to have fun in powder and skiing off-piste is more important to you, you can choose a slightly wider ski.

In short: before making your purchase, it's crucial to carefully consider what brings you joy, so you can make an informed decision!