A case for arrows; a bow mounted quiver may be a shoulder slung pouch or a complicated contraption with brackets and mechanical gizmos.
The hunting industry leans pretty heavily on gear that promises easy success. Some of these gadgets are necessary and can definitely help you fill your tags, but some of them simply won’t.
All-mountain skis are the jack of all trades, designed for skiers who enjoy practicing their carving skills in the morning before exploring the ungroomed realm in the afternoon. As such, they prioritize versatility with bigger sidecuts and more rocker than other skis on this list to make them easier to maneuver. These skis also often have a traditional profile with camber underfoot, but with rocker in the tip and tail to enhance floatation in powder snow and ease turn initiation on groomers.
Designed for intermediate to advanced skiers, these all-mountain skis are the most versatile in our test and ideal for skiing anywhere on the mountain. With a 92-millimeter waist width, the Experience naturally favors energized linked turns on machine-groomed snow and provides enough float for smears through chopped powder. But don’t let its playful, surfy nature fool you—this ski can hold its own on steep groomers and handles bumps like a champ. The stiff flex feels powerful underfoot for quick-turning carvers, while carbon tips and full vertical sidewalls add strength and edge grip when needed.
The only thing that can keep this ski from being the ultimate one-ski quiver is that it’s a bit too narrow to excel in deep, fresh powder. But that’s not a deal-breaker—it still floats in the pow and has plenty of speed to burn on the hardpack when conditions permit. Plus, a traditional camber profile and rocker in the tip and tail offer plenty of lift for smears through chop.
If you’re a more advanced skier who wants a solid all-mountain ski, consider the Salomon QST. This ski is slightly narrower than the Experience but boasts a similarly impressive profile that’s optimized for the most common ski terrain in North America and beyond. The 88-millimeter waist width makes it easier to maneuver in tight spots but still floats well in powder and offers more stability at high speeds on groomers than other skis with a wider waist.
Another option for expert skiers is the Volkl EVO 98 TI. This lightweight, full-wood core ski is a favorite among testers for its lively feel and versatile performance on any terrain. The 88-millimeter waist is a bit narrower than most other skis in our test, which makes it better suited for lighter, more maneuverable pilots. The camber underfoot and rocker in the tip and tail offer enough floatation for powder, while carbon tips lighten the swing weight for easy turning and full vertical sidewalls boost edge grip on hardpack.
All-Mountain Ski Boots
One of the most important pieces of gear you’ll ever own, ski boots are a vital link between your feet and your skis. With the right boots, you can ski anywhere on any conditions and perform at your best. Whether you’re going to huck off cliffs in Alaska or simply cruise on your favorite blue runs, there are all-mountain boots for you.
All-mountain ski boots are designed for most standard foot shapes and range in stiffness. For better skiers, experts recommend a stiffer boot with more resistance and responsiveness that can handle the stresses of aggressive skiing. For most recreational skiers, a medium-flex or soft boot is appropriate for any type of skiing on any terrain.
Most all-mountain boots come with a basic Intuition liner, which offers good support and comfort for most people. For additional customization and added warmth, consider a heat-moldable liner that’s shaped to fit your feet precisely. Heated insoles are also a great option to keep your feet toasty and warm from top to bottom.
If you’re planning on touring, an all-mountain boot with a ‘walk mode’ switch will allow you to flip a lever on the back of the cuff that releases a magnesium hinge point and allows for more ankle articulation while hiking uphill. This feature, which started out as a staple on alpine touring boots, is now showing up on more and more all-mountain models.
For those who want a more ‘on-piste’ boot, check out options that have a’ski mode’ switch instead of a walk mode. Tecnica’s 4-Quattro XT, for example, is a light and powerful all-mountain boot that weighs just under four pounds per pair. Testers loved its downhill performance and praised the boot’s ability to ski anything from resort lifts to backcountry randonnee tours. Its’ski mode’ isn’t as flexible, however, so this boot isn’t for the most aggressive skiers.
If you’re new to touring, look for a boot with a medium-flex or stiffer, which will allow you to make more dynamic turns than soft boots and give you the confidence to ski steeps. Intermediate skiers should aim for a flex in the 110 to 130 range, which will provide a good balance of response and resistance. Advanced and expert skiers should opt for a higher flex in the 120 to 130 range, which will offer more power transfer and responsiveness.
All-Mountain Ski Poles
The vast majority of ski poles are built with straps that wrap around your wrist, making them easy to hold and a vital safety feature. While most of these straps are simple bits of adjustable nylon webbing, some brands incorporate added features like a super-secure fit or the ability to detach from the pole in the event of a fall. These extra features may not be essential for everyone, but they’re nice to have if you ski aggressively or are concerned about falling and breaking your poles.
The shaft diameter on ski poles is another factor that can impact both weight and durability. Poles with a smaller diameter can be lighter, but also less durable as they’re more prone to bending. The size of your hands and preferences will ultimately determine which poles are best for you.
All-mountain ski poles are typically made of either aluminum or carbon fiber with an aluminum/carbon hybrid design being a popular choice for backcountry use as it strikes a good balance between weight and durability. While carbon is incredibly lightweight, it is a bit more prone to bending or even snapping than aluminum. This can be an issue for those who ski off-piste or often encounter obstacles like rocks and trees.
Aside from the material of a pole, other important factors to consider are grips, baskets, and adjustment range. Grip materials range from plastic to rubber, with some models featuring dual-density foam inside for hand comfort. The length of a grip is also something to consider, with longer designs being best for those who enjoy sidehilling or traversing difficult terrain.
Baskets can make a significant difference in how well a ski pole performs. Larger, deeper baskets are ideal for powder and can help you navigate tricky terrain like mogul fields while more compact, narrower baskets work great in groomed conditions. Some models of ski poles also feature adjustable baskets for changing the direction of the basket as you’re skiing, which can be helpful if you frequently switch between terrain types.
Adjustment range is also important, with a short adjustment spectrum being better for casual resort skiers while an extended adjustability range is better for those who ski off-piste and/or in the backcountry. Most of the models on our list include a decent amount of adjustability, with the exception of Black Crows Meta, which has a fixed-length design and only allows for adjustments from 110-135 centimeters.
All-Mountain Ski Bindings
When it comes to ski bindings, most people agree that you can’t go wrong with a quality pair. They must be secure, transfer power well and hold up to a lot of abuse. But there are so many options that it can be difficult to choose the right ones.
The most important feature of a ski binding is its ability to release properly in the event of a forward fall. When you take a hard spill, the heel piece, which attaches your boots to the rest of the binding, should open and allow the boot to slide out vertically rather than horizontally, which can damage or dislocate your knees.
In order to accomplish this, a heel piece has to be able to twist and rotate with the small shifts in boot position that occur when you ski. It also needs to be able to release the boot with enough force when a skier falls from high or is thrown forward from a fall or ragdolls. This is why it’s a good idea to have a DIN setting, which is a measurement of the amount of force needed to open and release the heel piece.
A great all-mountain binding, like the Marker Griffon 13 ID or the Salomon STH2, is designed to handle both frontside and backside skiing on groomers, powder, trees, bumps and steeps. These bindings offer a DIN range of 4-13, solid feel and power transfer, good durability and a wide variety of colorways.
For those looking for a little more versatility, we recommend checking out Look’s Pivot 15-DIN or the new Cast Freetour Pivot, which combines an alpine binding with a touring toe. This allows you to swap out the alpine binding at the top of the run for the touring toe on the descent, giving you the best of both worlds.
If you’re a powder hound who loves to ski all over the mountain on a day-to-day basis and isn’t afraid of some light backcountry travel, we would suggest adding a touring setup with a telemark or cable telemark toe, which is a less expensive and much less efficient option than a tech toe. This will give you the ability to tour on your favorite alpine skis while keeping up with your buddies on the groomers and in the park.