What are the best wide skis for freetouring?

It's hard to see clearly in the world of freetouring skis as the tendency to eliminate superfluous weight tends to make these theoretically super versatile skis pure and hard ski touring twigs .

Cartesians, we believe that the right width for a ski supposed to have skills on and off-piste, uphill but especially downhill, is around 95 mm . Wider, it's both too heavy and less versatile, thinner, it's too much loss in lift and therefore, in pleasure.

If one could rank the performance of these lightweight skis simply by weight, the world would be wonderful. Alas, it is more complex. Admittedly, very (too) light skis are rarely the most efficient on the descent. If some can surprise, offer grip and carve a curve on compact snow, for the majority of these "light" freetouring skis, it's an unattainable dream...

It's up to everyone to know precisely their practice and their desires so as not to get the wrong mount! At Skieur, we choose to highlight freetouring skis which are certainly heavier , but which have hold and grip. Here are the winners!

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Top comfort freerando: Elan Ripstick 96

Dimension line : 136 – 96 – 110 mm

Radius: 18m

Available sizes: 164, 172, 180, 188 cm

Weight: 3300 g per pair in 180 cm

Updated last year without really changing in character, this Elan Ripstick 96 remains an excellent freetouring ski, at least as we imagine at Skieur. Heavier than the touring specialists but still really light for a freeride ski, it seems to have been cut for this hybrid practice which mixes uphill and downhill with a certain advantage, its ease of use.

Still just as soft and easy, it also remains easy to handle and planes easily in powder snow. A little limited in performance against pure freeride skis, it discovers itself as a champion in freerando practice where its cushioning gives it stability that skis that are too light cannot have. As a bonus, the Ripstick 96 carves easily on piste, wrapping around the curves on its radius in a playful and exciting way.

Outside or on the slopes, it will saturate if you hit it too hard, but once again, the lighter skis will have already given up beforehand, minus the comfort. In short, a great compromise for freerando, with a waist width here too in the compromise in terms of versatility, and a weight without problem when you go down much further than you skim. Even if it means not giving up, you might as well not give in to the pleasure of skiing rather than to that offered by a few hundred grams saved...

To be found at our partners: Au Vieux CampeurGlisshopAchat SkiSnowcountryEkosport

A vigorous touring ski: Dynastar M-Tour 99

Dimension line: 127-99-117 mm

Radius: 20m

Available sizes: 162, 170, 178, 186 cm

Weight: 2600 g per pair in 178 cm

In Dynastar's countless touring lineup, the new M-Tour arrivals are a great option for the tourer who doesn't want to leave out the comfort of downhill riding. A descendant of the Mythic 97, it adopts the shape of the M-Pro 99, a very good all-mountain/freeride, but in a lighter version. It's a successful bet because despite its light weight, this ski offers real comfort and a more than acceptable ride in all snow. As if he had kept only the best of the Mythic, while reaching further into its potential. If you have to get into it to make it playful, it gladly accepts tight turns between obstacles provided you have a little technical background, or failing that, solid thighs. It is by letting it accelerate too much that you remember that you have a ski touring underfoot and not a freeride one, so be careful not to press the pedal too hard to avoid being surprised. It is therefore not chosen for heavy off-piste use in resorts, but for what it was designed for: ski touring during which you seek to have fun downhill whatever the conditions, without however, seek to spin at mach12.

To be found at our partners: Au Vieux CampeurSnowleaderSports Discount

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The right compromise: Salomon – QST 98

• Sidecut : 132-98-120 mm • Radius : 16 m • Sizes available : 169, 176, 183, 189 cm • Weight : 3640 g per pair in 176 cm excellence, the one to take everywhere all the time thanks to a Shift-type hybrid binding. Salomon is offering a brand new QST 98 this year which replaces the 99 as well as the 106. Like any good ski, the QST 99 weighs its weight and will therefore not be the best option for climbing. But on the descent the ski is revealed from the first turns and you quickly understand why you accept to go heavier: you can go fast, very fast with a playful and solid ski. The ski is excellent carrier with its 99 mm waist and its tail guides the skier with ease in its curves. It is with good hybrid bindings that the assembly takes on its full meaning, to be able to press hard in all conditions, on the track and off it, in powder or in rough conditions. A good ski everywhere, especially when going downhill!

To be found at our partners: Au Vieux CampeurSpeck SportsEkosportSnowleaderSgambato skishopSnowcountryGlisshopSports Discount

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For freeriding: Faction Agent3.0

Dimension line: 134-106-124 mm

Radius: 21m

Available sizes: 164, 172, 180, 188 cm

Weight: 3440 g per pair in 180 cm

If this Agent 3.0 is one of the heaviest in the category (1720g per ski), its few extra grams are very pleasantly felt in its comfort downhill. Everyone agrees with the Agent 3.0 with its playful side, its grip and above all its excellent handling in turns, which makes it a real freeride ski. As good in powder as it is in rough terrain, it knows how to absorb shocks and it is only when you ask it to go very (too) fast that it will show its limits. And yet you really have to go there to make it shake, most skiers will find it hard to find their limits... The perfect kind of ski for going from the top of the chairlift to the top of the slope you want to scratch, see a a little further, without having to fear the skis you have under your feet. On the contrary, this little newcomer is a weighty ally which, if you have the legs to drive it, will allow you to let your creativity run wild while skiing as you want to ski. To be mounted with a good Shift or Duke type binding so as not to lose its flavor on the descent, lighter would lose the confidence that is given in this pair. A ski for those who, when they didn't have the right gear, carried their freeride pair on their shoulder to the top of the line!

To be found at our partners:Adventure sportsAu Vieux CampeurBlue TomatoSports Discount

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Fastest: Scott Pure

• Line of dimensions : 142-109-122 mm • Radius : 23 m • Sizes available : 182, 190 cm • Weight : 4000g the pair in 182 cmA choice that many hikers will not accept, because the weight here can exceed the limits of understanding. However, the "Pure" developed with Jeremy Heitz is THE kind of ski you want to take to the mountains. So if too heavy for long hikes, we will climb it to altitude with the help of the ski lifts to finish in skins, for a few hundred meters of effort at most. Once down, the ski is settled and extremely safe for its skier. It gives a lot of speed, accelerates while letting the skier choose the trajectory without getting tired. The ski absorbs traps and ground movements provided you go fast. Indeed at low speed, the ski gives off a much less glorious image of itself: a little clumsy, soft and hard to handle. A ski in the image of its creator therefore: who wants to go fast all the time, and who gives himself the means to do so...

To be found at our partners: MontazAu Vieux CampeurSnowcountrySnowleaderGlisshop