We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Backcountry skis, also called touring skis, aren’t designed for a convenient lift ride to the top of the mountain. They instead balance lightweight materials for walking uphill with jam-packed performance for the ski down. I took some of the best backcountry skis for powder up and down my home mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a wide range of conditions. Use my reviews of the best backcountry skis for powder to upgrade your kit or dive into the wonderful world of wild skiing.
- Best Overall: Faction La Machine 3
- Most Innovative: Renoun Citadel 107
- Best Lightweight: Atomic Backlands W 108
- Best USA-Made: DPS Pagoda 105
How I Tested the Best Backcountry Skis
Ski touring is all about the hunt for powder. A decently wide ski with rocker is ideal for floating on top of fresh snow for a surf-like ride. I chose capable all-around touring skis that excel in powder, but can handle hardpack, chop, and anything else you throw at them. To get a feel for how these skis handle varying conditions, I took them uphill and downhill in a wide range of snow types and terrain in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains during the 2025 season. Then I skied them all in-bounds on one of the biggest powder days of the year to hone in on their strengths.
The testing scores range from poor to fair, good, very good, and excellent. The categories begin with powder, as it’s the main motivator for walking uphill and what titillates skiers everywhere the most. Edge hold and crud metrics pertain to how easy it is to control your ski edges on groomers, hardpack, and generally firmer, tracked snow. Ski touring entails a mixed bag of conditions and you might not always ski what you set out to, so these categories are still essential to choosing the best backcountry skis. Finally, the steez factor. When that pre-dawn alarm goes off you want to look at your skis and feel the stoke you need to catch sunrise on a mountain top. Boring skis are for hitting snooze.
This is an ongoing test, so if you don’t see your favorite skis on this list, recommend them for next season’s batch of contenders here.
Best Backcountry Skis: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Faction La Machine 3
Ashley Thess
Pros
- Floats on powder
- Holds its own in rough conditions
- Good price
Cons
- Black top sheet can accumulate snow
Key Features
- Weight: 1,530 grams per ski (178)
- Tip/Waist/Tail Width: 132/109/124 mm
- 25% tip rocker/60% camber/15% tail rocker
- Turning Radius: 20 meters
Testing Scores
- Powder: Very good
- Crud: Good
- Edge Hold: Good
- Steez: Very good
This is an incredibly sexy ski, that makes you look as steezy as they do. I first tested them in less than ideal conditions: skied out trees in crusty, soft snow, eventually turning into dense, flat powder. The La Machines made it way more fun. And in fluffy powder and chunk, I was having the time of my life. For a relatively light ski, they charged through churned up powder better than I expected. I felt nimble and in charge while carving effortlessly on these playful planks.
The magic in the La Machines is in their balance. They feel lightweight on grueling uphills, but not too light that you’re getting bucked around on a choppy descent. There’s just the right amount of flex to keep them spry, but not bouncy. And while you’re living it up on these lively skis, beefy side walls and caps at the tip and tail protect the guts of the ski and keep your all-black top sheet looking nice.
Dark top sheets can come back to bite you in the spring. Because they absorb more heat, snow will melt faster, then reaccumulate and refreeze there. You don’t want to lug more weight uphill because snow is stuck to your skis, but it’s a small quibble and I wouldn’t change the aesthetics. These are the overall best backcountry skis for powder hunting with edges you can trust for all-around touring performance. If you’re only buying one touring setup, the La Machine should be a top contender.
Most Innovative: Renoun Citadel 107
Ashley Thess
Pros
- Patented VibeStop technology
- Great weight
- Try risk free
Cons
- Takes some getting used to
- Try not to lose a white ski
Key Features
- Weight: 1,594 grams per ski (170 cm)
- Tip/Waist/Tail Width: 134/107/123 mm
- 30% tip rocker/60% camber/10% tail rocker
- Turning Radius: 18 meters
Testing Scores
- Powder: Very good
- Crud: Very good
- Edge Hold: Good
- Steez: Good
When I took my first few powder turns on Renoun’s Citadels my first thought was, “I don’t know what’s happening, but I like it.” They immediately felt different than any other ski in the test, or that I’ve ever skied. They’re dynamic in that they contain a proprietary non-Newtonian compound within the wood core layers that reacts differently depending on the amount of pressure applied. That means the ski is comfortable and soft at slow speeds, but stiffens when you apply pressure for a turn or pick up speed. At first it’s hard to predict, because it behaves differently from the rest of your quiver. But I loved the results.
The Citadel floats on powder, while staying maneuverable and stable in all conditions. You can feel the ski stiffen as you drop a steep line and chomp through chunky snow on the runout. The vibrations that come from high speeds or rough terrain dampen and I feel overconfident on these sticks (my favorite way to ski).
White top sheets are controversial, but I came around to this one pretty quickly. Lighter colors on top decrease snow sticking to your skis, especially in sunny conditions as it doesn’t absorb as much heat causing melt, freeze, and clumping. Less snow accumulation on top of your skis means you’re carrying less weight uphill. But if one of your skis pops off, you might spend extra time looking for a white needle in a white hay stack.
The Goldilocks weight, innovative VibeStop polymer, and early rise rocker makes this a super fun powder ski, with edges I trust in any conditions. The VibeStop dampens vibrations and impact so much that it might just keep you on the mountain longer, too. You can’t try a ski without mounting a binding on it first, which makes returns pretty much impossible in the world of skis. But that’s not the case at Renoun: Ski these sticks for five days and send them back if they aren’t a good fit.
Best Lightweight: Atomic Backlands W 108
Ashley Thess
Pros
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Great float
Cons
- Lightweight
Key Features
- Weight: 1,310 grams per ski (167)
- Tip/Waist/Tail Width: 133.5/109/122.5 mm
- 25% tip rocker/55% camber/20% tail rocker
- Turning Radius: 17.5 meters
Testing Scores
- Powder: Good
- Crud: Fair
- Edge Hold: Good
- Steez: Very good
The Backlands have the caveat of being an affordable ski that isn’t great for beginners. Yet their price, light weight, and availability make them popular in the backcountry. I’ve been skiing an older, skinnier version for three seasons and couldn’t wait to take out the revamped 2025/26 model. My Backland 98s are somewhat difficult to control on powder, crust, and chop. I was thankful for more surface area on the 108s for better control and less nose diving, but the light weight still left me wanting more on the downhill.
Lighter skis are going to give you a more pleasant uphill experience, but they sacrifice fun on the downhill. While the Backlands float on powder and edge well on ice and hardpack, you have to ski them aggressively to maximize efficiency and fun. Skiing aggressively is easier said than done after a 4,000-foot uphill.
In my opinion, the ski down just isn’t as fun when you have to work so hard for it. The HRZN 3D tip is made from perforated material to better float on deep snow which certainly helps, but where they shine is on high-vertical days in big terrain.
If you’re mountaineering to get to your line, you might opt for a lighter ski like this one because you’ll be carrying them a long and arduous way. After getting used to the ski, you can definitely tear it up on the Backlands. But if you’re looking for smooth turns and effortless fun, I’d opt for one of the heavier skis on this list.
Best USA-Made: DPS Pagoda 105
Ashley Thess
Pros
- Made in the USA
- Come with Phantom permanent glide
- Great on soft snow
Cons
- Expensive
Key Features
- Weight: 1,619 grams per ski (179 cm)
- Tip/Waist/Tail Width: 134/105/118 mm
- 40% rocker/60% camber
- Turning Radius: 18 meters
Testing Scores
- Powder: Very good
- Crud: Fair
- Edge Hold: Fair
- Steez: Fair
The DPS Pagodas are the ultimate utensil for painting those coveted wiggles on fresh powder. For some, a blank canvas of untouched snow waiting for a sine wave of neat turns is the whole point of touring. During testing, these cut through dense powder on tree runs beautifully. However, skis are personal and they didn’t quite fit my style. I was catching edges on these, and felt they were ultimately too stiff for me to maneuver confidently. In turn, I was hesitant to barrel full speed in case I couldn’t shut it down.
These aren’t a quiver killer, even if you prefer a firm ski. But for those looking to stack tracks of tight turns in soft snow, the Pagodas are made of quality materials right here in Salt Lake City. These skis also come out the door with a permanent wax called Phantom. If waxing your skis is a total drag, Phantom is cured using UV light to permanently bond to the bottom of your skis so you don’t have to re-wax.
Read Next: These Renegade Hunters Are Skiing into the Backcountry with Their Bird Dogs
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Backcountry Skis
It’s extremely easy to get into the weeds when it comes to the best backcountry skis, or any skis for that matter. Here I break down what the specs listed for each ski actually mean. Fortunately, these skis all fit a similar backcountry powder design so most of these measurements aren’t going to make or break your decision. But it helps to have an idea of what you’re looking at, and why your skis look and perform the way they do.
Width
The width of your skis affects how much they weigh and how well they float on powder or carve on hardpack. The waist width of the ski is almost always in the name, besides Faction who has their own system. Skis are typically tapered underfoot with a wider tip to stay on top of the snow, but the narrowest waist measurement is used to signify which width ski you’re talking about.
There aren’t any 70 to 90 mm width skis currently on this list, but these are light, nimble, and good for carving. Opting for skinny skis is great for spring ski mountaineering when you won’t find much fresh snow, but the snowpack is safe enough to access steep lines involving long hikes or tight maneuvering. Think bootpacks, kickturns, and jumpturns.
A skinny ski is going to sink and dive in deep snow, which isn’t what you want for backcountry powder. Skis that are 90 to 115 mm wide give you more surface area to float on top of the snow. They are also heavier and more stable in rough conditions.
Anything over 115 mm is what most would call excessive, but boat-like skis are incredible in deep, fresh snow. I’ve reserved an excellent powder score for just such skis. Though they aren’t the most practical all-around touring ski.
Rocker and Camber
A combination of rocker and camber give all of the skis on this list a mustache shape. Rocker is where the tip and tail of the ski arc up away from the snow for more float. Camber is the opposite where the ski curves downward underfoot, creating a space between where the bindings sit and the ground. This space distributes your weight across the ski, instead of all the pressure from your feet digging into the edge directly underneath. This affects the skis turning ability and turning radius.
Sidecut and Turning Radius
Looking down at a ski you’ll see what’s called the sidecut. I’ve listed it in the key features of every ski: tip, waist, and tail width. Imagine this arc creates a circle next to your ski. The turning radius is half the diameter of that circle, and dictates how wide or tight that ski will turn. The skis on this list range from 17.5 to 20 meters, which is within the typical range for an off-piste (off the groomed trails) ski. Skinny carving skis will have a shorter turning radius.
Weight
Any ski can be a backcountry ski if you mount it with the right bindings, but lugging a heavy ski uphill is going to tire you out faster, leaving less energy for skiing downhill or multiple laps. Resort skis are heavier because a lift takes you to the top, and beefier skis are going to hold up in rougher conditions and faster speeds. They’ll also be more durable if you’re dropping cliffs or hitting the park.
Backcountry skis under 1,500 grams are ultralight. Only the Atomic Backlands fall into that category on this list. The 1,500 to 2,000 grams area is where most touring skis will lie. Much heavier than that, and you’ll wonder why you’re walking uphill and not on a lift. Keep in mind that 100 grams is equal to a stick of butter. Don’t sweat single, or even double, digit weight differences.
Backcountry Safety
Touring is skiing in the wilderness. And the wilderness is famously very dangerous. Avalanches are a real and prevalent risk in this sport, not to mention all of the other risks of recreating in freezing temperatures. Make sure you have the necessary training and safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) before taking your new sticks into the snow.
Read Next: I Took an Avalanche Safety Course to Learn How to (Probably) Not Die in the Mountains
Final Thoughts on the Best Backcountry Skis
Backcountry skiing is a great way to stay active and catch a thrill away from the crowds at expensive ski resorts. Summiting a mountain or slope on your own two feet is also one of the best ways to ski untouched powder. And these are the best backcountry skis to earn your turns next winter.
- Best Overall: Faction La Machine 3
- Most Innovative: Renoun Citadel 107
- Best Lightweight: Atomic Backlands W 108
- Best USA-Made: DPS Pagoda 105