2024 All-Mountain skis
Number of All-Mountain skis featured in the 2024 Gear Guide: 23
Number of testers: 11
Testing location: La Clusaz
The versatile category that’ll take you from the piste to the bumps and trees, excelling in a variety of snow conditions, from groom to powder, through the crud and chop – these All-Mountains have got you covered.
We feature the All-Mountain Ski of the Year, and our Editor’s Choice skis. For the full hit of skis featured in the massive Gear Guide, and their in-depth reviews, click to buy and browse the digital issue of the 2024 Gear Guide for £3.50:
More men’s All-Mountain skis featured in the Gear Guide:
- Armada Declivity 92Ti
- Atomic Maverick 86C
- Elan Wingman 86Ti
- Faction Prodigy 2.0
- Head Supershape E-Titan
- K2 Mindbender 96C
- Rossignol Experience 86
- Salomon Stance 96
- Scott Pure Free 90Ti
VOLKL Blaze 82
£540 (without bindings)
Lengths 159, 166, 173, 180
Radius 15m @ 173cm, 13m @ 166cm
Dimensions 125-82-107mm
Weight per ski 1,455g @ 173cm, 1,378g @ 166cm without binding
volkl.com
THEY SAY
A super-light, super-manoeuvrable, resource-efficiently-produced all-mountain freerider. The Blaze 82 is recommended for ambitious beginners and intermediates who have fallen in love with skiing and are looking for the right ski for plenty of fun across the entire ski area.
WE SAY
We were utterly surprised by this ski, for both female and male skiers. We really like the wider, original Blaze skis, but didn’t think this easier-going light attitude would work in something this narrow. Völkl talks of this ski being for beginners and intermediates, but we think they’re drastically underselling it.
“I was expecting it to not be very responsive and to be quite soft, but it’s quite the opposite. The Blaze 82 is fun and lively with grippy edge-hold on-piste across a range of speeds,” reported Rich.
OVERVIEW
For this season, Völkl has brought out two new Blaze models. Well, it’s technically three, but the Blaze 82 and Blaze 82 W are the same ski, just with a different graphic and length options. The other new model is the 114 width. Of this, Lee commented: “Super pivoty and feels so much livelier than 114 would have you believe. Also, super damped in the shovel, equating to smooth off-piste skiing and easy transitions through variable snow. What a machine; blaze a path.”
While the 114 shares construction highlights with the 94 and 106, the 82 is in-line with the Blaze 86, and aimed more at skiers focused on the piste as much as the powder. Having said that, this ski has an ideal width and weight for getting into ski touring. If you mount it with a modern hybrid freeride touring binding you could do a bit of everything.
SPEC
Like the 86 width, the new Blaze 82 features Völkl’s Multilayer Woodcore Light, with denser beech wood under the binding and lighter poplar wood elsewhere. At under 1.5kg fora 173cm ski, it is very low weight, which adds to its nimble and versatile nature. The TPU inlay around the shovel and tail is designed to help deal with vibrations. The 3D-radius sidecut has a longer radius in the front and rear but tightens up underfoot. For the 173cm model, you get a 28-metre radius in the fore body, slimming to 15m through the centre and then easing to 23m towards the rear. The 169cm ski has 25m-15m-21m. This shape is complimented by the rocker at the front and rear. Völkl has also invested heavily in the base finish of their skis. The piste skis get quite a deep-cut, intricate structure. For the flat-mount and wide body skis, the structure is far shallower and uniform along the whole ski, to keep them smooth and easy to turn.
PERFORMANCE
The multi-radius sidecut may sound a little complicated or confusing, but it stops the ski being too grabby as you start the turn and allows the tails to release without any catch or being locked into a turn. The tighter shape through the centre helps the grip and performance on firmer snow.
If you’re not carving, the front and rear rocker allows you to easily pivot these planks. The rocker is also hugely beneficial when you’re bounding into the backcountry. Even though the 82 is quite slim, the Blaze’s smooth, easy flex helps the shovel to rise in softer snow, and the drawn-out shape towards the extremities is a benefit here too.
“Super nimble on broken off-piste and bumpy crud, yet grippy on-piste. Multi-radius sidecut means this can jump about any where on the mountain. Excellent for piste skiers looking for an all-mountain ski that can tour, the Blaze 82 will appeal to intermediates up to higher advanced skiers. Lovely jubbly,” said Lee.
Katie came back in beaming: “Light, grippy and it skis very different to how it looks. Nippy edge to edge, lively and quick to turn. Not what I’d normally choose, but was I surprised by how confident I felt on these skis.”
BEST FOR
These are an ideal ski for intermediate skiers wanting to get into off-piste. They are so much fun on the groomers and can help you out when taking on tighter runs and the odd bump run. These work well with a regular downhill binding, but for extra versatility we’d suggest mounting them with a hybrid binding that you can use for touring too. This will be the sweet spot for advanced skiers, giving one ski to make the mountain fun, whatever the conditions and wherever you’re headed.
BLACK CROWS Mirus Cor
£790 without bindings
Lengths 168.3, 173.2, 178, 184.2cm
Radius 13m @ all lengths
Dimensions 131-87-122
Weight per ski 1,775g @ 173.2cm without bindings
black-crows.com
THEY SAY
The Mirus Cor is a ski object born of performance and design, toachieve an alliance between two worlds: freestyle and the most angularcarves of the moment.
WE SAY
It looks crazy, costs a lot and although it’s not a new model it still givesyou an ear-splitting grin. The vibrant graphic reflects its flamboyantpersonality. You can’t fail to have fun on the MC.
BEST FOR
Progressing skiers who want to enjoy carving and are able to lean a ski. After that, the questions are: “Do I want to have a high-grade laugh on skis?” and: “Can I afford it?” Anyone from intermediate to advanced skiers will love this. Let the fun commence.
DYNASTAR M-Cross 88
£765 including bindings
Lengths 159, 168, 176, 184cm
Radius 14.0m @ 176cm
Dimensions 135-88-117cm
Weight per ski 1,800g @ 176cm without bindings
Buy now
THEY SAY
The Dynastar M-Cross 88 ski lets advanced and expert skiers turn up their skiing. It offers a wider platform for charging the piste, while channelling the all-mountain feel of a freeride ski for exploring new terrain.
WE SAY
The Hybrid Core 2.0 reduces the environmental impact and delivers enhanced performance, helping make the M-Cross 88 one of the stand-out skis of the test. Power and playfulness with a sure-footed approach instils confidence.
BEST FOR
The sweet spot for this ski is someone who is pretty confident on the piste and wants to be able to take advantage of the off-piste whenever the opportunity presents. You don’t need perfect technique, as the ski helps you out. It suits stronger intermediates right up to expert-level skiers.
BLIZZARD Brahma 88
£635 without bindings
Lengths 165, 171, 177, 183, 189cm
Radius 15.0m @ 171cm
Dimensions 128-88-110cm
Weight per ski 1,850g without binding (no stated size)
blizzard-tecnica.com
THEY SAY
The Brahma 88 will take the energy you give it and transfer that power into the snowpack, so you can rip down the mountain with confidence and ease. Enjoy the day – all day – ski the Brahma.
WE SAY
They’ve given it a bit of graphic love, but it’s the performance and do-it-all attitude that we really love. They offer the Brahma in a narrower 82 version, but the 88 lets you tackle pretty much anything
BEST FOR
Advanced and expert skiers will get the most out of the Brahma 88. If you’re a heavier or more powerful intermediate, or like to ski with a little speed, then these will work for you too. A fantastic all-round all-mountain choice.
