Best Men’s Touring Ski 2017/18: Rossignol Seek 7

The Seek 7 brings all the fun of Rossignol’s Soul 7 to the skin track in a new slimmed-down shape – with a pin tech binding thrown in to the deal!

The Seek 7 took our test team by surprise at the ski test in Kühtai this year. At first we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. “It’s part of Rossi’s ‘S7’ line… So it must be a freeride ski right?” “But it’s so light… And quite narrow – maybe more all mountain?” Once we’d skied it we still didn’t really know where to place it, just that we liked it. Really it could have won an award in several categories, but Rossi bill it as a touring ski so that’s what we’ll go with!

Essentially the Seek 7 is the little brother of the Soul 7, one of our favourite skis of all time, but tweaked and with a new paulownia/microcell construction and updated Air Tip technology to make it even lighter. The character of the Soul is still there: fun, playful and flattering across the whole mountain. I.e, exactly what you want once you’ve just invested several hours hiking uphill and are wondering how on earth you’re supposed to enjoy the descent when your legs are already jelly!

At just 1250 grams per ski the Seek 7 falls firmly in the ‘light is right’ class, and they’re certainly a joy to skin up with if you’re used to lugging your standard freeride skis along. The 86mm waist is skin track friendly too, and grips well sidehilling up firm ascents while forming a solid platform for precarious kickturns.

While most touring skis in this weight class are frankly a bit of a chore in anything other than perfect powder, the Seek 7 really does seem to channel the freeride spirit of its larger brothers going downhill. They’re not particularly stiff and they’re definitely not chargers, but there’s a certain confidence in their stride. The early-rise tips plane up quickly in the deep stuff, while the taper, flex and turn radius combine to make short swing turns as blissful as they look in those retro photos from the olden days.

Once you hit the pistes, you’re in for another surprise. If you didn’t know otherwise, it would be very easy to think you’re on a pair of out-and-out all mountain skis. Carving feels smooth and stable; ok maybe not like a metal-laminate race ski, but with more than enough grip and power for most skiers. They make light work of moguls too, nipping through the troughs with aplomb.

All of this performance comes at astonishing value too: the Seek 7 RRPs at just £665 – INCLUDING a pin tech touring binding!

Rossignol Seek 7 2018 Specifications:

• Length: 154, 162, 168, 176, 182
• Sidecut: 126-88-108
• Radius: 20m
• RRP: £665 (inc. tech binding)

The Test Team’s Opinion:

Rossignol have distilled everything from the 7 range to make a superlative touring ski. This is the ski to bring my clients back to 86 from 95. Great form and responsive skiing under foot, with an amazing playful rocker and edge free shovel. Low weight, skippy and lively, yet oodles of fun. Great package price as well. Awesome – best in class

Martin Chester

Light nimble, smooth and incredibly versatile off piste. Feels much larger platform and floatier underfoot than 86 would have you believe. A great introductory touring package with the included binding or a great multi day platform for a seasoned tourer. A total surprise  from Rossi a lesson for others.

Lee Hardy

Takes the legendary Rossi tip and flex technology to touring – big rise tip skims through the crud and powder easily enough. Great start for Rossignol in the ‘proper’ touring ski category.

Will Robson

 

Want to learn all about the best new ski equipment for the 2017/18 season? Head this way to get the bumper Fall-Line Skiing Gear Guide.