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- With the right skis strapped to your boots, you can zip down the mountain at speed and under control, carving around moguls, cutting through the trees, and even catching some air.
- The Faction Prodigy 2.0 Downhill Skis are our top pick for alpine skis because they can be used on all sorts of slopes, from fresh powder to groomed runs and terrain parks. The skis are available for both men and women.
Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports on earth, and is enjoyed on every continent on the planet. OK, maybe "enjoyed" isn't the right word to use when we're talking about using skis in Antarctica, but everywhere else. People have been skiing for thousands of years, with the modern version of the recreational sport developed in the 19th Century. The word "ski" comes from a Norse term that loosely means "split wood" in case you were wondering.
When buying a set of alpine, or downhill skis, you need to think first about a few basic factors, such as your height. The general rule of thumb is to choose skis that are about as tall as your nose. For a person standing six 152 centimeters tall (AKA five feet) that would mean skis around 145 cm. For a person 183 cm in height (which is six feet), go for skis around 180 cm. Why am I using the metric system? That's just what you do with skis. Novice and/or more cautious skiers should choose shorter skis, while more advanced skiers can manage longer, faster skis.
The length of ski you want is also subjective to the terrain you'll be hitting. For downhill skiing on the open slopes, a long pair of skis are faster and track better. But if you're skiing through the trees, or "glades", you want shorter skis that will be responsive enough to dart in and out of pockets and away from obstacles. And if you're going into the terrain park, you'll also want a shorter ski for aerial maneuvers.
Beyond length, you need to think of the type of skiing you most enjoy. If you like to zoom down hill at top speed, straighter skis are best. If you prefer to carve and turn your way down the slopes with precision control more important than speed, parabolic skis are best. Those are skis that widen toward the tips and backs, helping you dig in during turns and plow through powder. And of course, the cross country skier needs cross country skis. Make sure you buy a pair that will serve you well because while skiing is great fun, it's not exactly a cheap hobby.
And keep in mind that, with a few limited exceptions (such as the kid's skis on our list), most skis sell without bindings. You'll need those in order to attach your boots. Also, you'll need boots. And poles. And snow pants, a parka, gloves, probably a mask and maybe a helmet, and so on. Skiing is not a cheap hobby, but if you buy the right gear and maintain it with care, you will only have to buy all that accouterment a few times in your life.
And once you're flying down a snowy mountain at top speed, pine trees zipping past on all sides, a bright blue sky above, and the crisp winter wind whistling past your ears, you'll agree that the costs are well worth it.
Here are the best skis you can buy:
Updated by Owen Burke on 12/10/18: Updated pricing and formatting, and added this season's models and women's skis for each pick.
Read on in the slides below to learn more about our favorite picks.
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