The 9 Best Powder Skis of 2022-2023 - Men's & Women's
By: Jordan Sunshine: Ski Buyer | November 14, 2022
There’s nothing more aspirational and exciting than a new pair of powder skis. Sure, daily drivers might be more practical, and carving skis might be better for honing fundamentals, but when it comes to pure, unadulterated fun, powder skis take the cake. The best powder skis make the best days of skiing even better. There’s just something special about those wide skis that you only take to the hill when it’s dumped overnight, and you’re guaranteed fresh turns. So treat yourself, the snow gods reward optimism. If you buy new pow skis it’s nearly guaranteed to snow a bunch this winter, right!?
New This Year:
And this year’s crop of pow skis is better than ever before. As skis get wider, they also get heavier. But recently, brands have bucked that trend, producing lightweight powder skis that are more playful and maneuverable. This means you can ski more laps before your legs wear out. And, while just a few years ago, any dedicated powder ski was 120+ mm wide, ski engineers have discovered that with the right combination of shape, materials, and rocker profile, a narrower ski can be just as much fun in deep snow as a wide one. This means that the best powder skis are also more versatile when that fresh snow gets cut up. So the skis on this list are both more fun in deep snow and more capable in firm snow than ever before.
Blizzard Hustle 11
We've been dreaming for years of a lighter Rustler 11 that will do dual duty as a freeride ripper and backcountry slayer. The dream becomes reality this season with the introduction of the Blizzard Hustle 11 Skis. Built in the same molds but with a lighter TrueBlend Free Core and a modified Carbon D.R.T. insert instead of the Titanal one, the Hustle 11 kills it on powdery descents without killing you on the skin up. Mount this puppy up with a hybrid tech binding and light the fuse - the fireworks will be a thing of beauty. The Hustle 11 is one of the most capable and versatile powder skis on the market.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 1850 g | 114 mm | $849.95 |
Armada Whitewalker 116
The Armada Whitewalker 116 Skis have become something of a cult classic over the past few years. It's not every day that you get a powder ski that some people are putting touring bindings on, and other people are taking through the terrain park. Sammy Carlson's pro model ski truly is something special. With a freestyle-minded forward mount point, pin-shaped tip and tails, a sturdy flex, and Smear Tech 3D beveling, these skis are incredibly well balanced in the air, poised down the fall line, and flowy through open terrain. They're one set up you can trust whether you're bouncing down pillow lines, charging steep faces, or glade hopping through rolling meadows. If you like to go big, go fast, or go deep, the Whitewalker is your stick of choice.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 1800 g | 116 mm | $849.95 |
Faction Prodigy 4
Big lines and hero snow call for a ski with heart, and the Faction Prodigy 4 Skis are as good as they come. Serious float with a 140mm wide tip and 116mm waist, along with huge rocker lines at both tip and tail mean unparalleled float in the deep stuff, while stout construction and a bomber Poplar wood core keep these things planted and headed down the fall line no matter what. The Prodigy 4 is one of those skis that makes the absolute most of the deepest days on the hill.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 2200 g | 116 mm | $749 |
Salomon QST Blank
The QST line has been the stuff of freeride legend since its inception. Now, it welcomes a new member. Looking to fill in a slot between the pow-specific 118 and the all-mountain 106, Salomon turned to their stacked roster of pro skiers and gave them a blank slate to design the best freeride sticks possible. The result is the aptly named Salomon QST Blank Skis. With a 112mm waist, a snappy and stable feel, and a bomber construction, these skis are as well-rounded as they come. They excel in soft snow, thrive on speed, and are as comfortable weaving trees and spinning off side hits as they are gunning lines and stomping big drops. They're accessible, powerful, and simply excellent for any skilled jack-of-all-trades skier. The QST Blank is more fun than the sum of its parts.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 2250 g | 112 mm | $799.95 |
Rossignol Black Ops 118 Tatum
Finding the right combination of playful surfiness and straightline stability in a pow ski is as tough as fishing a Rainbow out of the creek with your bare hands, but Rossi nailed it with the Rossignol Black Ops 118 Tatum Skis. Tatum Monod's signature ride is a straight-up 176 men's ski (have you seen her vids?) featuring a one-of-a-kind graphic by David Habben. Get them now before they're gone. The Black Ops 118 skis are as good as it looks, and these are some good looking skis.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 2250 g | 118 mm | $799.95 |
Line Pandora 110 - Women’s
From big mountain descents to powdery tours, the Line Skis Pandora 110 Skis are designed to be with you on the best days of the season. These full on freeride sticks are built with Line's ultra-lightweight THC construction, which makes them a breeze to bring up the skin track, and a hurricane to bring down the fall line. They're fast and directional when charging through chop, yet light and effortless to flick, bounce, and pivot through deep power and tight terrain. The Pandora is one of the most versatile women’s pow skis on the market.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 1500 g | 110 mm | $799.95 |
Atomic Bent 110
It's not for us to decide which skis are most deserving of your attention, but if the Atomic Bent 110 Skis don't appear on your shortlist, we're ready to stage an intervention. As the middle child of the newly expanded Atomic Bent family, the Bent 110s combine the freeride power of the 120s with the all mountain capability of the 100s. With floatation enhancing HRZN tech tips and tails and Atomic's snappy Light Woodcore, they deliver resort shredding, backcountry busting performance you can count on every. single. day. Topped off with Chris Benchetler's most fluid, creative artwork to date, the Bent 110s may be the last skis you ever need. This ski has been a long time coming, so it’s exciting to finally get to ride it.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 1750 g | 110 mm | $699.95 |
Dynastar M-Free 108
The Dynastar M-Free 108 Skis are hot stuff around our neck of the woods where the snow is deep and unpredictable and the terrain is steep and technical, and for good reason. They've got enough surface area to excel in anything up to a foot and a half of fresh, remarkable edgehold for a mid-fat 180mm waisted design, and an uncanny ability to master a variety of turn shapes depending on terrain and obstacles. A go-to choice for all-mountain experts who live for snowy steeps, the Dynastar M-Free 108 Skis are a stout, damp, and hard-charging ski that still maintains that coveted playful, surfy feel. This is one of those versatile skis that will make sense for a lot of different styles of skiers.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| 2200 g | 108 mm | $799.95 |
RMU Valhalla 107 - Women’s
Designed with the help of Olympian and RMU athlete, Keri Herman, the RMU Valhalla 107 Skis were made for big mountain charging gals on a quest for steep lines and deep turns. To improve the ride from the Valhalla predecessors, a longer radius and more effective edge have been added to increase stability at higher speeds, which hits just right since these girls are absolute speed machines. If you're still on a treasure hunt for a big mountain, pow-slashing beast that keeps up with your charger state of mind, you've found the pot 'o gold. The Valhalla is one of the most versatile and playful women’s powder skis around.
| Weight | Width | Original Price |
| Not Listed | 107 mm | $799 |
Learn More With Our Other Ski Guides:
Skis - Kids' Size Chart and Buyer's Guide
Skis - Rocker Technology Explained
Ski Bindings – How to Choose & DIN Setting Chart
Ski Boots - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Ski Boots - Boot Sole & Ski Binding Compatibility
Ski Boots – How to Make Your Boots Fit Better
Ski Poles - Size Chart
Skiing - Beginner Skiing Tips
Skiing - How to Fly With Skis
Skiing - How to Get in Shape
Ski Maintenance - Base Repair
Ski Maintenance – How to Store for the Summer
Ski Maintenance – How to Tune
Ski Maintenance – How to Wax
Gloves & Mittens - How to Choose
Goggles - How to Choose
Goggles - Wearing Goggles with Glasses
Helmets - How to Choose & Fit Guide
Outerwear - What to Wear Skiing & Snowboarding
Outerwear - How to Wash Waterproof Jackets & Clothing
Outerwear - Regional Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski Socks - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Airbag Pack
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Beacon
Backcountry - Climbing Skins Size Guide
Backcountry - Dynafit / Tech Binding Basics
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Bindings
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Ski Boots
Backcountry - How to Choose an Avalanche Shovel
Backcountry - How to Choose Climbing Skins
Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
Discover Our Favorite Gear:
The Best Women's Skis
The Best Beginner Skis
The Best All Mountain Skis
The Best Powder Skis
The Best Touring Skis
The Best Carving Skis
The Best Park Skis
The Best Intermediate Skis
The Best Freeride Skis
The Best Ski Bindings
The Best Touring Ski Bindings
The Best Men's Ski Boots
The Best Women's Ski Boots
The Best Touring Boots
The Best Ski Socks
The Best Beginner Ski Boots
The Best Value Skis
The Best Ski Poles
The Best Kids' Skis
The Best Kids' Ski Boots
The Best Cross Country Ski Boots
The Best Ski Boot Liners
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jordan Sunshine
I was born and raised in northern Vermont and moved west as soon as I turned 18. I bounced around the PNW for a while eventually following evo’s store openings to Denver where I have called home since and although I will always take even the wettest of pow days, have come to appreciate any day skiing in the sun, be it with friends or my kids.I have been skiing since I was 2 and started working in a ski shop when I was 14, which was way more fun than washing dishes. Over the years I have worked as a ski tech, boot fitter, liftie, product copywriter, and eventually came to manage evo’s Portland and Denver stores. Now I am the Ski Buyer, overseeing ski hardgoods and backcountry accessories.