The Best New Skis We Tested This Season (2027 Preview)

Closeup of dozens of skis leaning on ski rack, only tips showing.

We tested a record-breaking 235 skis this winter. These are our early favorites for next season. (Photo: Re Wikstrom)

Published March 26, 2026 10:08AM

Snow-wise, it wasn’t exactly a banner season—not for those of us out West, anyway. While snowfall totals may not have broken records (not in a good way, anyway), this winter was a record-setting one for SKI. Our editors and veteran gear nerds tested a whopping 235 skis this season—the most in the brand’s history (at least, as far back as anyone on the current staff can remember).

And as it turns out, lean snowpacks and funky freeze-thaw cycles make for ideal testing conditions. Powder and crisp corduroy make every ski feel great. The skis that make you feel like a hero on bulletproof ice, scraped-off steeps, and stale crud? Those are the ones worth writing home about.

All mountain skis lined up on ski rack at 2027 SKI Test at Deer Valley — A small sample of the 235 skis we tested this season. The majority of testing took place during our 2027 SKI Test at Deer Valley in late February. (Photo: Re Wikstrom)

Many of the skis we tested this year are brand-new or heavily updated models that brands have spent multiple winters quietly refining behind the scenes. After months of testing, we came away with a short list of skis we’re already itching to click into again when they officially land in shops for fall 2026.

We’re not ready to crown winners from this year’s SKI Test at Deer Valley, Utah just yet—you’ll have to wait for SKI’s 2027 Winter Gear Guide this fall for the full verdict. But with the season winding down and retailers slashing prices on current inventory, we’ll give you a sneak peek at some of our favorite models for 2027. Out of the hundreds of skis we tested this winter, these seven stood out—and some are already available now.

Table of Contents

2027 Skis: Our Early Favorites

2027 Stöckli Stormrider 108 all mountain ski black on white background — (Photo: Courtesy Stöckli)

NEW: Stöckli Stormrider 108

Available fall 2026

This is not a soft or playful ski, but it’s the most fun I had on a wide all-mountain ski at this year’s test. It can handle anything. It’s very balanced and holds an edge on groomers, is playful enough in soft snow and the bumps, and it crushes crud. I think it would suit skiers with a range of ability levels and skiing styles. It doesn’t really have any weaknesses. —John Jensen, official SKI tester

2027 Fischer The Curv Noize GT 85 carving ski

NEW: Fischer The Curv Noize GT 85

Available fall 2026

This ski makes skiing fun for everyone—all skier types and levels. It can lock into hard and fast carving when that is the goal, or to the alternate extreme in choppy crud where the flex of the ski promotes easy maneuverability and comfort. It has a consistent flex pattern in all conditions, allowing for both hard and soft snow turns. You can carve it, but the tail also releases easily for buttery, slow-speed slide turns, too. —Osbourne Benson, rookie SKI tester and shop tech at Hamilton Sports

2027 Nordica Unleashed 106 all mountain ski, multicolor, on white background — (Photo: Courtesy Nordica)

NEW: Nordica Unleashed 106

The Unleashed 106 is the most fun out of all Nordicas I’ve tested. It initiates well but does take some force to drive through the turn and keep the ski bent. But the tails are way more fun and forgiving than the Enforcer’s and let you ski creatively and jump lips—unlike the Enforcer 99, which wants to stay glued to the snow. —Alex Cernichiari, official SKI tester and outdoor industry pro

Skier in blue jacket skiing through aspen trees on Nordica Unleashed 106 all mountain skis. — Tester Nick Loomans takes the Nordica Unleashed 106 into the trees and soft snow during the 2027 SKI Test at Deer Valley. (Photo: Re Wikstrom)

2027 Salomon S/Lab Equipe GS carving ski on white background — (Photo: Courtesy Salomon)

NEW: Salomon S/LAB Equipe GS

This is hands down the most fun I’ve had on a groomer in years! This ski CRUSHES every turn and makes a simple groomer the most exciting and fun thing you’ve skied all season. It’s a toned-down GS ski but still has the backbone and ability to make you feel like a hero. Let me join the équipe!!! It’s agile as it gets yet it provides the stability I have been searching for. —Tommy Flitton, veteran SKI tester and freeride coach

Atomic Maven 103 CTi

The versatility of this ski is close to unmatched. It has tons of energy when entering and exiting a turn, but it’s still easy to control. It transitions effortlessly from groomed to packed powder to bumps without bucking you off. It’s also incredibly nimble from edge to edge and responds immediately to quick changes in turn style and direction. This was the most fun I’ve had on skis all season! —Avery Pesce, veteran SKI tester and Vice President of Merchandising at Boston Ski & Tennis

Rossignol Arcade W 88

I have chosen this ski as my fave before, and it remains my fave. It’s so FUN—approachable for lesser experts, yet loves to be driven by those who know how to find their edges. A lot of the carving skis felt like a LOT, meaning, they were taking me on a run, but the Arcade was so balanced and easy to ski that it really shined in the category. It loves being on edge and has a huge sweet spot—just tip your ankles and it rails into a clean carve. —Kimberly Beekman, official SKI tester, former Editor in Chief of Skiing Magazine

Woman skiing down snowy slope on sunny day on Rossignol Arcade carving skis. — Two seasons after it was first introduced, the Rossignol Arcade W 88 still impressed the ladies at the 2026 SKI Test. (Photo: Re Wikstrom)

2027 Faction Dancer 99 Ti all mountain ski on white background — (Photo: Courtesy Faction)

NEW: Faction Dancer 99 Ti

Available fall 2026

I was chatting with friends after SKI Test about what skis I liked and what we all agreed on about skiing: it should be fun. The Dancer 99 Ti was just that. It felt like a bump ski wiggling through sun-drenched mogul lines, or like an all-mountain park ski that wanted to use any transition to pop into the air and change direction. It wasn’t the burliest ski that could charge the fall line regardless of terrain and it did get bounced around in the chop. It didn’t have the strongest edge hold so I wasn’t seeking out firm snow to try to get my hip as low as possible. It was just super fun, full stop. I didn’t have to work too hard, it didn’t beat me up when I made a mistake, and I was able to feel like a hero in some seriously tricky snow conditions. —Jon Sexauer, 9-year veteran SKI tester and outdoor industry pro

Woman bending over tips of Faction skis on ski tuning table — Faction’s new lineup for 2027 includes new Titanal-infused versions of their fan favorite skis. (Photo: Re Wikstrom)

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