Taking backcountry powder surfing to the next level is the all-new 2024 K2 Wayback 106. This ski has the ideal blend of shape, weight, and profile to make it an excellent touring ski for advanced and expert skiers who know where to go for the deep stuff. Touring skis have blown up recently, and there’s some that work better as hybrid options for both in and out of bounds, and there are others, like this, that serve better as dedicated touring skis. If you’re in the market for an efficient and fun-loving touring ski that floats as well as it climbs, you should definitely keep the 2024 K2 Wayback 106 squarely on your list.

Wayback’s touring technology can be broken down into a few different components. In the 106, we’re getting a paulownia wood core, but they take it a step further than the 98 by using a Tour Light version of the core, keeping the weight down even further. Paulownia does a great job at retaining its responsiveness even though it’s not heavy at all. The stiffness and precision of the ski still operates at a very high level. On top of that core is K2’s Carbon Overdrive. These uni-directional carbon stringers stiffen the fore/aft flex of the ski and make it more agile and energetic without adding much weight. While most touring skis will stay away from titanal and metal in their builds, K2 uses it wisely and sparingly. Underfoot, and extending slightly to the tips and tails, the Ti Spyne serves not only as a binding retention platform, but also for damping vibrations and adding confidence and power to the mix. Since this is neither a full width nor an extremely long laminate, the weight addition isn’t catastrophic. Overall, we’re looking at a weight of 1475 grams in the 179, so keeping it under 1500 grams while still having it be 106 mm underfoot and with a small metal laminate is pretty darn impressive.

The shape keeps the ski afloat and does so with relative ease. All other things being equal, the lighter ski will float better than the heavier one, so this 106 has a lot going for it when it comes to staying on top. The whole point of this lightweight ski is to be efficiently hiked to the top of a distant mountain peak that’s covered in deep snow, and in that sense, the Wayback 106 is a big success. There’s not quite as much tail rocker as we’d normally see in an alpine version of this ski, rather the Wayback 106 has a relatively flat tail for the intention of the ski. The flatter the touring ski, the better the climbing. There’s still some tip rocker, but not a whole lot of taper. This leads to a longer turn radius of 22.3-meters in the 179, putting more onus on the skier to shape and dictate the turn style. In fresh powder, this is very effective in making the ski smooth and smeary.

For dedicated touring skiers looking for a wide-bodied option that’s versatile and approachable, the all-new 2024 K2 Wayback 106 is a big-time performer. This ski floats great, tours well, and offers accomplished skiers a lot to like when it comes to blending uphill efficiency and downhill playfulness. Best when paired with a lighter and more technical set of bindings and boots, the Wayback 106 is a great piece of the overall touring puzzle.