This is a fun one, because we do have to take some of the brands and their marketing into account. Sure, there are lighter skis out there than a Black Crows Corvus Freebird, and for uphill efficiency, whatever ski that may be will be easier to climb, but that’s just not the whole story. Differences between alpine counterparts makes sense to highlight here as well, and for skis like Corvus, or Ripstick, or Enforcer, the influence remains, while the weight is shaved. But for the most part, if you’re looking to get to the top as fast as possible, stick to the lighter skis on the wall.

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Overview:

As the lightest ski on the wall, it’s easy to say it’s the best tourer in terms of uphill efficiency. The Transalp 90 C has a lot of European notes to it, as a strong contender for hut-to-hut trips and true randonee-style skiing. Fischer uses a milled wood core that takes material out and lightens the load, but the way in which they do it does not jeopardize the torsional stiffness or overall flex of the ski. With a titanal reinforcement and the carbon tex material, Fischer is not skimping on downhill acumen, so if you’re worried about technical descents, the Transalp 90 Carbon should hold up its end of the bargain.

Who it's For:

Dedicated alpine tourers who put a large emphasis on weight savings and technology.

Price: $749.99

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Overview:

This ski has a great use of Volkl’s Multi-Layer Wood core light to go along with 3D Radius Sidecut and a carbon tip shovel. This combination makes for easy ups and fun-loving downs. At 96 mm underfoot, we’ve got some good flotation here without the skis being too bulky for uphills. By incorporating their 3D Radius sidecut, skiers get the technology of Volkl’s freeride division tacked onto the light weight and ease of use of a dedicated touring ski.

Who it's For:

Big time tourers who are looking for a technology-oriented ski with a light weight and fun-loving nature.  If you have a Mantra for alpine skiing and like the overall feel and character, the Rise Beyond 96 is an easy sell for the touring world.

Price: $749.99

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Overview:

By blending a paulownia wood core, a ti spyne, and carbon overdrive stringers, the K2 Wayback 96 combines a lot of materials and technology, yet somehow keep the ski around 1300 grams. The Wayback has been an overlooked ski for tourers for a few years now, and we’re hoping the new Dispatch skis don’t take away too much of the attention here, as the Wayback is a more efficient uphill ski by a good margin. It’s not so bad on the downs, either, mainly due to the 96 mm waist and all-terrain rocker profile. With that carbon in the mix, you’re getting decent stiffness and response for when the terrain and conditions get dicey. K2’s skin attachment points work great, too, if you find the corresponding skin.

Who it's For:

Fun-loving touring skiers who like the K2 attitude but don’t want excess weight.

Price: $749.95

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Overview:

The name kind of says it all with this one. If you’re looking to escape and get out there into the deep backcountry, the Escaper 97 is the way to go. Built with a paulownia wood core, nano basalt and nano titanal, these skis get the techy treatment for sure. They have Rossignol’s skin fixation point in the tip as well, so if you get the matching skin, you’re good to go. The basalt fibers work quite well in providing the ski with some energy and focused pop for fun-loving descents, while the 1325-gram weight keeps the ski super-efficient and easy on the ups.

Who it's For:

Longer ski tourers who are seeking a great blend of width, weight, and technology.

Price: $749.95

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Overview:

It’s all about the use of carbon in this ski. Blizzard starts with a fairly standard paulownia wood core and then implements their Carbon Drive 3.0 to the mix. By taking away the carbon from the tips and tails and focusing on the binding area, the Zero G and its new carbon build allows for a more freeride feel on the downhills. They still use additional carbon in the underfoot zone as well as uni-directional stringers that run from tip to tail. It’s not quite as pingy or deflective as the outgoing model, much to the delight of uphill enthusiasts who want something a bit more supple for downhill performance.

Who it's For:

Skiers who like carbon-powered touring skis without the full-stiffness of the material.

Price: $749.95

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Overview:

Another carbon-driven ski, the Fischer Hannibal 96 is built a whole lot like the Transalp 90 C, but with a wider profile and more of a freeride feel. The light weight paulownia wood core is milled strategically to reduce weight, bolstered by a titanal reinforcement plate and carbon tex laminate. These are some high-performance skis for sure, and it’s impressive that they get the weight down to keep the uphill efficiency right up there with the lightest skis on the wall. We’re still under 1400 grams in the 183, and that’s a very good thing in terms of how easy it is to get to the top of distant mountain peaks.

Who it's For:

Adventure and thrill seekers who are still leaning to light weight over high-performance, but are definitely looking for a blend of the two attributes.

Price: $799.99

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Overview:

This ski continues to impress. As one of the outlier models that could easily be used in an in-bounds and resort format, the Backland 100 still hovers right around 1400 grams even in the longest length. This makes for an impressive blend of power, quickness, and performance while keeping the touring capacity of the ski to a total maximum. The ski shares a footprint with the Maverick 100 Ti, but uses a blend of poplar and caruba to go along with carbon backbone to stiffen the ski and add the grip and snap. They keep the HRZN tech in the tips to boost float, making the Backland 100 one of the better pure freeride skis on this list, even more amazing due to the insanely light weight. The thinner profile has a lot to do with it, and it makes sense for a lot of Atomic’s skis in this regard.

Who it's For:

Almost a 50/50 hybrid ski for resort skiers and tourers. You want the same ski for uphill access as chairlift use.

Price: $699.95

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Overview:

By sharing the Ripstick name, we know we’re getting some top-end uses of carbon to go along with a fun-loving personality. Built with their light weight tubelite wood core and carbon bridge technology, the Ripstick 88 Tour takes a slightly different approach to the build versus the downhill version. By using a single carbon rod that’s placed on the upper part of the ski, the Ripstick 88 Tour does a great job of focusing the strength and stability to the central spine of the ski, making it strong for its weight for sure. By hovering just around the 1400-gram mark in the 177, the Ripstick 88 Tour is the most tour-focused ski in the line, so if you’re looking to spend exclusive time in the backcountry with a tech-oriented binding, this is the Ripstick Tour to do so with.

Who it's For:

Ripstick fans who want an even lighter version of their favorite alpine ski. You value uphill efficiency and high-end construction and precision to accomplish the task at hand.

Price: $699.99

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Overview:

A lot of people balked at the dismissal of the Tracer series of skis, but that’s only because they never skied a Locator. This lineup does a great job at taking the light weight and touring efficiency of the Tracer, and putting it on the next level. These Locator skis do a great job of distancing themselves better from Declivity than Tracer did, so most of it is good for the brand. For the performance, it’s all about the tip shape for us. The Locator 96 has a straight cut and a long, tapered shape to the shovel, and this makes it cut and slice through deep, fresh, and soft snow with poise and ease. The caruba core, ti binding dampener with rubber, and carbon reinforcement make this ski a pleasure to ski, and while it definitely skews more to the touring-specific side of the spectrum, there’s no denying that we had a lot of fun riding the lifts on this ski.

Who it's For:

Hybrid-style skiers who still tour mostly.  You want something smooth and dreamy in the fresh snow with a good amount of pop and energy when the going gets interesting.

Price: $749.95

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Overview:

We like how Line presents their skis to the public. Rather than designating a specific series to a particular group, they just kind of throw their flag out there and let the skier decide. We see it with the outlier skis like Blade or Sakana, and we also see it with the lighter weight Vision models. The 98 is the narrowest and lightest, and we’ve loved its versatility and playfulness for years. While it doesn’t fall into Line’s “Touring” category as far as marketing is concerned, it’s tough to look past the 1450-gram weight and say it’s not going to be efficient, especially when stacked up against the skis following on this list that are definitely considered “tour.” The use of maple and paulownia pairs well with the Aramid, Carbon, and Fiberglass materials to make a responsive ski that feels like a feather on your feet. Whatever way you choose to use the Vision 98, chances are, you’ll have a great time.

Who it's For:

A lot of skiers looking for a light weight ski to have fun on.  You love touring, but want more of an alpine influence.

Price: $749.95

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Overview:

Since we’re big fans of the M-Pro 99, it makes sense that the M-Tour 99 would follow in very similar footsteps. Built with a hybrid wood core consisting of paulownia in the central chord and polyurethane along the sides, the M-Tour 99 is an awesome choice for freeride enthusiasts who are looking to keep the weight under 1500 grams per ski. The PU material works great in the alpine versions of the ski, so it makes sense that it applies here as well. Dynastar boosts the performance of the ski by adding basalt vertical stringers to the mix, basically functioning as a more flexible version of carbon stringers. With a skin notch in the tail and a light weight, the Dynastar M-Tour 99 F-Team is ready to conquer all of your backcountry dreams and adventures.

Who it's For:

Skiers who are leaning to the freeride end of the spectrum and who want something fun and interesting to ski on, not just uphill.

Price: $849.95

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Overview:

We always find it interesting that one brand’s touring ski can weigh more than another’s alpine ski, but that’s all part of the fun of this comparison. Built with a full karuba wood core, these skis also feature a blend of carbon and basalt fiber to go along with cork damplifier and a titanal binding reinforcement. That kind of leads to a bit of weight, in a relative sense, as these tour-specific skis are designed with downhill stability and confidence in mind. It’s all about balance, and a lot of skis in this range of the wall focus on that specifically. By blending the uphill efficiency with downhill acumen, the Salomon MTN 96 Carbon is an awesome choice to make the downhill run(s) as interesting as the climbs. While there’s not a lot of resort potential with this ski, it’s no slouch when it comes to more aggressive skiing due to the tech.

Who it's For:

Aspiring touring skiers who still want a bit of an alpine feel to their skis. You value light weight and a touring-specific approach.

Price: $799.95

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Overview:

It’s awesome when a company that’s already known for technological precision and construction takes their game to the next level. We’ve always talked about DPS and their use of carbon to make their alpine skis feel a lot sturdier than the weight may let on, and the Tour versions of their alpine models are very successful in this regard. In addition to a blend of paulownia and ash in the wood core, DPS uses aerospace grade foam as well as algal material in order to lighten the weight and emphasize the uphill prowess of the ski. It works, and at under 1500 grams, the Pagoda Tour 100 RP has a very strong leg to stand on. If you are a fan of the RP shaping and rockering profile, you’re in luck! The Tour version follows the same footprint so you’re getting a short radius and a floaty personality.

Who it's For:

Precision-oriented skiers who like the feel of a carbon-powered ski at a top-level of quality.

Price: $1,449.00

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Overview:

Another option for skiers who already love a shape and a name, the Nordica Enforcer 94 Unlimited follows the same footprint and profile of the successful and hard-charging Enforcer 94, just with no metal and less weight. We’ve crossed the mythical threshold into the 1500-gram and over skis, and at this point, with this ski, it’s hard to ignore the resort aspect as well as the touring capabilities. Built with a wood core and two applications of carbon, the Unlimited 94 carves really well, has a pretty stiff flex, and floats great for a 94 due to the long rocker and spoony tip. It is, however, about 500 grams lighter than its alpine counterpart, so if you want to go uphill for a long period of time, it’s still on the efficient side for sure.

Who it's For:

Enforcer fans and skiers looking for a strong alpine influence in their touring choice.

Price: $799.99

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Overview:

If Glen Plake puts his name on a ski, we’re likely going to take a strong look at it. With a more central mount point and a twin-tipped profile, the freestyle, freeride, and touring performance of this ski is beyond reproach. They have a very strange combination of attributes, and a lot of that is due to Glen’s interesting approach to the sport of skiing in general. The rather straight cut of the ski makes it super flickable and easy to get from edge to edge, even for a 104, making it feel more like a toy than a tool on your feet. Built with a central carbon rod that keeps the ski on the straight and damp, the Ripstick 104 Tour loves to be pushed straight and fast, or sideways and slow, but not much of a carver like we see in the Unlimited 94.

Who it's For:

Touring skiers who are looking for more of a freestyle influence in their skis.  You want fun and flotation to go along with a ski that’s just over 1500 grams.

Price: $799.99

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Overview:

Fans of regular Pagoda 106 C2 skis looking to tour should take a square look at these beauties. If you like the C2 shaping with the 19-meter arc versus the shorter RP of the 100 Tour, the 106 makes a whole lot of sense. These skis, built just like the 100’s, have aerospace grade foam to go along with algal material, paulownia, ash, and the normal dual-carbon laminate. It’s a top-end build for sure, and we’ve had that foam in our hands, and it’s impressively light and stiff—a very nice material to use in touring skis for sure. Great in soft snow, and easy to climb on, the DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2 is a fantastic addition and improvement to the DPS line, and one that will satisfy the needs of demanding touring skiers to be sure.

Who it's For:

More aggressive DPS fans who like the longer arc and more direct personality.

Price: $1,449.00

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Overview:

For the most part, we’re looking at a lighter version of an Origin 106, just with a cut-off tail. Instead of the VMT 1.0 core like in regular Origin 106, the BC version has a light weight aspen core with carbon fiber stringers. This aspen does tack on a few grams, but it’s still within reason for a touring ski, especially given the freeride flair that comes out of it in the performance department. While there’s still some tail rocker to speak of, and that keeps the roundness of the Origin’s character firmly intact. The fact that they flatten it out a bit and cut it square to accept a skin makes a bit of difference from a freeride perspective, but is pretty necessary given the uphill capacity of the ski.

Who it's For:

Freeride tourers who still want the Liberty brand to bring the heat when it comes to fun-loving descents.

Price: $899.99

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Overview:

What used to be a strong and sturdy alpine model got quickly absorbed by the free tour world in the Black Crows universe. The Navis Freebird is built with a blend of paulownia and poplar woods, a metal laminate underfoot, and fiberglass reinforcement for energy. This does make the grams pile up a bit, but it’s still pretty light at 1650 g per ski. The longer camber and effective edge makes it a good carver if you find yourself on-trail, while the flared-out tip makes for good flotation in fresh, deep, and soft snow. While the ski returns unchanged for this year, it’s still quite a modern and progressive style for true freeskiing and touring, but more in a European sense of the word. At 102 mm underfoot, it’s a decent floater, and when combined with that spoony tip, it makes it rise up very nicely in the deep.

Who it's For:

Mixed alpine touring aficionados who blend the uphill with the downhill. 

Price: $899.95

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Overview:

A new line for K2, the Dispatch series taps into a normally un-tourlike material: metal. By using a mostly full metal laminate, rather than just a binding zone plate, the Dispatch makes waves in the touring world. It’s a pretty successful incorporation, as they still keep the weight down to 1655 g per ski in the 182. We see a paulownia wood core, much like what we see with Wayback, but add the Titanal Hex-Beam technology and uni-directional flax to the mix. The metal layer consists of three separate, yet connected zones of metal that run full-width underfoot, with two more hexagonal shapes in the tips and tails. The very ends of the ski, in addition to the sides of the midbody, are unencumbered by metal, keeping the ski playful and floaty. Build aside, the shape is decidedly straight and pretty darn rockered. This is not a tip-and-rip ski that you can just lean into, lest you want to fall over. With a 26.3-meter arc in the 182, it’s about as straight as it gets, which is a good thing for aggressive and directional skiers who like to take a more modern approach to powder and backcountry use.

Who it's For:

Touring enthusiasts looking for the latest and greatest option from their favorite ski company.

Price: $899.95

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Overview:

Another really smart move from Nordica—the Unlimited 104 is an awesome ski, regardless of application. The fact that it weighs about 400 grams less than the Free version makes it not only accessible for ski touring enthusiasts, but also for alpine skiers who simply wanted a lighter Enforcer 104. In this sense, Nordica is the big winner here, as the Unlimited 104 follows the same successful blueprint of the 104 Free but with carbon laminates instead of metal. While normally this may take away some performance attributes, it doesn’t quite seem so in this case—the 104 Unlimited is an awesome ski for softer snow and trees, but it also has the same carving capabilities (minus the total dampness) of the metal version. We loved it every time we skied it last year, from woods and groomers to powder and beyond, and are looking forward to more good times this season.

Who it's For:

Enforcer 104 lovers who just want a lighter ski.  You value strong carving and shorter arcs with drifty and smeary powder performance.

Price: $849.99

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Overview:

Another straight shooter with upper-mountain management written all over it, the Armada Locator 112 is a true big mountain master. With an awesome shovel shape that runs true and smooth, the Locator 112, much like the narrower versions, features a caruba core, a metal and rubber underfoot laminate, and carbon stringers to stiffen the flex. Build aside, the shape is amazing when it comes to smooth flotation in deep snow, as this ski is kind of elevated to that deep snow status that we all dream of achieving. Thanks to Armada’s dedication to building a new and modern touring ski, the Locator is an ideal choice for skiers who want to harness the straight-line mentality of new ski design. While we’re tipping the scales at 1800 grams per ski, we are dealing with a good amount of surface area here, so that’s kind of understandable.

Who it's For:

Big Mountain tourers who want the most modern and cutting-edge shaping and design. You don’t mind pulling an extra few hundred grams up the hill in order to get the sweet downhill performance.

Price: $849.95

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Overview:

We like how the Blaze, similar to what we see with Line, put their ski out there and let the skier determine how they want to use it. I find it interesting that the recommended bindings on Volkl’s website span from the Marker Jester alpine binding through the Duke PT and Kingpin range. This means that Volkl has put enough touring tech into it to warrant a tour binding, but haven’t taken it out of the discussion for a pure alpine resort ski either. Built with a hybrid multi-layer wood core, the Blaze 106 features an isocore strip that lightens the load while the suspension tips and tails go well with reducing vibrations and increasing the stability of the ski. We also get a metal laminate that blurs the line between functioning as a structural laminate and a binding retention zone. Lots of rocker and a long radius in this ski makes it an exceptional floater for the width, and just a whole lot of fun.

Who it's For:

Advanced and Expert skiers who are looking for a lighter, wider ski for a mix of resort and backcountry applications.

Price: $649.99

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Overview:

The whole idea here is to split your time at the resort and in the backcountry with one pair of skis. Based on the hugely successful footprint and blueprint of the ubiquitous Rustler 10, the Hustle takes modern freetouring to the next level. We love how bouncy and active the ski is in a resort setting, and while it’s not terribly light for a touring ski, it’s lighter than a lot of other skis out there, I guess. Pair it with a lighter binding and save some grams on the setup for true touring performance. Overall, this thing is a blast, and the fact that it uses Blizzard’s new True Blend Free wood core and two laminates of carbon makes it a sophisticated and high-quality ski for a whole lot of skiers and applications.

Who it's For:

Blended skiers looking for one ski to do it all. Downhill in the morning and uphill in the afternoon.

Price: $799.95

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Overview:

Straight, rugged, and extremely pink, the Black Crows Corvus Freebird is a top-shelf free tour ski that almost tips the scale at 2000 grams. From a marketing perspective, it still fits in Black Crows’ touring section, so if you’re looking for something that skews to the strong end of the uphill spectrum, this is the ski for you. Built with a full poplar wood core, a titanal reinforcement under the bindings, and a mix of fiberglass and carbon stringers, this is a full-build ski that just so happens to fall into the touring section of the catalog. At 107 mm underfoot and a pretty flat overall profile, it’s a great floater, so if you manage to lug it up to the top of a distant mountain peak, you’ll be rewarded with very confident downhill prowess.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who are looking for the burliest touring ski or a mid-weight alpine charger.

Price: $999.95

Written by Bob St.Pierre on 11/17/22