2024 Women's ~90mm All Mountain Ski Comparison

Onto our next comparison guide and this time, we’re looking at women’s all mountain skis in the 90 mm width range. We’ve got a pretty stacked list here, with a lot of variety, applications, and versatility offered in widths ranging from 88-92 mm. From narrower all-mountain and bump/tree skis to directional carvers and dedicated park skis, this list offers a little bit of everything. Whether you’re a progressing intermediate looking for a daily driver or an advanced to expert skier looking to add to their quiver, the 90 mm range checks a lot of boxes.

At a Glance:

2024 Armada ARW 88 Skis

Overview:

Starting off strong with the exciting new ARW 88, we’re getting a brand-new ski with enhanced durability and a more playful feel, thanks to upgraded construction and new technology. Stepping in to replace the former 86, we now get a little more width and a highly unique character, especially when compared to the 94 and 100. With the wider counters taking on more of an all-mountain personality, the 88 focuses more so on park and pipe while maintaining impressively versatile capabilities. Featuring a stiffer flex and moderate camber, plus a tighter turn radius, this ski appeals to dedicated park skiers, as well as those who want a lightweight twin tip ski. With poplar wood to boost energy and new w3Dgewall technology to enhance durability and strength, we get a highly maneuverable yet powerful freestyle-inspired ski with incredibly fun performance.

Who it's For:

Playful skiers who want a lightweight, durable twin tip ski with a park and pipe focus.

Price: $549.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Armada Reliance 88 C Skis

Overview:

A less demanding version of the Armada Reliance Ti, this carbon-powered option is just as capable but offers a more approachable feel for a wider range of skiers. Versatile, fun and easy to use, the Reliance 88 C is a highly affordable option for an all-mountain ski with on-piste finesse and a lightweight, energetic feel off-piste. Great in the bumps and trees, they are quick underfoot and provide enough stability and vibration dampening for skiers who prefer slower or more moderate speeds. Requiring less skier input, the carbon construction featuring lightweight caruba wood provides a more responsive, maneuverable feel. A highly versatile shape with a nice rocker profile in the tip and directional shape in the tail, skiers get a mix of float and smooth turn initiation as well as precise carving capabilities and control. Just a highly intuitive, friendly ski, those who feel less inclined to push the speed limit and prefer enjoying all of the mountain with ease will love this Reliance 88 C.

Who it's For:

A wide range of skiers who want a quick, easy to use ski that is versatile and confidence inspiring.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Armada Reliance 92 Ti Skis

Overview:

Quiet and incredibly stable, the Armada Reliance 92 Ti is a high performance, directional ski with strong all-mountain capabilities. One of the higher end skis on this list, it may come to some as a surprise given the freestyle reputation that Armada is known for. We love when a brand shows what it’s capable of, and this is the perfect example of that. Satisfying aggressive skiers who want precision and power first and foremost, we still get enough approachability and forgiveness to respond with energy off-piste. Armada approached the build of this ski with lightweight caruba wood and articulated titanal banding, which places full width metal underfoot and through the tail while removing slits in the forebody to allow for easy and smooth turn initiation. Standing up against some of the heavy hitters out there, this ski is a fantastic choice for those who value race-like performance in an all-mountain body.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who value burly carvers with a damp, stable nature.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Black Crows Captis Birdie Skis

Overview:

When it comes to not taking things too seriously and having the most amount of fun all over the mountain, it’s hard to go wrong with the Captis Birdie. Appealing to intermediate to advanced ladies who enjoy a freestyle-inspired ski with a lightweight build and versatile nature, this twin tip ski features a directional sidecut that allows for a range of turn shapes and styles, as well as progression both in the park and in the bumps and trees. The signature Black Crows construction, we get a poplar wood core sandwiched by two fiberglass laminates, which although simple, it provides a playful yet highly stable feel allowing skiers to carve an edge with confidence and access playful freestyle capabilities. The mix of construction components with a progressive flex pattern and fun, symmetrical shape leaves skiers with a well-rounded, approachable ski for all-mountain fun.

Who it's For:

Playful skiers who want a dedicated park ski or a responsive, all-mountain twin tip.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 Skis

Overview:

As one of the bestselling women’s skis out there, the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 returns unchanged for this season and for good reason. Appealing to a wide range of skiers, this swiss army knife of a ski has a high-performance ceiling and a predictable, friendly nature that inspires confidence across the entire mountain. Thanks to the build, shape and profile, the level of versatility that can be accessed allows so many different skiers to find its sweet spot. How this was achieved is truly a testament to the brand, but also a result of taking a traditional shape and sophisticated yet modest construction. Blizzard’s TrueBlend wood core is at the forefront here, fine-tuning the flex pattern in each individual length and creating a highly unique feel to each ski. Smooth and composed, a full width titanal laminate is also incorporated underfoot to maximize edge grip and stability. The blend of lightweight maneuverability and high-performance stability is what makes the Black Pearl 88 such a crowd pleaser.

Who it's For:

Quite literally anyone who wants a well-rounded ski with a high-performance ceiling and intuitive feel.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Dynastar E-Cross 88 Skis

Overview:

A new ski for the 2024 season, the Dynastar E-Cross 88 is a great addition to the Dynastar all-mountain line and will fit the needs of skiers in the advanced range who value precise performance on-piste with enough versatility to feel confident off-piste. A crisp turning ski with a short turn radius and generous amount of camber, the high level of performance is a result of both construction and shape, leaving skiers with ample control and pre-loaded energy for dynamic carving capabilities. The sophisticated build, featuring environmentally conscious construction methods we might add, focuses on a multi-dimensional use of poplar wood, as well as fiberglass and polyurethane material. A signature material for Dynastar skis, the PU material creates an impressively damp and quiet feel, which goes a long way when it comes to stability and power at speed. To top it all off, an H-shaped metal laminate is applied to keep the forebody and back of the ski firmly planted on the snow. Between the modern shape and burly build, the E-Cross 88 is a top contender for frontside performance.

Who it's For:

Skiers who want dynamic and clean carving capabilities with enough float and playfulness in the shovel.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Dynastar E-Pro 90 Skis

Overview:

Another fantastic ski from Dynastar, the E-Pro 90 offers ladies a traditional shape and powerful build that delivers forgiveness and float in the forebody with business-like performance in the tail. Skiers who want to make clean, round turns will love the metallic, more squared-off tail and camber profile that keeps you gripped and stable but not locked in. Upon exiting a turn, there is an impressive amount of rebound and feedback that boosts you into your next turn. What really stands out in terms of the shape is the shovel of this ski. A slimmer, longer tip shape with a generous amount of rocker and splay gives the E-Pro 90 a crazy amount of flotation and maneuverability which is quite the stark difference from the rest of the ski. As far as the flex and overall feel, the hybrid core and titanal rocket frame laminate give it its high-performance fuel, keeping it on the higher end of the skill spectrum.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who want a directional all-mountain ski that carves with intent but floats with ease.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Elan Ripstick 88 W Skis

Overview:

A true joy to ski, the entire Ripstick line by Elan delivers the most intuitive, rewarding performance, with the 88 being the narrowest, most on-piste focused option in the series. Elan truly worked some magic with these skis, incorporating a sophisticated construction featuring tubelite wood core and carbon line technology to keep the weight down while stiffening the flex and providing unparalleled energy and feedback. With a high-performance ceiling and lightweight, approachable nature, progressing intermediates to advanced ladies can reap the many benefits of this ski. Incredibly versatile and confidence inspiring, the powerful yet friendly construction is matched with a spoony, flexible tip and traditional tail shape, plus the highly successful amphibio rocker profile. Reliable grip when you need it, energetic maneuverability and ample flotation when you want it-the Ripstick 88 is sure to satisfy a lot of skiers’ needs and have them begging for more.

Who it's For:

A huge range of skiers who want energetic responsiveness and impeccable edge grip.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Fischer Ranger 90 W Skis

Overview:

If you’re a playful skier who benefits from the performance of metal, this unisex ski is right up there next to the Sheeva, E-Pro, and Mindbender as far as use of partial metal and powerful feedback. Offering solid on-trail performance and versatile usefulness, the blend of shape, build and profile allows it to do a whole lot, giving it the high rating it deserves. Leaning more towards the freeride side of the spectrum, the rocker profile and taper shape in the tips make for floaty, smeary behavior in soft snow while the directional tail and shaped Ti metal laminate provide exceptional stability and strength for dynamic carving capabilities. With full-width metal underfoot and extending into the tips and tails, plus v-shaped cuts in the middle for better flexion, the overall feel of this ski is strong but natural, appealing to capable skiers who want versatility, dampness and power.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who value a balance of power and playfulness.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Head Kore 91 Skis

Overview:

Just as we see with a few other skis in this category, including the Elan Ripstick 88 and Mindbender 90C, we’re benefiting greatly from the use of carbon. Mimicking the properties of metal while keeping the weight to a minimum, we’re seeing this approach more and more often and it’s easy to see why. Providing an ideal level of stiffness and energy, the use of carbon in the Kore 91 differs slightly as it is placed in a horizontal fashion, with one laminate on the bottom and one on top. What’s unique about the upper laminate is it is curved to match the chamfered edge of the ski, making it that much stiffer and more powerful. One of the stiffest skis on this list, it is an incredible carver and performs very strongly on-piste. That said, the width-appropriate tip and tail rocker gives it excellent off-piste capabilities and lightweight maneuverability.

Who it's For:

Higher level skiers who want a powerful ski they can drive with force but still maintain lightweight maneuverability.

Price: $699.00

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At a Glance:

2024 K2 Mindbender 90C W Skis

Overview:

Another great ski featuring carbon-powered construction, the Mindbender 90C W features a nice, forgiving flex pattern with a high level of responsiveness and maneuverability. This Mindbender carbon series is a great alternative to the Mindbender Ti line, appealing to progressive intermediates looking for an approachable build and versatile shape. Still offering a high-performance ceiling, skiers are getting strong on-trail capabilities with a short turn radius and directional tail, with a smooth rocker profile in the forebody for soft snow capabilities. The application of carbon is worth noting as the carbon spectral braiding technique fine-tunes the flex throughout, with a tighter weave in the shovel and underfoot for more precision and looser in the tail for a more playful finish. For easy cruising and effortless turn initiation, plus off-trail versatility, the Mindbender 90C W is highly appealing to many skiers.

Who it's For:

Progressing intermediates looking for an accessible, fun-loving ski that will enhance performance and inspire confidence.

Price: $549.95

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At a Glance:

2024 K2 Mindbender 89 Ti W Skis

Overview:

One of the best on-trail performers, the Mindbender 89 Ti W loves to carve clean, crisp shapes with power and precision. A treat to ski, it certainly boasts frontside performance while also showing off its capabilities off-piste thanks to its versatile shape and fun-loving character. The sophisticated build and short turn radius are the driving forces behind its eagerness to turn, with stiffness and upfront power in the forebody thanks to the use of Y-beam technology. With more metal extending along the edges in the shovel and tapering to the middle in the back, you get strong turn initiation and plentiful stability, especially at high edge angles. Energetic and agile all the while, this ski pairs ease of use with powerful performance. Those who want a strong carver on groomers with a nimble enough feel for soft snow, look no further.

Who it's For:

Advanced level skiers who want agility paired with precise performance.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Kastle Obsidian 92 Skis

Overview:

Fresh for the 2024 season and ready to impress, the Kastle Obsidian 92 exudes energy and personality in a narrower, freeride shape. Stepping outside of the box for the brand, this ski expands the horizon a bit by inviting a more fun-loving feel and accessible nature, allowing a broader audience of less aggressive skiers to reap the benefits. We get a relatively simple build here, with beech and poplar leading the charge, plus two layers of fiberglass and Hollowtech tip technology, giving this ski a poppy and responsive flex with enough vibration damping to even it out. Round it all out with the fun, versatile shape featuring longer tip rocker and taper with a flatter tail and you get a range of turn shapes and styles, from snappy to smeary. High quality and precise as ever, Kastle is known for their sophisticated, high-performance skis and the Obsidian 92 invites some freeride flair to a highly successful iteration.

Who it's For:

Energetic skiers who look for immediate feedback and precise performance.

Price: $729.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Liberty Evolv 90 W Skis

Overview:

For those in favor of groomer skiing and carving finesse, the Evolv 90 W will check a lot of boxes. With some versatility built into it, it definitely shines more so on-piste, with a women specific build and smooth, strong frontside oriented shape. Built to provide strong grip and high edge angle capabilities, we get a bamboo/paulownia wood blend mixed with triple vertical titanal struts which keeps the weight down while providing exceptional power and stability. Adding onto the construction, we then get two layers of fiberglass and two carbon strips to round out the flex and level of stiffness. A good amount going on here, it shows in its performance, as it’s quite the carving ski despite its width and weight. Round it all out with a long effective edge and low-profile shovel and you get quite the smooth operator when you factor in the build and overall dampness.

Who it's For:

Frontside skiers who like a quiet ride and strong carving capabilities.

Price: $699.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Liberty Genesis 90 Skis

Overview:

Another great one from Liberty, the Genesis 90 steers more in the freeride direction while maintaining an impressively strong build and high level of performance. A highly versatile shape with all mountain capabilities, this fun-loving twin tip ski is a blast no matter where you take it. While the Evolv 90 prefers more of an on-trail format, this ski likes to adventure into soft snow, bumps and trees thanks to its smooth, low rocker profile and playful, surfy feel. That said, Liberty worked in the perfect amount of torsional stiffness by incorporating a single vertical metal strut to the construction, giving it just the right amount of power and vibration dampening to balance out the agile nature. With camber lining up with the thicker sidewall profile, skiers get great edge grip and carving capabilities in addition to the freestyle feel. Versatile, strong and incredibly useful, the Genesis 90 is easy to love.

Who it's For:

Creative skiers who like to make round arcing turns on piste and smeary, playful maneuvers off-piste.

Price: $629.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Santa Ana 88 Skis

Overview:

It would be remiss of us not to include this top contender on this list as the Santa Ana 88 is a true master of smooth, powerful performance, drawing in quite the fan base of expert level skiers who value precision and control. The refined build combined with an all-mountain shape and progressive flex leaves skiers with a very high-performance result, with its preferred terrain being frontside though certainly not limited to. As far as the construction, we’re getting a full performance wood core to start, with carbon chassis technology and terrain specific metal to maximize stiffness and powerful rebound. What’s cool about the application of metal here is that Nordica specifically sizes the amount to each ski to better align with applicable terrain and use. As far as performance goes as a result, the metal along the edges leads to exceptional carving power and precision while the shape invites soft snow capabilities and all mountain versatility. Great for on-trail domination, for those wanting a little more soft snow focus, there’s the next size up in width available at 93 mm.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who love precision and power but want a little variety too.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Santa Ana 88 Unlimited Skis

Overview:

For those who love the shape of the Santa Ana but want a lighter, touring version, you’re in luck. We love it when a company carries a successful footprint over into a different application and in this case, the Santa Ana 88 Unlimited is the perfect example of that. One of the more high-performance touring skis out there, this ski provides the perfect strength to weight ratio, incorporating a sophisticated build while keeping weight to a minimum. As the narrowest of the Unlimited series, we’re seeing a more dedicated touring ski rather than a hybrid performer. We also get a really nice, energetic flex and level of stiffness from the two applications of carbon placed above and below the wood. A fun, floaty tip for soft snow and a generous amount of camber, this shape and construction together gives emerging tourers an amazingly versatile, approachable ski.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for a good intro touring ski that is accessible but high performing.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Rossignol Rallybird 92 Skis

Overview:

One of the quietest, smoothest skis to date, this Rallybird 92 offers a level of dampness and stability that encourages all-mountain performance and versatility for a range of skiers. We love when a ski can be accessible for both progressing intermediates as well as advanced skiers, and this ski does a fantastic job at inspiring confidence while also keeping the bar high for those who need it. The approach to construction here shows Rossignol’s intent behind this ski, with one of the main goals being versatility. The use of paulownia wood provides a lightweight but impressively stiff and energetic flex here. We then get Rossignol’s classic Diagofiber to further the performance, increasing the torsional stiffness without it feeling overbearing. The ample camber provides incredible energy in and out of turns, while the relatively dramatic rocker in the tip invites soft snow performance. Lightweight, quick turning, and damp, this versatile, directional all mountain ski has so much to offer.

Who it's For:

Experienced skiers who like a directional ski with energetic rebound and smooth stability.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Salomon Stance 88 W Skis

Overview:

This Stance 88 W is sometimes an overlooked ski, partially because of the fame and reputation of the QST line. A shame to say the least, as this ski exudes incredible power and energy in a relatively lightweight package. Slight changes for this year, we’re getting a higher level of responsiveness and playfulness without losing the knife-like edge grip and performance ceiling. A little less stable at top speeds, we’re now getting more versatility as a result, with a more fun-loving personality versus a powerhouse speed demon. Splitting the difference between frontside and freeride, the footprint remains the same as last year with the alterations being in the construction. Moving away from a full poplar wood core, Salomon uses a mix of karuba and poplar to ramp up the poppiness, while the twinframe 2 technology with carbon and basalt fibers milled in keeps stability and power at the forefront. A high-performance ski with both power and agility, this ski will appeal to strong skiers who like quickness and strength.

Who it's For:

Energetic frontside skiers who want a responsive, hard carving ski with versatility.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Salomon QST Lux 92 Skis

Overview:

Focusing more heavily on freeride performance, the QST Lux 92 is a fool-proof choice for ladies who want an intuitive and friendly all mountain ski. Quite possibly the most versatile and well-rounded ski on here, it’s hard to top the blend of construction attributes and fun, floaty shape, backed by Salomon’s unique and highly successful technology. When it comes to that freeride flair, energy and playfulness are key components. By using poplar wood and a carbon/flax blend, skiers have easy access to effortless maneuverability and pop. As for soft snow performance, the dramatic amount of rocker and taper in the shovel invites unbeatable flotation while the double sidewall technology evens it out with strong edge grip. Add in the short turn radius and this ski is capable and confident on just about everything.

Who it's For:

Literally any skier who wants a go-to, easy yes ski for all mountain versatility.

Price: $549.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Scott Pure Free 90 W Skis

Overview:

Aimed to please the skier who prefers a classic shape and predictable performance. Stable and sturdy are among the distinguishing characteristics of the Scott Pure Free 90 W, with a burly core and thick core profile. While the construction materials are nothing out of the ordinary, it's more about the use of them here and Scott takes the generous route. With a poplar wood core from tip to tail, plus a titanal reinforcement underfoot, the profile thickness is really what gives this ski its signature steadiness. While it certainly tips the scale, it still manages to deliver an impressively low swing weight and smooth, consistent flex. Add in the turned-up tail and positive camber underfoot and the performance on-piste is tough to beat.

Who it's For:

Traditionalists who want predictability and ample stability from a thicker profile ski.

Price: $700.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Stockli Nela 88 Skis

Overview:

When it comes to high quality design, Stockli takes the cake. With the Nela 88, we’re certainly paying the price but for solid reasons. As one of the most precise, damp skis on the market, Stockli worked some magic here, focusing on a sturdy yet maneuverable foundation. Built with lightweight paulownia wood, this ski also gets two laminates of metal, though the application is what gives this ski such a unique feel. Using the upper laminate as the topsheet, it dampens vibrations right off the bat as the top layer while also keeping the weight more realistic given the amount of metal used. Rounding out the flex with a thin layer of fiberglass, the Nela 88 has a wonderfully stiff yet lightweight, quiet feel. The directional shape gives it more of an on-piste format yet given its nature, it can certainly take you off the side of the trail for some fresh snow.

Who it's For:

Advanced skiers who want a poised, precise ski with a high quality, high reward build.

Price: $1,099.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Kenja 88 Skis

Overview:

A force to be reckoned with, the Kenja 88 might win the overall for best carver on this list. Sturdy and stout, this powerful ski has a hard-charging personality and is best suited for advanced to expert skiers who are ready to put in the work. The alterations that we saw last year invite a little more approachability as far as turn radius goes, while precision and strength remain higher than most competitors. Less of a planky feel with the new approach, we get great energy and liveliness, giving skiers more access to reactive feedback. Featuring a multilayer wood core, one full metal laminate and one tailored titanal frame, it's easy to see why its carving capabilities and on-trail domination are so competitive. If you’re someone with a race background and like a versatile ski that can get on edge, the Kenja 88 is going to deliver.

Who it's For:

Former racers or aggressive frontside skiers who want the ultimate in power and precision.

Price: $699.99

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