2026 Men's Narrow Frontside Ski Comparison

At 70 mm and under, skis in this category are clearly built for a specific purpose. Similar, but opposite to 120 mm underfoot powder skis, you do need the proper conditions and terrain to access the entirety of what these skis have to offer. You need smooth and firm groomers here (except for Le Mogul) in order to find the limit. Any softer, and you’ll find some limitations. That said, you can’t go firm enough, just like with powder skis, bottomless is best. Most of these skis, especially past the first few, are quite demanding, and as we continue to move from accessible to demanding, that gap gets a lot smaller with this collection of skis. If you’re a technical skier, a racer, or just an on-piste aficionado, you’ll love the skis in this section.

At a Glance:

2026 Faction Le Mogul Skis

Overview:

The outlier of this comparison, we just found it too hard to resist. While the application of this ski is vastly different than the others, there are many similarities in terms of thier uniqueness and one-dimensional attributes. With measurements of 100/66/90 in the 171 cm length, these skis are quick and capable of dominating zipper lines and competition-ready mogul courses. It is fair to say, though, that Faction does incorporate many design attributes, like a full-strength sidewall and a mustache flex to the ski to make it feel like other skis in the line. With a straighter cut and a sturdy feel, these skis are built and shaped to tackle the toughest bump courses on the planet.

Who it's For:

Competition-level mogul skiers who want the real deal. You want to emulate your favorite mogul pros by having the skis firmly dedicated to that one specific thing.

Price: $649.00

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At a Glance:

2026 Atomic Redster X7 Skis

Overview:

With a lighter and poppier feel than most of the Redster lines, the X7 returns unchanged for 2026. With a 69 mm waist width, the ski blends a poplar and ash wood core with titanal and carbon. The carbon Revoshock plates add a lot of zip to this ski, blending insane quickness and agility with some decent power. They are light, though, so it’s not like this is a super damp ski that will cut through anything for aggressive skiers. The X7 is one of the more approachable carvers on this list as a result of that ease of use. We get a 15.1-meter turn radius in the 175, making it easy to vary turn shape and style with the shape blended with the construction. There’s some nice value here as well, at $799.95 for the skis with bindings, making a higher performance setup fall into a mid-tier of pricing.

Who it's For:

Easier going carvers looking to improve and make some progress with their arcs.

Price: $799.95 w/ MI 12 GW Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser MP Skis

Overview:

Billed as the “women’s” version of the Laser WRT the all-new Laser MP features a lighter wood core and two sheets of metal to go along with the same footprint and shape of the WRT series. The MP also takes away the carbon applications of the WRT and WRT Pro to give the ski a slightly more approachable feel. These are short to medium-radius expert level skis with a 67 mm waist and a 12.8-meter radius in the 160 cm length. As such, they want to and need to be on edge a whole lot, as running flat will not be a strength. You also need to find some firm snow to get the most out of the Laser MP—if it’s softer at all, they don’t love pushing through.

Who it's For:

Strong and sturdy skiers who like shorter turns and narrower waists.

Price: $1,919.00 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser SX Skis

Overview:

The Stockli Laser SX is a smooth and fun carver that mixes high performance with easier cruising. If you like a silent and predictable feel on your feet, this is the place to be. At 70 mm underfoot, this ski can still handle less than rock-hard conditions and provides a slightly lighter wood core and overall flex for slightly mellower skiers. These skis are not locked into a specific turn shape or style, so it’s not as easy to categorize into slalom or giant slalom—this ski still is able to be a bit more all-mountain feeling. They use their Turtle Shell 2.0 technology to make slower speed performance available while opening things up; the metal cuts bond together and increase damping and power. With a 16-meter arc in the 173 cm length, these skis can mix it up with the best of them.

Who it's For:

Advanced skiers who like to vary turn shapes and styles. You don’t need a race background, but it’s nice to have on a ski like this.

Price: $1,889.00 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser SC Skis

Overview:

With a preference for short turns and high quality, the Stockli Laser SC is a favorite among precision skiers who like a bit of width to a slalom cut. And by width, it’s really more like 70 mm underfoot, so just a slightly expanded platform to stand on. Built with a sturdy wood core and two sheets of metal, these things are ready to rip, and actually make great front side skis with an all-mountain feel. Other than Le Mogul, these are some of the smoothest bump skis on the wall in addition to being some of the cleanest carvers. Stockli, like always, places a premium on the silence and smoothness of their skis. By adding stiffer sidewalls to the mix, they boost the energy and edge grip without adding too much more material for weight. Overall, these are smooth, relatively easy skis that have a very high end ceiling.

Who it's For:

Advanced and expert skiers who are looking for something smooth, capable, and energetic for short and medium-radius on-piste carving turns.

Price: $1,989.00 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser SC Orea Skis

Overview:

Other than the topsheet, this is the same ski as the Laser SC. You could make an argument that the topsheet is a bit stiffer or more durable, but if you skied these back-to-back or even foot to foot, it’d be difficult to ascertain any notable differences. Again, we’re dealing with the same short turn capacity with a solid overall feel. At 70 mm underfoot, these skis are right in the sweet spot for having a strong grip with a bit more balance. Like the normal SC, the Orea excels in bumps and short turns in this range while keeping the sharp good looks fully intact.

Who it's For:

Strong and agile skiers who love the feeling of a quality product and a unique aesthetic.

Price: $2,329.00 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser GS Skis

Overview:

Built with more of a long-turn format in mind, the Stockli Laser GS is smoother, faster, and more composed at speed than many of the other Stockli skis on this wall. It’s built with a blend of beech and poplar but isn’t as stiff or dense as the core in the WRT series. We still get two sheets of metal, Carbon Steering Control, and stiffer sidewalls for the ultimate in energy and precision. The 175 features a 68 mm waist and a 17.1-meter turn radius, putting it more in the citizen race radius versus the FIS and World Cup zone. That’s fine, because most skiers on the hill are more comfortable with that shape and style of ski as it is.

Who it's For:

Smooth skiers who are looking for a mix of speed, edge grip, and confidence. As with any Stockli ski, you are also a fan of silence and quality.

Price: $1,399.95 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser WRT Skis

Overview:

With crisp and clear snow feel and a ton of pep, the Stockli Laser WRT is a sporty and impressive ski for advanced and expert front side skiing. Built with a stiffer wood core than the Laser GS ski, the WRT holds up quite well to aggressive skiing and rugged carving. At 67 mm underfoot, this thing is narrow but then add a 119 tip and a 101 mm tail to the mix and you get a 14.8-meter turn radius in the 172 cm length for pure on-piste fun and excitement. This ski is quite peppy and energetic—capable and willing to convert your input to pure power when the ski hits the snow. As per usual, Stockli has a lot to offer the discerning skier, especially when it comes to smoothness, damping, and overall power. The dramatic shape here lends to more bliss in a carved turn.

Who it's For:

Athletic skiers who can start and finish a turn with power and accuracy.

Price: $2,049.00 w/ SRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser WRT Pro Skis

Overview:

With a bit less carbon but a titanal topsheet to put more smoothness and silence to the skier than the normal WRT, the Stockli WRT Pro ticks up the performance ever so slightly. In fact, it’s not that it’s an increase; it’s more of a lateral move. By keeping the shape of the ski identical, they can slightly mess around with the construction, removing Carbon Power Turn laminate underfoot and replacing that with a metal topsheet. Like the WRT, the Pro hits 14.8-meters in the 172 cm length and sits on a 67 mm waist for pure energy and ultimate edge contact. The metal on top makes the transfer of energy much more smooth and poised, allowing the skier to feel the snow beneath them while keeping the chatter and vibrations to an absolute minimum. If you’re looking for the ultimate in on-trail and on-piste carving satisfaction, then this is the place to be.

Who it's For:

Carving enthusiasts who spare no expense for the top end products.

Price: $2,209.00 w/ WRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Laser WRT Odermatt Skis

Overview:

Like the Stockli SC and SC Orea, the only difference between the WRT Pro and the WRT Odermatt is graphics. And money. You do have to pay for the black metal topsheet. Is it worth it for you to get the preferred graphic of one of the best ski racers on the planet? That’s for you and your financial planner to decide. From a skiing perspective, you’re still getting the clean, crisp, and powerful WRT ski that we have loved from the Pro level for years. Smooth, connected, and deadly silent, the WRT Odermatt is a powerful ski that can hold an edge with the best of them. If you’re so inclined, and feel like you deserve this limited edition graphic, we’re certainly not going to talk you out of it.

Who it's For:

Marco Odermatt fan club. You love the ski and you love his style, so why not combine?

Price: $2,359.00 w/ WRT 12 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Nordica Dobermann Multigara Skis

Overview:

The Nordica Dobermann Multigara is a fast and sturdy ski that has a strong feel to it to go along with a high-end quality. We love the sharp looks and consistent grip from tip to tail as this ski is quite race like in terms of snow feel but also has a slightly approachable side. At 70 mm underfoot and with a 16-meter turn radius in the 170 cm length, these skis fall more into the mid-radius of carving skis. We get their Double Core technology here, basically using five separate horizontal laminates to build this ski. We get two layers of poplar and beech wood, two layers of titanal, and one pulse core laminate to help with vibration absorption. Overall, this ski is super smooth and quite strong. The consistency stands out though, as you feel planted on the snow in the belly of the turn while getting a lot of rebound in the transitions.

Who it's For:

Strong and competent skiers who know how to harness the power of a ski and love the feeling of a pure round arc.

Price: $1,199.99 w/ Comp 13 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Rossignol Hero Elite LT Ti Skis

Overview:

The Rossignol Hero LT is another GS-inspired ski that likes a bit of speed and acceleration to go along with its power and damping. Just a slight outlier here at 70 mm underfoot, the LT uses a beech wood core and two titanal laminates to deliver power and performance to the edges. The 177 produces an 18-meter turn radius which allows the skier to take a more direct angle to the fall line to produce top speed carves and arcs. This is a great beer league race ski, especially for skiers who have a background in gates and GS racing. These skis also use Rossignol’s tried and true technologies of LCT and V-Profile in their laminates to deliver smooth operating power and a dense overall feel. These skis do not really want to break free from their intended arc, so you have to be ready to ride with the ski rather than force it to stray.

Who it's For:

Race enthusiasts looking for a slightly wider GS platform ski. You love the concept of fall-line skiing and want a ski that can keep up with your demands.

Price: $1,249.95 w/ SPX 14 GW Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Head Supershape e-Original Skis

Overview:

Skis in this range start to get pretty rugged, with denser wood cores, increased power, and more race-like mentalities, and the Head Supershape e-Original is a fantastic example of the movement towards performance. Built with a slalom mindset and a strong overall character, this dual-metal laminated ski has a WorldCup wood core and Head’s EMC circuitry to keep things damp and smooth. With a 12.1-meter turn radius in the 170 cm length, these are short-turn specialists built and shaped to suit the most demanding of skiers. At 66 mm underfoot, these are fairly one-dimensional, so what they lack in versatility; they more than make up for it in singularity of excellence in a short turn format.

Who it's For:

Slalom fans, maybe not necessarily slalom racers.

Price: $1,049.00 w/ Protector PR 11 Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Atomic Redster S9 Revoshock S Skis

Overview:

It’s been interesting discussing the difference in demand with GS and SL skis of the same construction, and that’s what’s going on here with the S9 and G9 from Atomic. The S9, as the slalom version, is much happier in shorter arcs, and it’s frankly easier to get a shorter ski with a shorter radius up on edge and into a carved turn. That said, it’s also harder to use an S9 the way it’s supposed to be used for the majority of the day. Built just like the G9, with an ash and poplar wood core, the S9 gets steel Revoshock plates, a Carbon plate underfoot, and two sheets of titanal. This recipe delivers smooth and sturdy carves overall, but the S9 places that tech into a much shorter arc. The 165 cm length produces a 12.5-meter turn radius, similar to what we see in Head’s Supershape e-Original. At 68 mm underfoot, this ski is locked in and glued to the snow, except in the transitions, which are super dynamic in nature.

Who it's For:

Short turn and precision-oriented skiers who identify as slalom skiers.

Price: $1,049.95 w/ I 12 GW Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Atomic Redster G9 Revoshock S Skis

Overview:

Now into the GS realm, the Redster G9 has everything that the S9 has in terms of construction, but in a straighter cut and a longer turn format. While the S9 is easier to start and finish a turn, the G9 is easier to stand on and ride the ski through the radius. At 67 mm underfoot, the G9 has narrower tips and tails than the S9, as well as longer length offerings, so the 171 produces a 16-meter arc while the longer 181 hits 18-meters in radius. The tips are 6 mm narrower in the G9, so the ski feels less hooky and more eager to attack the fall line. Is this easier or less demanding than making shorter turns across the fall line like on the S9? That’s totally up for debate and likely falls to personal preference.

Who it's For:

Faster skiers who like the feeling of longer and more swooping turns.

Price: $1,049.95 w/ I 12 GW Bindings

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At a Glance:

2026 Atomic Redster X9s Skis

Overview:

With a very narrow waist and a stiffer build than most skis here, the Atomic Redster X9s has a lot of power and grip going for it. When combined with a mid-radius turn profile, these skis become a lot more useful than the narrowness lets on. In addition, they are also capable of more speed and straight-line performance than a lot of skis on this wall, as they have the capacity to vacillate between turn shapes, styles, and speeds relatively well. This is not to say that it’s easy to do so, rather, these skis are quite demanding of your respect and effort. With a poplar and beech wood core to go along with two sheets of titanal and steel Revoshock plates, the X9s also gets their Carbon Boost platform underfoot to promote acceleration and energy in between turns. With a race-like performance and a super-solid feel, the Redster X9s is a fan favorite in terms of power, speed, and strength.

Who it's For:

Skiers who have a racer mentality but still want to stay a small step away from an FIS race shape.

Price: $1,049.95 w/ I 12 GW Bindings

Buy Now | 2026 Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2026 Head World Cup Rebels E-SL Pro Skis

Overview:

Once again, the debate comes up as to wheter a slalom or GS ski is more accessible given the same build. The Head Rebels e-SL Pro, in this discussion, is the shorter-turning of the pair, with a solid wood core framed by two sheets of titanal, graphene, Head’s Energy Management Circuitry, Phenolic sidewalls, and a Worldcup race plate. This is just a bit of a downturn from the FIS race room build, but on this wall, it stands at the top in terms of performance and power. With a 68 mm waist and a 12-meter radius in the 160 cm length, these skis are shaped to tackle a true World Cup racecourse or make extremely precise and dynamic turns down the firmest snow that any ski hill has to offer.

Who it's For:

Strong race-oriented skiers who love linking carved turns from top to bottom.

Price: $1,049.00 w/ WCR 14mm Plate

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At a Glance:

2026 Head World Cup Rebels E-Race Pro Skis

Overview:

We have no problem swapping out the e-Race Pro with the e-SL Pro in terms of accessibility; it’s really all about personal preference and how you like to turn. The e-Race Pro features the same amazing and top-end construction of the SL, just with a straighter cut and a more multi-turn oriented style. In the 175, the skis create a 15.8-meter turn radius, so it’s more like the difference between the Atomic S9 and the X9s in terms of shaping. The G9 still takes the longer turn tactics to the next level. The e-Speed Pro is the long radius ski in the Rebels line, but we do not have that ski to show for this comparison. With the e-Race Pro, you get all the power and edge grip you could ask for in a multi-turn format for pure on-piste excellence.

Who it's For:

Recreational, yet high-end racers looking for a race-like feel in a more accessible turn shape.

Price: $1,049.00 w/ WCR 14mm Plate

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