2027 Men's Mid 80 mm All Mountain Ski Comparison

The 2027 grouping of all-mountain skis in the mid-80's is a good one. We get everything from lighter carving skis to some absurdly stiff and powerful ones. And everything in between. Oddities like the Octo can sit next to new and modern Discoveries for easy and entertaining carving while top end products like the Mantra 84 and new Montero AR Pro bring the heat. We get some quick turning skis for progressing all-mountain enthusiasts as well as some versatile adventure skis to go along with some clean and round carvers who don’t totally love off-trail activities. There’s an all-mountain ski here for everyone—capable of carving clean turns and making quick work of bumps and trees. This is certainly a sweet spot for skiers who spend the majority of their time in an on-trail situation without giving up all-mountain capabilities.

At a Glance:

2027 Atomic Maverick 86 C Skis

Overview:

Built with a light wood core and carbon stringers, the Atomic Maverick 86 C has got to be one of the quickest skis on the market today. This makes it insanely good for moguls and tight spaces. At the same time, it’s reasonably supportive so skiers who are advancing and progressing will still feel the tail kick in and provide a decent amount of rebound and energy. With Atomic’s HRZN Tech in the tips, there’s a bit of flotation here to go along with the tapered shape, but overall the ski is on the light side for dealing with adversity beyond a normal level. This ski prefers smoother snow and if it’s firm, there’s no real issue here as edge grip underfoot and through the tail is very confident.

Who it’s For:

Emerging off-trail skiers who want an adventurous ski with decent pop.

Price: $649.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Volkl Blaze 86 Skis

Overview:

The Blaze 86 is similarly light and agile like the Maverick, but it has more freeride influence in the shape. With Blaze overall, we’re seeing the bulk of the skis in the line feeding off of each other’s DNA. This makes the narrow 86 a capable all-mountain ski while the wider 114 is quite nimble for being so wide. As a result, this 86 works great in bumps, trees, and other off-piste situations, but it does miss out a bit when it comes to front side and carving performance. It can do it, but you really have to have a deft and sensitive touch when leaning into it. The flatter overall profile works well in that softer snow, but when combined with the lighter weight and more flexible nature, it does feel a bit less composed on-trail. If you add the ski’s capability to be a touring/hybrid option, it really opens the ski’s overall versatility to a new level.

Who it’s For:

Smooth and capable skiers who are looking for a narrower freeride option with amazing quickness and agility.

Price: $649.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 K2 Mindbender 85 Skis

Overview:

With value and energy at the top of the priority list, the K2 Mindbender 85 is a surprisingly fun and agile ski for progressing skiers. The camber keeps it feeling a bit higher end even if the ski’s overall demeanor is very approachable. This also gives the ski a very turny nature, despite the more all-mountain shape and style. These skis are fairly flexible, so they work well in bumps from a learning perspective. Their tails are a bit more responsive and supportive, giving skiers more energy at the back of the turn to mix with the cambered overall feel. In general, these skis like to turn and will aid in progression and linking turns. With an aspen wood core and a binding system included, you’re getting a real ski with a binding for very good value here.

Who it’s For:

Emerging skiers looking for good pricing and performance. You don’t want to sacrifice on-trail energy at all.

Price: $599.95 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Wingman 83 Ti Skis

Overview:

It doesn’t take long to get to skis with metal in this range, yet Elan keeps them very light and approachable with this Wingman 83 Ti. It’s still quite light and capable of being tossed around, but when you get it up on edge you can feel the power of the metal bring you around confidently in a carved turn. With a wider shovel, turn initiation is a total breeze, and then with their asymmetrical build and shape, the feel of the ski is totally intuitive and cohesive. The width and ease of use allows it to be a functional off-trail ski but the heart of the ski feels a lot more at home on groomers and in a carved turn. With metal along the inside/downhill edge, the ski’s performance ceiling is very easy to find as the outer portions of the ski, also shaped with more rocker, follow along with total smoothness.

Who it’s For:

Quickness, Smoothness, Carving

Price: $549.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Wingman 86 Ti Skis

Overview:

Built the same as the 83 Ti but with more volume and mass, the 2027 Elan Wingman 86 Ti is a bit more rugged and challenging, especially from a quickness and agility standpoint. If you work just a bit harder on this ski you’ll be rewarded with additional smoothness and power just due to the sheer amount of material in the ski. Additionally, the wider waist and shovel make it a bit more versatile, but again, with more of a frontside footprint, it takes just a bit more effort to make it do things that a ski like the Blaze 86 does so naturally. The asymmetric shape and construction makes for an intuitive feel that allows for easy turning and predictable vibes. If you’re looking for a high-quality ski built with smart and sophisticated engineering, this is the place to be.

Who it’s For:

You can certainly be an advanced skier and have a good time here, but it’s a great option for intermediates looking for their first upscale ski.

Price: $649.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Fischer Ranger 84 Skis

Overview:

As one of the more well-rounded skis on this list, the Ranger 84 uses a full poplar wood core and a versatile shape to create predictable and capable behavior in all sorts of conditions and terrain. By borrowing shaping principles from the wider skis in the Ranger line, the 84 is highly useful when it comes to vacillating between front side groomer performance and off-trail adventure. It’s more like the Blaze 86 in this realm, but with a stronger and heftier overall build, the Ranger 84 does require a bit more work to really get it to sing. It’s one of those skis that will go where asked and do what is directed, but not much more than that. It’s probably one of the most average skis we test here, and that, in and of itself, is a pretty amazing feat.

Who it’s For:

Any skier who doesn’t know exactly what they’re looking for can easily end up here and be quite happy.

Price: $624.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Ripstick 84 Skis

Overview:

With known Ripstick shaping and fun but in a more affordable package, the 2027 Elan Ripstick 84 is a ski best suited for progressing skiers looking for fun and versatility. While it doesn’t feature the top-shelf construction as the wider Ripstick skis, there’s certainly enough technology and sophistication to make this a worthwhile ski in this category. The main difference is that the ski isn’t quite as light and peppy as the other Elans, making it a bit denser overall. This is a big reason why the price point is more appropriate for first time ski buyers and those looking to get out of the lease/rental cycle. You can still benefit from carbon tubes and a horizontal carbon strip here to provide energy. It’s also symmetrical, so there’s no right/left specific ski here. Fun in bumps, easy to use in trees, and good enough on groomers to satisfy an improving skier, the Ripstick 84 is a great option for those looking for an easy good time on the hill.

Who it’s For:

Emerging intermediates who are looking for simplicity and a solid feel without spending a ton of money.

Price: $599.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Salomon Stance 84 Skis

Overview:

The Salomon Stance Pro 84 has a pretty deep bag of tricks. One of the best is the value to performance ratio. At $750 for skis and bindings, you’re basically getting a one-ski quiver that allows for easy turning, high-end versatility, and an overall composed feel. These are really fun carvers on groomers, capable off-trail skis, and exceptional mogul performers. Due to the taper and rocker in the tips and tails, the Stance Pro 84 is floatier than you’d think, but with metal and carbon in the build, we’re also getting quite a bit of pop and performance. You’d have to search long and hard to find any glaring errors or omissions with the overall character of this ski. If all the ski companies got together and decided to make one ski for literally everyone, this would have to be near the top of the list.

Who it’s For:

Almost anyone who values mixing strong performance with price. You spend a lot of time mixing terrain and want a ski that’ll keep right up.

Price: $749.95 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Head Discovery 86 Pro Skis

Overview:

The Head Discovery 86 Pro walks a pretty fine line between wide front side and narrow all-mountain. While the on-trail performance is quite good, it’s still got enough width to make it function well if you decide to be more adventurous. We enjoyed these skis in variable conditions and terrain, and they held up quite well in a carved turn at higher edge angles due to the system bindings. With Auxetic Tech as a big part of the new build, Head once again puts a lot of tech and sophistication into the construction of a mid-upper tier ski. While it doesn’t quite have the pop and power of a Supershape, it still holds up well to more aggressive and assertive skiing. There’s a bit of rocker—not much—but it does allow for easier entry and exit in the turns to create a fun and playful carvy character.

Who it’s For:

Strong and progressing skiers looking for an upscale yet approachable feel in their wide-bodied carvers.

Price: $899.00 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Black Crows Octo Skis

Overview:

The Black Crows Octo is both fun and challenging to place on this wall. On one hand, it’s really easy to access the high edge angles and carving performance of the ski. On the other, there’s a bit of a limit here when it comes to higher speed charging due to the shorter arc combined with a more approachable flex. There’s also basically no tail rocker and very long camber, so off-trail activities need a defter approach. This is bookended by a relatively aggressively tapered shovel that assists in reducing that effective edge and shortening that arc. Crows does a nice job at making a plain poplar wood core ski feel like something totally unique and different, and that’s a big part of the Octo’s charm. What seems and looks simple both on paper and on snow actually provides one of the most fun feelings once you get going.

Who it’s For:

This ski makes good skiers feel like great skiers. But there is a limit.

Price: $949.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Dynastar M-Cross 82 Skis

Overview:

The M-Cross 82 is a sneaky ski. It’s totally unassuming yet absolutely rips energetic turns. It’s also got a more interesting shape to it that provides quite a bit of tip rocker and tip taper to make softer snow easier and more entertaining. With a slightly thicker wood core than the 88, and also less metal, these skis are stiff underfoot and very zippy through the tail. It’s one of those skis that gives off unimpressive vibes, but once you get it on edge, the ski really comes alive. It’s incredibly quick from edge to edge and is easy to turn, but when you let it run there’s a lot under the hood that you may not see from the outside. With a new graphic this year, the hope is that the M-Cross 82 finds some new friends out there in the ski world. The shovel makes it pretty good in bumps and trees, too, so there’s more versatility here than one may expect.

Who it’s For:

While it’s acceptable for intermediate and progressing skiers, there’s no reason an advanced or expert skier couldn’t/wouldn’t use this as a daily all-mountain ski.

Price: $599.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Nordica Steadfast 85 DC Skis

Overview:

Since inception, the Nordica Steadfast 85 DC has been an impressive ski when it comes to linking clean and round carved turns. It probably does that specific thing better than any ski on this list. It truly feels like it wants to carve back up the hill. The comfort levels in terms of said carving are off the charts. At 85 mm underfoot, it’s got enough width to handle some adversity when it comes to mixed conditions and terrain, but this ski is certainly at its happiest when on softer and smoother surfaces. The Double Core tech is legit and creates an incredibly quiet and composed feel in the ski from tip to tail. If you have the skills, the ski can be versatile, but we feel that most skiers will use it more as a dedicated groomer ski, and in that light, it’s incredibly rewarding.

Who it’s For:

Sturdy skiers looking to link carved turns. You value a quiet and unwavering feel in your skis.

Price: $849.99 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition Skis

Overview:

With more carbon and pop than the non-Black Edition 86, this Wingman is a total killer out there on the hill. We get a lot of sophistication in the engineering of this ski as it combines an asymmetric build and shape with a mix of metal and carbon to create smoothness and composure at high edge angles. Like the Octo, this ski is extremely easy to get up and rip turns, but this ski just has a bit more of a high-performance ceiling to it, even though the shovels are still on the softer side. Like most of Elan’s asymmetrically shaped skis, the Wingman Black Edition is very intuitive and easy to ski. At the same time, you can continue to stand on it and lean into it and take advantage of that metal laminate and carbon strips. While wide enough for more all-mountain use, the ski favors a groomed slope and can hold a strong edge in spite of the lighter weight.

Who it’s For:

Strong skiers who value energy and smoothness in their skis. You want a pure all-mountain carver at a lighter weight.

Price: $849.99 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Volkl Peregrine V-Werks Skis

Overview:

Similar to the Wingman Black Edition but with a bit more of a performance ceiling, the Volkl Peregrine V-Werks is a lighter weight, carbon-powered ski with some metal that rips carved turns and provides a mountain of energy. Amazingly, these skis have not changed in years, although back in the day, they were the pinnacle of modern ski engineering. Equally amazing, they still hold up from a technological perspective, and they have paved the road for many of Volkl’s current high-performance skis when it comes to construction design and materials used. From metal frames to tailored carbon tips and lighter wood cores, the Peregrine V-Werks is a fun and capable ski with all sorts of goodies built in. At 84 mm underfoot, it could be more in the front side category, but it’s nice to have here due to the mobility and flatter overall profile.

Who it’s For:

Strong and technical skiers who want a lot of precision in their carved turns. If something gets in their way, they also want the agility to avoid it.

Price: $1,699.99 with Bindings

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Salomon Stance Pro 86 Skis

Overview:

Sometimes it’s easier to put the narrower version of a ski as the more approachable one, but we’re not convinced of this with Stance Pro 86 and 82. At the very least it’s a fun conversation. Stance Pro 86 uses a thicker poplar wood core, a partial sheet of metal, thicker edges, and a consistent flex from tip to tail. This 86 is just a bit easier to use than the 82, because the 82 needs to be in a carved turn and engaged more than the 86, which feels more relaxed. They both feel like more of an on-trail ski than off, and the overall characters of the skis are quite similar. The increased mass of the 86 doesn’t equate to higher performance as much as we see in some other skis. If you’re looking for a bit more mobility in tighter spaces, the 86 will stay afloat a bit more, but it’s not quite as quick or agile as the 82.

Who it’s For:

Traditional skiers looking for a solid yet approachable ski for pure all-mountain skiing.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Salomon Stance Pro 82 Skis

Overview:

The Stance Pro 82 has a sneaky amount of power and grip for how light it feels on your feet. The fact that it has some all-mountain shaping and an agile feel makes it all the more impressive when it comes to true on-trail carving performance. We’ve put some very strong skiers on this ski with racing backgrounds, and they’ve all come away quite satisfied. It’s that level that the Stance Pro 82 can achieve that puts it on the slightly more demanding side than the wider 86. With good edge to edge nimbleness, the skis come alive when pushed—they don’t really love being relaxed on. The energy you put in needs to be directed to the snow with vigor and intent. Then the skis start to fly.

Who it’s For:

Good skiers will get a lot out of this traditional shape and style—it's a skier’s ski for sure.

Price: $649.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Kastle Sublime 83 Skis

Overview:

Kastle’s new Sublime lineup of skis starts at the 83 mm width. This makes for a great option for skiers looking for an upscale ski with tons of smoothness and energy. Kastle’s quality shows here, as the Sublime uses a Twin Core technology built with poplar and beech. They use two full sheets of metal to go along with their Hollow Tech and full sidewalls to deliver rock-solid performance. At the same time, especially compared to the MX 84, the Sublime takes a bit off the top when it comes to both build and shape. Sublime is just a bit rounder and more amenable to variable conditions and terrain. These skis feel solid and planted with decent energy—they almost move into the wide front side category but you can make them do all sorts of things if you ask firmly. As a result, they do work best on the feet of skilled skiers who know how to properly drive a ski in all sorts of spaces.

Who it’s For:

Quality and precision-oriented individuals who value quickness and agility to go along with their high-end performance.

Price: $849.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Stockli Montero AR Skis

Overview:

It’s pretty tough to get on a Montero AR and not have a good time. These skis are silent, smooth, and incredibly powerful. With a slight tweak to the construction of the ski, the AR gets a bit stiffer and more predictable in the shovels and tails while keeping the same amazing carving character throughout. Basically, they took the Tip and Tail Flex slits and put them on the bottom layer of metal instead of the top. This creates a bit more of a refinement in the flex of the ski and makes it more composed at speed, and we found specifically, in variable conditions. While this ski carries with it an extraordinarily high price tag, there is something about it that makes it different. It’s never been that a Stockli is the highest performing ski in the world, it’s more been about how it feels in its interaction with the snow. In that regard, the Montero 84 is an absolutely stunning ski with smoothness to spare.

Who it’s For:

Strong and advanced skiers who love to rip big turns at high speeds.

Price: $1,649.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Blizzard Anomaly 84 Skis

Overview:

With a stout feel in terms of construction to go along with lightning-quick reflexes, the Blizzard Anomaly 84 has one of the highest blends of off-trail versatility and on-trail performance. Built with a blend of poplar and beech in the core, we also get two sheets of metal for damping and power. Blizzard’s TrueBlend wood core has set the standard for years, and Anomaly 84 is one of the best benefactors of that technology. Skis this strong generally shouldn’t be as good as they are in bumps and trees, but the shape of the ski allows for easy mobility in more technical zones. Feel free to lay it over and drag your hip to the snow on groomers, but in the very next run, head right off to the woods and moguls for some off-trail adventures. At every turn, though, there is some work to be done, so these are best on the feet of experienced skiers.

Who it’s For:

Firstly, at $699.99, it’s a steal especially when compared to the Montero. Second, if you are looking for a ski that properly mixes on and off-trail performance, it’s tough to beat the Anomaly 84.

Price: $699.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Rossignol Arcade 84 Skis

Overview:

The unchanged Rossignol Arcade 84 returns as a stiff, burly, and traditionally shaped ski that rips short carves and has loads and loads of energy. We get a lot of camber here to go along with basically no camber. All of this goes with a thick poplar wood core and a partial sheet of metal. The Arcade 84 is a ton of fun, as long as you can keep up with it. The long effective edge is a bit different than a lot of other skis on this list, and it’s interesting because the Arcade isn’t really billed as a front side ski, although it really looks and feels like one to us. This ski is locked in—more so than most other mainly wood core skis tend to be, and that’s part of the charm of the Arcade 84. We think it gets a bit mis-labeled here as a ski that works well for intermediates and advanced skiers. It feels more like an advanced/expert ski to me.

Who it’s For:

Stronger skiers who like the feel of pure tip to tail edge contact. You don’t mind a stiff ski with traditional shaping.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 82 Skis

Overview:

As a re-branded Declivity 82 Ti, the AntiMatter 82 picks right up where that ski left off. Similar to the Arcade, the AntiMatter 82 uses a relatively fully cambered profile to go along with a non-tapered shape. We get two sheets of metal here, and the only Armada left that uses full Articulated Titanal Banding. These skis work great in an on-trail format as a result, with fun torsional flex and rebound to make any turn feel like it’s full of electricity. With the stiffness and the traditional shape, it does feel pretty demanding and precise—advanced skiers who know how to let the ski run on edge from tip to tail will get the best results. While there’s not much of an off-trail character here, especially from an ease of use perspective, it’s at least competent in bumps as long as you’re cool with a stiffer ski.

Who it’s For:

Energetic skiers who don’t mind a good deal of reactivity to their skis. They’re powerful if you can load them up but they do not reward bad technique.

Price: $749.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Volkl Mantra 84 Skis

Overview:

With a bit of a rounded shape and flatter profile, you may think the Mantra 84 is an easier going ski, but with a robust construction and a very precise feel, it’s still a very demanding ski—especially in order to get the most out of it. While some skiers of the advanced levels could find a lot of fun in letting it slide about a bit, the more energy you put into the ski, the greater the demand becomes. It really wants to turn and stay on edge, especially at slower speeds, while the high-speed performance is almost too twitchy and nervous if you’re not 100% committed. The performance levels of this ski are not dissimilar from the likes of the Anomaly, but the precision involved is on a different plane. The Mantra requires quite a bit of attention paid to the entirety of the process and allows for insanely quick and energetic carves, so long as you’ve got the skills and balance.

Who it’s For:

Strong and technical skiers who have a desire for an all-mountain ski that has all sorts of engineering and sophistication.

Price: $749.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Kastle MX84 Skis

Overview:

With a race-like feel and rock-solid performance, the Kastle MX 84 is a strong ski with a burly tail. Built with their Infinicore technology, the MX 84 uses very thin stringers of poplar and beech bookended with two layers of titanal. In the tail, Kastle uses a robust aluminum insert to create a death grip on the ice in the finish phase of the carve. Of course, that burly tail is also quite flat and flared, doubling down on the incredible hold that these skis possess. The shovel is slightly more amenable to initiation, but it’s still very precise and demanding. While the MX 84 makes some of the cleanest and roundest turns out there, similar to the Octo or the Steadfast 85, it certainly takes more of a skilled pilot to get them to accomplish this feat. Off-trail performance is a bit of a chore, as the ski really just wants to lay it over and carve.

Who it’s For:

Former racers and precision-loving skiers who spend 99.99% of their time in a carved turn.

Price: $1,149.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Stockli Montero AR Pro Skis

Overview:

As soon as we saw these skis on the Stockli showroom floor, we immediately thought that they'll sell a million of them. They are absolutely gorgeous skis with sock-knocking-off performance. It’s entirely possible that the price will keep some skiers at bay, but in general, if you’re looking for a strong, stiff, and high-performance ski with endless smoothness and stability, you’ll get what you pay for. By adding stiffer sidewalls, a race base, and a titec pro topsheet, the skis differ from the normal AR in a few ways while keeping the same mold. In addition, AR Pro does not use Tip and Tail Flex, opting for Flex Torsion Control to boost the high-end speed smoothness. Interestingly, since the AR Pro has one less layer than the AR due to the topsheet, the AR Pro is just a bit lighter. It’s tough to wrangle, though, and if you are not quite sure, we’d recommend just sticking with the AR.

Who it’s For:

While fancy skiers will gravitate to the AR Pro from an aesthetics standpoint, it’s really more of a workhorse on snow and better suited to those who know how to push and bend a ski.

Price: $1,799.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results