Le Mono is exactly what it sounds like, a single-board throwback to the monoski era of the 70s and 80s, brought back into the modern day by Faction with proper construction and a wild graphic by Paris-based Parade Studios. Both feet mount on one platform, which delivers a uniquely surfy, drifty ride that's unlike anything else in skiing. It's wide, long, fully rockered, and absolutely a conversation piece on the lift line.

Why we like it:

This is a passion project, plain and simple, and we love that Faction still makes it. Beyond the novelty factor, Le Mono is genuinely fun to ride; the wide platform floats easily in soft snow, and the surfy feel of having both feet locked on a single deck unlocks a kind of riding that you can't replicate on a pair of skis. The cosmic, retro graphic with the astronaut and the sunset just makes the whole package feel like a love letter to skiing's more playful past.

Who it's for:

Expert skiers with a sense of humor and a soft spot for skiing's quirky side. You need solid balance and the willingness to learn a new movement pattern, but if you've got the chops and the curiosity, Le Mono is one of the most unique experiences you can have on snow.

Highlights:

Le Mono uses a lightweight poplar core with a glossy topsheet and standard 2mm edges; relatively normal ski construction, but applied to a single deck rather than a pair. The full strength sidewall keeps the edge engaged when you actually want to carve, which yes, you absolutely can do on a monoboard if you commit to it. The shape is the wild part. At an enormous tip and tail width with a slightly narrower waist, the platform gives you tons of float in soft snow and a forgiving turn entry when you weight either edge. Camber is flat, which keeps the board easy to pivot and slash, and the rocker profile is balanced with substantial lift in both the tip and the tail. The elliptical sidecut means the turn radius opens up at speed and tightens up when you really crank the board over, and the long stated radius lines up with the kind of big, sweeping turns that this thing is built for. The flex rating is an 8, which makes sense; you've got both feet on one board, so it needs to be supportive enough to handle the combined input without folding. On snow, Le Mono delivers the most surfy, drifty, party-on-the-mountain feel imaginable. Powder days are obviously the dream, but it's also a hilarious time on slushy spring corn.

Things to consider:

This is a monoboard, not a pair of skis, and the riding experience is genuinely different. There's a learning curve, especially for getting on and off lifts and managing edge transitions. It's also a specialty product, so don't expect the kind of all-conditions versatility you'd get from any traditional ski. Available in only two sizes, and both feet mount on one deck, so the sizing decision is really about your weight and the snow you plan to ride in. The weight figure listed is for the single board, not a pair.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Sizes true to length. Lighter riders and skiers prioritizing maneuverability should pick the shorter size; heavier riders or anyone planning to ride deeper snow should size up.