To amplify your anticipation for the coming winter, we’re excited to present the 2025 Buyer’s Guide, which is complemented by our fourth annual ski test. Below you’ll find authentic and relatable first-person reviews on 27 pairs of skis that a selection of our brand partners opted to include in the test, which we once again held at Red Mountain Resort a snowball’s throw from Rossland, British Columbia. Like previous go-arounds, we enlisted a squad of everyday skiers with everyday jobs who (with the lone exception of our editor), like you, pay full pop for their gear, thus abolishing the risk of any potential impartiality towards any brand. And best of all, in lieu of a few days, we gave them well over a month to ski their hearts out on these skis, which provided them with the opportunity to test them in a diverse range of snow conditions and terrain. They then picked their favourites, and proceeded to share their well-informed and unbiased observations and feelings on the skis that worked best for them in both written and video form, the latter of which includes POV footage of the corresponding tester getting after it on snow and additional technical information on each ski. Learn more about them via their bios below each review, and if they sound and ski like you, then perhaps it will help you choose the right set of planks to make this winter the most fun yet.
gear
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 W
Singing to myself, grinning ear-to-ear, and stoke levels to the moon. The Dynastar M-Pro 99 W is a crowd favourite, and it was easy to see why the moment I...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 W
Singing to myself, grinning ear-to-ear, and stoke levels to the moon. The Dynastar M-Pro 99 W is a crowd favourite, and it was easy to see why the moment I...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN RIPSTICK 106 BLACK...
Sleek and powerful like a panther, classy like a stretch limo on prom night, technologically advanced like the Tesla you’ll never afford. Elan’s Ripstick 106 Black Edition expects, no, demands...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN RIPSTICK 106 BLACK...
Sleek and powerful like a panther, classy like a stretch limo on prom night, technologically advanced like the Tesla you’ll never afford. Elan’s Ripstick 106 Black Edition expects, no, demands...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WINGMAN 86 CTi
Since rockered fat skis first arrived on the scene, I’ll admit that I’ve shied away from skinnier offerings. Whether it was mind over matter, I felt unstable and unconfident on...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WINGMAN 86 CTi
Since rockered fat skis first arrived on the scene, I’ll admit that I’ve shied away from skinnier offerings. Whether it was mind over matter, I felt unstable and unconfident on...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WILDCAT 86 CX
The Elan Wildcat 86 CX is a fun, playful ski that thrives on groomers and mellow off-piste terrain. Elan advertises it as an all-mountain ski, but it definitely shined brightest...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WILDCAT 86 CX
The Elan Wildcat 86 CX is a fun, playful ski that thrives on groomers and mellow off-piste terrain. Elan advertises it as an all-mountain ski, but it definitely shined brightest...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION AGENT 3.0
If the Faction Agent 3.0 was a planet, it would sit perfectly within the Goldilocks zone; everything about this ski felt just right.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION AGENT 3.0
If the Faction Agent 3.0 was a planet, it would sit perfectly within the Goldilocks zone; everything about this ski felt just right.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION DICTATOR 2.0
Faction’s Dictator 2.0 is a no-nonsense ski, plain and simple.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION DICTATOR 2.0
Faction’s Dictator 2.0 is a no-nonsense ski, plain and simple.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION PRODIGY 2.0X
The Faction Prodigy 2.0X bridges the gap between an all-mountain ripper and a playful park ski.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION PRODIGY 2.0X
The Faction Prodigy 2.0X bridges the gap between an all-mountain ripper and a playful park ski.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RANGER 102 FR
Riding the Fischer Ranger 102 allowed me to feel free while skiing all over the mountain. Its flatter camber profile felt familiar to me, and matched my skiing style very...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RANGER 102 FR
Riding the Fischer Ranger 102 allowed me to feel free while skiing all over the mountain. Its flatter camber profile felt familiar to me, and matched my skiing style very...
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RANGER 92 Ti
Fischer has a long history in skiing, and throughout that time the company has always stuck to the core principles of what makes a ski work—that's certainly the case here....
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RANGER 92 Ti
Fischer has a long history in skiing, and throughout that time the company has always stuck to the core principles of what makes a ski work—that's certainly the case here....
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RC ONE GT 86
The Fischer RC One GT 86 does exactly what it’s designed to do: serve as a stable rocket ship on piste.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FISCHER RC ONE GT 86
The Fischer RC One GT 86 does exactly what it’s designed to do: serve as a stable rocket ship on piste.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - HEAD KORE 105
Riding the Head Kore 105 was an extremely invigorating experience. This ski was light, responsive and very quick edge to edge.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - HEAD KORE 105
Riding the Head Kore 105 was an extremely invigorating experience. This ski was light, responsive and very quick edge to edge.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - HEAD KORE 93
There’s very little that the Head Kore 93 can’t do. It’s intuitive, versatile, lively but not twitchy, and easy to ski and control at low or high speeds.
THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - HEAD KORE 93
There’s very little that the Head Kore 93 can’t do. It’s intuitive, versatile, lively but not twitchy, and easy to ski and control at low or high speeds.