It’s hard to beat the feeling of getting new skis, but deciding which pair to buy can be a daunting prospect for some. So to lend a helping hand, we’re proud to present the 2024 Buyer’s Guide, which is supplemented by the suitably-named People’s Ski Test. For the former, we took to the slopes of Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, B.C. last winter to curate reviews on 30 pairs of skis from 12 individuals, who (with the exception of our editor) work regular, everyday jobs outside of the ski industry, and pay full price for skis. Instead of enlisting professional athletes or sponsored ski instructors as testers, we recruited a school principal, hardware store owner, highway operations manager, rope access technician, climate risk analyst, MRI technologist, tree planter, electrical engineer, arborist, geologist and journalist to spend six weeks putting some of the year’s top skis through the paces in a wide variety of snow conditions and terrain. Then, once the lifts stopped turning, we asked them to share their unbiased and impartial thoughts on the skis they liked best in both written and video form, complete with POV footage of them testing the skis. Check out the results below, and discover which ski may just be perfect for you. 

gear

HEAD RADAR 5K POLA HELMET

HEAD RADAR 5K POLA HELMET

A look at the 2024 Head Radar 5K Pola Helmet.

HEAD RADAR 5K POLA HELMET

A look at the 2024 Head Radar 5K Pola Helmet.

HEAD WOMEN’S BACKPACK

HEAD WOMEN’S BACKPACK

A look at the 2024 Head Women’s Backpack.

HEAD WOMEN’S BACKPACK

A look at the 2024 Head Women’s Backpack.

LINE APRÉS BOOTIE 1.0

LINE APRÉS BOOTIE 1.0

A look at the 2024 Line Aprés Bootie 1.0.

LINE APRÉS BOOTIE 1.0

A look at the 2024 Line Aprés Bootie 1.0.

MARKER AMPIRE 2 MIPS HELMET

MARKER AMPIRE 2 MIPS HELMET

A look at the 2024 Marker Ampire 2 MIPS Helmet.

MARKER AMPIRE 2 MIPS HELMET

A look at the 2024 Marker Ampire 2 MIPS Helmet.

MARKER  FREERIDE UNIVERSAL CLIMBING SKINS

MARKER FREERIDE UNIVERSAL CLIMBING SKINS

A look at the 2024 Marker Freeride Universal Climbing Skins.

MARKER FREERIDE UNIVERSAL CLIMBING SKINS

A look at the 2024 Marker Freeride Universal Climbing Skins.

MARKER  SQUADRON MAGNET+ HD GOGGLE

MARKER SQUADRON MAGNET+ HD GOGGLE

A look at the 2024 Marker Squadron Magnet+ HD Goggle.

MARKER SQUADRON MAGNET+ HD GOGGLE

A look at the 2024 Marker Squadron Magnet+ HD Goggle.

NORDICA ATHLETE GEAR JOCKY BACKPACK

NORDICA ATHLETE GEAR JOCKY BACKPACK

A look at the 2024 Nordica Athlete Gear Jocky Backpack.

NORDICA ATHLETE GEAR JOCKY BACKPACK

A look at the 2024 Nordica Athlete Gear Jocky Backpack.

NORDICA EXPEDITION WHEELIE SKI BAG

NORDICA EXPEDITION WHEELIE SKI BAG

A look at the 2024 Nordica Expedition Wheelie Ski Bag.

NORDICA EXPEDITION WHEELIE SKI BAG

A look at the 2024 Nordica Expedition Wheelie Ski Bag.

NORDICA FREERIDE PRO WOMEN POLES

NORDICA FREERIDE PRO WOMEN POLES

A look at the 2024 Nordica Freeride Pro Women Poles.

NORDICA FREERIDE PRO WOMEN POLES

A look at the 2024 Nordica Freeride Pro Women Poles.

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON LINE MINER L GOGGLE

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON LINE MINER L GOGGLE

A look at the 2024 Oakley Jamie Anderson Line Miner L Goggle.

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON LINE MINER L GOGGLE

A look at the 2024 Oakley Jamie Anderson Line Miner L Goggle.

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON MOD5 WOMEN’S HELMET

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON MOD5 WOMEN’S HELMET

A look at the 2024 Oakley Jamie Anderson MOD5 Women’s Helmet.

OAKLEY JAMIE ANDERSON MOD5 WOMEN’S HELMET

A look at the 2024 Oakley Jamie Anderson MOD5 Women’s Helmet.

OAKLEY MOD1 I.C.E. HELMET

OAKLEY MOD1 I.C.E. HELMET

A look at the 2024 Oakley MOD1 I.C.E. Helmet.

OAKLEY MOD1 I.C.E. HELMET

A look at the 2024 Oakley MOD1 I.C.E. Helmet.