Which touring ski suits me best?

touring ski

Which touring ski suits me best?

This question depends first of all on your preferred way of ski touring.

In general, the more important a fast and easy ascent is for you, the lighter and narrower the ski should be.

If you are more concerned with the descent – especially in soft, deep snow – then you should choose a wider ski!

Datum November 30, 2020
Level Beginner
Kategorie Gear Guide, This is what you need, Tipps for Beginners, Touring Ski

Touring skis for fitness tend to be lighter, narrower and therefore more ascent oriented. They often have a weight-optimized construction, are less torsionally stiff and therefore require a better skiing technique in rough, extremely hard snow. Due to their low weight, they are less smooth and not suitable for high speed

Alpine touring skis in the mountaineering category are classic all-rounders. With a width of approx. 90 mm under the binding, relatively low weight and good agility, they combine the joys of ascent and descent.

Freeride touring skis are designed for a strong downhill performance in all snow conditions. With 90 to 110 mm waist width and a stiffer construction, they offer optimal support downhill and plenty of lift in deep snow.

In addition to weight and width, another aspect has a decisive influence on the characteristics of touring skis: the waist. With the introduction of the carving technique, the shovel became wider, the middle narrow and the ski end wider again. This geometry automatically lets the ski carve through the turn as soon as it is on the edge. This means that touring skis with a tighter waist are usually perceived as more agile. However, this design has disadvantages when climbing, especially on icy snow: If the ski is on the edge, the contact surface of skin and edge is much smaller than with less curved skis, and there is a risk that it will start to slide. Downhill, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: Less aggressive skiers feel more comfortable because the initiation of the turn is so easy. When skiing with speed on rough surfaces, the ski is still able to be controlled.