All Mountain

From a man who skied it all, a ski that does it all. The late C.R. Johnson spent years developing this ski, and testers found it a fitting legacy. It’s got full rocker at the tip for float, reverse sidecut for smearing, scrubbing, and changing direction, and just enough camber underfoot to pop into the next turn or absorb big hits. As one tester put it, the CRJ “cleanly bridges the gap between surfing and skiing.” The only thing it doesn’t excel at: carving turns on hard snow. 126/115/124, 9.8 lbs;
Versatility: 4
Power: 4

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GEAR OF THE YEAR

“You can never have a bad day on the Coomback,” said one tester of the most adored ski in this year’s test. Returning with refined tip rocker—which allows the ski to plane, surf, and smear in powder without giving up control on hardpack—the Coomback was lauded by both AT and tele testers as “an incredible jack-of-all-trades.” The lightweight core—a blend of aspen and fir—provides plenty of energy and dampness for day-to-day resort duty, but the soul of this ski lies deep in the backcountry. Straight tails accommodate building anchors for ski mountaineering, and the topsheets are designed specifically to shed snow, while tip and tail holes work with K2’s precut skins and provide lashing points for building a rescue sled. From bottomless powder days to firm spring couloirs, the Coomback is a rare synthesis of hardcore utility and grin-inducing fun. 135/102/121, 7.9 lbs.
VERSATILITY: 5 (out of 5)
POWER: 4

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All Mountain

Aptly named for the exposed adjustable pivot beneath the toe, the Axl is a free-pivot touring binding like its forebear, the legendary Hammerhead. Testers found that the underfoot pistons, sleek cable routing, and heel throw provided more downhill chops than any similar binding on the hill. And unlike bindings that make you swap springs or power tubes to accommodate different skiing styles, the Axl has three settings that are easy to adjust on the fly. The only drawback is that the switch from tour mode to ski mode isn’t as easy and
intuitive as some on the new step-ins like the NTN and Black Diamond O1. 3.9 lbs;
Tourability: 4.5
Power: 4.5

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Big Mountain

Our women testers praised the Nemesis as “the go-to ski for anyone who seeks powder at all costs.” But, while the 98-millimeter waist says soft snow, when you hit the hardpack you can hang it way out there with the carvers. New this year, a “slow rise” in the tip allows the front end to plane up and over the fluff, and eliminates that hooky feeling on hardpack turns. 135/98/125.
TAGS: wood core, carves, floats

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Fast and Light

A standout as one of the most versatile skis in the test, this city kid is really a country boy. Testers found the slightly rockered, variable-sidecut Manhattan quick and snappy in tight trees but at its best with a good head of steam. “Turn it to 11 for best performance,” said one tester. Given its moderate weight, most testers called it a beefy backcountry ski and a sidecountry driver. 139/108/128, 8.6 lbs;
Versatility: 4.5
Power: 4

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Big Mountain

As the stiffest boot in the women’s Inferno line, the Crush was our favorite advanced-level boot. “It’s a no-holds-barred women’s skiing machine!” one tester exclaimed. Its basic design—low volume with a very natural and efficient stance—fit most of our testers well right out of the box. A faux-fur liner ups the warmth factor and, to help customize the fit around the calf, the rear spoiler is adjustable.
TAGS: warm, advanced skiers

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Big Mountain

With the surface area of an aircraft carrier, aggressive rocker forward of the boot, and traditional camber underfoot and in the tail, the DarkSide dominates deep powder. “Scary fast and maneuverable in the fluff,” said one Utah tester. The stiff, flat tail provides
a solid platform for ripping turns on firmer snow, but only when necessary: The DarkSide is no picnic on hardpack. Keep the snow soft and the tours short (it’s a heavy ski) and you’ll love ’em. 156/128/144, 9.3 lbs;
Versatility: 2.5
Power: 5

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All Mountain

The Kenja is a master of all terrain, thanks to an even flex and a modestly tapered sidecut. On snow, that translates to a huge sweet spot—you don’t have to be “on it” all the time—with a low swing weight and silky ride. At 86 millimeters underfoot, it’s got a perfect blend of carve and float. There’s not quite enough surface area for deep crud, but the Kenja confidently handles mixed snow and leftovers. And, of course, it’s a flat-out screamer on groomers. 129/86/105.
TAGS: silky, quick edge-to-edge

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Big Mountain

The Freeride has been the go-to AT binding for years. Why? It’s an all-around performance-driven binding that accepts alpine and AT boots. Switching between ski and walk mode, as well as adjusting the heel riser, happens with the flick of a pole. Taking a cue from its little brother, the Eagle, the Pro also moved its pivot point back under the ball of the foot for a more natural stride. One more plus is the wider chassis (80mm minimum ski width) for better power transfer from boot to ski. 4.8 lbs;
Tourability: 4
Power: 4

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All Mountain

With a lower cuff, a super-comfortable walk mode, and a grippy sole, the intermediate, all-mountain Delight was a tester favorite. While it’s not quite as stiff as the Inferno (above), it delivers an impressive balance of power transfer and all-day comfort. Plus, quilted down in the lower liner combined with a fleece-lined cuff makes it toasty. As one tester put it, “This boot is going to be the game changer in the women’s all-mountain category.”
TAGS: great walk mode, intermediate

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