For the skiers who seek endless possibilities and 12-hour days in the high peaks, we’ve compiled the best backcountry skis of 2025. These are light and stable workhorses that provide easy efficiency on the way up, with stiff tails and cambered underfoot to deliver stability on the epic ride down. There are no substitutes or phonies in the backcountry. Every tool you have has to perform at the highest level possible, and that includes your skis.
La Sportiva Tempo
Lengths 164, 179, 190 cm
DIM 129-103-117 mm
Radius 18 m @ 179 cm
Built to excel in the backcountry, the Tempo tips the scale at a minuscule 1,400 grams per ski (at 179 cm) and strikes an impressive balance between the requirements of long skin tracks and demanding descents. With its 103-mm waist width and rocker in the tip and tail, the Tempo offers reactive, pivot-perfect control and flotation in both soft snow and variable conditions.
La Sportiva Capo
Lengths 166, 178, 189 cm
DIM 139-117-128 mm
Radius 20 m @ 178 cm
Redesigned for this season, the Capo is a featherweight fatty that begs to be taken deep into the backcountry. As the widest offering in La Sportiva’s 2024-25 lineup, it embodies the essence of Aloha Vibes with its surfy design that shines in untouched powder stashes. Weighing in at just 1,650 grams per ski in the 178 cm length, the Capo ascends the skin track with minimal effort.
ZAG Slap 104 Lite
Lengths 170, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 137-104-126 mm
Radius 20 m @ 188 cm
The Slap 104 Lite is built for intermediate and advanced skiers looking to explore deep into the backcountry, enjoying natural features and surfing in fresh pow at every chance. Bred in the rugged peaks of Chamonix, France, its core features poplar, paulownia, flax and rubber. This combination provides excellent touring capabilities while enabling seamless and playful downhill performance.
J Skis The Escalator
Lengths 162, 169, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 132-102-122 mm
Radius 20 m @ 188 cm
Constructed with lightweight aspen wood and carbon stringers, The Escalator is great for skiers who can’t decide between a lightweight climber and a downhill ripper. The ski feels like an extension of your body as you rip between trees, surf through powder and dissect the moguls.
4FRNT Hoji
Lengths 170, 177, 184, 191 cm
DIM 128-112-120 mm
Radius 30 m @ 184 cm
Legendary freerider Eric Hjorleifson (Hoji) collaborated closely with 4FRNT engineers to craft a shred stick with a seamless blend of stability, playfulness and lightweight performance. Unlike many skis in its class, the Hoji sets itself apart with a fairly straight sidecut, along with noticeably tapered and significantly rockered tips and tails and a flat section underfoot. This combination enhances predictability and versatility on edge while providing excellent float and playfulness in deep snow.
Black Diamond Women’s Impulse 98 TI
Lengths 161, 168, 175 cm
DIM 131-98-119 mm
Radius 16 m @ 168 cm
The new women’s Impulse Ti 98 from Black Diamond may be a bit too slim to pull out on powder days, but in-betweener days are exactly where this ski shines. Whether you prefer hike-to terrain from the resort or blasting through inbounds stashes, this ski is versatile enough to sneak through steeps, bumps and glades like it ain’t no thang.
Black Diamond Impulse 112 TI
Lengths 181, 186 cm
DIM 139-112-126 mm
Radius 20 m @ 181 cm
The new Impulse Ti 112 features a poplar core, topped with a sheet of Titanal, to deliver the power, precision, and stability that epic lines demand. This redesign completely transforms the feel of the ski when it’s pointed downhill. The core retains the torsional stiffness of previous years, with the added metal acting as a dampener that significantly reduces vibrations from the rigid wood core. This inspires confidence on variable terrain and adds top-end stability.
Salomon QST X
Lengths 178, 184, 192 cm
DIM 142-116-132 mm
Radius 25 m @ 184 cm
Salomon’s QST line has been a staple for freeride skiers at resorts across the globe for a number of years and the new QST X brings a pivoty, surfy and slarvy feel to the series. Sharing some of the tried-and-true characteristics of its narrower QST predecessors, this ski was built to float atop the deep stuff.
