The best powder skis of 2016

Also read: Top park skis | Top women’s skis | Top big-mountain skis | Top all-mountain skis

For most skiers, powder days are few and far between. However, the elusive, epic deep day is the one that sticks with us until we grow old. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the tools that’ll enhance your next pow-filled experience. These skis ranked above all others at our industry leading ski test; they’re also featured in our Buyer’s Guide. Have at ‘er!

Read more about how FREESKIER tests skis.

115+ mm-waisted freeride skis

You might enjoy these skis if… You’re always daydreaming of Alaska. You prefer your skiing nipple deep and crazy steep. Massive pow fields are your canvas—these skis are your paintbrush. Your masterpiece might just be two, parallel straight lines from top to bottom. Fall line face shots are your aphrodisiac. Cliff drops also get you hot and bothered. Your nickname might be “Freight Train.” Think Seth Morrison or Todd Ligare.

1. Rossignol Super 7

Overall Score: 8.64

“The Super 7 does it all…” Click for full review and scores.

2. Völkl Shiro

Overall Score: 8.57

“Pow. Steeps. Crud. Pillows. Hardpack. More pow. The Völkl Shiro Skis were a popular choice among our testers who constantly yearn for big thrills…” Click for full review and scores.

3. Folsom Rapture

Overall Score: 8.47

“An Editors’ Pick three years running, the Rapture is a highly sought-after pow slaying offering from Folsom…” Click for full review and scores.

4. Scott Sports Scrapper

Overall Score: 8.46

“The Scrapper the go-to for powder hound Dane Tudor…” Click for full review and scores.

5. DPS Wailer 112RPC Pure3

Overall Score: 8.43

“A high-performance ski in an ultra-lightweight package, the DPS Wailer 112RPC Pure 3 Skis are intended for skiers with a knack for speed…” Click for full review and scores.

6. Faction Eleven

Overall Score: 8.26

“‘Stiff, yet nimble. I’d highly recommend the for hard charging and pow slaying,’ said one tester about the new Faction Eleven Skis…” Click for full review and scores.

7. Atomic Automatic 117

Overall Score: 8.24

“Built to the liking of Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Dana Flahr, the Automatic 117 is the widest offering in Atomic’s popular Automatic line…” Click for full review and scores.

8. Icelantic Keeper

Overall Score: 8.21

“The Keeper is a big-mountain slayer, adept in all-mountain performance, as well…” Click for full review and scores.

9. K2 Pinnacle 118

Overall Score: 8.20

“Seth Morrison’s pro model, the Pinnacle 118 is made to crush deep pow and big lines…” Click for full review and scores.

10. Revision Subtraction

Overall Score: 7.92

“‘It’s like a park ski for powder days,’ said one tester about the Revision Subtraction skis…” Click for full review and scores.

11. Dynastar Cham 2.0 117

Overall Score: 7.88

“The Dynastar Cham has been redesigned for 2015-16…” Click for full review and scores.

12. Foon Redneck Superstar 117

Overall Score: 7.83

“This ski is intended for folks who slay pow on the reg…” Click for full review and scores.

115+ mm-waisted freestyle skis

You might enjoy these skis if… You stare down the dreamiest pillow line with this debate in your head: Enter with a spin to the right, left… or perhaps a switch 5? You stomp and destroy each pillow, then amid your run-out, you toss a beauty of a nose butter for added effect. These maneuvers come with ease, due in part to your ski’s hefty amount of rocker, forgiving flex pattern and plus-size waist width.

See the best 115+ mm freestyle skis on the next page.

Also read: Top park skis | Top women’s skis | Top powder skis | Top big-mountain skis

115+ mm-waisted freestyle skis

You might enjoy these skis if… You stare down the dreamiest pillow line with this debate in your head: Enter with a spin to the right, left… or perhaps a switch 5? You stomp and destroy each pillow, then amid your run-out, you toss a beauty of a nose butter for added effect. These maneuvers come with ease, due in part to your ski’s hefty amount of rocker, forgiving flex pattern and plus-size waist width.

1. Armada JJ 2.0

Overall Score: 8.92

“‘Hard charging, fist pumping, rage machine…'” Click for full review and scores.

2. Atomic Bent Chetler

Overall Score: 8.76

“Think about Chris Benchetler’s skiing style for a moment: smooth and effortless, big tricks in big terrain and, of course, that signature nose butter…” Click for full review and scores.

3. Folsom Trophy

Overall Score: 8.39

“The Folsom Trophy Skis are a quick and nimble pow slayer…” Click for full review and scores.

4. Faction Candide 4.0

Overall Score: 8.30

“Candide’s go-to choice for bottomless conditions, the Faction Candide 4.0 Skis, comes back unchanged for its third year of production, and that’s just fine by our testers…” Click for full review and scores.

5. 4FRNT YLE

Overall Score: 7.98

“Wiley Miller’s signature planks are essentially park skis for the pow…” Click for full review and scores.

6. Fischer Big Stix 122

Overall Score: 7.97

“If rocking down huge lines in Alaska is a recurrent daydream of yours, consider getting your kicks on Fischer’s Big Stix…” Click for full review and scores.

7. Voile X9

Overall Score: 7.78

“Switch pow landings: ✓ Nose butters through choke-worthy snow: ✓ A beefy platform for stomping landings off big ol’ backcountry features: ✓…” Click for full review and scores.

8. Liberty Schuster Pro

Overall Score: 7.74

“Joe Schuster gets his own well-deserved pro model from Liberty this year…” Click for full review and scores.

9. Lib Tech Fully Functional Five Nas Pro

Overall Score: 7.72

“While its wide platform and rockered tip and tail help make the Functional Five a trustworthy pow companion…” Click for full review and scores.

Read more about how FREESKIER tests skis.