Gear & Tuning · Oct 8, 2026 · 8 min read
What Width Ski Should I Get? Maker and Shop Ranges Compared for 2026
For one pair that handles groomers and some fresh snow, ski makers and shops point to roughly 90 to 106mm underfoot. Go under 85mm for mostly firm, groomed days or while learning, and past 110mm only for a powder-day second pair.
By FIRSTCHAIR Editorial
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What width ski should I get?
If you want one pair for groomers plus some fresh snow, shop roughly 90 to 106mm underfoot, the band Armada gives its all-conditions skis, while evo calls a ski around 100mm the best of both worlds. Go under 85mm if most of your days are firm groomers or you are still learning, and keep anything past 110mm for a second, powder-only pair. Pick the number for your typical day, not your best one.
This answer is assembled from the width ranges that three ski makers (Salomon, K2, Armada) and three ski shops (evo, UtahSkis, Snowcountry) publish in their own buying guides, rather than first-hand use.
- Learning, or a few groomer days a year: 72-84mm, Salomon's range for easy groomed-run skis.
- Mostly firm, groomed snow: under 85mm.
- One pair for everything: 90-106mm.
- Mostly off-piste and soft snow: 100-110mm.
- A storm-day second pair: over 110mm.
What each maker and shop publishes (checked October 2026)
Every range below is taken from the brand's or shop's own guide and placed in the column that matches the category the source attached it to. The sources overlap far more than they clash; where they clash, it is mostly about what to call a ski rather than how wide it should be.
| Source | Groomers and firm snow | One ski for mixed days | Off-piste and powder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salomon (maker) | under 85mm on-piste; 72-84mm for easy groomed runs | around 85-90mm for its all-mountain skis; 90-100mm for its "versatile, everyday" freeride skis | 100-110mm for deep snow; over 110mm for "fat" skis |
| K2 (maker) | around 60-85mm | no separate band | 90-100mm or more |
| Armada (maker) | the low 90s and below | typically 90-106mm | typically 100mm or more |
| evo (shop) | "narrower" widths for firm snow | around 100mm | 115mm or more |
| UtahSkis (shop) | under 85mm | 96-110mm, or 85-95mm if you stay mostly on-trail | 111mm and up |
| Snowcountry (shop) | 60-85mm piste skis | 70-100mm at 70% on-piste; 90-110mm at 40% on-piste | 100-115mm freeride; 110-130mm powder |
Where the sources agree
Four of the six sources put a groomer-first ski at about 85mm or narrower. Salomon's on-piste skis are under 85mm, K2's narrow waist runs around 60-85mm, UtahSkis opens its groomed-trail band under 85mm, and Snowcountry's piste skis run 60-85mm. Armada stretches its firm-snow range a little further, to the low 90s and below, and evo describes firm-snow skis only as narrower without giving a number.
Where they disagree
"All-mountain" is a label, not a width. Salomon describes its all-mountain skis at around 85-90mm, while UtahSkis calls 96-110mm the sweet spot for an all-mountain skier who wants one ski with true versatility. Two skis sold under the same word can sit in different bands, so read the middle number on the spec sheet instead of the category name. K2 points out that some ski names even include the waist width, which is a handy shortcut when the number is in the model name.
"Wide" starts in different places. K2 calls 90-100mm or more a wide waist with better flotation in soft snow, and Armada says powder skis are typically 100mm or more. evo's powder category, by contrast, starts at 115mm, and UtahSkis sends powder hounds to 111mm and up. A ski in the mid-90s floats better than a carver, but none of the three shops here would file it under powder.
Four questions that set your number
1. How much of your skiing is on groomed runs?
Snowcountry pairs each width band with an on-piste and off-piste split: its piste skis at 60-85mm are matched to 95% on-piste skiing, piste and all-mountain skis at 70-100mm to 70%, all-mountain and freeride skis at 90-110mm to 40%, and freeride skis at 100-115mm to just 15%. Its blunt rule of thumb: "If you ski more than 80% of the time on-piste, don't choose a ski that's 100 mm wide." The other side of that rule is just as useful: if your focus is off-piste, the shop says not to hesitate over a ski wider than 95mm.
If you are not sure what your typical day looks like, a few weeks of reading the morning snow report at your home hill will tell you more than your memory of the deepest day of last season.
2. How confident are you on skis?
Salomon's skis for easy groomed runs, aimed at beginners, intermediates and people who ski occasionally, are more flexible and 72-84mm underfoot. UtahSkis says skinnier skis are great for beginner-level skiers because they are quick from edge to edge and easy to maneuver, and evo lists a narrower waist among the traits of beginner-intermediate skis.
Narrow is not a beginner badge, though. UtahSkis notes that slim-waisted skis "can range from beginner all the way to expert level," so a narrow ski is not something you automatically outgrow. If you are progressing quickly, buy for the terrain you expect to ski next season.
3. One pair or two?
With one pair, aim for the overlap zone. Armada's all-conditions skis sit at 90-106mm, and the brand is candid about the cost: versatility comes "at the expense of performance on the extreme ends," in the deepest powder and on the firmest snow.
With two pairs, split the job instead of compromising: a groomer ski under 85mm for firm days and a powder ski past 110mm for storm days. Salomon frames its fat skis as "a complement to a classic pair," and it makes the mirror-image suggestion for freeriders: add an on-piste pair for the days when backcountry conditions aren't good.
4. What will the extra millimeters cost you?
Armada states the trade plainly: the wider a ski is, the better it performs in deep snow but the more limited it is in variable or harder snow. evo puts it the same way from the other end, saying narrower waists shine in firm snow while wider waists are ideal for ungroomed terrain and fresh snow. For the mechanics behind that trade, from edge-to-edge quickness to flotation, our waist-width explainer goes through what each band of millimeters changes on snow.
Width also decides your brakes, and nudges your length
Brakes have to match the waist. evo's binding guide says your skis' waist width determines the brake width, the distance between the two brake arms. Its worked example: skis that are 80mm at the waist need a brake of at least 80mm and preferably no wider than 95mm, and its general rule is a brake no more than 15mm wider than the waist. Brakes that are too narrow will not clear the edges or deploy properly; brakes that are too wide may drag when the ski is on edge. If you are moving bindings from an old narrow ski to a new wide one, check the brakes first, because wider brakes for fat powder skis can often be bought separately.
Length follows ability and build, not width, but the categories pull it along. Salomon says width is primarily dictated by your style of skiing while length depends on your physical build and technical level. Its height-based guide puts on-piste skis between 15cm and 5cm shorter than you, all-mountain skis from 10cm shorter up to your height, and freeride skis 5cm to 10cm taller. Its freeride guide adds that advanced skiers who like high-speed turns in open terrain can go up to 15cm over their height. In practice, choosing a wider, freeride-leaning ski usually means choosing a longer one too.
Once the width is settled
A new pair needs wax and edge care whatever its width, and a wider ski simply has more base to look after. Our home ski tuning guide covers waxing, edges and storage step by step. If you are setting up to wax at home, a dedicated waxing iron keeps the household one out of it: Check price on Amazon. For wax and brushes in one kit, Demon sells a complete ski tune kit: Check price on Amazon. And to carry the new pair from the car without a tangle of poles, a ski strap and pole carrier helps: Check price on Amazon.
When you are narrowing the rest of the kit, see our full shortlist.
Sources
- How to choose the right type of skis — Salomon (checked October 2026)
- How to choose your freeride skis — Salomon (checked October 2026)
- How to Choose a Ski — K2 Skis (checked October 2026)
- Ski Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Ski — Armada (checked October 2026)
- Ski Size Chart & Calculator - How to Choose Skis — evo (checked October 2026)
- How to Choose Ski Bindings & DIN Setting Chart — evo (checked October 2026)
- Skis - How to Choose — UtahSkis (checked October 2026)
- What width ski should I get? | Choose the right width of ski — Snowcountry (checked October 2026)
From the shop
Browse the shop →Original designs from this site, made to order.
FAQ
Is a 100mm ski too wide for groomers?
It depends on how much of your day is spent on them. Snowcountry advises against a 100mm ski for anyone who is on-piste more than 80% of the time, and Armada puts its best firm-snow skis in the low 90s and below. If groomers are only part of your skiing, evo treats a ski around 100mm as the middle ground for all-mountain days.
What width ski should a beginner get?
Something narrow and forgiving. Salomon's easy-groomed-run skis, built for beginners, intermediates and occasional skiers, are 72-84mm and generally more flexible, and UtahSkis recommends skinnier waists for beginner-level skiers because they turn easily.
Is a 90mm ski good in powder?
It floats better than a carver, but it sits below most powder bands. K2 counts 90-100mm or more as a wide waist, and Salomon's most versatile freeride skis start at 90mm. evo's powder category starts at 115mm and UtahSkis' at 111mm, so treat a 90mm ski as an all-rounder that tolerates soft snow rather than a powder ski.
Do wider skis need different bindings?
They need brakes that clear the edges. evo's rule is a brake at least as wide as the ski's waist and no more than 15mm wider; too narrow and the brake will not deploy properly, too wide and it can drag on edge.
Should a wider ski also be longer?
Usually, because wide skis tend to be freeride designs. Salomon's sizing puts freeride skis 5cm to 10cm taller than you, against 15cm to 5cm shorter for on-piste skis.
