The 5 best freeride skis of 2026-27
A freeride ski is for the days you leave the groomers: soft snow between the runs, tracked-out powder, trees and bumps. For off-piste skiing in a resort, most skiers do best with a ski between 96 and 106 mm underfoot. That is wide enough to float in fresh snow and still narrow enough to ski a hard piste back to the lift. We compared every 2026-27 ski in that range in our catalog and picked five that each win at something different. They are not a ranking from good to bad. Pick the one whose "best for" matches how you ski.
We compared 55 skis · updated October 27, 2026
Salomon QST 100
Why we picked it
The QST 100 is the easiest way into freeride skiing on this list. Salomon builds it with a poplar core, basalt and fibreglass instead of metal, and a cork Damplifier in the tip to calm vibration. A long tail rocker and a progressive mounting point make it easy to pivot and slide in bumps, trees and soft snow, while camber underfoot keeps enough grip for the way back to the lift. It comes in six lengths from 148 to 188 cm, with the radius growing from 13.5 m to 18.5 m, and it weighs 1,880 g per ski at 180 cm.
Not for
Heavy, fast skiers who want maximum stability in hard chop. Without metal it gives way sooner at high speed than a ski such as the Blizzard Anomaly 102.
Read the full reviewRossignol Soul 102
Why we picked it
The Soul 102 is the 2026-27 name for the Sender Soul 102, and Rossignol's tables show the same shape and lengths as before. A poplar core with a narrow Titanal Beam underfoot gives grip, and V-A-S damping keeps the ride calm in rough snow. Air Tip takes weight out of the tip and tail, and tip and tail rocker make the ski pivot easily in trees and float in soft snow. The waist grows with length from 100 to 104 mm and the radius from 14 to 18 m. At 2,000 g per ski at 172 cm it sits in the middle: easy to turn, but not a heavy charger. Rossignol rates it advanced to expert.
Not for
Skiers who mainly carve on hard pistes. A narrower all-mountain ski, such as the Rossignol Soul 92, grips better there.
Read the full reviewBlizzard Anomaly 102
Why we picked it
The Anomaly 102 is the widest ski in Blizzard's Anomaly line and the heaviest, most damp ski in this top 5. A TrueBlend core of poplar and beech with two layers of titanal in Blizzard's FluxForm layout keeps it calm at speed in chop and on hard snow. Early rise in the tip and tail with camber underfoot gives float in fresh snow without losing edge grip. The radius is long, from 18 m at 176 cm to 22.5 m at 192 cm, and the ski weighs 2,090 g per ski at 182 cm. It only comes in four long lengths, from 176 to 192 cm.
Not for
Intermediates, lighter skiers and anyone who skis tight trees and bumps. It needs speed and a strong stance to come alive.
Read the full reviewKästle ZX100
Why we picked it
The ZX100 is a directional 100 mm freeride ski that carves better than its width suggests. A beech and poplar core with fibreglass laminates and a semi-cap sandwich sidewall puts power into the edge, and camber underfoot bites on hard snow. Double rocker with Hook Free tip and tail helps in soft snow, and Hollowtech 2.0 takes mass out of the tip to reduce swing weight. The radius grows from 14.6 m at 168 cm to 20.3 m at 189 cm, and the ski weighs 1,830 g per ski at 175 cm. Dynamic mounting points let you mount it forward for shorter turns or back for more stability.
Not for
Skiers who want a loose, playful ski for jumps and switch skiing. The ZX100 is a directional ski that wants to be skied forward.
Read the full reviewElan Playmaker 101
Why we picked it
The Playmaker 101 is a freestyle ski at freeride width. Its Tubelite woodcore has carbon rods, and Surf Rocker in the tip and tail with camber underfoot makes it easy to smear turns, ride switch and use side hits. The sidecut is 132-101-122 mm in every length, so the ski behaves the same at each size. The radius grows from 16 m at 164 cm to 19.5 m at 188 cm. It is the lightest pick here, from 1,515 g at 164 cm to 1,815 g at 188 cm per ski.
Not for
Skiers who want strong edge grip on hard pistes. As a twin tip with surf rocker it carves less well than a directional 100 mm ski such as the Kästle ZX100.
Read the full review| Ski | Waist | Radius | Weight per ski | Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salomon QST 100 | 100 mm | 13.5–18.5 m | 1,880 g @ 180 cm | 148–188 cm |
| Rossignol Soul 102 | 100–104 mm | 14–18 m | 2,000 g @ 172 cm | 156–188 cm |
| Blizzard Anomaly 102 | 102 mm | 18–22.5 m | 2,090 g @ 182 cm | 176–192 cm |
| Kästle ZX100 | 100 mm | 14.6–20.3 m | 1,890 g @ 181 cm | 168–189 cm |
| Elan Playmaker 101 | 101 mm | 16–19.5 m | 1,685 g @ 180 cm | 164–188 cm |
- Blizzard Canvas 100100 mmBlizzard's metal-free twin rocker 100: lighter and more playful than the Anomaly 102, at 1,500 g per ski at 174 cm.
- Blizzard Black Pearl 9797 mmThe women's freeride pick: 97 mm, a partial titanal layer underfoot and 1,750 g per ski at 159 cm.
- Kästle Paragon 101101 mmKästle's double-titanal freeride ski: more grip and mass than the ZX100, at 1,851 g per ski at 182 cm.
- Völkl M7 Mantra96 mmOur widest all-mountain pick at 96 mm: a heavy titanal ski for strong skiers who still ski a lot of piste.
How we chose
We started with every 2026-27 ski in our catalog with a waist between 96 and 106 mm, and removed junior skis and dedicated touring skis. Our comparison model scores each ski on seven axes, from piste grip to soft-snow float, playfulness and skill level, using the manufacturer specs and construction. From the shortlist we picked five skis that each lead for one type of skier, from intermediates who leave the piste for the first time to experts who ski fast in open terrain, and that you can buy from a shop we link to. We kept one ski per brand in the top 5. We did not ski these skis ourselves: this is a comparison of published specs and construction, not a hands-on test. No brand paid to be on this list.
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