The 5 best touring skis of 2026-27
A touring ski has two jobs that pull in opposite directions. Uphill, every gram counts, because you lift the ski thousands of times on a long day. Downhill, the same ski must hold an edge on refrozen snow and stay calm in crust and soft snow. Our five picks run from under 1,000 g to about 1,700 g per ski and from 82 to 102 mm underfoot. We compared every 2026-27 touring ski 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 and where you tour.
We compared 73 skis · updated October 27, 2026
Atomic Backland 88
Why we picked it
The Backland 88 is the ski to pick if you want one touring ski for most days. A poplar core gives more damping than the lightest builds, and Dura Cap sidewalls protect it from rock strikes. The HRZN 3D tip adds float and makes turns easier to start in soft snow, while the All-Mountain Rocker 15/85/0 keeps camber under most of the ski and an almost flat tail for grip on firm and refrozen snow. At about 1,300 g per ski (176 cm) and a 17.4 m radius at that length, it is light for long climbs and calm on the way down. It comes in four lengths from 162 to 183 cm.
Not for
Deep powder days. At about 90 mm underfoot it floats less than a 102 mm ski such as the Zag Ubac 102.
Read the full reviewDynafit Seven Summits
Why we picked it
The Seven Summits is built for classic tours, not for aggressive freeride descents, and that makes it a calm first touring ski. A poplar core with carbon stringers and full sidewalls keeps it predictable, and the single-radius sidecut gives the same turn feel in every length. Tip rocker helps it stay on top of breakable crust and start turns easily, while a short tail rocker keeps the tail engaged on firmer snow. It weighs 1,230 g at 166 cm and 1,290 g at 174 cm per ski. Five lengths from 149 to 182 cm, with a waist of 82 to 86 mm, make it easy to size for lighter and shorter skiers too.
Not for
Strong skiers who want to ski steep or deep lines fast. Its ABS base puts durability before glide, and the narrow waist gives limited float in powder.
Read the full reviewBlack Crows Ova Freebird
Why we picked it
The Ova Freebird is an 85 mm Mountain Touring ski for long days and mixed snow. A paulownia core with mixed carbon and glass fibre keeps it at 1,100 g per ski in 170 cm. A semi-cap build saves weight in the tip, ABS sidewalls give edge grip elsewhere, and a titanium plate underfoot holds the binding screws and adds some damping. The Freebird profile combines a light front rocker, long camber and a progressively raised tail, so it grips on refrozen tracks and releases easily in variable spring snow. With a 17 m radius at 170 cm and a narrow waist, kick turns and tight descents stay easy.
Not for
Powder days and skiers who want float. At 85 mm underfoot, float in deep snow is limited.
Read the full reviewZag Ubac 102
Why we picked it
The Ubac 102 is the widest pick and the one for tourers who go out for soft snow more than for spring corn. Zag, from Chamonix, builds it with a paulownia core, glass and carbon fibre, ABS sidewalls in a semi-cap construction and no titanal. A double rocker, 25% in the tip and 15% in the tail, with camber underfoot gives it float and easy pivots in powder. With a 21.5 m radius at 184 cm, it likes long turns on big open faces. It weighs about 1,590 g per ski at 184 cm and 1,690 g at 188 cm: heavier than the other picks, but still light for 102 mm.
Not for
Shorter skiers and tourers who mostly ski firm snow. It comes only in 176, 184 and 188 cm, and without metal it asks for an active stance on hard snow.
Read the full reviewSki Trab Mistico.2
Why we picked it
The Mistico.2 is the lightest ski in this list: Ski Trab lists 985 g per ski at 157 cm and 1,025 g at 171 cm. It is the widest and most downhill-minded ski in the Light Pro Touring collection from Bormio, Italy. Instead of a full wood core it uses an aramid-and-wood honeycomb inside a carbon wrap, which keeps it torsionally firm at this weight. The waist is 92 mm in 157 and 164 cm and 90 mm in 171 and 178 cm, with radii from 18.8 to 23.3 m. It is a ski for big vertical days where every gram counts on the way up.
Not for
Skiers who want a calm, damp ski in crud, on refrozen snow and at speed. A ski this light has little mass to absorb chatter; the Atomic Backland 88 is calmer there.
Read the full review| Ski | Waist | Radius | Weight per ski | Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic Backland 88 | 89–91 mm | 15.4–18.4 m | 1,300 g @ 176 cm | 162–183 cm |
| Dynafit Seven Summits | 82–86 mm | 16–21.5 m | 1,230 g @ 166 cm | 149–182 cm |
| Black Crows Ova Freebird | 85 mm | 17 m | 1,100 g @ 170 cm | 156–182 cm |
| Zag Ubac 102 | 102 mm | 21.5 m | 1,590 g @ 184 cm | 176–188 cm |
| Ski Trab Mistico.2 | 90–92 mm | 18.8–23.3 m | 1,025 g @ 171 cm | 157–178 cm |
- Dynafit Blacklight 8886–90 mmLighter than the Backland 88 at 1,150 g per ski in 172 cm, with a paulownia core and full carbon for fit tourers.
- Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Pro91–93 mmA stiffer 92 mm ski with a Shaped Ti insert and full camber for steep, icy lines; 1,260 g per ski at 176 cm.
- Atomic Backland 101 W101–102 mmA women's 101 mm freeride-touring ski with Powder Rocker 20/65/15 and 1,230 g per ski at 164 cm.
- Elan Ripstick Tour 9494 mmElan's asymmetric Amphibio profile in a 94 mm touring ski, at about 1,325 g per ski.
How we chose
We started with every 2026-27 ski in our catalog with a waist between 75 and 115 mm that is built for ski touring, and removed junior skis. Narrow race skis for skimo competitions fall outside this range. Our comparison model scores each ski on seven axes, from touring and piste grip to powder float and skill level, using the manufacturer specs and construction. From the shortlist we picked five skis that each lead for one type of tourer, all with a published weight. We kept one ski per brand in the top 5. Four of the five are available from a shop we link to; for the Ski Trab Mistico.2 we have no shop link yet. 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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