What is each ski brand good at?

Armada: one of the most iconic freestyle brands, and while their main skis aren’t total standouts, most of quite good and versatile overall and their Zero collection is a great move and keeps them from becoming boring. Feels like a kid trying to grow up a little[/quote]
This is the point I was trying to make about Armada. It just feels like their ARV series is similar to lots of other skis on the market.

r00kieThe majority if shit on Lines durability comes from people with Honeybadgers. Seems the other models hold up to at least the minimum standard.

Yeah i had a pair of badgers that lasted literally 20 days, and a couple years back my buddy had a pair of bacons that he got warranty on 3 times in one season cuz they fell apart. Not saying their skis are all shit, they make some of the most interesting models on the market, just my experience with them was pretty shitty.

**This post was edited on May 21st 2020 at 12:26:11pm

patagonialukeFigured I'd throw in my 2 cents:



Volkl: one of the few brands still making burly, heavy, directional, pretty traditional chargers that also don’t suck when you take them off a groomer. Also very good touring skis, and the Revolt 121 is rad. Overall, one of the brands that seems to rarely put out an objectively bad ski. Maybe not the most exciting, but rarely objectively bad at what it’s supposed to do.

K2: cover just about everything, with a lineup that I think very few people would have major complaints with, though not necessarily making standout skis in any particular category

Atomic: Chetlers are rad, current Vantage line sucks IMO, fantastic boots, decent touring skis for directional skiers

Blizzard: similar to Volkl in that they’re making very solid, stable, directional skis that many other brands aren't, Rustler series will work for a lot of people but not a major standout

J Skis: laid-back attitude with “fun” skis that a lot of people will actually like, if they try them. Unless you prefer extremely stiff or extremely light skis, you’d probably get along with several of their skis.

4FRNT: some of the best pow & touring skis, MSP’s are super intuitive all-mountain skis that are great for the average skier, want to try their new freestyle all-mountain options.

ON3P: about as bombproof as possible, made-in-USA construction, transparent approach & fantastic customer service, generally strong & heavy skis, some of the best skis for “playful charging” & dense snow. Their skis aren’t for anyone, but even if the skis aren’t for you, it’s tough not to like the company.

Moment: another great brand for playful chargers, killer graphics, and fuck-you attitude. Amazing touring skis for playful skiers, yet also making some serious chargers. Like ON3P, maybe their skis aren't for you, but if you can't appreciate the brand, you're a nerd. Everyone I’ve met from Moment is cooler than me.

Dynastar: turning things around recently, previously for old directional skiers (which they've ironically alienated in the past years, maybe turning that around now). Still feel like a heavily race-influenced brand, but their new freeride skis are pretty awesome. Excited to see where they go in the next few years.

Rossi: was a jerry brand, now trying to go against the grain with the Blackops line. BO 118 is one of the best skis on the market, but not for everyone. Another one I'm excited about going forward.

Salomon: make skis that aren’t super inspiring but most of them are quite good. Also they make literally everything you need for skiing and seem to make all their athletes use everything, which makes them feel a little dictator-esque.

Line: least-serious, arguably most “fun” brand, similar to J Skis in this regard. They don’t make chargers, but for just about everyone else, Line makes a ski for you. One of the few brands where I haven’t skied one of their recent skis and disliked it. Great graphics and one of the few "big" brands pushing weird designs.

Black Crows: the hypebeast brand. Make some great skis, but a lot of their skis suck but everyone is trying to convince themselves that they’re good because they’re the “cool” brand. I’d argue the best marketing and graphic design in the industry, but performance consistency has not been their thing.

Faction: similar to Black Crows, great marketing, graphics, & “coolness” factor, but very hit-or-miss in terms of performance and durability. Some great skis, some awful ones. But based on the last two years, they're working on getting better. Also put out some of the best content among brands.

DPS: making arguable the biggest effort to push forward novel constructions, though with limiting options due to historically very lightweight builds and high prices. Great touring skis, lots of easy skis that weekend warriors can get along with. Koala 119 is amazing and hopefully they’ll expand on that.

Armada: one of the most iconic freestyle brands, and while their main skis aren’t total standouts, most of quite good and versatile overall and their Zero collection is a great move and keeps them from becoming boring. Feels like a kid trying to grow up a little

Fischer: feels very much like a race brand, though the Ranger series has gotten really good. If I had to sum up their whole line, I’d say “precise” and “edge hold”

Icelantic: mostly known for their graphics and as the brand of Denver weekend warriors, though the Nomad series is pretty great, and the construction quality is solid.

Liberty: kinda similar to Icelantic, make nice all-mountain skis that most average skiers will like. Love that they’re sponsoring a ton of smaller-time people, and the Origin series is one that a lot of people could get along with.

Head: race + rental brand for the most part. Sponsor freestyle athletes but haven’t made a legit all-mountain-freestyle ski in years. Amazing carving skis, I hate the Kores.

Nordica: viewed as a dad-ski brand, but the Enforcer series has been amazing (arguably unparalleled) in terms of just how many people can appreciate them, but I think they may have taken a step back with the 20/21 line.

Prior: snowboard company that makes some fantastic skis that no one knows about

Elan: dad-ski + rental brand. That said, Ripsticks are pretty rad if you like light skis, and they have the manufacturing capabilities to actually make some really good skis, but I see why they've stayed in their wheelhouse.

*edit cause apparently copy+paste from Notes doesn't play nice with NS*

**This post was edited on May 20th 2020 at 10:29:23pm

One note on Line. I would say if you couldn't charge on the Supernatural/Prophet/Influence series, then you probably can't charge.

Not you personally but just the generalization. I think people just forget that Line makes/has made stout ski's with metal in them. I have pair of Influence 105's that have served well in all conditions, and have never really felt like they weren't up to the task in the shittiest conditions.

SessionOne note on Line. I would say if you couldn't charge on the Supernatural/Prophet/Influence series, then you probably can't charge.

Not you personally but just the generalization. I think people just forget that Line makes/has made stout ski's with metal in them. I have pair of Influence 105's that have served well in all conditions, and have never really felt like they weren't up to the task in the shittiest conditions.

totally agree, they just haven't made those in a while so I don't think about them when currently summing up Line as a brand. But yeah, I really miss the original Supernaturals.

Butter4dayzI see your impartial view that you use in your reviews on this post. kudos to that. Do you have one particulate brand that you love?

Ha, yeah the whole "impartial" thing has definitely permeated well past just the reviews and I feel like I no longer have that super strong connection to particular brands like I did before I started reviewing stuff. Every brand that I've used skis from makes at least a couple (or a bunch) of skis that I'd recommend to a particular type of skier.

But if we're more so talking about the "brand" rather than just the products, I tend to like the smaller brands the most since they actually have "personalities," so I'd say Moment, ON3P, J, 4FRNT, WNDR, and Prior would all be up there, and then I also just like a lot of the folks at those brands as well as Icelantic & Liberty.

r00kieThe majority if shit on Lines durability comes from people with Honeybadgers. Seems the other models hold up to at least the minimum standard.

Haha kids that buy badgers and complain about durability deserve it ngl. It’s like buying the cheapest car on the lot and complaining that it doesn’t have fancy amenities.