Top Ski Brands You Should be Aware Of

Interested in a new pair of skis? As soon as you start looking it will seem like the options are endless – and to some extent, they are!

Let us give you an overview of the market with a look at some of the top ski brands, what they are known for and why their skis might be calling your name.

Do I Need to Buy from a Top Brand?

Definitely not! We would hate for you to think that you need a brand-name product to get out there and rip; however, the top ski manufacturers are well-known and well-loved for good reason. Even if you are buying used, chances are you will come across these top ski brands in your search so let us give you the down-low on some of the world’s leading ski companies.

K2

k2 logo

Who are they?

This American ski company was founded in 1962. Today it is known as K2 Sports and is a collection of high-end sports brands. K2 made their name making alpine skis and remain one of the most prevalent ski brands in the world. They also have an extensive lineup with excellent options for all skill levels from beginner to expert.

Best known for?

This ski brand was the first to introduce carbon fiber skis and are known for their ski technology.

Specialties?

One of the coolest products in their current collection is the Mindbender series – a range of super versatile skis that can really let rip in a variety of conditions: K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis.

What’s missing?

With only one model that is truly designed for the backcountry, K2 doesn’t offer much selection. That being said, their one offering is a good one, especially if you are looking for a budget-friendly or women’s specific option: Wayback or the Talkback skis.

Other products?

You bet! K2 Sports makes snowboards, helmets, boots poles, speed skates, inline skates and Nordic skis as well as other winter accessories.

Rossignol

rossignol logo

Who are they?

Founded in France in 1907, Rossignol has been making stellar skis for over a century. They were one of the first ski manufacturers to start making skis out of plastics and composite materials instead of wood and have remained world leaders in ski technology ever since.

Best known for?

Having something for everyone! You will find ‘‘Rossi’’ skis in rental shops, on the green beginner runs, getting big air in the park and on competitive alpine circuits. Rossignol is known for great quality and having products for all abilities.

Specialties?

All-mountain freeride skis. Rossi’s ‘7’ line was a big deal in the freeride world; however, it has recently been discontinued and been replaced with their new Black Ops lineup. We have lots of tips for beginner skiers – one of which is considering Rossignol’s Experience 76 which is a high-end beginner ski.

What’s missing?

Rossignol’s backcountry lineup is quite minimal, so if you are looking for Rossi quality and tradition in a great powder ski, we recommend you turn to their partner company Dynastar, another French alpine company known for making world-class skis including some killer backcountry models.

Other products?

Boots, poles and Nordic skis as well as ski apparel, backpacks and other winter sports accessories.

Dynastar

dynastar logo

Who are they?

Another French ski company with a rich history, Dynastar has been had their skis on Olympic podiums and on the feet of World Champions since the 1960’s.

Specialties?

Unlike some of their competitors, Dynastar has a stellar selection of backcountry and touring skis as well as options designed for high-speed carving on hard-packed runs. If you are looking for a versatile backcountry option we suggest you check out Dynastar M-Tour 99 Skis – ideal for our big mountain skiers.

Other products?

Although poles, ski bags and skins are all part of their repertoire, this classic ski company really focuses on alpine skis. Their most known side product is their look bindings which are among the industry’s best ski bindings – the Look Pivot series is a beloved classic on the hill.

Head

head logo

Who are they?

This Austrian ski company is one of the leading alpine ski manufacturers in the USA. They became serious contenders in the competitive alpine ski markets in the 1950’s when they introduced metal edging which resulted in stiffer skis with better edge hold. Today they are among the most popular ski brands on the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup.

Best known for?

Innovative solutions and unique construction such as the lightweight fleece material used instead of plastic for the outer construction of their Kore series.

Other products?

Head has a wide variety of winter sport products ranging from poles and boots to snowboards as well as accessories such as bags, helmets and goggles. They also manufacture sports equipment for a variety of racket sports.

Fischer

fischer logo

Who are they?

Founded in Austria in the 1920s, Fischer provides a large lineup of skis with suitable options for everyone from beginners to world champion racers to backcountry powder hunters.

Specialties?

While Fischer truly delivers great skis in a wide variety of specialties, one of their most interesting new additions is the Fischer Hannibal 96 Carbon Skis – a lightweight touring ski that is guaranteed not to disappoint. They also have an impressive selection of slalom and race-oriented skis with World Cup quality components such as the Fischer RC4 Worldcup SC Yellow Base.

Other products?

Fischer produces alpine boots and poles as well as a full selection of world leading Nordic ski equipment. They are also one of the largest hockey stick manufacturers.

Salomon

salomon logo

Who are they?

Another outstanding French ski company! Born in the heart of the French Alps, Salomon began making a name for themselves in the 1950s. Today Salomon is the leading sport equipment manufacturer in Europe.

Best known for?

Salomon is known for not only having a very complete collection of sport equipment ranging from apparel to endurance running to winter sports, but for delivering high-tech quality across the board.

Specialties?

One of the most impressive skis in the current lineup is the QST series of all-mountain skis, designed to excel in powder and soft snow.

Other products?

Salomon truly does it all: bindings, running shoes, sportswear, snowboards, Nordic skis, boots and the list goes on.

Atomic

atomic logo

Who are they?

This brand comes from Salzburg, Austria and has been excelling in backcountry skis since the 1980s: they are widely recognized as the developers of the first real powder skis. Not only that, they are one of the dominating brands on the FIS Alpine World Circuit.

Best known for?

Great equipment for intermediate to expert skiers. Their selection includes a variety of hard-charging models; however, they don’t have a lot of options for beginners.

Specialties?

Fast, stiff, high-performance skis.

Other products?

Atomic produces high-performance ski boots as well as poles, bindings, helmets, and even ski goggles.

Nordica

nordica logo

Who are they?

This Italian ski company made its name in the world of alpine skiing as boot specialists starting in the 1930s. Today they offer a small selection of high-quality, versatile skis in addition to their array of alpine boots. While their ski line-up is small – 7 models to be exact – they are known for their versatility.

Best known for?

High-quality, versatile skis and some of the best ski boots on the market!

Specialties?

Great carving skis known for their stability, great edge hold and smooth turn initiation. If you are primarily skiing in hard-packed conditions we recommend taking a look at Nordica’s Enforcer 93, or their Women’s model, Santa Ana 93.

Other products?

Aside from boots and skis, Nordica offers a selection of alpine poles as well as various skis bags, backpacks, socks and other winter accessories.

With so many impressive brands to choose from it can be tough to narrow it down – but know that with these trusted brands you are in good hands.

About The Author

AthletePath Staff

We are a team of enthusiasts and professional athletes thriving to provide you with helpful advice on buying everything you may ever need to become a better athlete.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments