Best Light skis 2025

A tough choice this season because many skis are contenders and the details that make the difference are minimal. Added to this is the ever more significant division between the original skis that made up this class, namely narrow, super-light skis, and the trend towards ever wider and slightly heftier builds. For this reason, we’ve also included after every Choice the runner-up in each class. Read the technical specs carefully!

This is a emblematic of how, just by adding a touch of substance to such light weight skis you can obtain a playful and versatile product that can be enjoyed at almost all levels. It weighs a few grams more than the top-of-the-range carbon skis but in any case keeps a well-balanced weight of 1200g to deliver what many will find is a ski that’s both fun and reassuring. Light? No problem.

Let’s be clear: this is not the Pro’s choice because it’s a particularly demanding ski (the Atomic Backland 85 UL, for instance being a case in point), but because, amongst today’s vast selection in the Light class, choosing a 1000g ski with an 82 width is a much more radical choice than it was just two seasons ago. A fun, versatile and light ski. Not easily achieved with weights and shapes of this type. We also really liked the Kāstle TX 88 (staying more on the wider size).

Easy, playful, balanced and universal. Neither too light nor too heavy. Surprising stability for a ski with an 85 mm waist and speed of edge-to-edge transition.” Just read through the datasheet and you’ll see this ski really surprised us during testing. Plus, it’s also great value for money. You can’t go wrong choosing the K2 Wayback 89 either.

This was the toughest award to decide. Yet even in a tie, there has to be a winner. So in the next few lines we’ll also talk about the Black Crows Orb Freebird, as we really struggled to decide right to the end. La Machine wins as its the latest offering and is one gram lighter. It’s the modern, intelligent choice because it’s versatile, playful and able to impress less traditional skiers yet can also appeal to hardened purists. Teamed with a modern pair of Light boots, which walk excellently, and courtesy of their good ankle range, alleviate effort at every step when skinning, the Orb has every right to be in this category. With its smooth, do-it-all character this has really become an outstanding ski and the ideal choice for many. And it’s not boring. A tough choice.