Volkl

V-Werks BMT 94 Ski

You used to only have two choices: skin up on your big-mountain skis and cry because your legs felt like they were going to fall off, or zip up on your rando toothpicks and cry because you were scared of falling all the way down your line. No more. This year, Volkl's offering up the V-Werks BMT 94 Ski, an amazingly light carbon-fiber charger that flies on the way up, too. Made with a multi-layer wood core with lightweight poplar in the tip and tail and stiff, sturdy ash underfoot, the BMT checks in at under seven pounds per pair, thanks largely to a carbon-fiber jacket that wraps the whole ski to add stiffness without any unnecessary weight.

The BMT 94 is the smallest ski in the V-Werks family, making it ideal for more variable conditions, but it can still hold its own when things get deep, thanks to a fully rockered profile and tapered tip that let you surf your way through the powder. Short sidewalls underfoot let you hold a bomber edge when things get firm, and the notched tail and Volkl's Skin Pin make attaching skins a cinch. Bottom line: if you're looking for a ski that can handle long ascents, fast descents, powder, firm conditions, and resort days, the BMT 94 is your ride.