The 10 Best Powder Skis of 2024

Powder season is upon us, and it’s only going to get deeper as we creep closer to spring. Deep snow requires fat skis, so we took it upon ourselves to round up some of our favorite powder skis of the season. Here’s our rundown of the top men’s powder skis of 2024, so you can get a jump on the next big dump.

Top 10 Powder Skis

Armada ARV 116 JJ

It’s no coincidence that the JJ is one of those skis that you see year after year on lists of the best skis in production. As modern pioneers of modern freeskiing, we owe a ton to JP Auclair and Julien Regnier for their prototype of the original JJ. Since its inception, the tech has only gotten better, which is why it’s a favorite among powderhounds worldwide.

If you had to describe the ARV 116 JJ in one word, it would be energetic. The poplar/ash wood core is both stiff and snappy enough to throw around with reckless abandon in deep fluff or crud. Armada’s 3D beveled Smear Tech tails make throwing these sticks around at a moment’s notice as easy as can be. At 116mm underfoot you can really bomb through just about any depth of snow with minimal effort. If you are looking for a fat ski that has the perfect balance of play and backbone in it, the ARV 116 JJ from Armada is going to be your best buddy.

ZAG Slap 104

ZAG is a top tier ski company out of Chamonix, France that has been dedicated to producing epic all-mountain, touring, and freeride skis for the past 20 years. They may not be the biggest company on the block, but they pour an unrivaled amount of quality into every pair of skis including the oh-so-fun Slap 104.

Where these skis really shine as a backcountry staple is their weight. You will notice that the Slap 104 is several hundred grams lighter than most of the skis on this list. That is in part because of the Paulownia/poplar core. Every gram counts when backcountry skiing, especially when bootpacking up 45+ degree terrain. The more energy you save on the ascent means more gas in your tank for laying down technical lines in deep snow, so do yourself a solid and check out these featherweight powder skis.

Line Bacon 122

Line Skis continues to add to the bloodline of Bacon skis with this beastly Tom Wallisch pro model. What do you call a ski that is 122mm underfoot? An absolute fatty. This pontoon provides excellent flotation in all conditions, no matter how steep and deep they may be.

What’s so darn cool about this ski is how Line managed to blend freestyle and big mountain construction into one product without losing the best parts of either. The thick-cut sidewalls and symmetric flex pattern mean these things are huck-friendly. You can stomp cliffs and booters riding switch without having to worry about hard impacts dinging up your edges or blowing out the core. And while we are on the subject of impacts, Line’s bio-resin technology is more eco-friendly than most other laminate options on the market. No more delaminating top sheets and a smaller carbon footprint are definitely a win-win.

K2 Mindbender 116C

K2’s Mindbender is a tank of a ski with 116mm of flotation potential underfoot, meaning there isn’t much you won’t be able to tackle with these bad boys. K2’s powder rocker is extra long to help you press on at top speed during the deepest storms. Stay on top of powder and punch through the chop and crud without ever breaking a sweat.

The most notable characteristic of these skis is their absolutely burly construction and design. The patented Spectral Braid tech allows for more torsional flex without breaking when compared to other popular powder skis on the market. Pair this with the solid maple blend core and you have nothing short of an indestructible pair of powder-seeking missiles that you can strap to your feet – what more could you ask for?

Faction Prodigy 4

Faction went and did again with the newest iteration in the Prodigy line with the Prodigy 4. Faction Skis brands itself as one of the most sustainable ski manufacturers on the planet, using recycled/locally sourced materials and production facilities that run on 100% renewable energy. Pretty cool huh? Now you can feel good about skiing sustainably as you spend your time chowder chasing across every powder stash you find.

These skis really do put the pop in poplar. Poplar wood is known for being lightweight, durable, and more flexible than an Olympic gymnast. That’s what you get with the Prodigy 4, a super fun and flexy ski that you can hurl yourself off big drops while still absorbing uneven snowpack upon landing. Add a 116mm profile underfoot and a directional twin shape and you have yourself a hard-charging powder ski that just won’t quit, no matter how deep it gets.

Nordica Unleashed 114

Reminiscent of the Nordica Patron and Hell Dorado from back in the day, the Unleashed 114 is a new take on an old design that doesn’t disappoint. Nordica really found an almost perfect way to combine response and backbone in this ski, making it a must-have for any backcountry skier.

The wood core is wrapped in GR400 carbon glass and finished off with a titanal layered topsheet. Good luck snapping these sticks because these things are probably sturdier than your femurs. Pair this with a massive camber at the waist and just enough tip and tail rocker to keep you floating, and you have the new generation of an old favorite of powder junkies everywhere.

Atomic Bent Chetler 120

Atomic’s Bent Chetler 120s are the closest thing that you can get to rocking a couple of surfboards underneath your feet. Arguably one of the floatiest skis ever in production, these skis manage to be just as responsive as they are durable.

There’s a reason that poplar is featured in so many ski and snowboard cores, it weighs next to nothing and doesn’t lack in stability or absorbing shock at high speeds. On top of this, there is a carbon fiber spine that runs the length of the ski, which adds some much-needed strength to a pure poplar core ski. To finish it off, Atomic threw in their favorite Dura Cap Sidewalls which maximize durability. Every serious powder hunter owes it to themselves to try out the Bent Chetler 120 at least once in their lifetime.

Volkl Revolt 114

Volkl is another one of those companies that immediately make you think of big mountain skiing, and the Revolt 114 is another crown jewel in a long line of powder skis from Volkl that are bad to the bone.

A whole mess of pro riders including Ross Tester, Ian McIntosh, and Markus Eder aided in the collaboration of this super-sick ski, so you know it will serve you well. The layered wood core, full sidewalls, and capped tips and tails all equal a well-rounded powder ski that can hold up to excessive wear and tear. You can’t beat skiing in powder, but there is always the chance that you clip a rock or stump lurking underneath the surface. It’s always a good feeling knowing that your investment won’t blow out as soon as things get a little hairy.

Candide Skis AK 121

When you have an absolute animal like Candide Thovex slapping his name on a pair of skis, you can bet your bottom dollar that they are going to be nothing short of a modern engineering marvel. That’s where the Candide AK 121 comes in.

The carbon-wrapped Paulownia/poplar core is the bee’s knees when it comes to lightweight construction that can still pack enough punch to clobber any and all types of snow you might find in the backcountry. It’s also worth noting that this is the only ski on our list  with a flat profile at the waist. This adaptive rocker profile maximizes versatility, keeping the ski afloat in the deep and offering stability on hardpack.

They even offer two mounting points, regular and Candide style. Will these skis make you as good as Candide? Probably not, but they will definitely get you closer than ever before.

Black Crows Nocta Powder Hunter

Black Crows and powder skis go together like milk and cookies, and the Nocta is one ski that every serious powder skier should have in their quiver.

The Nocta Powder Hunter has a very slight camber underfoot, which is extremely useful on days when the conditions in the backcountry can change in an instant. 122mm underfoot is more than enough surface area to keep you floating all the way from the summit to the parking lot, and the cambered profile helps edge hold should you encounter any hardpack or crud in between. Long story short, this release from Black Crows is an all-in-one off-piste pillow-pounding ski that will have you counting down the days until your next venture into the backcountry.

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