How to Choose Skis & Ski Size Chart

Choosing skis can be daunting, but we're here to help you. Picking the right skis begins at the most basic level by knowing what length is appropriate for you. This is strongly influenced by your ability level but also by your riding style and terrain choice. Let us guide you through the process below!

Ski Sizing & Length

What Length Should My Skis Be?

Ski Sizing Chart

Click your ski length to shop

Skier Height		Ski Length  (cm)
ft / in	cm	Beginner	Intermediate	Expert
4'4"	132	120	130	138
4'6"	137	125	135	143
4'8"	142	130	140	148
4'10"	147	135	145	153
5'	152	140	150	158
5'2"	158	145	155	163
5'4"	163	150	160	168
5'6"	168	155	165	173
5'8"	173	160	170	178
5'10"	178	165	175	183
6'	183	170	180	188
6'2"	188	175	185	190+
6'4"	193	180	190	190+

 
 
 
 

When to Size Up or Size Down Your Skis

Within your suggested ski size range there are several reasons to choose a shorter or longer ski. A shorter ski will be easier to turn but not as stable as a longer ski. A carving ski with a skinnier waist and a smaller turn radius can be skied at a shorter length than an all-mountain or freeride ski with a larger turn radius and fatter waist width. Rockered skis are easier to pivot between turns and can be skied slightly longer than comparable camber skis.

Reasons to size your skis shorter, closer to your chin:

• You are a beginner or intermediate skier.
• You weigh less than average for your height.
• You like to make short, quick turns and seldom ski fast.
• You want a carving ski with only camber, no rocker.

Reasons to size your skis longer, closer to the top of your head:

• You are skiing fast and aggressively.
• You weigh more than average for your height.
• You plan to do the majority of your skiing off the trail.
• You plan to ski a twin-tip ski.
• You want a ski that has a lot of rocker.

Please note: Different ski brands don’t always measure length in the same way; so it's possible that a ski size from one brand may be slightly longer or shorter than the same size in another brand.

For sizing kids’ skis, see our How to Choose Youth Skis Chart and Guide.

Choosing Skis by Ability Level

Ability level has become somewhat less relevant for choosing skis as ski technology has made it possible for a beginner to ski a much wider variety of skis. Still, there are certainly features that differentiate skis, making them better suited to skiers of different ability levels.
 

Beginners / Intermediate Skis

Intermediate / Advanced Skis

Advanced / Expert Skis

Ski Style, Dimensions & Feel

There are many factors that contribute to the way a ski feels and performs, with a couple of common measurements used to describe them. You will usually see ski dimensions specified by a 3-number measurement for the tip/waist/tail, like 115/90/107mm. In this example 115mm refers to the tip width, 90mm refers to the waist width, and 107mm refers to the tail width. Other factors like flex and feel are more subjective.

Ski Waist Width

The waist width is one of the most commonly referred to specs outside of length. This is the measurement at a ski’s width at the middle (waist) of the ski, which is usually the narrowest point. Waist width has a large influence on how easy the ski is to turn, and how it will handle powder and non-grommed snow. Narrower waist widths are quicker edge to edge during turns, while wider waist widths provide better flotation in powder and choppy snow.

Shop Skis by Waist Width

Ski Turning Radius

Turn radius is the shape of a ski determined by its tip, waist, and tail width, usually expressed in meters. The narrower a ski’s waist is in relation to its tip and tail, the shorter the turn radius and therefore the deeper the sidecut. A ski with a deep sidecut (short turn radius) will make quicker turns, while a ski with a subtle sidecut (long turn radius) will turn more slowly and is typically more stable at high speeds. Some modern skis combine two or more radii on a single edge.

Ski Rocker & Camber

Although camber has been around since long before rocker, we classify it as a type of rocker for purposes of simplicity. Rocker is also known as reverse camber, so think of camber as reverse rocker.

Camber

This is the traditional profile for skis and snowboards. Camber is a slight upward curve in the middle of a ski or board, with the contact points - where an unweighted ski or board contacts the snow - close to the ends. Camber requires more precise turn initiation and offers superb precision with plenty of power on groomed terrain and harder snow. The rider's weight puts an even and concentrated pressure on the edge from tip to tail, resulting in increased edgehold and better "pop." Racers and high level park riders often prefer camber.
 

What is Ski Rocker & How to Choose the Right Type?

Rocker (also called reverse-camber) is just as it sounds – camber turned upside down. All skis and snowboards, rockered or cambered, when put on edge and weighted in a turn achieve reverse-camber. Cambered skis and boards produce more pressure on the snow at the tip and tail since they have to flex further to achieve this curve. The term rocker is borrowed from watersports where rocker is common. Rocker skis and snowboards offer superior float in the soft snow and increased ease of turn initiation with less chance of "catching" an edge. As skis in general get wider, rocker helps keep the new shapes maneuverable for a wider range of skiers. Wide ski and board shapes designed primarily for powder are often rockered.

Rocker/Camber

Rocker/Camber skis pair a traditional cambered profile underfoot with an elongated, early rise tip borrowed from fully rockered skis. This profile places the front contact point further back from the tip, while the rear contact point remains close to the tail. The rockered tip allows for better flotation in deep snow and a less catchy feel on hard, while the cambered rear stores and transmits energy similarly to a fully cambered ski and retains edgehold when your weight is over the tails. More and more all-mountain, big-mountain and even carving skis are being built with this profile. Because of its asymmetric shape, this profile does not ski switch as well as other profiles, but if you are looking for an all mountain charger that floats in the fluff without giving up too much hard snow performance, Rocker/Camber is a great choice.

Rocker/Camber/Rocker

Rocker/Camber/Rocker skis have the playfulness and float of a rockered ski as well as the added edge hold of a cambered ski. The contact points on skis with this profile are closer towards the middle of the ski than a fully cambered ski, but still not underfoot. The cambered midsection provides a longer effective edge on hardpack, increasing edge hold and stability, while the rockered tip and tail provide floatation in deeper snow and allow the ski to initiate and release from turns easier. This profile provides playfulness for park skiers, flotation for powder lovers, forgiveness for beginners, and versatility for those who only have one pair of skis. Many ski manufacturers offer multiple types of Rocker/Camber/Rocker to accommodate different skiers, pairing different amounts of rocker and camber with different ski widths and sidecuts.

Rocker/Flat/Rocker

Rocker/Flat/Rocker is another variation on the rocker theme that seeks to provide a little more hard snow edgehold and pop than full rocker while retaining ease of turning and float. Performance is between a fully rockered ski and a rocker/camber/rocker ski.

Other Combinations

Other rocker types include Flat/Camber/Flat Skis. We have done our best to make sense of all these different combinations, but keep in mind that companies will combine the above profiles in different ways, sometimes inventing creative names like "Mustache," "reCurve" and "Jib Rocker" to market them.

So what is better? The answer: No one profile beats the other and it really comes down to your personal preference. Typically, camber offers better edge hold and stability on hard pack and at high speeds, while rocker offers more float in the powder and a more forgiving ride. Some rocker can be great for beginners because it facilitates easier turn initiation. Advanced riders who like a loose feel may also enjoy riding rockered skis. Check out our Rocker Guide for more information about rocker and its benefits.

Choosing Skis by Terrain Type

It’s important to consider the type of terrain that you will be skiing most often when choosing a pair of skis. Different styles of skis will excel on different areas of the mountain. You will find that the lines between different types of skis are more and more blurred these days so that many skis fall under more than one category.

All-Mountain Skis

As the name suggests, all mountain skis are for skiing the entire mountain. They are designed to handle anything you throw at them including powder, ice, groomers, steeps, heavy snow, and everything in between, but they aren’t necessarily a master of any one terrain or snow type. If you’re only going to own one ski to do it all, this is what you want. That said, all-mountain skis come in a range of shapes and widths to match the specific needs of different skiers. All-mountain skis generally have what we call mid-fat waists that range from 80-110mm. The key is to figure out where you will be spending the majority of your time on the mountain and what type of terrain you like to ski most. Remember, it’s not just about what you ski now but what you aspire to; trust us, today's skis can help you make leaps in ability that will blow you away.

Powder Skis

These skis are for the deep days. If you like to find powder stashes at your local resort, go on backcountry missions for the freshest of fresh or heli ski trips to BC, powder skis are what you need to stay afloat. Skis in the powder category are wide (115 mm or more in the waist) and most often have some form of rocker or early rise plus a relatively soft flex. Some have unique sidecut shapes like reverse sidecut; the tip and tail are not always the widest parts of the ski. Many powder skis today are versatile enough to handle mixed conditions and harder snow.

Big Mountain Skis

Big mountain skis are designed for charging big lines with high speeds and big airs. These skis vary in width from wide, powder-oriented skis for skiing Alaska spines to narrower, mixed condition skis for ripping the beat up headwall at your local mountain. Skis in this category tend to be on the stiffer and heavier side, often with more rocker in the tip and less in the tail.

Carving Skis

For those that like the classic feeling of laying a ski over on edge and arcing a perfect turn, carving skis are what you want. These skis have narrower waists and shorter turn radii for edge to edge quickness and responsive turn initiation and exit on groomed runs and hard pack. The beginner-intermediate skis in this category are designed to make learning how to turn as easy as going from pizza to French fries.

Park, Pipe & Jib Skis

Park and pipe skis, often called freestyle skis, are for skiers who spend the majority of their time in the terrain park. If jumps, rails, and jibs of all kinds are your thing then check out this category. Though traditionally park and pipe skis have narrower waists with full camber profiles, this category is incorporating more rocker patterns and different shapes. You will almost always find these skis with twin tips as well as other park specific features like thicker, more durable edges, dense extruded bases, and butter zones.

Alpine Touring Skis

Also known as backcountry skis, alpine touring (AT) skis are designed for going uphill as well as downhill. These skis are typically light for their width and many feature fittings that accept climbing skins. AT skis vary in width and weight, with the wider heavier versions usually used for winter/deep snow touring and the skinnier, lighter skis usually used for spring/summer/long distance touring.

Women's Specific Skis

Skis designed specifically for women are typically lighter, softer, and shorter. Women usually have a lower center of gravity and less body mass than men of the same height and therefore exert less leverage and force on their skis. Women’s skis require less force to power and turn; this is accomplished by using thinner, softer cores and less laminate layers in the construction. Also, to tailor the performance to women, mounting positions are often a centimeter or so further forward on these skis. There are plenty of hard charging skis built for women these days and the graphics often feature fewer trucks, skulls and blood than men’s graphics. Of course there is no reason a female skier cannot ski well on a men’s ski, and vice versa.

System Skis

System skis come with bindings in one convenient package. They use a plate or plates that require a specific model of binding. System bindings usually do not come attached to the skis, and you should always have a certified technician adjust your bindings to your boots.

Testing & Renting Skis & Snowboards

It’s easy to obsess over every measurement and material of different ski and snowboard models when looking at them on a computer screen, but there is absolutely no substitute for some real-time on the snow. So, once you’ve narrowed down the candidates and you’re ready to choose your next model, it’s time to get on snow. Renting or demoing skis and snowboards is the only true way to get a feel for how they ride, and if they suit you.

Check out evoRentals, our industry-leading ski and snowboard rental experience at our locations, which offers a wide variety of the latest models.

• Seattle Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Portland Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Denver Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Salt Lake City Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Snoqualmie Pass Ski & Snowboard Rentals

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