Comment bien choisir vos skis de randonnée?

How to choose the right touring skis?

La Cordée

September 8, 2025

6 minutes

Do you want to escape the lift lines at ski resorts? Backcountry skiing is your way out to discover new trails in complete freedom. The first step is to get equipment suitable for backcountry skiing.

Here are the elements to consider when choosing skis, boots, bindings, climbing skins, and even appropriate clothing.

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HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SKI TOURING SKIS?

1. Your Ski Level

- Beginner and intermediate: favor short, light skis with a moderate waist width for easy handling.

- Expert and advanced: opt for long, wide skis for technical terrain and descents.

2. The Length of the Skis

Touring skis are shorter than traditional alpine skis in order to facilitate uphill turns as well as maneuverability. For versatile skis, opt for a length of 5 to 10 cm below your usual alpine ski length. For light uphill skis, choose short skis, and for increased downhill control, opt for longer skis.

3. Waist Width

From 75 to 85 mm: choose this width if you want performance skis. They are usually very light and perfect for fast and technical climbs, but they are less stable on the descent.

From 85 to 95 mm: this waist width is a good compromise between climbing and descending on variable terrain.

More than 95 mm: this width is ideal for powder days and for skiers who favor the pleasure of the descent over the ascent. The wider the waist width, the more your skis will perform in powder, but they will be less maneuverable on hard snow.

4. The weight of the skis

The weight of your skis should correspond to the type of skiing you want to practice as well as the rest of your equipment. For example, if you opt for light skis, make sure the rest of your equipment is also light for optimal performance.

Keep in mind that the lighter the skis, the easier they will be to climb, but they will be less stable on the descent.

5. The Shape and Profile of Skis

When choosing skis, it's important to consider the camber and rocker to best meet your needs.

Camber represents the curve of the ski without any weight on it. Touring skis often have a classic camber that provides enhanced grip and precision on hard snow.

The rocker refers to the shape of the tip and tail. It allows for better floating on powder snow while promoting turn initiation and ski maneuverability on hard snow. The double rocker, for its part, offers excellent performance on powder snow, but it is less stable on hard snow.

For touring skis, we often find a classic camber combined with a double rocker to create a versatile ski for powder and piste.