Build your freeride ski setup around the days you actually ski

A skier carving untracked snow. Photo: Hendrik Morkel / Photo license.

A specification-based comparison for winter 2026/27. We have not field-tested these models; availability varies.

Buy for the days you actually ski. A daily resort setup, a powder pair and a touring setup solve different problems. A ski can overlap those jobs. Your boots and bindings still need to work together.

Start with the days you get

Start with last winter. If most days started at a chairlift, prioritize that. If you toured every weekend, count the climbing as part of the job. If your current skis already cover mixed resort snow, the next pair can have a narrower purpose. You do not need to replace a working setup just because the graphics changed.

Three current designs make the differences easier to see. Use them to build a demo list.

Atomic Bent 110: a freeride option to demo

Atomic lists a 110 mm waist, a poplar core, HRZN Tech at the tip and tail, and a rocker-camber-rocker profile for the Bent 110. Its 180 cm specification lists an 18 m radius. Those are useful dimensions to compare with a ski you already know. They do not tell you how the ski will feel under your weight, boots, or stance. Atomic's Bent 110 specifications.

Put it on the demo list if your shopping brief is a wide freeride ski with a freestyle influence. Take the demo through the conditions you ski most, including the less photogenic run back to the chair. Ask yourself whether you can put it where you want when the snow gets uneven. A good first turn in fresh snow is only one answer.

Blackcrows Nocta: give the powder ski its own job

The current Nocta has a 122 mm waist, conventional camber underfoot and long rocker at both ends. Blackcrows lists lengths of 177.6, 185.5 and 190.6 cm. This is the dedicated deep-snow end of the comparison. If your current pair handles everyday conditions, a ski with a distinct powder brief can make sense as the addition. Blackcrows' Nocta specifications.

If you can get out when it snows, a dedicated powder pair earns more days. If you ski fixed weekends, weigh that against how often you need something for mixed snow.

Blizzard Zero G 105: put the uphill in the brief

Blizzard places the Zero G 105 in its touring range. The published construction combines a paulownia and ISOCore core with Carbon Drive 3.0; the 180 cm size has a 23 m radius. Blizzard recommends a pin-tech touring binding for this model. That makes it a useful comparison when the approach is a regular part of your ski day. Blizzard's Zero G 105 specifications.

Compare the whole touring setup. Skis alone leave out boots, bindings and skins. Try the boot's walking motion and downhill fit before committing to the package. Tell the fitter how much of your season is touring and how much is lift-served.

Bindings: bring the actual boots

A boot fitting into a binding is not proof that the combination is compatible. Sole standards, binding model and adjustment all matter. LOOK's guidance distinguishes alpine, GripWalk and touring boot soles, and directs skiers to a professional for precise adjustment. Bring both boots to the shop and have the technician confirm the specific combination, mount and release settings. LOOK's binding guide.

For ATK equipment, use the manual for the exact model and production year. ATK specifically warns that mounting alignment matters and recommends installation by a certified retailer. A higher release number is not a measure of how hard you ski. ATK manuals and compatibility resources.

Spend the next dollar where it fixes a problem

Write down the complaint with your current setup. Sore feet? Start with a boot fitter. Worn equipment? Get it inspected. Missing a dedicated powder pair? Demo one. Trying touring for the first time? Arrange instruction and a suitable rental setup before buying everything.

Save the model, length, boot, binding and conditions in your demo notes. Would you choose that exact setup again tomorrow?

More places to ski: read the BADLAP journal.