I’ve spent a lot of time in shops watching people get lost in the numbers. Sidecut radius, carbon stringers, triple-layer this and that. Most of it doesn’t tell you how the ski will actually… ski.
After years of fitting gear and teaching, I’ve learned only a few specs really matter. The rest is (mostly) marketing noise.
Here’s what’s worth paying attention to when you’re choosing skis, and what you can forget about.
Specs That Actually Matter
Length
Ski length affects balance, stability and float. Shorter skis feel more playful but get nervous at high speed. Longer skis feel solid and stable but need more input. If you are unsure, pick something around nose height and adjust once you know your style. Or even better, plug your numbers into the ski size calculator.
Waist Width
This one shapes how the ski feels more than anything else. Narrower skis (around 70 to 88mm) roll edge to edge fast and grip hard snow. Wider skis (around 100mm and up) float better and feel calmer in chop. Most skiers are happiest somewhere in the middle. Full width guide here.
Flex
You can feel this straight away. Softer skis are easier to bend, more forgiving and smoother at slower speeds. Stiffer skis stay stable and powerful when things get rough. Match your flex to your weight and how fast you ski, not your ego.
Rocker and Camber
The shape under your feet changes how the ski turns and floats. Rocker (upward curve at the tip and tail) helps in soft snow and makes turn initiation easier. Camber (the slight arch underfoot) adds grip and rebound. A mix of both works for most people.
Construction Quality
You can’t see this on a spec sheet, but you can feel it after a few runs. Better skis hold their shape longer and feel more consistent over time. A cheaper ski can still be fun, but it often loses its pop and edge hold faster.
Specs That Don’t Matter (much)
Sidecut Radius
It looks precise but doesn’t tell the full story. A ski with a 16-meter radius might still feel very different from another with the same number. For most skiers, flex and rocker make a bigger difference to how a ski turns.
That said, if you carve hard and like a certain turn shape, radius can help fine tune the feel. A smaller radius makes tighter turns. A longer one feels smoother and more stable at speed. But beginners shouldn’t get too bogged down with this. Seriously. “Beginner ski” manufacturers will choose an appropriate radius for the ski and your ability.
Core Materials
Everyone loves to talk about wood types and carbon layers. It sounds fancy, but what matters is how the ski feels, not what tree it came from. Two skis with completely different cores can ski almost the same. All we should care about is how it skis and whether it will break.
Titanal Sheets and Buzzwords
Titanal, carbon stringers, energy rods, vibration dampening. Every brand uses different terms for similar ideas. None of it means much unless you can feel the difference on snow.
Weight on Paper
A lighter ski is nice to carry, but it’s the on-snow feel that counts. Some heavier skis feel smoother and more composed. Don’t write something off just because the listed weight looks high.
Graphics
You’ll look at them in the shop, not on the hill. Focus on what works for your terrain and ability, not what matches your jacket. Of course, I’m a hypocrite here. I’ve absolutely picked skis because they looked good in photos, doesn’t mean it was a sensible thing to do!
A Quick Note for the Gear Nerds
I’m a gear nerd too, so no shade here. Once you’ve spent enough time on snow, obviously the little specs start to matter. Sidecut, taper, mount point, core layup… it all adds up when you know what you’re feeling under your boots.
But that level of detail comes from experience. Most skiers don’t need to start there. Get time on snow, figure out what you like. The specs will start to mean something later.
Final Thoughts
Specs are useful, but they only tell part of the story. The best ski for you is the one that feels natural from the first turn.
Don’t get stuck comparing numbers on paper. Go ski, pay attention to how different models feel and trust that instinct. The more time you spend on snow, the easier it gets to tell what actually matters.
If a ski makes you want to take one more lap, that’s the right one. Everything else is just noise.
