Out of 21 wide all-mountain skis tested at Deer Valley, Utah last March, the winner didn't actually win anything. That's the intriguing verdict from Ski Magazine's 2027 gear test: the Dynastar M-Free 108 took Best in Test by scoring consistently high across all nine criteria rather than dominating any single one. It even tied for the top flotation score, and testers noted it floats like a much wider ski while still holding an edge on groomers. Priced at $850, it's aimed at strong intermediates and up—though testers flagged it as more damp than snappy, and somewhat directional.
The rest of the shortlist is a useful cheat sheet for anyone buying one ski to do everything. The Rossignol Soul 102 ($800), unchanged apart from a new name (the "Sender" branding is gone) and graphics, took Most Versatile for the third year running, with a formula dating back to the beloved Soul 7 of 2013—light, forgiving, and happy on groomers and in powder, though it gives up some bite on hard snow. The Blizzard Rustler 10 ($850) was named Quickest, rewarding solid technique with fast turn initiation and stability, best for advanced intermediates.
At the extremes, two skis cater to very different skiers. The Stöckli Stormrider 108 ($1,699) is the brute: twin sheets of Titanal, the best stability-at-speed score in the test, and a reputation for devouring crud—but it's demanding, has essentially zero forgiveness, and costs nearly double the rest. The Fischer Ranger 108 ($850) is the opposite temperament, winning the flotation category outright and described as "on autopilot" in soft snow, though it has a noticeable speed limit and lacks power on hardpack. Rounding out the list, the Völkl Revolt 101 ($750) is the playful pick—a flat-tailed, forward-mounted new-school ski for jibbers and tree runners, though its narrower waist costs it float.
Why should a traveller care? The wide all-mountain category—skis roughly 100 to 110 millimetres underfoot—has matured into the genuine one-quiver option for ski holidays. If you're flying to Utah, the Alps or Japan and facing everything from fresh storm snow to chopped-up bowls days later, any of these six will cope. The message from this year's test is that versatility now beats specialist performance: the skis that win are the ones with no obvious weakness.
