2023 Scott Superguide 95

For touring and freeride, the Scott Superguide 95 is a lightweight yet exceptionally sturdy ski that will do a whole lot of what is asked. Built with a lightweight blend of paulownia and beech in the wood core, the Superguide 95 also gets the benefit of carbon and aramid reinforcements to strengthen and stiffen the ski. The Superguide 95 has a great reputation for being one of the better touring skis on the planet, in addition to having a ton of downhill performance for the weight. In the 178 cm length, the Superguide 95 tips the scales at 1440 grams, so when paired with a lighter tech binding and boot, you’re getting a very efficient uphill system. Also making things easier is the 3Dimension touring sidecut that produces a 21-meter arc in the 178. By placing a flatter zone in the central portion of the ski, it tracks straight on the climb while allowing for precise and agile turns on the way down.

Ryan Darlow states that the Super Guide 95 is “Super-Light and easy to maneuver and fairly approachable. Tested on firm snow, would be best in soft snow, moguls, and trees. Easy to initiate the turns and did well in moderate speed and shorter radius turns, but they couldn't hold on to the edging when pushing hard and going fast. This is definitely a great lightweight touring ski but is probably not a good option for the "one ski quiver" as it can't do firm snow well and I suspect it would get bogged down in heavy or deep snow.” Ryan notes that the Superguide 95 in the 178 felt a tad short, but he’d choose that size for him. He scored top marks of 5 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability, with 4’s for overall impression, playfulness, stability, and flotation. For a ski of this weight to garner a 4 for stability is pretty awesome.

Dave Hatoff notes that it’s “Super-light and nice edge hold. Tips got deflected in firm snow. Good 50/50 resort touring ski with the right kind of binding.” Dave also states that the 178 felt just right, scoring it 4’s out of 5 for all categories save for stability and flotation, which earned 3’s. This is a nice high grouping of scores from Dave, who does spend a lot of his ski time going uphill. He also brings the binding possibilities into the fold, insinuating that with the right choice, you can alter the personality of the ski slightly.

For skiers who spend most of their time in an uphill format, the Scott Superguide 95 is a fantastic option. It’s mid-width and mid-weight (for a touring-specific ski), and makes a whole lot of sense for a lot of backcountry enthusiasts. Due to the high-end construction and top-end feel and performance, there’s a lot of variety here for skiers to use, making it one of the better options for touring skiers and skinners.