2026 Stockli Montero AR

The 2026 Stockli Montero AR is a carryover model for this year featuring the same construction, shape, and profile as last year. Even though it’s the widest of the Monteros, the AR, at 84 mm underfoot, is still a sublime carving ski. This all-mountain charger is one of the best out there at mixing soft and hard snow. A company like Stockli puts a lot more emphasis on narrower skis, so this one fits the all-mountain side of their catalog. We’ve loved this ski for years and its ability to make clean carved turns on groomers while remaining amenable to off-trail skiing. While the Stormrider series is going to garner more attention when it comes to versatility, when the snow is choppy, the AR still holds up just fine. With Stockli’s commitment to precision and quality, the Montero AR continues to shine in a crowded field of mid-80's all-mountain carvers. With quality comes cost, so be prepared to drop a dime on these amazing skis.

They do not skimp on the construction of these skis at all. The core of the ski is a mix of lighter poplar stringers with denser beech ones, providing a nice mix of energy, stability, and rebound. The ski features two full titanal layers on top and bottom of the core, with the upper sheet getting a bit more sophistication. While the Flex Torsion Control slits in the upper layer allowed for more agility and smoothness, the newer Flex Tip and Tail doubles that process with two curved slits. This allows for greater flex in the ends of the ski and better slow speed control. Since it only affects the very tips and tails, the mid-section of the ski is largely unaffected. This gives more priority to mobility and ease of use, allowing for better initiation and completion in the middle range of speeds. The precision and quality of the build stands out, as Stockli continues to infuse their adhesive layers with rubber dust to further dampen vibrations and silence the ride. Tester William Short notes that “The ski is heavy in weight. It takes a little extra effort to get it to engage. But once it does it carves really firmly, and it rides over the soft, wet snow and bumps very smoothly.”

In addition to the build, the shape also remains the same, bringing strong carving and all-mountain performance to the mid-80's range. The Montero AR has a lot of camber underfoot and not a lot of rocker in the tips and tails. This keeps it from being very agile and mobile in softer snow and tighter spaces. If this ski is going to excel in softer snow, it prefers wider zones, and that’s okay—it's not like there’s going to be a ski out there that carves like a race ski and still floats like a dedicated freeride ski. Montero cuts its way to the bottom, but in crud and unpredictable snow, that’s a good feeling to have. If you’re a strong skier and you like to maintain the longer arc of the ski, the AR is the way to go. Ken Marin notes this and states that “This ski is stiff and not as playful or snappy as the AX which I skied in the same conditions.”

With a longer turn shape and a heftier overall feel, it’s not quite as nimble as the narrower skis in the line, but it sure plows through anything in front of it a lot easier. The blend of heavier weight, higher camber, and a smooth feel allow it to go top speeds with minimal vibrations. This ski is very dynamic, sporty, and a ton of fun. Advanced and expert skiers with a relatively high budget will fit the best here. Montero AR is a unique and special ski that loves to be driven with intent and purpose.