2024 Women's Mid 90mm All Mountain Ski Comparison

We’re starting off our long-awaited 2024 ski comparison series with the women’s mid-90’s skis ranging from 93 mm to 97 mm. We’ve always said that the mid-90s category is the sweet spot for most applications and it’s easy to see why. Between narrower, more directional style skis and wider, more freeride focused options, we look at a nice range of waist widths, shapes, and builds to provide an array of choices for all mountain terrain. Arguably the most versatile collection of skis, each one capable of delivering a high level of performance on-piste and off-piste, regardless of terrain and conditions, any one of these skis is a contender for a one-ski quiver.

At a Glance:

2024 Armada ARW 94 Skis

Overview:

The best ARW collection to date, the 94 is brand new for the 2024 season, replacing the previous ARW 86 and 96. Not only that but we are seeing several tweaks to the construction which are quite noticeable in the performance. Lighter, snappier, and more playful, the use of Caruba and Ash keep the weight down while increasing the liveliness and softening the flex. Armada introduces their w3Dgewall technology in this ski which drastically enhances the durability and strength, making it a force to be reckoned with in the park. With an almost symmetrical shape and AR freestyle rocker, the ARW 94 is a blast in soft snow conditions, with a strong freestyle influence for all mountain terrain. For intermediate to advanced level skiers looking for a nimble, energetic, highly rewarding ski for the park, bumps and trees, the ARW 94 is a no brainer.

Who it's For:

Freestyle-oriented skiers who want a highly durable but playful, energetic ski that excels in the park, bumps, trees.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Atomic Maven 93 C Skis

Overview:

For a well-rounded all mountain ski with a touch of freeride, the Atomic Maven 93 C checks a lot of boxes. Predictable, damp, and highly maneuverable, the lightweight build featuring poplar wood, metal underfoot and carbon stringers through the tip and tail allows for effortless turn initiation and a low swing weight. With an ideal level of energy and pop thanks to the carbon, plus precision and power from the metal laminate underfoot, you get reliable edge grip and ideal level of stiffness without the added weight. Light yet stable, the Maven 93 C confidently tackles all types of conditions with agility and precision. Whether you’re looking for a versatile resort ski for any given day or a backcountry ski with the ideal strength to weight ratio, it offers a range of capabilities in a lightweight, high-performance package.

Who it's For:

A wide array of skiers, from progressing intermediates to advanced ability levels, who value precision, agility and versatility in a lightweight, friendly build.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Black Crows Camox Birdie Skis

Overview:

Returning unchanged for the 2024 season, the Black Crows Camox Birdie is a playful, versatile all-mountain ski with a forgiving flex and a freestyle-inspired shape. A lightweight and simple construction lends way to a high degree of approachability while the overall nature inspires confidence and progresses skills. Intermediate to advanced level skiers will value the intuitive, responsive flex and directional twin tip shape, allowing for creative, lively performance without sacrificing stability. Whether you’re spending most of your time in the bumps/trees or on-piste, the Camox Birdie transitions smoothly across various terrain and conditions. With a long effective edge and moderate amount of camber, carving capabilities and edge grip are surprisingly impressive given the weight and softer flex pattern. For an intuitive all-mountain twin tip with an ideal blend of maneuverability and stability, the Camox Birdie meets a lot of needs.

Who it's For:

Ladies looking for a fun-loving, responsive, forgiving ski in a freeride shape, one that handles itself predictably on all snow conditions and terrain.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Blizzard Black Pearl 97 Skis

Overview:

Strong, powerful and damp, the 2024 Blizzard Black Pearl 97 returns unchanged from last year, which is great news for advanced to expert level skiers who value a sophisticated build and high-performance nature. The widest of the Black Pearl family, the 97 successfully blends all mountain prowess with a freeride flair, putting forth power and versatility for all terrain and conditions. Standing alone in its realm for its impressive level of sturdiness and precision, there really isn’t another ski like it. More aggressive than the Black Pearl 88 and a directional alternative to the Sheeva 9, the Black Pearl 97 incorporates a TrueBlend wood core, which fine-tunes the flex pattern of the ski uniquely depending on the length. Greatly enhancing the level of maneuverability and overall consistency of each model, the strength and stability is then maximized by the full width titanal plate underfoot for exceptional edge grip. All in all, this ski boasts a powerful, confident personality in a versatile, freeride shape and is ready to tackle the entire mountain.

Who it's For:

Advanced level skiers who are looking for unwavering stability, power, and smoothness in a freeride package.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Blizzard Sheeva 9 Skis

Overview:

2024 is the introductory season for the new and improved Blizzard Sheeva 9 and we couldn’t be more excited for it. With improvements to the shape and construction, we see new technologies implemented in this ski, focusing on a smoother tip to tail flex, more dramatic rocker profile, and a more playful, versatile feel. Blizzard incorporates their Trueblend Freeride woodcore to fine tune the flex to achieve increased playfulness while maintaining impressively strong on trail carving capabilities. The new Fluxform technology utilizes longer strips of metal along the sides and fiberglass underfoot, maximizing edge grip and torsional stiffness without sacrificing maneuverability and agility. Smooth, stable and lively, skiers looking for a freeride ski with ample versatility and energetic rebound, the Sheeva 9 is it.

Who it's For:

Advanced to expert skiers who want a versatile all mountain ski with an impressive blend of dampness, energy, and playful maneuverability.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Elan Ripstick 94 W Skis

Overview:

If there was an award for achieving a rare blend of maneuverability and power, the 2024 Elan Ripstick 94 W would most certainly be a contender. Offering supreme versatility and energetic performance in a lightweight package, this ski feels highly intuitive and approachable but operates at a particularly high level. Attracting a range of ability levels, intermediates can easily access its sweet spot while advanced level skiers will love the energetic rebound and high edge angle capacity. Between the carbon-based construction and asymmetrical design, it delivers strong edge grip and power on the downhill edge with a looser, driftier feel on the uphill edge. All in all, this results in smooth, predictable performance with a lot of energy and stability.

Who it's For:

A wide range of skiers who want a versatile, high-performance ski with powerful edge grip and energetic maneuverability.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition Skis

Overview:

The Elan Ripstick 94 Black Edition is back for the 2024 season with a bit of a graphics update but otherwise the same ski that we know and love. Ladies looking for an all-mountain ski with energetic rebound, versatility and high-speed precision will love the lightweight nature and high-performance capabilities. We continue to be impressed with the level of dampness and stability given the lack of metal, which goes to show why higher-level skiers keep coming back to this ski. Built with a tubelite wood core and slightly more carbon than what is used in the non-Black Edition, upping the ante as far as stiffness and responsiveness go. Mimicking metal while decreasing the weight and level of demand, the use of carbon really maximizes energy and performance. For skiers who like to roll from edge to edge without it feeling grabby will benefit greatly from the asymmetrical design and powerful edge grip while still being able to access energetic maneuverability.

Who it's For:

Higher level skiers who want a powerful ski that is lightweight and manageable. One that is versatile enough to maneuver energetically and effortlessly in the bumps/trees but primarily dominate on-piste.

Price: $799.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Fischer Ranger 96 W Skis

Overview:

Landing itself in the sweet spot for all-mountain versatility, the 2024 Fischer Ranger 96 W blends playful, drifty maneuverability with an impressively strong underfoot zone. One of those skis that isn’t the most powerful carver nor the surfiest floater, it most certainly accomplishes most applications quite well. With a performance-based flex that varies throughout the length of the ski, bending and flexing the forebody comes naturally while the mid-section and tail provide precise feedback and powerful edge grip. Very well-rounded and a blast on all terrain and conditions, the Ranger 96 features metal and camber with a rockered/tapered tip that allows for effortless flotation in the soft stuff and incredible stability on firmer snow.

Who it's For:

Advanced to expert skiers who don’t want to sacrifice carving capabilities for flotation or easy turn initiation. You want a ski that can be maneuvered and flexed while remaining precise and engaged.

Price: $799.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Head Kore 97 Skis

Overview:

Exemplifying the ultimate achievement of strength to weight ratio, the 2024 Head Kore 97 W features a lightweight, high-performance build with an impressively strong backbone. Designed for true all mountain pleasure, this ski is highly versatile, precise and energetic. Not to be fooled by its weight, it has a moderately stiff flex and delivers powerful responsiveness while still remaining maneuverable as ever. With a sophisticated build, it features a karuba and poplar wood blend as well as dual-carbon laminate which takes the lightweight properties up a notch by stiffening the flex and enhancing the responsiveness. Delivering a low swing weight and ample precision, they are so easy to control and feel unbelievable intuitive. Quick and agile in the trees, it also pumps out some serious power on groomers, giving higher level skiers the best of both worlds.

Who it's For:

Aggressive skiers who want a high level of responsiveness, lightweight maneuverability and powerful, all-mountain performance.

Price: $749.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Kastle FX 96 Skis

Overview:

Highly technical and with a sophisticated build, the 2024 Kastle FX 96 ski blends power and forgiveness to deliver a high-performance feel. For those looking for a little more width underfoot for soft snow conditions but plenty of on-piste finesse and precision, this ski feels as maneuverable as it does stable. What we love about the approach to the Kastle FX 96 is the moderately burly build but with a playful shape and personality. A directional shape but with a rocker profile and progressive early rise lends way to various turn shapes and great lateral maneuverability. The quality of Kastle skis does the talking for the most part but with this particular ski, it boasts a unique personality and gives advanced to expert skiers a fantastic option for versatile all mountain skiing.

Who it's For:

High-end skiers who value a ski with a sophisticated build and high-performance ceiling.

Price: $899.00

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At a Glance:

2024 K2 Mindbender 96C W Skis

Overview:

Recently revamped and broadened, the carbon line of the K2 Mindbender series offers skiers a less demanding but still high-performance option, with the 96C landing itself in between the 89Ti and 99Ti. Featuring a friendlier, more maneuverable flex and feel, this ski uses carbon spectral braiding to fine-tune the torsional stiffness and level of responsiveness, focusing more so on the forebody of the ski and giving the tail a more freeride/loose feel. That said, the longitudinal flex is stiffer in the tail which gives it that frontside personality. While the Ti versions of the skis feature full sidewalls, the C series use a half-cap design that gives it increased ease of use and maneuverability. All in all, the Mindbender 96 C appeals to a range of skiers for its versatile use, friendly nature and intuitive feel.

Who it's For:

Fans of the 99Ti who want a less demanding, friendlier ski that can be manipulated easily. Anyone who is looking for a directional, all-mountain ski with ease of use and a range of capabilities.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Liberty Genesis 96 Skis

Overview:

The 2024 Liberty Genesis 96 takes the cake for being one of the most well-rounded skis in the mid-90s arena. Liberty did an impressive job balancing the attributes of this ski, focusing on powerful edge grip and floaty playfulness. With a freeride inspired shape and sophisticated build, the Genesis 96 is much more than just another twin tip ski. Rather than stick with just a wood blend for the core, Liberty stepped it up by adding a single vertical metal strut which really went a long way in dampening and enhancing the torsional stiffness. This was a recent addition and really changed the flex, making it a more powerful, stable ski. With exceptional carving capabilities on firmer snow and drifty freestyle capabilities on softer snow, the Genesis 96 is a blast on just about everything.

Who it's For:

Skiers who value total versatility in a fun-loving freeride package.

Price: $669.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Line Pandora 94 Skis

Overview:

The Line Pandora series is back for the 2024 season with fresh graphics and the same great structural characteristics that continue to attract a wide range of skiers. Built for all-mountain performance, it is an approachable, versatile option for progressing intermediates all the way through seasoned experts due to its agile, energetic, well-rounded nature. On the lighter side of the spectrum, Line uses an aspenlite wood core which is to thank for its highly maneuverable feel. To strengthen and add stability, capwall construction in combination with the moderate amount of camber gives this ski powerful grip on-piste. Lightweight, simple but with a unique and fun-loving personality, this well-balanced ski delivers a high-performance ceiling for intermediate to advanced level skiers who want an accessible and friendly ski for truly any conditions or terrain.

Who it's For:

Progressing intermediates to advanced skiers who want a fun-loving, highly maneuverable but stable ski with ample versatility.

Price: $549.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Santa Ana 93 Skis

Overview:

Highly sophisticated and versatile as ever, the 2024 Nordica Santa Ana 93 is one of the more high performance mid-90s skis out there. At 93 mm underfoot and with an all-mountain rocker profile, this ski loves to float and cruise through soft snow conditions and chopped up crud with confidence and ease. With a freeride shape and fine-tuned construction, skiers truly get the best of both worlds as far as powerful performance and playful maneuverability. What gives the Santa Ana series its uniquely strong and smooth nature is the application of terrain specific metal in each model. With the 93 more on-piste focused, it features more metal and therefore delivers the best edge grip and amount of stability. Well balanced, impressively nimble and stable; the Santa Ana 93 is an advanced to expert skier’s dream for all-mountain performance.

Who it's For:

Advanced to expert skiers who value the strength and precision of metal but who want a playful, freeride shape and nature.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Santa Ana 93 Unlimited Skis

Overview:

With the same footprint but quite a bit lighter, the 2024 Nordica Santa Ana 93 Unlimited opens up a brand-new world for touring enthusiasts. Lightweight, energetic and with a poppy personality, this ski offers the same level of versatility as the Santa Ana 93 but with the added touring potential. With a freeride demeanor and strong backbone, the use of carbon and fiberglass stiffen the flex and deliver powerful stability despite hitting the scale at 1335 grams. The same shape as the alpine version, skiers benefit from the long effective edge and decent rocker in the tip, giving it smooth turn initiation and ideal flotation. Broadening the field as far as touring skis go, the Santa Ana 93 Unlimited offers a strong build, high performance, and lightweight feel.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who want a hybrid resort/touring ski with a sophisticated build and freeride feel. Anyone who likes the Santa Ana 93 but prefers a lighter version.

Price: $799.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Salomon Stance 94 W Skis

Overview:

A weapon in disguise, the Salomon Stance 94 W returns for the 2024 season attracting hard-charging skiers with a boost in construction and graphics refresh. For some reason, whether it be the more discreet look or subtle personality, this ski has tended to get lost in the mix of mid-90s skis. A shame to say the least, the Stance 94 W delivers strong, powerful stability and carves like no other. With this year’s iteration, we’re seeing a shift in the use of wood, with a blend of poplar and karuba to give the ski more energy and pop while lightening the load. We’re also getting Salomon’s Twinframe technology that gives the shovel of the ski more flex and responsiveness without sacrificing edge grip. The harmonious blend of liveliness and stability puts this ski in the top tier for high performance rippers.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who value powerful stability and precision on-piste with enough responsiveness and energy to pop and play around the mountain.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Stockli Nela 96 Skis

Overview:

We know and love Stockli for their quality engineering and high-end products, offering skiers a level of performance that is tough to top. The Nela 96 is as smooth as butter, carves like a knife, and effortlessly glides on groomers. Given its dampness and strength, it’s hard to believe it consists of a super lightweight wood core but with the glass laminate and brushed titanal topsheet, the ideal amount of power is added to give it its signature feel. It was hard to believe how smooth and consistent this ski felt, providing confidence and predictability across variable snow conditions. While there are more playful, lively skis out there with a 96 mm waist width, the Stockli Nela has a lot to offer as far as performance and reliability.

Who it's For:

Higher-end skiers who value quality and unparalleled performance. Those who want to cruise groomers and on-piste terrain with stability and predictability.

Price: $1,149.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Blaze 94 W Skis

Overview:

It’s hard to top the level of versatility and usefulness of the Volkl Blaze 94. A truly well-rounded ski with so many applications, from resort to backcountry, Volkl has done an amazing job focusing the Blaze series on blending lightweight construction with impressive performance. We love when a ski saves on weight and maintains its strength and composure and the Blaze 94 is a perfect example of that. A simple poplar and beech wood core combined with a titanal binding platform keeps the ski light and energetic while providing stability and powerful edge grip where needed. A versatile shape and 3D radius sidecut allows for a range of turn shapes and styles at various speeds, giving the Blaze 94 W touring applications, all-mountain confidence and approachability for a wide variety of skiers.

Who it's For:

Advanced intermediates who want a friendly, versatile ski that is highly maneuverable, predictable and lightweight. One that could act as a touring ski or hybrid resort ski.

Price: $649.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Secret 96 Skis

Overview:

The hard-charging skier’s dream, the 2024 Volkl Secret 96 is large and in charge, ready to deliver top tier performance for those prepared to access it. We see the Secret as one of those staple skis, with a strong personality and appealing to a certain audience, and it definitely lives in the strong skier arena. That said, what is has to offer is hard to beat. Built for high-speed carving and aggressive frontside performance, the highly technical construction featuring tailored titanal frame and tailed carbon tips delivers sturdiness and power with proper flexion of the ski when engaging in a hard carved turn. For skiers who don’t want a full-on race ski but want a demanding, high-level ski with all-mountain capabilities will love the Secret 96.

Who it's For:

Expert level skiers who want an aggressive frontside ski with a high-performance ceiling.

Price: $749.99

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