Ski touring test: how we test
Board in front of your head? The ski touring test was divided into three categories, well aware of the fluid transition between the classes, given by the ski's sidecut and the choice of ski length in relation to weight, height and skiing ability. This classification we chose – a common one in the industry – merely serves as a rough orientation.
The three test classes
Downhill-oriented – from approx. 100 mm waist width
The downhill-oriented skis with a waist width of approx. 100 mm and above are made for those dream powder days and are often used close to ski resorts, where ascents are usually shorter and ski weight plays only a minor role.
All-rounders – approx. 90–100 mm waist width
The second category in the test are the all-rounders, the ski touring all-rounders, with a waist width of approx. 90–100 mm.
Ascent-oriented – approx. 80–90 mm waist width
We defined the test class of ascent-oriented skis at 80–90 mm waist width, well aware that narrower touring skis, especially among fitness-oriented ski tourers, are becoming increasingly popular.
Testers
Every tester invited to the BACKLINE test contributes many years of in-depth experience in skiing, whether as an athlete, instructor, coach, mountain guide or ski guide. All are passionate ski tourers with an enduring curiosity about equipment developments and trends.
Testers who work as influencers for participating companies, are under contract with them or receive equipment from them free of charge were excluded from rating those partners' products to avoid potential bias and distortion of the results.
Test setup
Classification and labelling
All companies taking part in the test were free to assign their models to the categories. As the market now offers specific models in all classes for both women and men, the women's models were tested by female testers, the models developed for men by male testers, and the skis recommended by the manufacturers for both women and men were consequently tested by everyone. The corresponding labelling is indicated on the following pages with a pictogram.
Test lengths and binding
The companies were asked to supply women's skis in a length of ±173 cm, men's skis in a length of ±183 cm and unisex skis in a length of ±177 cm.
We mounted all models with a uniform ATK Rental binding, with the aim of better comparability between the skis and of keeping all testers centred on the ski despite very different boot sole lengths of the female and male testers' ski boots.
Ski boots, surface area and g/cm² (editorially determined)
All testers used their own ski boots to minimise the unknown variables in the test. We took the trouble to calculate the total surface area of the skis. Combined with the respective weight of the ski, this results in the g/cm² figure, which makes it easier and more accurate to compare all skis in terms of weight.
This figure is attributable to the ski's construction and correlates across different lengths of the same ski model.
Test criteria
Weight – up to 15/25/35 points (editorially determined and tested)
Based on this figure, the weight of the skis was scored from 15 points in the 100 mm+ category to 35 points in the 80–90 mm category.
The absolute weight figures on all following pages always refer to the bold-printed lengths of the tested skis. The point scale is based on the best and worst values (g/cm²) we have measured over the past seven years.
The tendency of a ski to pick up more or less snow on its surface during the ascent (anti-icing) was scored in all categories with up to a maximum of 5 points.
Riding performance – up to 80/70/60 points (tested)
The testers evaluated the skis' riding performance in deep snow, in tracked and rough terrain, in hard conditions and on corn snow. If certain conditions did not occur during the test days, no points were awarded for those conditions.
For each ski category (ascent-oriented, downhill-oriented, all-rounder) and their riding performance in the respective conditions, different maximum scores were defined, reflecting the skis' specific main areas of use.
How stars are awarded (editorially determined)
The best roughly 15–20 % of skis in each test category – and among women's, men's and unisex models – received a star award.
In addition, a star award was given to the top skis in each category with the most total points. A star award also went to the skis with the best euro-per-point ratio. Here, not necessarily the cheapest models were honoured, but the ski's overall performance had to match its price.
For every ski tested, our testers gave an assessment of its suitability for the driver's weight and ability. Derived from this and taking the overall performance into account, we issued a recommendation and star award for each ski's suitability for light or heavy skiers as well as for beginners and advanced riders.