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Touring Skis

Guide

Touring Skis

For most ski tours, an all-round touring ski with an 85 to 95 mm waist does the job, sized between your own height and 10 cm shorter. Go narrower and lighter if the climb matters most, wider if you tour for the descent.

Key points

All-round touring skis: 85 to 95 mm waist.
Length: between your height and 10 cm less.
Pin bindings need touring boots with inserts.

Which touring ski for which terrain?

Use	Choice	Limit
Piste touring, long climbs, high-alpine tours	ChoiceUphill-focused, under 85 mm	LimitGives ground on the descent in crust and chopped-up snow
Day tours in changing snow	ChoiceAll-round, 85–95 mm	LimitLess float in deep powder than a wide ski
Tours where the descent comes first	ChoiceFreetouring, 96–105 mm	LimitMore weight; long climbs become hard work
Powder days with a short climb	ChoiceFreeride, over 105 mm	LimitHeavier still: the wrong tool for long tours

Types compared

Uphill-focused (under 85 mm)
For piste touring, long climbs and high-alpine tours.
- Advantage: Low weight
- Drawback: Gives ground in crust and chopped-up snow
Example: La Sportiva Maestro.2 LS ›
All-round (85–95 mm)
For day tours in changing snow.
- Advantage: Balanced up and down
- Drawback: Less float in deep powder than a wide ski
Example: Scott Ski Superguide 95 ›
Freetouring (96–105 mm)
For tours where the descent comes first.
- Advantage: Float in deep snow
- Drawback: More weight
Example: Black Diamond Helio Carbon 102 Skis ›

What to check before you buy

Question	In short	Why
What waist width should a touring ski have?	In short85–95 mm	WhyAn 85 to 95 mm waist, measured under the binding, covers most tours: the ski does not keep diving in deep snow, fits a normal skin track and holds on traverses.
How long should a touring ski be?	In shortUp to 10 cm below height	WhyChoose an all-round touring ski between your height and 10 cm less. Shorter makes kick turns (tight turns on a steep skin track) easier; longer stays steady at speed.
How heavy should a touring ski be?	In short1,100–1,450 g per ski	WhyThe German Alpine Club quotes 1,100 to 1,450 g per ski at 170 cm for all-round touring skis. Lighter climbs better. Heavier damps vibration and pushes through breakable crust.
What do rocker and camber mean?	In shortFloat and edge grip	WhyRocker means tip and tail rise early, which adds float and makes turning easier. Camber is the slight arch under the binding that presses the edges into hard snow.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ski pistes on touring skis?

Yes. On hard pistes at speed, though, light touring skis feel less settled than alpine skis because they have less mass to damp vibration.

Is a touring ski wider than a piste ski?

An all-round touring ski is: it measures 85 to 95 mm underfoot, while piste skis typically sit at around 73 to 78 mm. The real difference, though, is weight.

Are pin bindings as safe as alpine bindings?

Not all of them. ISO 13992, the standard for touring bindings, is voluntary, and according to the German Alpine Club most pin bindings are not certified to it.

Which touring ski is right for a first season?

An all-round touring ski at the shorter end of the length range.

Last updated: October 2026