With a wider waist and more rocker, you sacrifice some edging capabilities, but many skiers think the crud-busting and surfing abilities you get in return are well worth the trade-off. Wide all-mountain skis are ideal for skiers who are lucky enough to ski deep, soft snow more often than not, but they also cater to East Coast powderhounds and Western skiers who prefer float over finesse. The skis in the All-Mountain Wide category are slightly girthier than your typical all-mountain ski-typically 100-110mm-and usually feature a more pronounced rocker profile than their all-mountain counterparts. If you’re a soft-snow connoisseur or just prefer a wide platform for everything you encounter at the resort, you need an all-mountain wide ski in your life.

The Icelantic Nomad 105 skis are an energetic, freeride tool best described as playful, surfy, and fun.Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! It can handle anything the mountain has to offer and will float the powder, bust through the crud, and kill it on the groomers. After riding a season on them, I find these better than the Wildcats, especially for the price. Since the ski was on sale, I chose them over the Moment Deathwish or Wildcat. other optionsĭue to the deal I got on the Nomad 105 skis, I believe them to be a great value for the money. The width underfoot makes a solid platform, and they will just catch edges to help with those quick turns needed on steep descents or tight forests. It was great to go off these high features and feel completely comfortable riding them down. I’d have to say skiing the wall in Kirkwood or from the top of the ridge at Mammoth. They will float, and the sidecut profile helps on the terrain and the trees. They’re a bit too heavy but handle everything in the backcountry well if I were to boot-pack them in there.

Backcountry: These skis are not designed for the backcountry.

Versatility: Due to the reasons listed above, this ski is a beast that cannot be contained and can go anywhere on the mountain and crush it.

The width allows me to get the uplift that would be expected with a wider underfoot. It’s very comparable to a traditional powder ski.

Flotation: The underfoot width of 105mm floats well.

They handle a bit better at high speeds than my carbon race skis, the Dynastar Vertical F-team. I have not noticed any chatter or popping when ripping downhill.

Stability at high speeds: The wideness of the ski provides a stable platform at high speeds.

The sidecut profile is perfect for a good carve.

Carving: I have a lot of fun carving on these skis.

Ease of turn initiation: The rocker profile is a big help in this category by allowing the ski to grip faster due to the tip width and shape.Occasionally when it's flat or I have to lift my feet, I notice the weight, but under ski conditions, it is not noticeable. It also adds to its ability to bust crud. Weight: For what this ski is, the weight is great.I hardly notice any blemishes or things wrong after hard riding. Durability: Bomb-proof construction is in their description, and this is very accurate.Park: The thickness and bendy core allow for jumps and stand up to the abuse of the park.Moguls: I have noticed that they stay stable over the bumps and around the quick turns.

Trees: The rocker profile allows me to quickly turn through trees and handle the snow conditions.

Powder: In my experience, they float through all the powder and can handle snow that traditional powder skis are used for.

I have no worries about the stability when I decide to get back to the lift or base as fast as possible. No chatter, and when I move, the ski responds.

Groomers: This ski is a speed demon on groomers.

Turns: They handle any turn I make because of the rocker profile.

This is helpful when I'm making big turns across steep terrain or when I am traversing the top of a bowl. Edge hold: The Nomad has no problem holding edges due to the sidecut profile.This comes in handy on steep groomers or a long traverse across the top of a bowl or ridge. Speed: The shape of the ski and its sidecut profile make it great to catch edges and hold them at high speed to keep me stable.

Icelantic vs moment skis