evo Size and Buying Guides - We have one of the largest selections of skis on the web, a super knowledgeable staff and expert guides.
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How do you pick the correct ski size?
So the truth is that there is no one perfect size ski for one skier height and weight. The general rule is to pick a ski length that is somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. Advanced and expert skiers may choose skis that are slightly longer than head height.
Ski Sizing Chart
|
Skier Height in feet & inches |
Skier Height
in centimeters (cm)
|
Suggested
Ski Lengths (cm)
|
|
Shop Skis
by Length (cm) |
|
4'4" |
132 |
115-130 |
130-139 |
|
4'6" |
137 |
125-140 |
|
4'8" |
142 |
130-145 |
140-149 |
|
4'10" |
147 |
135-150 |
|
5' |
152 |
135-155 |
150-159 |
|
5'2" |
158 |
145-165 |
|
5'4" |
163 |
150-170 |
160-169 |
|
5'6" |
168 |
155-175 |
|
5'8" |
173 |
160-180 |
170-179 |
|
5'10" |
178 |
165-185 |
|
6' |
183 |
170-190 |
180-189 |
|
6'2" |
188 |
175-195 |
|
6'4" |
193 |
180-200 |
>190 |
Within your suggested ski size range there are several reasons to choose a shorter or longer ski. A shorter ski will be easier to turn yet not as stable as a longer ski. A carving ski with a skinnier waist width, and a smaller turn radius, can be skied at a shorter length than an all-mountain or freeride ski with a larger, longer turn radius and fatter waist width.
Here are some reasons to size your skis shorter, closer to your chin:
• You are a beginner or intermediate skier.
• Your weight is lighter than average for your height.
• You like to make short, quick turns.
• You want a carving ski with only camber, no rocker.
Reasons to size your skis longer, closer to the top of your head:
• You are skiing fast and aggressively.
• You weigh more than average for your height.
• You plan to do the majority of your skiing off the trail.
• You plan to ski a twin-tip ski.
• You want a ski that has a lot of rocker.
Different ski brands don’t always measure length in the same way; therefore it is possible that a ski size from one brand may be a slightly longer or slightly shorter than another brand.
Ability level has become somewhat less relevant as ski technology has made it possible for a beginner to ski a much wider variety of skis. Still, there are certainly features that differentiate skis for different ability levels.
Someone who is brand new to skiing or a skier working on linking smoother turns falls into this ability level. Typical beginner ski qualities include: softer materials, narrower widths, and capped constructions. The idea is to create a ski that is easy to turn and very forgiving in case you become off balance or fall in the back seat. The addition of rocker in the tip and tail gives a catch-free feeling and shorter contact length when the ski is flat on the snow, making it easier to turn.
The majority of skiers and skis fall into this level, whether you like to carve on groomers or venture into the powder. These skis may be somewhat wider than beginner-intermediate skis, usually with a stronger wood core and sandwich sidewall construction. Depending on the type of ski, intermediate-advanced level skis may have full camber, rocker, or some combination of the two.
Whether you charge the steepest lines, carve with racer performance, hit the biggest jumps or halfpipes; advanced to expert level skis are for the more aggressive skier. You will often find the addition of layers of metal, carbon, bamboo, or other stringers in these skis. These features work to make a stiffer ski with more power and rebound. Although typically the widest powder skis fall into this level, you will also find expert level carving, park, and all-mountain skis. Again, you will see skis with full camber, rocker, or some combination of the two.
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the way a ski feels and its best use. Beyond construction there are three main parts of ski shape that determine feel:
width,
turning radius and
rocker type.
Ski Waist Width is the measurement at a ski’s width at the middle (waist) of the ski, which is usually the narrowest point. Narrower waist widths are quicker edge to edge during turns, while wider waist widths provide better flotation in powder and choppy snow.
You will usually see ski dimensions specified by a 3-number measurement for the tip/waist/tail, like 115/90/107mm. In this example 115mm refers to the tip width, 90mm refers to the waist width, and 107mm refers to the tail width.
Shop Skis by Waist Width:
Turning Radius is the shape of a ski determined by its tip, waist, and tail width. The narrower a ski’s waist is in relation to its tip and tail, the shorter the turn radius and therefore the deeper the sidecut. A ski with a deep sidecut (short turn radius) will make quicker turns, while a ski with a subtle sidecut (long turn radius) will turn slower and is typically more stable going straight at high speeds.
|
Turning radius |
Turn type |
Type of skiing, intermediate all-mountain |
|
< 16m |
short |
carving |
|
17-22m |
medium |
all-mountain, park & pipe |
|
> 22m |
long |
powder, big-mountain |
Rocker Type refers to the side profile of the ski. Although camber and rocker are opposite shapes, here at evo we classify camber as a type of rocker for simplicity. Camber is the traditional profile of a ski; if the ski bases are put together they contact at the tip and tail with a gap at the waist. Camber provides edge hold, power, and pop. Rocker is the reverse of camber where ski bases held together contact at the waist and separate as you go towards the tip and tail. Rocker shortens the effective edge length of your ski making it easier to turn and providing floatation in powder and heavy snow. You will see that there are a variety of different rocker and camber combinations; all provide different feels, and each ski company has its own crazy name for their rocker. You will find a more in-depth guide to Rocker combinations in our
Rocker Guide: What is Rocker and Why Does it Matter?
Shop skis by Rocker Type:
You will find that the lines between different types of skis are more and more blurred these days so that many skis fall under more than one category.
Just as the name states, all mountain skis are for skiing the entire mountain. They are designed to handle anything you throw at them including powder, ice, groomers, steeps, heavy snow, and everything in between, but they aren’t necessarily a master of any one terrain. If you’re only going to own one ski to do it all, this is what you want. That being said, all-mountain skis come in a range of shapes and widths to match the specific needs of you the skier, where you ski, and the conditions common to your mountains. All-mountain skis generally have what we call mid-fat waists that range from 80-110mm. The key is to figure out where you will be spending the most time on the mountain and what type of terrain you like to ski. Remember, it’s not just about the terrain you currently ski but where you want to ski; trust us, skis today will allow you to venture to new zones.
These skis are for the deep days. If you like to find powder stashes at your local resort, go on backcountry missions for the freshest of fresh or heli ski trips to BC, powder skis are what you need to stay afloat. Skis in the powder category are wide and most often have some form of rocker or early rise. You will see unique sidecut shapes; the tip and tail are not always the widest parts of the ski. Many powder skis today are versatile enough to handle mixed conditions and harder snow.
For those that like the classic feeling of laying a ski over on edge and arcing a perfect turn, carving skis are what you want. These skis have narrower waists and shorter turn radii for the quickest edge to edge and responsive turn initiation and exit on groomed runs and hard pack. The beginner-intermediate skis in this category are designed to make learning how to turn as easy as going from pizza to French fries.
Park and pipe skis, often called freestyle skis, are for skiers who spend the majority of their time in the terrain park. If jumps, rails, and jibs of all kinds are your thing then check out this category. Though traditionally park and pipe skis have narrower waists with full camber profiles, this category is incorporating more rocker patterns and different shapes. You will almost always find these skis with twin tips as well as other park specific features like more durable edges, stronger and faster bases, and butter zones.
Also known as backcountry skis, alpine touring (AT) skis are designed for going uphill as well as downhill. These skis are differentiated by their light weights and usability with climbing skins. Some AT skis even have skins cut specifically for them. In the AT category you will find all-mountain, powder, and carving skis for the different types of backcountry snow and terrain you are skiing. Some alpine touring skis are aimed toward the backcountry ascents. On the other end of the spectrum you have big, fat, slightly heavier AT skis for skiing in the resort sidecountry or descents with more emphasis on the down than the up.
Skis designed specifically for women are typically lighter, softer, and shorter. Women usually have a lower center of gravity and therefore exert less leverage and a lower force on their skis (than a man of the same size). Women’s skis take less force to power and turn; this is accomplished by softer core materials and thinner core profiles. Also, to enhance balance, mounting positions are usually a few centimeters further forward on these skis. There are plenty of hard charging skis built for women these days and the graphics often feature fewer trucks, skulls and blood than men’s graphics. Of course there is no reason a female skier cannot ski well on a men’s ski, and vice versa.
System skis come with bindings that are often integrated into the ski. Besides providing you with a simple package to purchase, system skis are designed to have a truer flex through the entire ski. The binding is mounted to an integrated plate that allows the toe and heel to float independently from the ski and eliminate the “dead spot” formed underfoot; the ski can now make a perfect arc all the way through a turn. System bindings usually do not come attached to the skis, and you should always have a certified technician set your bindings to your boots.
Still have questions? Please give our customer care team a call at 866-386-1590, Customer Care Hours. They can help you find the right skis to fit your needs.
