One of the most popular competitions in a sports event, mogul skiing, has been gaining fans in recent years. It’s super fun to run through tight bumps or even zipper linings. For some skiers, mogul skiing may not be the only thing they’re looking for in the all-mountain terrains. But a growing number of people have been enjoying it, whether it’s just for fun or racing. Choosing the right skis for moguls will be an advantage for whichever team you belong to when you blast through the bumps. Keep in mind that these are top-quality skis that come with quite the hefty price tag. When it comes to performance (and fun), buy the best, save money later!
Table of contents
- Rossignol Smash 7 (CU)
- LINE Blend 2022 (CU)
- LINE Honey Badger
- Blizzard Black Pearl 88
- Rossignol Positrack Backcountry BC 80 (CU)
- HEAD Core 93
- Nordica Navigator 80
- Armada ARV 86 (CU)
- Faction Candide (CU)
- Blizzard Rustler 10 (CU)
- Volkl Kendo 2022 (CU)
- K2 Press Ski (CU)
- Rossignol Experience 80 (CU)
- How to Choose the Best Skis for Moguls and Bumps
- What type of ski is best for moguls?
- Are all mountain skis good for moguls?
- What size skis are best for moguls?
Rossignol Smash 7 (CU)
13
Rossignol Smash 7 ticks all the boxes of good mogul ski. Initially an all-mountain ski, its profile caters to your basic needs when looking for skis for bumps. Smash 7 brings rocker in both the tip and tail into play, making it capable and quick ski. Its budget-friendly cost may be the first thing that attracts you the most.
The design is similar to the more popular line Soul 7. Rossignol Smash 7 also features a wood core, an air tip, and just the right combination of a good camber, rocker, and taper. Running down through wide-open mogul has never been more fun!
Pros
- Rocker in both the tip and tail
- Easy and quick turns
- Fun at moderate speed
Cons
- The performance is not as surprising as its price point
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LINE Blend 2022 (CU)
12
LINE has been making Blend for as long as we can remember. And it certainly has evolved around those years. With its 2022 release, its little taper and slight rocker at the tip and tail have made it one of the best skis for moguls. Although the waist is wider, it’s versatile enough to survive both on and off-piste.
Featuring minimum rocker in the tip and tail, it’s enough to make a good mogul ski. Despite not being the best, LINE Blend 2022 is a good contender for the best ski for moguls!
Pros
- The tip is extremely soft and not super damp
- Unique flex
- Maneuverable and nimble ski
Cons
- It’s more of a fun and playful park ski instead of all-mountainers
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LINE Honey Badger
11
One of the first things that will catch your attention is how incredibly light these skis are. Debuting in the 2017/2018 season, LINE Honey Badger champions itself in different flex and feel on the snow. Another noticeable characteristic of these skis is how flexible they are. The Honey Badger is the perfect choice for those who love ollies and nollies.
As for riding through mogul, the slightly rockered tip and tail are satisfying enough to make quick turns. LINE claims that this product is suitable for any terrain, but it turns out that it might not be ideal for all-mountain. We don’t recommend this for pros. But if it’s just for a fun day at ski resorts in Villach, Austria, go for it!
Pros
- Playful
- Fun pop
- Inexpensive
Cons
- More suitable for park skiing instead of mountains
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Blizzard Black Pearl 88
10
The most stylish ski in Blizzard’s All-Mountain collections, the Black Pearl 88 is a ladies’ favorite. Arguably the best choice for skiers who prefer a more traditional ski style, these planks can still be taken into bumps and along the trees just alright. With an 88m waist, Bushwacker is especially playful and one of the best skis for moguls you can find out there.
Although not necessarily built as skis for bumps, Blizzard Black Pearl 88 can surely take a beating. And it’s no doubt it’ll survive and serve you a 10/10 fun experience. All in all, it’s reasonably strong during turns and gives you the advantage while running through mogul. Aside from mogul, the Black Pearl 88 is an excellent choice between freeride and all-mountain.
Pros
- Maneuverability/quickness
- Lightweight
- Great edge hold
Cons
- It’s a little expensive
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Rossignol Positrack Backcountry BC 80 (CU)
9
Rossignol Positrack Backcountry offers top all-mountainers performance for any kind of skier level. With its LDC wood core material, these planks are relatively lightweight. It uses a bit of rocker in both its tip and tail. With the sidecut with the shape of 80/60/70 and unique construction, expect smooth maneuvers with this one as you run through the bumps.
BC 80 is one of the quickest-turning ski you can find. Such quality is an advantage for bump lovers out there. On top of that, it’s intuitive and effortless to foot steer even at a slow speed. However, it’s advised not to ski too aggressively with this backcountry ski gear.
Pros
- Easy, quick response
- Centered sidecut allows confident underfoot control
- Perfect for long distance
Cons
- Unstable at high speed
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HEAD Core 93
8
This is the one for you if you’re looking for versatile all-mountainers. With a 93mm waist and a subtle feel of rocker in the tip and tail, HEAD Core 93 is one of the best skis for moguls available this year. For occasional mogul skiing, it’s quick and snappy when initiating turns. However, you might still want to check it for yourself outside the park for suitability.
The ski feels playful with the updated underfoot. With a slimmer waist, these planks are recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who love a little bump during their ride. Also, it’s fairly good on jibs and stable enough to hold on to big jumps.
Pros
- Great one-ski park quiver
- Enough to handle mogul
- Faster base and structure compared to its park skis peers
Cons
- Not many length choices
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Nordica Navigator 80
7
Originally designed and shaped as an all-mountain ski, Nordica Navigator 80 has a quite noticeable slimmer profile when you take a look at it. It’s a fantastic choice for those who like to set out off-piste. You’re in for guaranteed fun throughout the whole mountain. Although it lives up to all-mountainers, easy skiing is the key to conquering these planks.
When you can swivel around, moguls and trees are effortless and fun with this. It adds more advantages to the already cool features. With its easy-turning nature and quickness, it’s instantly everyone’s favorite! Additionally, these skis are responsive and smooth with excellent edge hold, even on the icy piste.
Pros
- Versatile
- Adaptable for ski experts and accessible for beginners
- Able to handle transitional terrain
Cons
- Good in on-piste, poor everywhere else
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Armada ARV 86 (CU)
6
Expect all the fun you can get from the all-mountain design from Armada, the ARV 86. Its playfulness is preserved from the lightweight Poplar Ash Core throughout the ski. Combine that with harder wood on its horizontal laminate to add power and strength. With a soft tip that keeps us in control in mogul, you’re in for an absolute joy ride!
What makes ARV 86 one of the best skis for moguls is its Armada’s very own Freestyle Rocker (rockered tip and tail). It provides a smooth and quick-turn engagement. With a stiffer tail, it gives a stable exit into the next bump. Adding ARV 75 sidewall construction, these planks are built for butter, press, and smear to your delight. We’re also discussing the narrowest model in Armada’s ARV lineup here. Making it a pretty sweet deal for mogul runs.
Pros
- Suitable on odd powder days
- One of the most dependable freestyle skis on the market
- Easy maneuvering in the air
Cons
- Not a lot of information on this… perhaps, everyone is happy with this pair!
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Faction Candide (CU)
5
Candide is a whole ski series from Faction. For the 18/19 season, they released Candide 3.0/4.0 with a little tweak at the cores for better durability and edge hold. Faction Candide CT 1.0 itself is pretty forgiving and lightweight. This provides you with better, easy access to bash into the front of mogul.
Although for some users, these planks can feel pretty big, it’s still playful enough to maneuver through bumps. For riders who keep looking out for a fresh goods and versatile ski, this can be a perfect choice.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Playful at low speeds
- Tons of pop
Cons
- A lot of tail behind the binding
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Blizzard Rustler 10 (CU)
4
With your love for mogul, if you’re an experienced skier (which we assume you are), you’d notice that Blizzard Rustler 10 is intuitive and predictable. There’s just enough responsiveness, stability, and precision as you push through these planks. These characteristics will definitely be advantageous traits for mogul.
These skis are a total beast in fresh and soft snow. Although it’s considered a big ski (at 102mm waist of camber underfoot), you’d be surprised at how quick they are during a maneuver. It’s no question when it comes to high speed, and with a rockered tip, it allows the edge to edge easily. There’s no doubt that Blizzard Rustler 10 will be a go-to ski for all-mountain regulars. And just enough points to secure itself in the top 5 of our best skis for moguls list.
Pros
- It’s pretty quick for a big stick
- Generally stable in many conditions as you try them in
- A subtle tail rocker allows for easy release on the tail. As well as sliding through the moguls
Cons
- Loss of agility on crusty snow
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Volkl Kendo 2022 (CU)
3
Volkl has traditionally been known as a brand with its precise and performance-driven feel. And when you try on this Volkl Kendo, it carries forward with the design. It’s been widely adopted by all-mountain skiers as tough and stable ski. The construction itself is more like to race ski. With a combination of multi-wood core, sandwiched with two full sheets of metal, you can easily find such designs in high-end ski.
If you’re confident that you’re an advanced-level skier, you’re in for making the most out of these planks. Rocker/camber/rocker profile allows for maximum performance in mogul. Its power doesn’t compromise on easy maneuvers on turns. It’s fairly easy to release the tail edge into a sharp turn.
Pros
- Tough planks
- It skis lightly
- It’s fun and brilliant
Cons
- Only suitable for pros
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K2 Press Ski (CU)
2
Who doesn’t love lightweight ski with proper durability? K2 Press Skis can surely handle a beating and last for seasons. Its rockered profile allows for easy maneuver and excellent turning. Those who ski moguls for a race or just for fun sure know how this instantly makes K2 Press Ski one of the best skis for moguls.
With 86mm (3.4 inches) underfoot, expect more than a fun park ski! For mogul skiers, you’ll have an absolute blast smashing the tip of these into the front walls of bumps as they’re flexible and fun to run through zipper lines.
Pros
- Super fun in bumps
- Durable
- Impressive short turns
Cons
- Slow in powder
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Rossignol Experience 80 (CU)
1
Our top pick for best skis for bumps goes to Rossignol Experience 80. Rossignol built this ski with mogul skiing in mind. And if that doesn’t make it the perfect fit for mogul skiing, we don’t know what is. With a narrow profile and quick turn radius, it has everything you need!
With excellent control and just enough speed for bumps lovers, you’re in for an absolute blast when you power down through mogul. An updated rocker profile is also featured in the whole line for the 2019/2020 season. A little less rocker in both the tip and tail will still deliver easy control without compromising its edge hold, responsiveness, and rebound.
The Auto Turn Rocker design serves a good edge grip. It’s powerful enough to stop you from experiencing unwanted slippage when you’re going through mogul during skiing.
Pros
- Stable
- Responsive and simply great in moguls
- Offers excellent agility
Cons
- Not as good on powder
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How to Choose the Best Skis for Moguls and Bumps
Generally, choosing the right pair of skis plays a big role in maximizing your skiing skill. While mogul skiing is advised for intermediate or advanced skiers, some info and tips on how to choose the best skis for bumps can still come in handy. It’s not just about matching them with your new ski helmets with Bluetooth or getting them from the best ski brands. You’ve probably known about factors like height and weight, which are a good start in picking the best skis. Other than the two, here are some of the things you should consider beforehand.
Length
The rule of thumb when choosing the right ski length is that it should extend somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. And the best skis for moguls are generally the shorter ones than your usual planks. It provides better balance and control when handling turns between bumps. While these turns can induce stress and anxiety, choosing the right ski will help you minimize them.
Width
One of the most important techniques in mogul skiing is the knee angle turns. And for this technique, you’d need skis that provide smoother maneuver. This is when skinnier-profile ski will be an advantage in mogul skiing. Narrow all-mountains can do the work but more skiers are starting to look for a specific model for mogul runs. Manufacturers have designed mogul-specific models as well to cater to this demand. Such designs will help you to turn efficiently and quickly through mogul. A little bit of flex can also work in your favor.
Profile
On top of length and width, the skis’ shape and profile should complement other features. A parabolic shape ski with a slight rocker in the tip and tail will make a good mogul ski. Light rockers allow the skis to make quick turns while a good underfoot camber will equip turning control and speed.
What type of ski is best for moguls?
First, look for skis for bumps that have a parabolic shape. The tip and tail should be designed with a light rocker to make them even better. This type of rocker is critical for quick turns. Another thing you should look for is an excellent underfoot camber. That will help immensely in controlling your speed while turning.
Are all mountain skis good for moguls?
Unfortunately, there is no short answer to that. All-mountain skis are designed to work in all terrain category, including mogul or bump. But are they the best skis for moguls? Not necessarily. Most all-mountain skis are wider. As a result, they are not the best for turning and controlling your speed on bumps, which is often found in a backcountry session in Alpine.
But can you use all-mountain skis on moguls? Yes. They just require more effort to control, which can be daunting for beginners. With that said, should you be on moguls if you’re still a beginner?
What size skis are best for moguls?
The lighter, the better. Subsequently, you should look for smaller and shorter skis if you’re aiming for the best skis for bumps. However, we should remind you that your height and weight are not built for the smallest and shortest skis.
To answer your question, look for the middle ground. Stick to your recommended size and weight, but try to aim for the lightest possible.