Annual SKI Test hits the Montana slopes

Top skiers from across the country gathered in Montana for the first event in SKI Magazine’s annual SKI Test at Big Sky Resort. The latest 2025-2026 models of top ski brands were tested and reviewed to crown the best gear ahead of next winter season.

This first test— put on by SKI Magazine, a popular publication among winter athletes — took place from March 4-7 near the base of the Ramcharger 8 lift. SKI Test is held every spring to review the latest winter gear before it goes on sale, and the results are used to write the fall Gear Guide, which is a comprehensive review of all the newest equipment that is published annually — usually in late August or early September.

This was the first time SKI Test came to Montana, with two more events planned in the state for late March. One will take place at Red Lodge to test the powder category and the other at Bridger Bowl for backcountry testing. In previous years, testing has been held at resorts such as Mount Rose in Reno, Nevada, Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho and various locations in Colorado and Utah.

SKI is a subsidiary of Outside, a company focused on outdoor recreation that is partnered with over 20 active lifestyle brands, according to the Outside website. The company worked closely with the Montana Department of Commerce and Montana’s Yellowstone Country (MYC) — an organization that determines the use of tourism and travel promotion funds in the Yellowstone region of south-central Montana — to bring the event to Big Sky, according to Executive Director of MYC Robin Hoover.

“We’re always looking for unique events that give us the opportunity to showcase the Yellowstone Country ski areas,” Hoover said. “An event like this is so great for bringing visibility to Montana as a ski destination.”

At last week’s test, around 30 expert skiers had four days to review ski models in a variety of conditions, according to the Editor-in-Chief of SKI Magazine Sierra Shafer. Testers ranged from local and national skiers to instructors, buyers and coaches.

All ski models were categorized according to their waist width — the width measurement at the narrowest point of the ski, underneath the boot sole. While narrower skis enable quicker edge-to-edge transitions, wider skis tend to offer more versatility and soft-snow performance. Four types of skis were tested, including carving skis measuring at 65-80 mm underfoot, frontside skis measuring at 80-90 mm underfoot, all-mountain skis measuring at 90-100 mm underfoot and all-mountain wide skis measuring at 100-110 mm underfoot.

Specific types of skis were chosen based on the snow conditions present at the mountain and each model was evaluated with a scorecard detailing what skiers would want from each design.

Around 20 brands — such as Volkl, Nordica, HEAD, Rossignol and Salomon —  are invited each year to participate in the spring testing. However, the event itself is unsponsored. “This isn’t pay to play,” Shafer said. “The results of this test truly do inform the Gear Guide and so you can really trust SKI’s Winter Gear Guide to be accurate and authentic and very honest as well.”

Shafer explained why Montana is a fitting location for SKI Test. “We’re so excited to come to Montana and test,” Shafer said. “It has such a wide variety of terrain, there’s been really amazing snowfall this year, and it’s just a great, beautiful, spectacular place to come skiing.”

The 2025-26 fall Gear Guide will be available online in late 2025 at https://www.skimag.com/home and https://www.outsideonline.com/home.

Correction: On March 13, the Exponent reported that the late-March SKI testing events would include powder testing at Bridger Bowl and Red Lodge for backcountry touring. This has been edited to reflect the truth that the Red Lodge event will test the powder category and Bridger Bowl will test the backcountry category. Additionally, this article has been edited to include that Outside also worked with the Montana Department of Commerce to bring this event to Montana.