The “all-mountain ski” category is a popular category of skis. However, it’s also a broad category of skis.

The Atomic Vantage 79 C and the Armada ARV 106 are both categorized as all-mountain skis.

These skis are radically different.

So what’s the deal? How do such different skis fall into the same category? What does “all-mountain ski” even mean?

What makes a ski an “all-mountain” ski?

The thing about all-mountain skis is that most of them are not skis that are equally good at handling all snow conditions and terrain types. It’s arguably impossible for a ski to be equally good at everything.

All-mountain skis typically have some sort of specialty. For instance, the Atomic Vantage 79 C is mostly a carving ski. And the Armada ARV 106 is better suited for soft snow and freestyle skiing.

However, with the right ski technique, you could make both of these skis work in most conditions and terrain.

It might be a little challenging to keep the Vantage 79 on top of deeper snow. And you might find that the ARV 106 feels a little loose in carved turns. But you could make do with what you’ve got.

At the other end of this spectrum, a ski that’s dedicated to a specific type of skiing will probably outperform an all-mountain ski in that area. A true race ski is probably more capable for carved turns than the Vantage 79. But a race ski would probably make you more sad in powder.

And that’s what makes a ski an all-mountain ski: an all-mountain ski does have a specialty. But they’re versatile enough to get the job done for other skiing styles and in other terrain, all over the mountain, to use the marketing language.

This specialty is the key to choosing an all-mountain ski.

How to choose an all-mountain ski

Since an all-mountain ski isn’t a perfect jack-of-all-trades, it’s important to choose an all-mountain ski that has some emphasis on the type of skiing and terrain where you spend the most time.

If you spend most of your time on groomed trails, an all-mountain ski with a more traditional carving shape will probably be best.

On the other hand, if you’re more of an off-piste, soft snow hunter, the ARV 96 is likely the best option.

If you’re into park skiing, but want your park skis to be capable outside the park, skis like the Line Chronic might be your thing.

But what if you’re not sure exactly what makes a ski good for a certain type of skiing? Here’s a loose guide for identifying the right all-mountain ski:

• Shorter (somewhere between as tall as your chin and as tall as your eyebrows), narrower skis (75-85mm underfoot) are best if you do a lot of casual skiing on groomed terrain.
• Longer (between your eyebrows and as tall as you are, potentially a tad taller than you), narrower skis (75-85mm underfoot) are better if you’re skiing on groomed terrain, but have a preference for skiing fast.
• Longer (between your forehead and a bit taller than you are), wider skis (95-105mm underfoot) work best if you often ski off-trail.

Most people have an all-mountain ski in their collection. And most skiers use an all-mountain ski as their daily driver.

Though, if you’re really hardcore into some type of skiing, maybe get a ski that’s built just for that thing. A dedicated park and pipe or race ski will still get you back to the lift.

Get all over the mountain

That’s it. There’s no reason not to have an all-mountain ski on hand. Even professional skiers who specialize in a certain skiing discipline often have an all-mountain ski that they use for ski days when they’re not training.

If you’re buying your own skis for the first time or buying your next skis, there’s a good chance that you’re looking for an all-mountain ski, even if you don’t know it yet.