All Mountain Skis: Four Simple Buying Tips

Skiing is a great pass time and a wonderful hobby. It's something everyone can do with a bit of practice, and with the right equipment, it can be very enjoyable. There's nothing quite like going down a slope, at a high rate of speed, with snow blowing in your face, whiteness everywhere around you, and spectators cheering for you when you get down the mountain. But for a day like that, to make sure all goes well, you need the right equipment. Here's four simple buying tips for all mountain skis.

The first thing to look at when you're ready to buy skis is the way their core is made. All mountain skis can be made of two materials: wood and foam. Both have their advantages and their disadvantages. Foam cores are more popular, and often cheaper. They are lighter, which means when you carry the ski around, it won't weight you down. It will also make it easier to put it on. Wood cores however have a better flex, which means it will give you a better ride. They are favored by professionals because they give more control over every action. There's also hybrid cores, which try to combine both materials to get the best of both worlds.

Another thing you may want to look at is the sidecut radius. This is determined by the way the ski was made, and gives you the radial measurement of the curve that matches the inner curvature of the ski. Typically, a more expensive ski will have a more precise cut, and thus give you more control. It's not a crucial feature to look at, but might make a difference, especially if you intend to become a professional in this activity. You might want to get a sidecut radius that fits you best, and there's really no universal answer in this.

Another feature that can impact your buying decision is the top cap, which is the very top layer put on the ski. Typically made of fiberglass, a cap construction means that the front of the ski will be very rounded, and lighter. It will be easier for anyone to use the ski, and control it. However, there's also other types of constructions, such as plastic or laminate. In the case of plastic, the material promotes a transfer of energy, and some people claim it's easier to make turns. Laminate, sometimes referred to as a sandwich, is made of horizontal materials glued together.

Finally, you may want to decide if you want to get wide mountain skis. These have a wider middle part, and are usually made for people who want to go both on slopes and off-piste. However, it's not as nimble as a standard sized ski. Overall, there are skis made for everyone, and regardless which feature you select, it'll be good for many situations.