{"id":441169,"date":"2026-01-29T16:28:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/441169\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T16:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T16:28:19","slug":"were-already-skiing-next-seasons-gear-and-the-trend-is-clear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/441169\/","title":{"rendered":"We\u2019re Already Skiing Next Season\u2019s Gear\u2014And the Trend Is Clear"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mid-season drops are putting next year\u2019s gear on snow now, revealing where ski design is headed.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup<\/p>\n

SKI’s editors and contributors have been busy spinning laps on 2027 skis and boots to form first impressions of the ski gear coming down the pike next season. (Photo: Ray J Gadd)<\/p>\n

Published January 28, 2026 09:16AM<\/p>\n

This season, ski gear trends aren\u2019t theoretical\u2014they\u2019re already under our feet. As more brands move toward mid-season drops, much of what\u2019s slated for next season is showing up on snow right now. SKI\u2019s editors and contributors are spending the heart of winter logging days on current releases and getting behind-the-scenes looks at what\u2019s coming next. While much of what we\u2019ve seen is still under embargo, a few clear patterns have emerged. From a renewed focus on high-performance ski boots<\/a> to a return to narrow-waisted skis\u2014and a freeride category<\/a> that\u2019s evolving fast\u2014here\u2019s how ski gear is trending for next season.<\/p>\n

The Year of High-Performance Boots
\n\"CloseupLeft: The lateral side of the new S\/Pro Alpha C BOA boot, featuring a traditional pivot point. Right: The medial side of the shell, showing Salomon\u2019s new ExoDrive and Powerlink construction. (Photo: Mark Elling)<\/p>\n

After years of focusing on all-mountain boots\u2014optimizing walk and hike modes, adding rubber soles, and expanding fit and flex options\u2014brands are turning their attention back to high-performance, frontside-oriented ski boots. Salomon, Nordica, and Head are among those rolling out significantly overhauled narrow-lasted boots aimed at skiers who demand the best possible fit, energy transfer, and precision.<\/p>\n

Salomon\u2019s 2027 S\/Pro Alpha C BOA<\/a> features a new one-ankle-pivot shell design engineered to deliver more consistent flex and improved energy transfer to the ski\u2014and it\u2019s already hitting shop shelves. So is Nordica\u2019s 2027 Promachine 3<\/a>, which has been completely reworked with the brand\u2019s new 3 Force Frame for a better weight-to-power ratio and a slightly higher instep for a more accommodating fit.<\/p>\n

\"CloseupNordica\u2019s new Promachine 3 features an updated shell design, liner, and unique laser etching on the outside. (Photo: Jenny Wiegand)<\/p>\n

Head\u2019s new performance boot hasn\u2019t been publicly unveiled yet, but fans of the Kaliber have plenty to look forward to. A new low-volume Kaliber is coming, complete with a unique BOA lacing system. That\u2019s all we can say\u2014for now.<\/p>\n

Making Carving Skis More Accessible<\/p>\n

If there was ever a season to get skiers excited about frontside skis<\/a>, this is it. While low-tide conditions<\/a> have dominated much of this winter (we\u2019re not talking to you, Jay Peak), a silver lining is that several brands are doubling down on narrow-waisted groomer skis for 2027.<\/p>\n

\"CloseupFor 2027, Atomic adds new Redster Q and Cloud Q models to its frontside lineup. <\/p>\n

Atomic totally revamps its Redster Q and Cloud Q frontside lines, which blend Atomic\u2019s Redster race DNA with more approachable, versatile designs that a wider range of skiers can actually enjoy. The new collection features the next generation of Atomic\u2019s Revoshock dampening technology, which keeps these carvers stable and predictable at speed and in rough conditions. We skied the new Redster Q9.8 and Redster Q7.8 in early December in Vail and were impressed with how smoothly they handled firm groomers, fresh snow, and push piles.<\/p>\n

Head, meanwhile, introduces an all-new frontside line called Discovery, aimed at bringing easygoing carving skis to the masses. With waist widths from 76 to 84 millimeters, these skis feature new tech engineered to make them intuitive and forgiving for intermediates<\/a>, while still delivering enough performance to keep experts entertained. Discovery hasn\u2019t officially launched yet, so we can\u2019t dish full details. But we did get to ski the new models in early December. First impression? They\u2019re a great addition to Head\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

\"CloseupWe took a few test laps on the new Head Discovery frontside skis in early December. Discovery hasn\u2019t officially launched yet, so we can\u2019t say much, but we can say this: We like them. (Photo: Krista Crabtree)<\/p>\n

The common thread from what we\u2019ve seen: the pendulum is swinging back toward narrow-waisted skis, but these aren\u2019t the demanding, one-note groomer tools of the past. Today\u2019s narrow skis are designed to be more versatile\u2014across terrain, snow conditions, and skier ability\u2014than ever before.<\/p>\n

Expanding Freeride Categories<\/p>\n

While some brands are sharpening their frontside offerings for 2027, others are pushing freeride in a new direction. Even traditionally directional brands like Nordica and Blizzard are loosening things up, expanding their freeride lines with new models, less metal, and more playful shapes.<\/p>\n

\"CloseupFor 2027, Nordica adds new models to its Unleashed freeride line, including the metal-less Unleashed 106 CA. (Photo: Krista Crabtree)<\/p>\n

Earlier this season, Blizzard introduced the Canvas<\/a>\u2014its first twin-tipped, no-metal ski in a decade. Along similar lines, Nordica debuted the newest addition to its Unleashed<\/a> family: the Unleashed 106 CA. This model skips the Titanal found in the rest of the Unleashed lineup in favor of a lighter, more playful construction, addressing a long-standing critique that Nordica\u2019s freeride skis can feel demanding (those who aren\u2019t afraid of metal will still find it in the Unleashed 106). We skied both the Blizzard Canvas and the Nordica Unleashed 106 CA in Vail, Colorado earlier this season, and we\u2019re fully on board with the move toward less metal in freeride skis.<\/p>\n

\"ArmadaThe new Antimatter collection debuts with seven models for men and five for women, ranging from 75mm to 114mm underfoot. (Photo: Jenny Wiegand)<\/p>\n

If Blizzard and Nordica are loosening up, Armada is doing the opposite\u2014adding stability where it makes sense. Known for its playful, smeary, no-metal skis like the ARV, Armada just introduced the new Antimatter all-mountain collection<\/a>. Anchored by the freeride-inspired Antimatter 114\u2014Max Palm\u2019s signature ski\u2014the lineup blends metal-reinforced constructions with surfy, playful shapes. The result is a collection that gives freeriders the best of both worlds: stability when charging big lines and looseness when getting creative on natural features.<\/p>\n

High Performance, Broader Appeal<\/p>\n

The underlying trend here isn\u2019t a single piece of tech, but a shift in mindset. Brands are building equipment that rewards good skiing without punishing imperfect technique or conditions, expanding the definition of who high-performance gear is really for. And we\u2019re here for that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mid-season drops are putting next year\u2019s gear on snow now, revealing where ski design is headed. SKI’s editors…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":441170,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[168574,49,48,65870,182622,182623,182624,182625,182626,61,54267],"class_list":{"0":"post-441169","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-audio-true","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-canada","11":"tag-parent_category-gear","12":"tag-tag-all-mountain-skis","13":"tag-tag-all-mountain-boots","14":"tag-tag-frontside-skis","15":"tag-tag-high-performance-boots","16":"tag-tag-performance-carving","17":"tag-technology","18":"tag-type-article"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}