5 of the Best Skis For Moguls [2021]

Mogul skiing is one of those pursuits that look easy from the sidelines. Expert skiers dominate these bumps, keeping their knees in a lock and effortlessly gliding downhill.

If this is your first encounter on a mogul trail, it may be a bit unnerving coming face to face with these small hills. All the inspiration you had from watching the experts fly out of the window!

However, you too can ski moguls. It is not the preserve of a few people. The right pair of skis and some practice is all it takes to join the league you used to admire from the sidelines.

In this buying guide, we look at some of the best skis for moguls. Let’s dive in.

1. Line Honey Badger Ski’s – Best Overall Mogul Skis

Honey Badger is a lightweight ski for the ambitious freestyle skier. Not only can it handle moguls, but it can also tackle mountainside snow and unpredictable terrain. It is created to withstand rough treatment.

The Honey Badger was manufactured using fiberglass woven in four directions on top of an aspen core. Fiberglass makes the Line Badger durable without adding extra weight.

Snap and pop are what make a ski feel alive and awaken the adrenaline rush that makes skiing so addictive. The aspen veneer core has a collection of aspen stringers. That creates a snappy feel when you are skiing.

The stringers keep the ski locked into the turns.

The sidecut is responsible for the Line Badger’s intuitive feel and ability to make so many turn shapes. There are five radii blended into this ski’s sidecut.

A carbon Ollieband runs along the center of the ski. This Ollieband is made out of stretched carbon. It adds an extra spring to the ski for when you need to show off your jumps on boxes and rails.

The symmetric flex pattern at the front and behind the boot rides the terrain forward and backward.

A Fatty Base and Edge increase the tuning lifespan and durability of the skis. The steel edges’ dimensions are 2 mm wide x 2.5 mm high, while the base is 1.7 mm thick.

The width is 92 mm underfoot, making the Honey Badger capable of cruising the mountain and the park.

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2. K2 Sight Skis 2020 – Men’s- Best Budget Mogul Skis

K2 skis are the first American ski and snowboard brand. They have been making accessible skis for lovers of the sport since 1962. K2 seems pretty serious about continuing with its legacy of being an industry leader and providing affordable skis for everyone.

The K2 Sight 2020 version comes with an all-terrain Twin Rocker. This means that there is a subtle rise at both the tip and tail. The twin tips add to versatility and control in mountain and park conditions.

A strong aspen core made this ski lightweight and hardened. A Carbon Boost Braid covers the core. Carbon stringers are woven into a Tri-axial Braid that makes the skis pop and bounce.

The Carbon Boost Braid is responsible for making short and medium radius turns on a dime. It also makes it possible to hop onto rails and boxes.

TwinTech sidewall construction makes the sidewalls durable. It was created for twin tip skis. It protects the top edges by making them resistant to damage from ski-on-ski impact.

The TwinTech construction further provides a grip on firm snow.

The 2020 K2 Sight came with a wider waist width to offer a slightly wider landing platform.

Since this K2 Sight is a budget ski, they sacrifice looks in favor of more stability and a longer lifespan. You will discover that it is stiffer than other K2 park skis.

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3. K2 Press Skis Men’s- Best Runner-Up

K2 Skis command a large share of the ski market, so it only makes sense that you are seeing a couple more of them on this list. Our best runner-up mogul skis are the Men’s Press Skis.

K2 Press Skis for men are made for beginners who are trying out moguls. This is made for people who are testing the waters with mogul skiing but have not fully committed.

Some expert mogul skiers feel that the K2 Press skis may not provide smooth or agile mogul rides. However, the fact is that these are beginner skis not strictly tied to mogul skiing.

The ski comes with an aspen core reinforced by Carbon Boost Braid for stability and durability.

An all-terrain twin rocker makes it versatile for young skiers who are exploring their skills on different trails.

These skis make rather impressive short turns with a turning radius of 19 m at 196 cm.

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4. K2 Press Skis 2020 – Men’s- Best Under $180

K2 continues to dominate this list and I promise that the 2020 Press Skis deserve this spot. The K2 Press 2020 is an excellent choice for professional all-mountain skiers interested in park and freestyle skiing.

It is made with an aspen core, strong, lightweight, and generally an all-around great material for skis.

Longitudinal Carbon Boost Braid added to the core adds to the strength of the core and creates a pop for the K2 Press skis.

K2 Press skis are made using the DuraCap Construction process.

During the molding process, the core and internal components within the top layer are tightly enveloped. The process creates a light, strong, and long-lasting ski.

After the molding, sidewalls were included for stability and added protection.

The K2 Press 2020 is an All-Terrain twin rocker type of ski.

You will notice a gradual transition and rise at the tips and tails of the skis. It has a gentle flex coupled with a medium width to provide terrain versatility and control.

The all-terrain rocker makes turning rather effortless.

Press 2020 is made for men, but the gender label does not matter. When you are out on a stormy mountainside, you only want a ski that performs well. Also, note that it does not come with mounted bindings. You have to buy them individually.

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5. 2021 Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis With Bindings- Best Alternative

Despite the hardcore name, the Blizzard Rustler is a user-friendly pair of skis. Rustler 10 has been the recipient of some high praise as a freeride skis. It deserves all the admiration it gets.

It performs well on different terrains. In powdery north-facing slopes, this pair of skis is capable of cruising downhill while carving arcs. When you discover an untracked stash of pow, the Rustler is agile and stable.

When you take the Rustler 10 on groomers, the slight turn radius and flexible tips make it effortless to bend into different turning shapes.

Blizzard Rustler 10s construction is based on two innovative ideas, Carbon Flipcore DRT, and a new waist design.

The longer your Blizzard ski is, the wider the waist. This kind of design hands competitive free-riders and athletes.

It provides extra float and control while riding downhill.

A rocker-camber-rocker profile makes the ski respond the same, whether on soft pow or other kinds of terrain. The Rustler 10 will remain compliant, stable, and fun in any condition.

A Titanal layer elongating to the tip and end adds more stability to the ski. It also contributes to the stiffness underfoot.

A unidirectional carbon shell and anti-shock layer cuts swing weight during abrupt turns.

These pair of skis are for the daring all-mountain skier who loves making short and medium turns. If that’s you, you need the kind of stability only a metal laminate can provide.

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How To Choose Skis for Moguls

Technique and agility are essential qualities for a good mogul skiing performance.

Skiing equipment plays the most crucial role. If you have the right set of skis, your performance will improve.

Most powder or groomer skis do not have the proper attributes needed to create a good mogul skiing technique.

The appropriate skis for moguls are balanced and responsive.

Length

The main objective of skiing moguls is to control your pace unless you are a competitive mogul skier.

To gain more control over your speed, get shorter skis. These lengths of skis are easier to maneuver in bumpy terrain and respond quickly with precision.

Shorter than average skis have a slight turn radius giving you complete control of the skis at low speeds.

Shorter skis are also lighter due to their smaller size, so your feet can control them quicker.

Longer skis are faster and have good stability even at high speeds. But they are not as responsive as their shorter counterparts.

Width

Width has a direct impact on agility and ease of control. When we are looking for the best mogul skis, we go for the narrow options.

Skinny skis are good on moguls. You get more control, and you can make quick turns as you bounce from one bump to the next.

Narrower all-mountain skis can function as mogul skis. But more companies are starting to manufacture mogul skis as a niche.

If you want to know which skis these are, look for the ones with a width of 70 mm and below.

Weight

Mogul skis ought to be light and spry for you to turn it without exertion. Your knees will be under minor strain with more lightweight skis, minimizing the risk of injury.

Generally, skis weighing less than 5 pounds are good for moguls. Lighter skis are unsuitable for mountain skiing because they are unstable.

Profile

A profile is the curvature of a ski.

U-shaped skis that have a subtle rocker at the tip and tail are ideal for moguls. The lift at both ends provides some allowance for making fast turns. The stiff underfoot camber offers control.

FAQ

What are moguls in skiing?

Moguls are bumps created by heaps of snow on groomed slopes. Moguls usually form downhill at common ski paths.

Sometimes moguls are created by skiers, but they often form as a by-product of carving turns down a slope.

Whenever skiers make tight turns, the skis dig out snow and push some of it away. This happens every time there’s a turn. As more skiers continue to follow this line, the snow will pl up and form a sizeable bump.

A group of moguls piles in fields since skiers often link turns when cruising downhill.

The anatomy of a mogul consists of an uphill and a downhill section. The top of this bump is somewhat flat. The area between bumps that appears icy and eroded is called a trough.

The biggest challenge for new mogul skiers is how unforgiving the terrain can be. It is easy to fall off your skis when trying to climb down or navigate around the bumps.

Tips To Maintain Your Balance On Moguls:

• Start with your hands in front of your body. This posture helps to distribute your body weight evenly. It also helps to keep your body leaning forward to pick up momentum for the next mogul that’s coming.

• Stay slightly bent. This way, your reflexes are ready to stretch and stiffen your legs to maintain the skis on the snow.

• The proper pole technique is to plant it before your feet get there. You’ll feel like growing on the top of the mogul. Do it before your feet climb.

Are my slalom skis suitable for mogul skiing?

Mogul skis take a lot of hits. They are designed to pop and bounce multiple times in a day. Other times it only takes a single run to get a lot of pounding.

As if this is not enough, mogul skis go through zipper lines, collide with moguls, jump into the air, and then land with a thud.

For a ski to take this punishment without breaking, it must have superior construction, flexibility, and light.

Before manufacturers started making mogul skis, skiers used to bump skis in their all-mountain Slalom skis. These skis have the qualities mentioned earlier.

The Evolution of Mogul Skis

Mogul skiing became popular in the 80s. This is when organizers began holding professional mogul skiing competitions. Manufacturers took notice and began engineering skis made to cruise through moguls.

Despite this early effort, the production of mogul skis did not pick up after this. Manufacturers barely put any effort into serving the mogul segment of the ski market.

The reason for this lack of interest is purely about business. Mogul skis have unique requirements and design limitations. These factors make them of little use other than riding bumps.

The construction of these skis created softer equipment, particularly in the tail.

Back then, the skis mainly had fiberglass and foam cores. They had no sidecut, which made them difficult to control on or off-piste.

Presently, manufacturers are trying to make mogul skis more versatile. There is more effort in researching the kind of tech that goes into making mogul skis.

Companies are adopting technologies to make top-of-the-line skis, making skis of various shapes and sizes.

The result is that lengths have changed. A ski that was size 180-190 cm now measures 170-180 cm. Other than that, not much has changed from the straight mogul skis that made a debut in the early 90s.

Of course, the core construction has changed, twin tip technology and wider waists were introduced. But not much has changed if you look at the size and shape.

Mogul skis design does not change much. They are dedicated to one role, and the general design has proven to be quite effective.

You can only alter the design if first-class professional mogul skiers ask for a change.

I’m looking for the best skis for an intermediate mogul skier. What are my options?

The K2 Press skis come highly recommended for intermediate skiers. The skis are regarded as park skis, but they are not limited to pipes and concrete.

The K2 Press is suitable for both beginner and intermediate skiers.

These mogul skis are incredibly lightweight and moderately flexible. They allow smooth turn initiation, which is essential for riding bumps.

The only downside is that the ski is its ultralight weight, challenging for heavyset skiers.

The stats on this ski are as follows:

Measurements: 111 x 85 x 104

Lengths: 139/149/159/169

Turn radius: 19 m

Do shorter skis make better mogul skis?

Yes, shorter skis typically make the best mogul skis. They are more centered and have better balance.

Furthermore, it is easier to maneuver shorter skis into turns. They have a smaller turning radius which means less time spent in the fall line, slower skiing, and total control over your speed.

Shorter skis are especially beneficial to beginners and intermediates. The skier controls the speed, and the ski is made to be stable. The result is reduced anxiety and less fatigue. It may even inspire you to explore more terrain off-piste.

What size of skis should mogul skiers use?

There is no set size of skis for mogul skiers. The critical factors to consider are that it ought to be narrower and shorter than typical skis.

If you are still working on your mastery of the mogul slope, choose shorter and narrower skis.

If you enjoy going off-piste at high speeds, longer and broader skis will keep up with your spirit of adventure.

Are park skis good for moguls?

Yes, indeed, they are.

Park skis are also known as twin tips. Their design allows them to switch in and out of turns. This is the most crucial aspect of mogul skiing, so they qualify.

Why are K2 skis so popular for moguls?

You are right. K2 skis have garnered widespread popularity in the ski scene. It is a fairly old brand established in Seattle in 1962.

K2 has always been committed to making quality, yet accessible skis for anyone interested in the activity.

The ski brand got even more famous when it led to the innovation of using fiberglass to construct their skis.

They associated their brand with free-skiing and extreme skiing, which gave their brand an expanded fan base.

Who are K2 mogul Skis made for?

K2 skis are available for every kind of skier, expert, and beginner. You can find K2 skis for sale at trusted ski shops and amazon.com.

Final Thoughts

We went over a lot about moguls skis.

If you are set on becoming better at mogul skiing, remember that even though the right equipment will help, it’s only half the battle.

You will need a lot of patience and consistency in learning how to handle the bumps.

After all the effort, the reward is the unmatched feeling of speeding down the mountain confidently.

We hope that this comprehensive guide of the best skis for mogul has helped.

If you need to learn about other skis types, we have more buying guides for you to check out.