Nordica Steadfast (2012)

Part of Nordica's new Sidecountry collection, the Steadfast is built to be light enough for easy touring (Nordica offers precut skins, too: $399), with powder-ready tip rocker and a sensible width. It gives up a little in Flotation (probably not an issue in the 186 length), but was unmatched in the category for Quickness and No. 2 for Rebound. Testers loved its energy, liveliness and quickness, and were impressed by the solidity of such a lightweight construction. "You expect it to be flimsy, but it's solid as a steel beam on edge," said Hogen.