Kastle MX98 (2010)

At 98 millimeters underfoot, these damp skis are skinnier than most in this category, but they still rally in big-mountain terrain. Testers raved about their stability when charging through chopped snow and crud and their precision in trees and tight chutes. Plus: Not even a hint of chatter at high speeds. Minus: The ski doesn’t come any shorter than 174 centimeters, which may be too long for many women.