Decisions decisions...shiney things!

A snowHead

Ok folks, I'm finding myself with a lovely little problem.

My old BBRs are knackered apparently and I like having my own skis so I'd like to buy a new pair. I can't wait until the octobertest because the deals are good right now. What I want (don't we all) is a one ski quiver that is great at everything, but I'm not fussed about park even though I'd still like to learn to ski switch.

I like to ski in the side country if possible with occasional trips with a guide. If it's a powder day I want to play .
I am learning to properly carve and can do so on most blues with a reasonable surface....so not ice then!
Being a child of the 60's I no longer skin up anywhere!
I'm not that fit but can skate on skis and indeed need to pull a boarder occasionally.
My knees are knackered.

So I'm kind of thinking nothing too heavy or piste biased but also nothing too wide.

I loved my 89mm BBRs in 184, the 176 pair were even more fun. I had a pair of Line Sick Day 110s which were great in the soft stuff but I found it harder to hold a carve on them.

Looking at the deals now and reading reports/reviews...

Head Kore 88
Armada Declivity 88 C
Black Crows Captis 90
Line Blade Optic 92
Salomon QST 98

Quite a wide range of skis I know but also I should have mentioned I can't really afford to spend too much so am looking at hopefully under £400...ish.

Help!

Any other suggestions?

Anyone with any experience of the above?

TIA

A snowHead

Not skied most of them so can't give a comparison, but I have tried some captis and they were lovely! In the end I went for the Camox for the underfoot width and chargier feel but wouldn't hesitate on the captis for the requirements you've laid out.

I've also heard (first hand) good things about the QSTs but haven't tried them.

There have supposedly been a lot of lamination issues with Lines but not sure whether this is limited to certain skis - something to research if you're interested in them...

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Not direct experience, but the Black Crows and Armada look really interesting.

As general use skis,, love that 90mm waisted grouping, enough float, or edge etc for really doing anything across many snow conditions.

I had some Head Monster 88 which were absolutely superb, mounted quite far back in conventional thinking. Complete whole mountain skis with enormous range for me. Cosmetically fell apart with top sheet delam and much re bonding. Finally bent one by crashing them Embarassed

with one ending up properly "rockered" in both meanings Very Happy

loved those skis.

Replaced with end of stock Kastlè XX 90 at very good price, equally impressed with as a brilliant all round ski. True twins, with such ease of use, enough clout to bring serious edge hold, with amazing easygoing nature.

That's my preference, the Crows and Armada seem to be in that similar sphere.

Help!!

Decisions decisions...shiney things!

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