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Backcountry skiing in the San Juan Mountains

Shreddin' in the USA: Excellent American Made Skis for Season 2020 / 2021

By Matt Mullins   updated April 12, 2021

American craftsmanship is alive and well in the ski industry. Some of the world’s best skis are manufactured right in my hometown of Salt Lake City, UT! As a passionate skier who grew up on skis since I was 3 yrs old in the world’s greatest ski Mecca, I’ve owned or demoed skis from just about every top ski brand out there. This includes great skis from American-made Icelantic, Voile, DPS, and ON3P to foreign made Volkl, Atomic, Salomon, K2, Fischer, Rossignol, Armada, Head, Black Diamond, 4Front, and Line skis (I attend lots of ski demos). I’ve visited American ski factories and witnessed that practically every one of their employees are avid skiers who love their sport and craft. I can’t imagine that holds remotely true for Chinese factories. 


What I know from experience is that American made skis compete with or surpass any brand out there for performance and even by price. I myself ski locally made skis and recommend them to my friends and family. I want to help these fine American craftsmen out by spreading the word on how good these American made skis are. Why support corporate sellouts that exploit cheap labor in China with lower human-rights and environmental standards when better skis are made locally and ethically? The following USA made skis are the all-mountain, big mountain, powder, and backcountry skis that I’m most familiar with and can solidly recommend as some of the best skis available. 


I currently own and love my Icelantic, Voile, and ON3P skis. I’ve also demoed plenty of DPS skis. I’ve noted that the Chinese made DPS Hybrid line tends to be uncomfortably chattery and noodly at speed. DPS Pure Carbon Alchemist skis are exceptional but they are costly for the name recognition; if you have the funds though go for them. Voile skis share a similar carbon/Aspen construction and ski very similarly to DPS Pure Carbon skis (I skied them back to back) while costing nearly half the price. One more note – if you’re wondering about DPS’s waxless Phantom Glide base treatment (created at my alma mater the UofU), yes it does actually work well.

All-Mountain American Made Skis

Icelantic Nomad 105 Skis

Dimensions: [181cm] 140 / 105 / 130mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Poplar wood

Weight (Pair): [181cm] 9 lb 6.2 oz
Last observed price: $699

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing from REI.com

Voile SuperCharger Skis

Dimensions: [185cm] 143 / 108 / 126mm
Profile: hybrid rockered tip and tail, camber underfoot
Core: aspen, carbon fiber, triaxial fiberglass

Weight (Pair)(185cm) 7 lb 10 oz
Last observed price: $695

 

Men’s Supercharger
More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing from REI.com

Women’s Supercharger
More Info/Current Pricing from REI.com

DPS Skis Wailer A106 C2 Skis

Dimensions[184cm] 138 / 106 / 122mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Aspen and carbon fiber sandwich

Weight (Pair): [184cm] 8 lb 5 oz
Last observed price: $1,299

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

ON3P Jeffrey 110 Skis

Dimensions: [186cm] 138 / 110 / 132mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Bamboo

Weight (Pair): [186cm] 9.7 lb
Last observed price: $779

 

More Info/Current Pricing from ON3P.com

Big-Mountain Freeride USA Made Skis

Icelantic Nomad 115 Skis

Dimensions[181cm] 150 / 115 / 140mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Poplar wood

Weight (Pair): [181cm] 9 lb 8 oz
Last observed price: $749

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing from REI.com

Voile V8 Skis

Dimensions: [176cm] 141 / 112 / 123mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Aspen wood and carbon fiber laminate

Weight (Pair): [176cm] 7 lb 5 oz
Last observed price: $695

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

ON3P Billy Goat Skis

Dimensions: [189cm] 142 / 116 / 126mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Bamboo

Weight (Pair): [189cm] 10 lb 13 oz
Last observed price: $749

 

Click for Current Pricing from ON3P.com

DPS Wailer A110 C2 Skis

Dimensions: [185cm] 136 / 110 / 120mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Aspen and carbon fiber sandwich

Weight (Pair): [185cm] 8 lb 5 oz
Last observed price: $1,299

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

Powder Skis Made in the USA

DPS Skis Powderworks Lotus 138

Dimensions: [182] 146 / 138 / 142mm
Profile: Full rocker
Core: Aspen wood and carbon fiber

Weight (per ski): [192cm] 4lbs 15oz
Last observed price: $1,399

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

Icelantic Nomad 125

Dimensions[180cm] 152 / 125 / 148mm
Profile: Full rocker
Core: Poplar & paulownia wood

Weight (Pair): [180cm] 10 lb 4 oz
Last observed price: $799

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing
 from REI.com

DPS Skis Lotus A124 2.0 Alchemist

Dimensions: [185] 151 / 124 / 133mm
Profile: Full rocker
Core: Aspen wood and carbon fiber

Weight (per ski): [185cm] 4 lb 5 oz
Last observed price: $1,399

 

More Info/Current Pricing from DPSSKIS.com

ON3P Cease and Desist

Dimensions: [184cm] 146 / 124 / 132mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Bamboo

Last observed price: $799

 

More Info/Current Pricing from ON3P.com

Backcountry / Alpine Touring Skis Made in the USA

Voile Hypercharger

Dimensions: [178cm] 140 / 106 / 124mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: paulownia wood, carbon weave

Weight (Pair): [178cm] 6 lb 3 oz
Last observed price: $795

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing from REI.com

DPS Alchemist Wailer 106

Dimensions[184cm] 138 / 106 / 122 mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Aspen and carbon fiber sandwich

Weight (Pair): [184cm] 8 lb 5 oz
Last observed price: $1,299

 

More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com

Icelantic Natural 101

Dimensions: [185 cm] 132 / 101 / 117mm
Profile: rocker/camber/rocker
Core: Ochroma (balsa wood, flax fiber)

Weight (Pair): [185cm] 7 lb 8 oz
Last observed price: $779


More Info/Current Pricing from Backcountry.com
More Info/Current Pricing
from REI.com

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