Ski Width Guide
What waist width is right?

Moment Ski Width Guide
Waist / Terrain / Snow / Quiver

One of the first things we look at when choosing a new ski is how wide it is at the waist. This is one of the major factors in determining what type of snow and terrain a ski is designed around.

Waist width, measured in millimeters, is the skinniest portion of a ski, and it's a key detail that separates a quick, grippy carving ski from a floaty, surfy pow design.

Here's how to land on the right one.

01 — The dimensions

THE NUMBERS

Ski dimensions are listed using three data points — tip, waist, tail. The middle one is the headline spec here, and is what we'll be focusing on.

Waist width, plainly

Waist width, plainly

The narrowest point on the ski, right under your foot, written as the middle number in the specs — 138 / 112 / 129.

Narrower skis roll from edge to edge faster, are quicker to react, and hold a better edge on firm snow. Wider skis provide better float and have a surfier feel in soft and / or deep snow.

Why it's the key number

Two skis in the same length can feel like completely different tools if their waist widths are 15 mm apart. When deciding on a new ski, we're looking at what kind of terrain and conditions you plan on using that ski for primarily, and that will determine the general range we should be looking at when it comes to waist width.

02 — The range of widths

HOW WAIST RELATES TO CONDITIONS

The waist width of the ski can tell you a lot about what it's built to do.

Here's the Moment lineup, nicely plotted out so you can get a sense of what's what.

Men's

Deathwish 96
Countach 98
&
Wildcat 98
Countach 104
&
Deathwish 104
Wildcat 108
Countach 110
Deathwish 112
Wildcat 118
Countach 120
low tide / groomers
All-mountain
Powder
Sierra 96
Siren 98
&
Bella 98
Sierra 104
&
Siren 104
Bella 108

Women's

90 97 105 112 120

low tide / groomers

> 100 mm

Slimmer designs for increased edge grip and composure when the snow is low and the groomers are hard.

All-mountain

100–110 mm

The Tahoe sweet spot, most skier's daily drivers. Float when it snows, grip when it doesn't. Most one-ski quivers live here.

Powder

110 mm +

Fatter skis for better float and stability when the conditions call for it. These are your dream tools, the ones that come out when it's deep.

03 — Width is only part of it

Pair it with length

Width decides the ski's job, length is how we fit you to the skis. Once you've dialed in the width range you're after, next step is picking a length.

To learn how to pick the proper width, head on over to our Ski Sizing Guide, where we dial in the right length for your height, weight, and ability.

As always, we're happy to discuss your specific needs, just give us a call.

Remember rocker

Two skis can have very similar waist widths, yet perform drastically differently. The rocker / camber profile doesn't necessarily change the job of the ski, just how it performs that specific job.

A heavily rockered ski will be surfier and quicker to maneuver, a heavily cambered ski will provide more edge grip and composure in variable terrain. Width is just the starting point, not the whole story.

The Verdict

Most people start with a daily driver, aka the do-it-all ski.

For the west coast, we're looking at 100 - 108(ish), allowing for decent edge hold while it's hard out and good float when the conditions dump fresh snow.

For the east coast, we're looking at 90 - 100, same performance attributes as above, just geared towards the lower and harder / icier snow out east.

After that, it starts to get fun — you start building out a quiver and having specific tools for certain days. Are your daily drivers fun when it dump snow? Grab something slimmer for those low tide days. Like the edge hold you currently got? Grab a fat pair for dream pow days.

Still not sure?

Give us a few details and a real human will point you at the right width — and the right ski.

Get a ski recommendation