4. Nordica Hot Rod Hellcat
ALL MOUNTAIN
These flashy skis from Nordica were the most stable boards we tested. There are three reasons for that: (1) The ski is 90 millimeters underfoot. Though it doesn't turn as quickly as a more narrow-waisted ski, the giant platform will feel steadier in all conditions. (2) Nordica employs a vertical-sidewall construction on the Hellcat, which holds better on ice than capped skis. (3) The integrated XBi binding system—which uses cantilevered, criss-crossing plates to distribute weight forward if you're too far back, or vice-versa—made even our most notorious backseat skier feel safely balanced. $1,355 (with binding); nordicausa.com

5. Rossignol Zenith Z11 Mutix
ALL MOUNTAIN
The Z11 Mutix will satisfy both the all-mountain skier and the tech geek in you. The secret is two sets of 12-inch arms, one set made of high-density Visco rubber, the other of titanium. Warming up on groomers in the morning? Snap the rigid titanium arms just in front of and behind the bindings for a stiffer, more powerful feel. Bumping it up in the afternoon? Replace the titanium with Visco for a more supple bend. "It seems gimmicky," said one tester, "but you can actually feel the difference." The Zenith also comes with the agile Twin Pulsion2 binding: Now in its second year, it uses raised ribs in the tip and tail to boost power to the edges. $1,250 (with bindings); rossignol.com

6. Blizzard Titan Argos IQ
POWDER
Designed for intermediate to advanced skiers, the wood-core Titan is "a soft-flexing ski with a lot of feel, making it agile and easy to turn," said one tester. The beefy 101mm waist provided ample float when 14 inches fell at Utah's Snowbasin last March. But the biggest boost comes from the way the IQ binding is attached to the ski by a single screw, allowing the Titan to flex freely along its length, even under the binding. "I wasn't sure how it would perform," said another tester, "but this is one of the better powder skis I've been on." $1,325; blizzard-ski.com