What's New in Ski Gear for the 2026/27 Season
Boots that finally go on without a fight, a new generation of 100–108mm daily drivers, and freeride collections built for play. Here is what actually changed for 26/27 — and what is worth your money.
The short version
- • Boots changed the most. BOA, dual-BOA and new easy-entry shells arrived across the whole price range.
- • Skis got friendlier. The new flagship models are mid-fat all-mountain skis you can ski every day.
- • Only buy if you will use it. Ski fewer than seven days a season? Rent the new gear instead.
The big picture
Four trends that define the season
Ignore the graphics. These are the changes that affect how the gear actually skis.
Boots are the headline
BOA dials have moved from a novelty to the norm on lower shells, dual-BOA setups are appearing, and rear-entry is back — with real downhill performance this time.
The 100–108mm daily driver
Almost every brand's new flagship is a mid-fat all-mountain ski meant to be skied every day, not just on powder mornings.
Playful freeride
New freeride collections are tuned for pop and creativity on the descent instead of pure charging — looser tails, more forgiving flex patterns.
Smaller-batch builds
Several brands shifted production and tightened construction details: locally sourced wood cores, carbon stringers, standardized waist widths.
Boots
The year boots stopped hurting to put on
Easy entry used to mean a soft, vague boot. For 26/27 it no longer does — the new shells are stiff where it matters and open wide when you step in.
Nordica
Promachine 3
A full redesign built around the new 3Force Frame construction: a lightweight, stiff frame wrapped in softer plastic through the cuff and shell. The 3D Custom Cork Fit liner moulds around the heel to lock your foot down all day.
Best for: low-volume, performance-first feet — advanced and expert skiers
Atomic
Nexus BOA
The answer to wrestling boots on in a cold car park. Atomic's NexStep design pairs an overlap shell with a QuickFlip rear lever that opens the boot wide; step in, set cable tension, flip the lever down. A BOA dial handles the lower shell, on a 101mm last.
Best for: anyone who hates boot entry — medium to wide feet
Salomon
S/Pro Alpha C BOA
No traditional cuff pivot at all. The cuff flows into the lower shell and anchors low via a Powerlink plate, with a cuff-only BOA closure. Unusually easy entry for a snug 98mm last, and a very direct, tactile feel on the edge.
Best for: narrow feet and strong skiers who want edge feel
Rossignol
Hi-Speed HV BOA
New for 26/27: a BOA closure on the lower shell plus the new R-Go Fit liner across the Hi-Speed range. The 120-flex version skied as strongly as several 130s in testing, which makes the 100-flex a serious value pick.
Best for: wide feet (102mm) and comfort-first skiers
Tecnica
Mach1 MV TD2
The most approachable Mach1 yet, with a new liner and a snappier return to centre. Available in softer flexes too, so the same shell works from improving intermediate upward.
Best for: most skiers — a true medium-volume all-rounder
Lange
Shadow MV
Carried over as this season's benchmark all-mountain boot: genuine race-boot power without the usual comfort tax. If you want one boot to do everything on piste, this is the reference point.
Best for: skiers who want performance and comfort in one boot
Dalbello
Veloce Space Dual
Two BOA dials instead of buckles, so you can tune the forefoot wrap and the cuff independently. One of the first genuinely sorted dual-BOA boots, at a lower price than most of this list.
Best for: skilled skiers on a budget who like dialled-in fit
Skis
Mid-fat daily drivers and playful freeride
The most interesting new skis sit between 100 and 108mm underfoot — wide enough for fresh snow, narrow enough to carve the way back to the lift.
Armada
Antimatter 114 / 108
Armada's first proper high-performance freeride line: Speedmetal Titanal laminate construction with loose, playful shapes. The 114 (Max Palm's signature) and 108 lead it, with a full size run down to 75mm waist in dedicated men's and women's models.
Best for: freeride skiers who want a metal ski that still slarves
Armada
Whitewalker 108
A slimmer sibling to the Whitewalker 116 and 121. Same lightweight, playful build, but a waist width that works as a daily driver or a 50/50 resort-and-touring ski.
Best for: one ski that tours and still rips the resort
Blizzard
Canvas 100 / 108 / 118
An all-new freeride collection designed with Blizzard's athlete team rather than the race department. Three waist widths, built to maximise fun and creativity on the way down.
Best for: progressive freeride skiers who ski switch and spin
Atomic
Bent Decode
A Bent finally built for the park: a balanced, playful swing weight that works in the air and on the ground, with the bold tip and tail graphics the line is known for.
Best for: park and freestyle skiers graduating from all-mountain skis
Nordica
Enforcer / Santa Ana
The all-mountain benchmark for strong skiers gets construction and shape refinements rather than a revolution — the safe, proven choice if you ski hard in variable snow.
Best for: advanced skiers who want a proven charger
Season
Nexus / Forma / Lolo
Production moved to Canada for 26/27, with locally sourced aspen and cedar wood cores, triax fibreglass and carbon stringers. Waist widths are now standardized across the range, and every ski still ships with lifetime service and warranty.
Best for: skiers who want an indie build with real aftercare
Icelantic
Tempest / Torrent / Nomad / Maiden
Updated graphics and construction across the hand-built Colorado range. Niche, characterful skis — but a loyal following for a reason, especially the Nomad all-mountain.
Best for: skiers who want something nobody else on the lift has
Bindings
Quietly, the most important metal on your ski
Bindings did not get a reinvention this season — and that is fine. The Look Pivot remains the freeride benchmark thanks to its rotating heel that lets the ski flex naturally underfoot, and it still gets colour and small hardware updates each year. If you are buying new skis, spend the money on a binding that matches your DIN range and have a shop mount and test it. A great ski on a badly adjusted binding is a bad ski.
Buy smart
Should you upgrade this season?
Buy boots first
If you only replace one thing, replace your boots. Boots are 80% of how a ski feels, and this is the best season in years for fit and entry comfort.
Skis: only if you are skiing enough
If you ski 15+ days a season and your daily driver is a decade old, a modern mid-fat will feel like a different sport. Under 10 days, demo instead.
Wait for the 25/26 sell-off
Last season's gear is discounted 30–50% right now. If you do not need the newest shell or shape, that is the better-value route by a wide margin.
Timing and price
New-season gear lands at full price from September to November, then holds near full price through the December holidays. Late January and March are when the first real discounts appear on current-season models, and the deepest cuts come in April. If you need boots before a trip this winter, buy them now and get them fitted properly — that is money better spent than waiting for a discount on the wrong last width.
Keep reading
Product details are drawn from published 26/27 season previews and bootfitter testing, including evo's 2026/2027 skis, boots and bindings preview and SKI Magazine's 2027 alpine boot test. Always ride the gear you can try — fit and flex beat spec sheets.
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