Ski Size Chart: How to Choose Ski Length, Width, and Kids' Sizing
How Salomon, Nordica, Blizzard, Atomic, and Rossignol each publish their own official ski-length, waist-width, cross-country, and kids' sizing guidance — compiled from their own size charts and sizer documents.
How this guide was built: Guidevio compiled it from each ski manufacturer's own official size charts, sizer PDFs, and buying guides. We did not test or fit any skis in person as part of building it, and nothing here is a review or a ranking based on personal experience. Sizing guidance is set by each manufacturer and can change by model year; always check the specific ski model's own official size chart before buying. Links go to official manufacturer pages and earn no commission today; if that changes, it will be disclosed here.
Ski length recommendations vary by brand and by specific ski model, so there is no single universal size chart — each manufacturer publishes its own method, and the exact numbers depend on the model being sized. This guide compiles the publicly published sizing guidance from five major ski manufacturers' official sites: Salomon, Nordica, Blizzard, Atomic, and Rossignol.
Most brands start from the skier's height and then adjust up or down in centimeters based on skill level, ski style, and sometimes weight. Salomon applies a model-specific centimeter adjustment to height based on a four-level skill scale; Nordica and Blizzard (both under the same parent company) use a simpler chin-to-top-of-head rule with a published height-to-length table; Atomic and Rossignol lean more on weight, especially for cross-country and per-model alpine charts. Waist width and cross-country sizing follow their own separate rules, and kids' sizing is generally driven by weight more than height.
Where a fact could not be confirmed from an official, brand-published source, it is marked 'Not published' rather than estimated. Always check the specific ski model's own official size chart before buying, since the adjustment ranges described here can vary by model even within the same brand.
Who this guide is for
- Skiers comparing how different brands calculate recommended ski length
- Buyers trying to reconcile height, weight, and skill level into one length choice
- Parents sizing children's skis by weight rather than height alone
- Anyone choosing between on-piste, touring, all-mountain, or cross-country waist widths
- Cross-country skiers sizing skate vs. classic skis and poles
How we chose
- Used only official manufacturer size charts, sizer PDFs, and buying guides published by Salomon, Nordica, Blizzard, Atomic, and Rossignol
- Selected the 10 concrete, brand-published sizing methods and charts that these sources support, rather than inventing a single universal chart
- Quoted skill-level definitions and adjustment ranges as published, without extrapolating beyond the worked examples given
- Marked any figure not found in the retrieved source material as 'Not published' (for example, Blizzard's full junior weight table and Salomon/Atomic child-specific alpine tables)
- This is desk research only: no skis were tested or fitted in person as part of building this guide
Top 10 at a glance
Specifications as published by the manufacturer or the listing we consulted. Scroll sideways on a small screen.
| Pick | Best for | Sizing basis | Key method | Source type | Price | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Salomon Alpine Size Guide (QST line) | Skiers who want a skill-level-based starting point before checking a specific Salomon model's own chart | Height + skill level | Model-specific cm adjustment to height by skill tier | Official brand size guide | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 2. Nordica Ski-Sizer Guide | Skiers who want a fast, height-based starting range before fine-tuning by preference | Height | Chin-to-top-of-head rule with published height table | Official brand sizer PDF | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 3. Blizzard Ski-Sizer Guide | Skiers comparing Blizzard skis who want the same sizing logic used by Nordica | Height | Chin-to-top-of-head rule, matching Nordica | Official brand sizer PDF | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 4. Atomic Alpine Buying Guide | New skiers deciding what qualities to look for in a ski before checking model-specific length charts | Skill level | Qualitative ski-characteristic matching, not a numeric length table | Official brand buying guide | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 5. Atomic Nordic Ski Size Chart | Cross-country skate skiers who want a flex/length match based on both height and weight | Height + weight | Candidate length from height, then weight-range flex check | Official brand size chart | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 6. Rossignol Per-Model Alpine Size Charts | Rossignol buyers who want a weight-based length recommendation for a specific product line | Weight | Per-model weight-band chart (10 lb increments) | Official brand size-guide page and PDF | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 7. Salomon On-Piste and Touring Waist-Width Guide | Skiers deciding between on-piste, classic touring, and free touring ski widths | Intended use (on-piste vs. touring) | Numeric waist-width ranges by use category | Official brand buying guide | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 8. Salomon Cross-Country Ski and Pole Sizing Guide | Cross-country skiers sizing both skis and poles from one source | Weight | Weight-based ski sizing plus height-based pole formulas | Official brand sizing guide | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 9. Rossignol Junior and Junior Jib Weight-Band Charts | Parents sizing junior alpine or jib skis by the child's weight | Weight | Weight-band table matched to named junior models | Official brand size chart PDF | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
| 10. Blizzard/Nordica Junior Sizing Rule | Parents who want the general principle behind junior ski sizing before consulting a full numeric table | Height + weight | General height-and-weight rule for junior skis | Official brand sizer PDF | Not applicable (sizing guide, not a purchase) | Visit |
The ten picks in detail
Salomon Alpine Size Guide (QST line)
Salomon
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageSalomon Alpine Size Guide (QST line)
Salomon's worked example: 175 cm Intermediate skier on a QST 92 gets a 170-180 cm range, with 176 cm cited as the resulting pick.
Salomon's official size guide starts from body height, identifies the skier as Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Expert using its own published definitions, then applies a model-specific centimeter adjustment range to that height.
Why it is on this list: Salomon is the only brand in this guide publishing a full skill-level-to-centimeter-adjustment method with a worked numeric example.
Key features
- Three-step method: measure height, identify skill level, apply model-specific cm adjustment
- Four skill tiers: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, each with published descriptions
- QST family adjustment ranges: Beginner [-5,0] to [-5,+5]; Intermediate [-5,+5] to [0,+10]; Advanced [0,+10] to [+5,+15]; Expert [+5,+15]
- Sizing basis: Height + skill level + model-specific cm adjustment
- Skill tiers: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert
- Worked example: 175 cm Intermediate, QST 92 -> 170-180 cm range, 176 cm pick
- Pros
- Clear four-tier skill definitions published in the skier's own words (e.g., 'you can ski in a cautious wedge')
- Worked example given: 175 cm Intermediate skier + QST 92 model = 170-180 cm range, 176 cm pick
- Adjustment ranges are model-specific rather than one-size-fits-all
- Cons
- Adjustment ranges vary by specific QST model, so the exact cm figures aren't universal across Salomon's lineup
- Requires knowing the specific model before the adjustment range can be applied
Before you buy: Exact adjustment range depends on the specific QST model, so this method still requires checking that model's own chart.
Nordica Ski-Sizer Guide
Nordica
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageNordica Ski-Sizer Guide
Nordica's table lists 6'2"+ (188 cm) skiers at a suggested 175-193 cm ski length range.
Nordica's official ski-sizer guidance uses the general rule that skis should 'measure somewhere between your chin and the top of your head,' backed by a published height-to-suggested-length table.
Why it is on this list: Nordica publishes one of the clearest simple height-based tables of the brands checked, with explicit shorter/longer adjustment criteria.
Key features
- General rule: ski length between chin and top of head
- Height table includes 4'0" (122 cm) -> 100-110 cm and 6'2"+ (188 cm) -> 175-193 cm
- Go shorter for beginner-intermediate, quicker turns, carving skis, or lighter-than-average weight
- Go longer for advanced-expert, fast/long turns, off-trail skiing, rockered skis, or heavier-than-average weight
- Sizing basis: Height (chin-to-head rule)
- Table range shown: 4'0" (122 cm) to 6'2"+ (188 cm)
- Adjustment factors: Skill level, turn style, terrain, rocker, weight
- Pros
- Simple, memorable rule of thumb (chin to top of head)
- Published height-to-length table spans 4'0" (122 cm) up to 6'2"+ (188 cm)
- Clear guidance on when to size shorter vs. longer
- Cons
- Table gives ranges rather than a single precise length
- Does not incorporate weight directly into the alpine formula
Before you buy: This is a general table; specific Nordica models may publish their own adjustments.
Blizzard Ski-Sizer Guide
Blizzard
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageBlizzard Ski-Sizer Guide
Blizzard's table shows 6'0"/183 cm skiers at a suggested 150-185 cm range, matching Nordica's sizing logic.
Blizzard's official ski-sizer document publishes the same general 'chin to top of head' rule and an equivalent height-to-suggested-length table as sibling brand Nordica, since both are part of the same parent company.
Why it is on this list: Blizzard is the direct sibling-brand counterpart to Nordica's method, useful for buyers comparing across both brands.
Key features
- General rule: ski length between chin and top of head
- Height table includes 4'0"/122 cm -> 100-110 cm and 6'2"+/188 cm -> 175-193 cm
- States junior ski sizing is 'best calculated by height and weight'
- Sizing basis: Height (chin-to-head rule)
- Table range shown: 4'0"/122 cm to 6'2"+/188 cm
- Junior sizing basis: Height and weight (full table Not published)
- Pros
- Same well-documented chin-to-head rule as Nordica
- Published table example: 6'0"/183 cm -> 150-185 cm range
- Same shorter/longer adjustment criteria as Nordica for consistency across the parent company's brands
- Cons
- Full junior/kids' weight table was not confirmed from the retrieved portion of this source
- Table gives ranges rather than one exact length
Before you buy: The document was truncated in the sources reviewed before the full child-specific height/weight table appeared; junior weight figures are marked Not published here.
Atomic Alpine Buying Guide
Atomic
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageAtomic Alpine Buying Guide
Atomic explicitly advises beginners to start skiing on-piste rather than off-piste.
Atomic's official buying guide treats skill level as 'a decisive factor when choosing skiing equipment,' recommending stability and easy control for beginners and greater responsiveness for experienced skiers, plus advising beginners to start on-piste.
Why it is on this list: Atomic's guide is the only one in this set framed primarily around ski characteristics (stability vs. responsiveness) rather than a numeric length formula.
Key features
- Skill level framed as a decisive equipment factor
- Beginners: prioritize stability and easy control
- Experienced skiers: prioritize responsiveness and performance
- Beginners advised to ski on-piste, not off-piste
- Sizing basis: Skill level (qualitative)
- Beginner guidance: Stability and easy control; ski on-piste
- Experienced guidance: Greater responsiveness and performance
- Pros
- Explicit guidance to start on-piste rather than off-piste as a beginner
- Clear framing of what beginners vs. experienced skiers should prioritize in a ski
- Cons
- Does not publish a specific height-to-length numeric table for alpine skis in this source
- Less numerically precise than Salomon's or Nordica's alpine methods
Before you buy: This guide is qualitative; pair it with Atomic's per-model or Nordic size charts for numeric length figures.
Atomic Nordic Ski Size Chart
Atomic
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageAtomic Nordic Ski Size Chart
Atomic's Sport Skate/Pro Skate table lists a 190 cm ski for skiers 165-220+ lbs (75-100+ kg).
Atomic's official Nordic ski size chart uses a two-step method: add 0-15 cm to body height for a candidate ski length, then check the skier's weight against a per-length weight-range table to select the correct flex.
Why it is on this list: Atomic is the only brand in this guide publishing a specific weight-range-per-length table for named Nordic ski models.
Key features
- Step 1: add 0-15 cm to body height for candidate length
- Step 2: check weight against per-length range to select flex
- Sport Skate/Pro Skate: 172 cm -> 88-121 lbs (40-55 kg); 178 cm -> 110-143 lbs (50-65 kg); 184 cm -> 132-176 lbs (60-80 kg); 190 cm -> 165-220+ lbs (75-100+ kg)
- Heavier-than-range skiers go one size longer; lighter-than-range skiers go one size shorter
- Sizing basis: Height + weight
- Method: Height + 0-15 cm, then weight-range check for flex
- Example model: Sport Skate / Pro Skate
- Pros
- Combines height and weight rather than relying on height alone
- Publishes specific weight ranges per ski length for Sport Skate and Pro Skate models
- Clear fallback rule for skiers outside the listed weight range (go longer or shorter)
- Cons
- Weight ranges given are specific to Sport Skate/Pro Skate models, not all Atomic Nordic skis
- Requires two lookups (candidate length, then weight table) rather than one step
Before you buy: Figures shown are specific to the Sport Skate and Pro Skate models; other Atomic Nordic models may differ.
Rossignol Per-Model Alpine Size Charts
Rossignol
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRossignol Per-Model Alpine Size Charts
Rossignol's weight bands run in 10 lb increments from roughly 90-99 lbs up to 200+ lbs across its five listed ski lines.
Rossignol publishes a size-guide page plus official per-model PDF charts listing recommended ski lengths against skier weight ranges in 10 lb increments, separately for men's/unisex, women's, and junior models across its Hero Race, Pursuit, Experience, 7 Series, and S Series lines.
Why it is on this list: Rossignol is the only brand in this guide publishing a full weight-band matrix across multiple named product lines and skier categories in one document.
Key features
- Dedicated 'How to choose the right ski: guide to size, length, level' article
- Per-model PDF charts for Hero Race, Pursuit, Experience, 7 Series, and S Series lines
- Weight bands in 10 lb increments (e.g., 90-99 lbs up to 200+ lbs)
- Separate tables for men's/unisex, women's, and junior skiers
- Sizing basis: Skier weight
- Weight increments: 10 lb bands, up to 200+ lbs
- Product lines covered: Hero Race, Pursuit, Experience, 7 Series, S Series
- Pros
- Weight-band approach (10 lb increments, up to 200+ lbs) rather than height alone
- Separate charts for men's/unisex, women's, and junior skiers
- Covers five distinct Rossignol ski lines with model-specific figures
- Cons
- Requires knowing which of the five product lines a given ski belongs to
- PDF chart is from model year 2014/15, so current-year models should be checked against Rossignol's live size-guide page
Before you buy: The linked PDF is a 2014/15 model-year chart; confirm current-model figures on Rossignol's live size-guide page.
Salomon On-Piste and Touring Waist-Width Guide
Salomon
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageSalomon On-Piste and Touring Waist-Width Guide
Salomon defines free touring (descent-focused) skis as 95-105 mm waist width, versus 82-86 mm for classic touring skis.
Salomon's official buying guide describes on-piste skis as generally under 85 mm waist width for grip on hard-packed snow, and its touring guide gives 82-86 mm for 'classic' touring skis versus 95-105 mm for descent-focused 'free touring' skis.
Why it is on this list: Salomon is the only brand in this guide publishing specific numeric waist-width ranges tied to named ski-use categories.
Key features
- On-piste skis: generally under 85 mm waist width
- Classic touring skis: 82-86 mm waist width
- Free touring (descent-focused) skis: 95-105 mm waist width
- Shorter sidecut radius (around 14 m) allows tighter turns; longer radius (over 17 m) encourages wider, arcing turns
- On-piste waist width: Generally under 85 mm
- Classic touring waist width: 82-86 mm
- Free touring waist width: 95-105 mm
- Pros
- Clear numeric waist-width thresholds tied to specific ski uses
- Separates classic touring from free touring with distinct width ranges
- Also explains how sidecut radius affects turn shape
- Cons
- Guidevio did not find additional official numeric waist-width thresholds from Salomon, Rossignol, or Atomic for categories like powder or all-mountain skis; Not published
- Ranges apply broadly rather than to a specific model
Before you buy: Powder and all-mountain waist-width thresholds were not found published by Salomon, Rossignol, or Atomic; treat those categories as Not published.
Salomon Cross-Country Ski and Pole Sizing Guide
Salomon
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageSalomon Cross-Country Ski and Pole Sizing Guide
Salomon's pole formulas: height x 0.89 for skate skiing, height x 0.83 for classic technique.
Salomon's official cross-country sizing guide states that, unlike alpine or touring skis, cross-country ski size is determined primarily by weight rather than height, and it publishes pole-length formulas based on height.
Why it is on this list: Salomon is the only brand in this guide publishing both a cross-country ski-length principle and explicit pole-length formulas.
Key features
- Cross-country ski size determined primarily by weight, not height
- Skate skis sized 10-15 cm shorter than classic skis for the same skier
- Skate pole-length formula: height x 0.89 (approximating nose or ear height)
- Classic pole-length formula: height x 0.83 (approximating armpit height)
- Sizing basis: Weight (primary), not height
- Skate vs. classic offset: Skate skis 10-15 cm shorter
- Pole formulas: Skate: height x 0.89; Classic: height x 0.83
- Pros
- Explicitly distinguishes cross-country sizing logic (weight-based) from alpine sizing (height-based)
- Gives a specific offset for skate vs. classic ski length (10-15 cm shorter)
- Publishes exact pole-length formulas for both skate and classic technique
- Cons
- Does not itself publish a full weight-to-length numeric table (that is covered by Atomic's Nordic chart)
- Formulas are approximations described as 'approximating' nose/ear or armpit height
Before you buy: For a specific weight-to-length numeric table, see Atomic's Nordic Ski Size Chart entry in this guide.
Rossignol Junior and Junior Jib Weight-Band Charts
Rossignol
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageRossignol Junior and Junior Jib Weight-Band Charts
Rossignol's JUNIOR JIB table extends up to 150-159 lb weight bands for older or larger junior riders.
Rossignol's official per-model sizing PDF includes a dedicated JUNIOR and JUNIOR JIB size table using weight bands in 5-10 lb increments, matched to specific junior ski models and lengths.
Why it is on this list: Rossignol is the only brand in this guide with a published, model-matched junior weight-band chart with a separate jib-specific table.
Key features
- JUNIOR table: weight bands starting around 30-34 lbs, 35-39 lbs, 40-44 lbs, 45-49 lbs, 50-59 lbs and up
- JUNIOR JIB table: weight bands extending up to 150-159 lbs
- Bands matched to specific junior ski models and lengths
- Sizing basis: Child's weight
- Weight increments: 5-10 lb bands
- Tables published: JUNIOR and JUNIOR JIB
- Pros
- Fine-grained weight bands (5-10 lb increments) specifically for junior sizing
- Separate JUNIOR JIB table for park/jib-style junior skis, up to 150-159 lbs
- Tied to named junior ski models rather than a generic length-only estimate
- Cons
- Chart is from a 2014/15 model-year PDF, so current junior models should be checked on Rossignol's live pages
- Bands are published per model, so a specific model's chart still needs to be checked
Before you buy: Guidevio did not find an official Salomon- or Atomic-published height/weight table specifically for children's alpine skis; that is marked Not published in this guide.
Blizzard/Nordica Junior Sizing Rule
Blizzard / Nordica
We only show official or licensed product photography. None is on file for this one yet — see the maker's page for photos.
Open product pageBlizzard/Nordica Junior Sizing Rule
Blizzard's own document names height-and-weight combined, not height alone, as 'the general rule for junior skis.'
Blizzard's official ski-sizer document states that the right size ski for a child is 'best calculated by their height and weight,' describing this as the general rule for junior skis, shared with sibling brand Nordica.
Why it is on this list: This entry captures the specific junior-sizing principle Blizzard states, distinct from its adult chin-to-head rule, even though the full table wasn't retrievable.
Key features
- States junior sizing is 'best calculated by their height and weight'
- Presented as the general rule for junior skis, distinct from the adult chin-to-head method
- Shared sizing-document family with sibling brand Nordica
- Sizing basis: Height and weight
- Full weight table: Not published (truncated source)
- Related brand: Nordica (shared parent company)
- Pros
- Clear, brand-stated principle that junior sizing should combine height and weight, not height alone
- Consistent with the same document family used for Blizzard and Nordica adult sizing
- Cons
- The specific junior height/weight table was not confirmed from the retrieved portion of the source; marked Not published pending direct verification
- No numeric figures available from this entry alone; pair with Rossignol's published junior weight bands for concrete numbers
Before you buy: The full child-specific height/weight table was Not published in the retrieved source; verify directly against the full PDF before buying.
How the top picks actually differ
Height-based vs. weight-based sizing
Salomon, Nordica, and Blizzard build their alpine methods primarily around height, then adjust for skill level or ski style. Atomic and Rossignol lean more heavily on weight, especially for cross-country skis and per-model alpine charts sized in weight bands. Salomon's own cross-country guide makes the split explicit: alpine and touring skis are sized mainly by height, while cross-country skis are sized primarily by weight. If a skier is heavier or lighter than average for their height, the weight-based or weight-adjusted methods (Atomic's Nordic chart, Rossignol's per-model weight bands, or Nordica/Blizzard's weight-based adjustment note) will generally give a more tailored answer than height alone.
Why the same height can produce different recommended lengths
A 175 cm skier could see meaningfully different suggested lengths depending on which brand's chart and which specific model they check. Salomon's QST 92 worked example puts that skier's Intermediate range at 170-180 cm, while Nordica and Blizzard's general chin-to-head table gives a broader range and lets skill level, turn style, and terrain preference push the pick toward either end. Neither number is 'more correct' — they reflect each brand's own published methodology and the specific model's design intent, which is why checking the exact model's chart matters more than applying a single generic rule.
Waist width and cross-country sizing are separate decisions from length
Choosing a ski length (or a general size guide method) answers a different question from choosing waist width or cross-country sizing. Salomon's own guides treat these as distinct: on-piste skis stay under roughly 85 mm underfoot for grip, touring skis split into 82-86 mm classic versus 95-105 mm free-touring models, and cross-country skis are sized by weight rather than height at all. A buyer should expect to consult two separate parts of a brand's site — one for length/height and one for width/use-case — rather than finding both answered in a single chart.
Who should choose what
you want a worked numeric example tying height, skill level, and a specific model together
Salomon's Alpine Size Guide (QST line)
you want a fast, simple height-based starting range
Nordica's Ski-Sizer Guide
you're comparing Blizzard skis using the same logic as Nordica
Blizzard's Ski-Sizer Guide
you're a beginner unsure what qualities to look for before checking lengths
Atomic's Alpine Buying Guide
you're sizing cross-country skate skis by weight and flex
Atomic's Nordic Ski Size Chart
you want a weight-band chart across several named Rossignol ski lines
Rossignol's Per-Model Alpine Size Charts
you're choosing between on-piste, classic touring, or free touring width
Salomon's On-Piste and Touring Waist-Width Guide
you're sizing cross-country poles as well as skis
Salomon's Cross-Country Ski and Pole Sizing Guide
you're sizing a junior alpine or jib ski by weight
Rossignol's Junior and Junior Jib Weight-Band Charts
you want the general principle behind junior sizing before finding a full table
Blizzard/Nordica's Junior Sizing Rule
Common questions
- Is there one universal ski size chart that works across all brands?
- No. Ski length recommendations vary by brand and by specific ski model. Salomon, Nordica, Blizzard, Atomic, and Rossignol each publish their own method and their own numeric ranges, so the same height and skill level can yield different suggested lengths depending on which brand and model chart is used. Always check the specific model's own official size chart before buying.
- How do I choose ski length based on skill level?
- Salomon's official size guide is the clearest example: it defines four skill tiers (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert) with specific descriptions, then applies a model-specific centimeter adjustment to your height based on that tier. Nordica and Blizzard instead advise going shorter (closer to your chin) for beginner-intermediate skiers and longer (closer to the top of your head) for advanced-expert skiers, within their published height-to-length table.
- Is ski length based on height or weight?
- It depends on the ski type and brand. Salomon, Nordica, and Blizzard build alpine sizing primarily around height, then adjust for skill or style. Atomic and Rossignol incorporate weight more directly, especially in per-model or weight-band charts. Cross-country skis are different: Salomon's own guide states cross-country ski size is determined primarily by weight, not height.
- What waist width should I look for?
- Per Salomon's official buying guide, on-piste (groomed-slope) skis are generally under 85 mm waist width for grip on hard-packed snow. For touring skis, Salomon's touring guide gives 82-86 mm for 'classic' touring and 95-105 mm for descent-focused 'free touring' skis. Guidevio did not find additional official numeric waist-width thresholds for other categories like powder or all-mountain skis from Salomon, Rossignol, or Atomic; that is Not published.
- How are cross-country skis and poles sized differently from alpine skis?
- Salomon's official cross-country guide states that, unlike alpine or touring skis, cross-country ski size is determined primarily by weight, not height, and that skate skis should be 10-15 cm shorter than classic skis for the same skier. For poles, Salomon publishes formulas of height x 0.89 for skate skiing and height x 0.83 for classic technique. Atomic's Nordic chart separately publishes specific weight ranges per ski length for its Sport Skate and Pro Skate models.
- How do I size skis for kids?
- Blizzard's official sizer document states that the right size ski for a child is 'best calculated by their height and weight,' describing this as the general rule for junior skis, but the full child-specific weight table was not confirmed from the retrieved source and is marked Not published here. Rossignol's official per-model PDF does publish a specific JUNIOR and JUNIOR JIB weight-band table (5-10 lb increments) matched to named junior models. Guidevio did not find an official Salomon- or Atomic-published height/weight table specifically for children's alpine skis.
Sources consulted
Official product pages, specification sheets and retailer listings used to compile this guide.
- https://www.salomon.com/en-us/sizingchart?category=alpine-ski-qst&gender=men
- https://www.nordica.com/assets/downloads/ski-sizer_en.pdf
- https://www.blizzard-tecnica.com/assets/documents/blizzard/blizzard-ski-sizer_EN.pdf
- https://www.atomic.com/en-us/article/how-to-choose-right-alpine-ski
- https://www.atomic.com/en/size-chart/nordic-ski
- https://www.rossignol.com/us-en/size-guide-page.html
- https://media.rossignol.com//international/sizes/Alpine-Ski-1415.pdf
- https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/sg/a/how-to-choose-the-right-type-of-skis
- https://www.salomon.com/en-ca/sg/a/how-to-choose-your-touring-skis
- https://www.salomon.com/en-us/sg/a/what-size-cross-country-skis-do-i-need
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The 10 concrete items of a ski outfit — base, mid and outer layers, socks, gloves, headwear, eyewear and a helmet — drawn from REI, NSAA, Vail Resorts and CDC guidance, with what to skip and why.
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