Tree skiing is a ton of fun. Whether you are just learning the basics of the sport or have been on the snow for years, trees are an obstacle every level of skier can enjoy – if you have the right equipment.
I’m Christine, and I’ve been skiing for decades. My love of the sport led me to create TheSkiGirl.com to share my knowledge and experience with others. I’ve used many different models of skis over the years and know what to look for in the options that are best for trees.
The Line Sick Day 94 is my pick for the best skis for tree skiing. These are thin enough to give you quick turning abilities while still keeping you on top of deeper snow. They are also fun to ski in other areas of the mountain.
I’ll give you a list of all my favorite skis for trees in this post. My goal is to help you make an informed buying decision that best matches your needs and preferences.
Pick your line, and let’s get rolling.
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Who Should Get This
The following skis are best suited for people who need to ski in tough, tree-filled terrain. They all come with unique qualities and attributes that make navigating or turning through tight spaces easy.
If you love to dip into the trees or zip through areas where maneuverability is key, narrower skis are the way to go.
Every ski in this guide is a premium model that offers a lot for skiers in terms of performance and quality. These skis aren’t exclusively for trees, and they will work in other conditions just fine. But they can turn on a dime when needed, and that’s why they are on the list.
Best Skis for Tree Skiing: Top Picks
Here are my picks for the best skis for tree skiing. Every option you see below will help you bob and weave through tight spaces.
1. Line Sick Day 94
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Quick turning ability, Early Rise rocker, directional flex, easy to control, light
- Sizes: 172, 179, 186
- Ability Level: Beginner to advanced
- Cost: $$$
The Line Sick Day 94 is my pick for the best overall skis for tree skiing. These are fun to ski on in any condition, and their quick turning ability makes them stand out in tight spaces.
They come with an Early Rise rocker that keeps the skis’ ends up off of the snow, which helps you stay in control and rotate quickly when you need to make adjustments on the fly.
A directional flex helps to make the entire turning process easy while also keeping everything stable when you want to go fast.
The Sick Day doesn’t have the best edge hold at high speeds, but they are pretty solid other than that.
==> You can also get it on Evo.
2. Volkl Kendo 88
- Best for: Advanced Skiers
- Key features: Powerful, 3D radius sidecut, carbon tips, Titanal frame, full-length sidewalls
- Sizes: 163, 170, 177
- Ability Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Cost: $$$
Advanced-level skiers who like to venture into the trees will love the Volkl Kendo 88.
They are built with a 3D radius sidecut that helps keep the skis very stable all over the mountain while giving you the ability to make quick turns.
Carbon tips and a Titanal frame make them extremely strong, just in case you run into a tree stump or hit a hidden obstacle on the way.
Full-length sidewalls help increase power transfer, so the Kendo 88 stays responsive when you need them to react quickly.
These are too much ski for the average person, and they are also a little expensive.
==> You can also get it on Evo or Buckman’s or Sun & Ski.
3. Nordica Enforcer 94
- Best for: Beginners
- Key features: Quick turning ability, all-mountain rocker, lightweight, Energy 2 TI core, carbon chassis
- Sizes: 165, 172, 179, 186, 191
- Ability Level: Beginner to advanced
- Cost: $$$
You don’t have to be an expert to dive into the trees, and the Nordica Enforcer 94 is a good option for beginners who are just learning how to navigate tight spaces.
These come with an all-mountain rocker that helps keep the skis’ ends off the snow for increased performance and control.
A carbon chassis laminate reduces the weight compared to other models, which really shows when you need to turn quickly.
The Energy 2 TI core helps keep everything stable while also giving you fantastic edge grip – both of which prove helpful in the trees.
The Enforcer 94 will be a bit underpowered for advanced-level skiers.
==> You can also get it on Evo or Sun & Ski Sports or Buckman’s.
4. Rossignol Experience 88 Ti
- Best for: Budget Option
- Key features: Affordable, good turning characteristics, quality construction
- Sizes: 166, 173, 180, 187
- Ability Level: Beginner to intermediate
- Cost: $$
The Rossignol Experience 88 Ti (review) is my recommended pick for skiing in the trees if you are on a budget.
This is a very affordable option that still gives you the maneuverability and control you need when twisting through the treetops.
A progressive sidecut design keeps them very playful but also helps you stay in the saddle. They will respond nicely when needed.
Being a budget option, a few high-end performance features are lacking, but it’s an easy trade-off for the price.
5. Icelantic Pioneer 86
- Best for: Versatility
- Key features: Versatile, fun to ski, capable in the trees, bombproof construction
- Sizes: 166, 172, 184
- Ability Level: Beginner to advanced
- Cost: $$$
The Icelantic Pioneer 86 is a fun and fluid all-mountain ski that can handle trees with the best of them.
They feature a bombproof construction that makes them a lasting value and a trusted companion when conditions are less than ideal.
I think the Pioneer 86 hits the sweet spot in terms of versatility and control, making them more than capable in the trees and effective in many other situations.
A Poplar Power core gives you a solid foundation for stability and power transfer that really shines.
These have a little less rocker than traditional all-mountain skis, so they lack some powder performance characteristics.
==> You can also get it on Curated or GritrOutdoors.
How to Choose The Best Skis for Trees
Here are some essential things to keep in mind when looking for the best skis to use in the trees.
Turning Ability
Skiing in the trees requires you to make turns very quickly. While much of this comes down to skier ability, your skis also play an important role in how fast you can turn.
Narrower and lighter skis are generally easier to maneuver than larger, wider options. Every model you’ll find here has a slightly thinner shape than their all-mountain relatives, and that makes them well-suited for tree skiing.
Taper
When tree skiing, you also want a lot of taper in the tip and tail. That will allow your skis to catch the snow more often, which provides excellent turning and control.
This adds extra maneuverability and enables you to change directions more efficiently. The increased taper also allows the skis to hold tight in firm snow and provides you the ability to control your speed better.
Shape
As with the other two key attributes, shape plays a critical role in how well you can move around the trees. A gradual design gives you immense control, and increased rocker enables the ski to change its contact length.
Skis good for trees usually have a rockered tip with a tail that sits flatter on the snow to give you control when turning.
Useful Tips for Tree Skiing
No matter what equipment you use, tree skiing is not an easy process. There are many steps you need to take and a range of different obstacles to watch out for. Some tips and advice can help you get better at this style of skiing.
If you want to further your skiing experience and get a more in-depth look at trees, this video will help you out.
Skiing in the backcountry or off-piste terrain comes with many challenges. As such, you need to take certain precautions when going out into the trees.
This easy-to-follow list outlines those precautions and gives you the steps you need to take to ensure you stay as safe as possible.
Final Verdict
The Line Sick Day 94 is my choice for the best skis for tree skiing. These will give you plenty of control when you need it while allowing you to make really quick turns in tight spaces. And they are a lot of fun to ride in other conditions and terrains as well.
Tree skiing is somewhat of a specialty style, but it can be very rewarding, and you can often find fresh tracks at the resort. Every model on this list will help you on that pursuit, and they come recommended when you want to avoid running into a snow-covered pine tree.
Do you ever ski in the trees? If so, what brands do you use and why? Let us know below!
