GEAR OF THE YEAR
“You can never have a bad day on the Coomback,” said one tester of the most adored ski in this year’s test. Returning with refined tip rocker—which allows the ski to plane, surf, and smear in powder without giving up control on hardpack—the Coomback was lauded by both AT and tele testers as “an incredible jack-of-all-trades.” The lightweight core—a blend of aspen and fir—provides plenty of energy and dampness for day-to-day resort duty, but the soul of this ski lies deep in the backcountry. Straight tails accommodate building anchors for ski mountaineering, and the topsheets are designed specifically to shed snow, while tip and tail holes work with K2’s precut skins and provide lashing points for building a rescue sled. From bottomless powder days to firm spring couloirs, the Coomback is a rare synthesis of hardcore utility and grin-inducing fun. 135/102/121, 7.9 lbs.
VERSATILITY: 5 (out of 5)
POWER: 4