TAKE IT ANYWHERE
The ultraversatile Apache Recon returns unchanged this year, remaining one of our top choices for intermediate to advanced skiers. A generous sidecut makes carving easy, but its plump shovel and tail allow the ski to float in powder, while its guts—a wood core surrounded by fiberglass and Titanal—provide a damp, stable feel in bumps and leftovers. 119/78/105; k2skis.com
Bonus: The Recon’s lively feel is due in part to the integrated Marker Piston M1 binding, which uses fewer moving parts than most of its competitors and dramatically improves energy transfer from you to the ski.
Bummer: Aggressive skiers, beware: If you lay on it too hard, it’ll wash out.