Last winter we hosted two tests, one in Winter Park, Colorado, and a second at powdery Snowbasin, Utah. We brought in veteran ski journalists, professional skiers, patrollers and ski instructors to push the skis to their limits and see what they really can do.

The results are here. Do some browsing, and enjoy.

If you want to cut straight to the winners, check the Editors' Picks.

And if you need help figuring out what it all means, check out our ski technology explainer.

How We Categorized The Skis:

Powder:
The fattest of the fat, but that doesn't mean these are for heli trips only. Many "powder" skis can be great everyday skis, especially at big-snow resorts like Jackson, Squaw or Snowbird. Most of these skis are over 100 mm under foot, and most are rockered.

All-Mountain:
Your basic everyday ski, particularly for the West. Most of these skis are 85-99 mm underfoot, although it's important to note that waist width is not the sole determining factor of a ski's category. We also considered how the ski rides, and what it was designed to do. These skis can do a bit of everything, but usually aren't enough for a really big day, nor will they grip on firm snow like the frontside skis.

Frontside:
If you like to caaaarve (pronounce that like Arnold Schwarzenegger), here's your ski. These are the narrowest skis in the test, and are designed for on-piste skiing.

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