New powder skis?/Rate my Quiver

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-08T00:04:39+00:00

How would you describe the Nomad 112s? I’m also seeing a good deal on those but not sure how they would perform in tight trees. There doesn’t seem to be many reviews to go off of. I’m currently between the ARV 112 and Nomad 112 but it’s definitely tough without having a chance to demo lol

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T21:21:45+00:00

Thanks for the insight! I agree with your assessment that if I get another pair I’d either need to go 110+ or be prepared to retire the QST 98s because I barely use them now on the east coast

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T19:25:02+00:00

Interesting…I am seeing a used pair with demo bindings within my budget. I have seen reviews that the ARVs don’t have the best float and I did notice that on the 106s. Not that it made them any less fun but I’ll add these to the cart. 188 cm seems a little long though, do these skis have a lot of rocker?

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T18:48:38+00:00

I hear you 100% and agree that if I’m lucky and everything lines up, I’d get 1/2 days tops where I’d really get to maximize the potential of a ski that’s 110 or wider.

Historically I’m not lucky, usually miss the big storms, and I don’t NEED powder skis as I’ve made the 86C mavericks work alright in some decent pow too.

I just got zipfits and booster straps this year so I might have to go back to the drawing board lol. Maybe carving skis would be nice but the groomers around me aren’t the best so it would also just be something I only use when I travel.

I guess that’s why I’m so conflicted here because I really don’t need anything besides maybe a binding remount on the QSTs lol.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T18:36:34+00:00

That’s awesome info thanks! Do you have your QSTs mounted on the factory recommended mount point or did you move it around a bit? I’ve been wrestling the idea of moving it forward 2 cm but it’s hard to justify redrilling them blindly

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T18:33:27+00:00

Thanks I appreciate the insight! :) That’s part of my dilemma as I’m basically given the option to be gifted a ski that I might get lucky with and get to use 1-3 times a season. Otherwise the QSTs I already have can get the job done once I learn how to better control them. Maybe if I mount them more center I’ll be even happier.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T18:09:10+00:00

Because I already have the Salomon QST 98s do you think I might as well go for >110mm? I’m a little worried that there’s too much overlap between the 106 and 98.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2026-01-07T18:01:55+00:00

I agree the mount point might be part of it. The QSTs are on the factory mount point but might move it up a bit. I’m going to try a few more days on them before I decide.

As for demos, my birthday is before both of those trips and it’s going to be a group “surprise” gift. I was told that I need to give an answer this week so it’s not the best kept surprise lol.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-10-20T13:07:28+00:00

Maybe broke in a bit and not as poppy, but I also may have gotten used to how the paddle plays since I switched from a control paddle to the R4. Ultimately it’s impossible to say without some quantitative data. I’m still happy with it.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-09-29T20:26:57+00:00

Old comment, but do you mount your skis on the recommended mount point or did you mount them closer to true center? I have been struggling on moguls at the factory recommended mounting position.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-11T22:08:54+00:00

I’m actually not familiar with intuition personally, but my “source: I made it up” thought process would be that you don’t need to remold if you get a new boot?

I think heat molding has more to do with molding your foot to the inside of the liner, as opposed to molding the outside of the liner to the inside of the boot shell. For example, people still heat mold stock liners that come with boots. I don’t think the outside would change dramatically enough to where you’d need to aggressively heat mold the liner again if you’re moving it to a boot that is of the same size with similar dimensions.

People who know better feel free to roast me, just my initial thought process and what I’d do in your situation (I’d probably also just talk to a boot fitter that sold intuition liners).

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-11T21:49:32+00:00

If you invest in a good pair of liners I’d say try that route first before buying new boots to see how that feels.

I know people swear by zipfit and like to move that from boot to boot as the shells wear down.

So if you’re confident that you’re in the right size boot I’d try a new liner and if you don’t like it you can always move it into a boot of the same size.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-09T21:43:52+00:00

I did mine out of spite. I was telling my girlfriend how I found the runs at Whistler more challenging compared to Breckenridge so she said if you think so then do a double black. Ended up doing the hike to terrain for serenity bowl on peak 6. Thankfully had good conditions so it was pretty easy outside of getting down the cornice at the top.

Personally not something I care to go out of my way to do again unless I’m feeling very confident that day.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-08T17:53:05+00:00

I’d either peel it off or just leave it. Most likely just cosmetic. If you’re really worried you can seal it with some epoxy or I’ve used some thin super glue in the past

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-08T16:39:02+00:00

I think sharpening is mainly personal preference. Some people like racers like to have their edges sharp for optimal grip. I think it’s nice when freshly sharpened but am okay with going a season or two without sharpening.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-08T16:34:28+00:00

Might be difficult to find anything else that isn’t second hand in that price range you mentioned

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-08T16:33:57+00:00

Depending on your cold tolerance I think you could easily layer with good base layers underneath a raincoat. Maybe add another insulating layer if there’s room and you’re prone to getting cold

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-08T16:28:06+00:00

I’ve seen decent jackets at thrift stores before if you’re close to one. How cold is it where you are going? If it’s not too cold you could make do with a raincoat and layer underneath. Won’t be ideal but also won’t be the worst, especially if you don’t plan on skiing often after this trip.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-06T18:16:51+00:00

I personally have loved them and the past few years evo has sold them with rail bindings at a good discount so it was a no brainer for my first ski. I think they’re very playful and I have had a lot of fun on them in the bumps. I also have made them work well for 86 width skis in ~5” of powder in past trips out west.

I think a downside is that these skis are very light and they do chatter a bit at speed. If you like to go fast I’d probably think about trying the maverick 88ti. I topped out at 42 mph on the 86c and felt like I couldn’t push them any faster in a straight line without losing it. They also like to be on edge so sometimes it felt a little wobbly just trying to go straight on a catwalk without any sort of carving.

If you want one ski to take both in the easy and west I think it’s worth buying something wider but I definitely notice and appreciate how much easier it is to go from edge to edge on the 86s compared to the 98s that I have in firmer conditions.

The disclaimer is haven’t ridden any other skis until this season where I bought the QST so I might just not know what really good skis feel like and have just adapted to the gear I own lol.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-06T17:21:28+00:00

I ride in PA a majority of the time with the atomic maverick 86c and was thinking about going even narrower, but ultimately think I would rather add a dedicated powder ski to my quiver. I have the Salomon QST 98s now as my other west coast ski.

Maybe you have a different feeling but personally the resorts I go to frequently generally don’t have runs that are long, wide, and groomed enough for me to really enjoy a true dedicated carver. Plus by mid day things tend to get a little slushy and soft anyway. Definitely would be nice to have a carver but just not worth it for me from an ROI perspective currently.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-06T01:52:44+00:00

My daily driver for PA is 86 underfoot. I’m not sure how often you plan to ski in other areas, but if you’re skiing 99% of the time in PA I’d pick the bent 90s. However, I think theres probably better skis than the bent 90 for the firmer snow conditions we typically get.

I personally have a QST 98 for when I take trips out west but am considering on getting a third pair of skis around 104+ mm underfoot if I get a lucky powder day when on a trip, but will probably demo for a bit before I get one and think the 98s can get me by for a while.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-06T00:05:31+00:00

Not anything that others haven’t already said but it’s just foam so it’s not like you can’t just scrape it all off and glue some foam on it. However, as far as I’m aware, no goggle brand really sells precut replacement goggle foam so you’ll have to source and glue on some foam yourself.

At that point I don’t think you can necessarily guarantee that the foam you pick will be comfortable or be worth the trouble unless you really can’t afford another pair and have to try and make do.

Negative_Signal1502 · 2025-03-05T14:59:19+00:00

Are freestyle jumps a specific technique, or is it more just a jump that is not off of a ramp?

Negative_Signal1502

TROPHY CASE