Cheat Sheet: What Ski Materials Feel Like

If the question, “Do I want metal in my ski?” sends you into an anxiety spiral that leads straight to the bottom of a martini, sit down and read this article now. (Don’t worry, it pairs well with alcohol.)

We hear all the time from customers who aren’t sure what kind of skis they like or why, and they’re intimidated to build custom Wagner Skis because they just don’t know what they want.

You may not recognize ski materials in their raw form, but we've got you covered.

We’re here to make it easy for you. Our ski designers are really, really good at what they do. They can ask you some questions about what you like to ski, rather than what you like to ski on, to determine what’s best for you.

In the meantime, though, for those of you who want a little more education about what goes into a ski and how it affects performance, we’ve created a little cheat sheet for you on materials. So shake up a cocktail, put your feet up on the coffee table, and scroll down for some free ski therapy.

CORES

If you want to understand what goes into making skis, we need to start with the core, which is the center of the ski. The core of a ski—combined with laminates, which we’ll get to in a minute—is largely responsible for the way your ski feels underfoot. In mass-market skis, it’s usually made of wood, foam, or plastic.

Foam cores are lightweight but aren’t durable. Plastics cores like honeycomb consist of air, so they chatter and have poor vibration damping characteristics. Wood cores, on the other hand, offer excellent rebound, are more responsive, dampen vibration, have a lively feel, keep their shape well, and are extremely durable. Wood-core skis tend to feel more stable, too, and are less likely to degrade over time. At Wagner, we only craft skis with wood cores, because, well, they’re just the best.

Our aspen/beech raw cores show the mix of materials well.

Wood cores have various densities, depending on the type of wood used. High density cores, like hardwoods, are heavy and durable, which makes the ski drive better in variable conditions. Lower density cores, like poplar or paulownia, have a lighter feel and allow the ski to be more nimble.

To build the core, we layer vertical strips of wood—most often with varying densities—together and bond them with epoxy. This gives the ski its longitudinal stiffness and rebound energy.

STRUCTURAL LAYERS

A wood core is typically sandwiched between structural layers, which give the ski its torsional rigidity (stiffness while twisting) and can add vibration damping. These laminates keep the ski in good contact with the snow, which is what gives you the feeling of control.

The structural layers sandwich the wood core and could be made from a variety of materials.

Common types of structural layers include fiberglass, Titanal (which is actually an aluminum alloy), carbon fiber, aramid, and rubber.

Structural layers made of metal (Titanal) generally give a ski a more stable, smooth, calm, and powerful feel. Metal dampens vibration, transmits power to the edges, and provides a more secure mounting platform. If you want your skis to be unflappable on bulletproof and plow through chunder, metal is the way to go. That said, it can also make a ski feel less lively and have less rebound, so it really depends on your preference. 

Metal in your skis gives a stable, smoother feel but may also make them feel less lively.

Fiberglass is probably the most common ski laminate. It starts out as a cloth, but when soaked in epoxy, it becomes torsionally stiff and yet lighter than metal. Skis with fiberglass laminates run the gamut from light and lively to damp and stable—but not quite as damp and stable as those with metal in them.

Skis that have lighter structural materials, like carbon or aramid, will produce a more light and nimble feeling on snow, including quicker turning in tight terrain such as bumps, trees, and technical couloirs. Carbon is ultralight and therefore great for backcountry skis, but these very lightweight materials are not confidence-inspiring in challenging snow conditions or at speed because it does not absorb vibration.

A NOTE ON WEIGHT

Lightweight gear is a trend in the industry right now, and we urge caution on this if skiing uphill isn’t modus operandi. Downhill skiing is a gravity sport, so generally weight is not a bad thing. Having additional mass gives the skis the ability to hold an edge better and slice through variable snow. Then again, some feel the holy grail is getting a ski that is light enough to be nimble in tight terrain, but heavy enough to perform in variable and hard snow conditions.

Uphill is the place where you will feel the most weight of your skis.

For the uphill skinners, of course, light skis are a must. But on the downhill, lightweight skis tend to get deflected by terrain features such as bumps, hard snow, and chunder, and bounce around in most conditions.

Wagner will ensure the structural materials are perfect for the skiing you’ll be doing.

SIDEWALLS

The sidewall on a ski is the external wall of the ski between the base and topsheet. It seals and protects the wood core and structural layers from the elements and moisture. A sidewall adds damping, power transmission, and durability to the skis. 

Some skis have a vertical sidewall that runs from the tip to the tail, which is called a sandwich construction. These skis are prized for their power transmission, edge-grip, and vibration damping. Others have a cap construction, where there is no sidewall and the topsheet of the ski runs all the way down to the steel edges. These skis are generally lighter and are less exposed to chipping on the topsheet, but don’t have as much power and edge-grip as a sandwich construction. Others have a semi-sidewall construction, which is a combination of the two described above.

BASES AND EDGES

Bases are the bottom layer of the ski that makes contact with the snow. Bases are typically made of P-Tex, which is essentially polyethylene, and are typically structured with micro-grooves—rather than mirror-smooth—to reduce suction and promote glide. There are various quality levels of P-Tex, some of which are optimized to be fast and some to be durable. All black bases have a higher carbon and graphite content, which makes them easier to repair and faster.

Edges are set into the base material.

Steel edges wrap the base of the skis, and they come in various thicknesses. Race skis are often made with thin edges to reduce drag. Thicker edges, however, will be more durable. So if you tend to ski groomers and don’t get many scratches on your skis, thin edges will probably work fine for you. If you typically have to get base welds and tune your skis often, well, durability might be a priority.

TOPSHEETS

Topsheets are exactly what they sound like—the graphic layer on top of the ski that you see. The topsheet seals in the structural layers, protects the ski core and materials from moisture and UV rays, and adds a fun aesthetic.

Wagner offers hundreds of ski tophseet options.

Ski topsheets are typically made from nylon, which is scratch-resistant, durable, and can be screen printed or dyed. Wagner also makes topsheets with real wood veneers, which are finished with a clear coat material that gives the wood additional durability and UV stability.

For inspiration on what topsheet is right for you, check out Wagner’s graphics gallery here. We collaborate with awesome artists from around the globe to create the coolest topsheets on the planet. Naturally, we also do custom graphics, too—check these out to get your creative juices flowing.

As always, Wagner Custom is here for you. We’ll hand-craft your perfect pair of skis—guaranteed. Make an appointment with our ski designers today to get started!

Want to take the really deep dive? Take a look at these articles from our Ski Buyer’s Guide.

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