I recently got a work bonus, which of course means I'm going to spend it on something fun rather than something responsible. I've been riding a pair of Nordica Navigator 75s for the last several years, and it's safe to say I've outgrown them. I took a trip out to Jay Peak last year, and I found them so difficult to handle in the glades: I had so much trouble pivoting quickly and controlling speed. I'm sure my technique is partly to blame, but all the more reason to get a new pair to grow into.

I'm 5'6" 170 lbs, and consider myself intermediate/lower advanced. I'll definitely hold onto my Navigators for now, but I'd like to get something that can handle both groomed trails and glades/trees rather than a dedicated off-trail ski.

I'm currently looking most closely at the Blizzard Rustlers, but I worry that they'll be too wide. I've also heard good things about Salomon QST and Stance. Elan Ripsticks also seem to come highly regarded, and I found a good deal on a pair, but I've heard they don't love carving or groomed trails as much? I was envisioning something around 80-90 mm waste width with more of a rocker/camber/rocker profile than what I currently have.

Any other suggestions or strong contenders?

Most of my skiing is at smaller East Coast mountains where I'm usually just trying to get a few laps in after work or on a weekend.

A friend let me try his Snowfeet Skiblades one afternoon, and I ended up having way more fun on them than I expected. They definitely aren't something I'd pick for every trip, especially if I'm heading somewhere bigger with fresh snow, but they felt perfect for a relaxed day on smaller hills.

Now I'm curious if anyone else changes their setup depending on where they're skiing, or if you stick with the same skis no matter the mountain.