A size that fits now may be too small in less than a year. As the ski industry expands to cater for all walks of life, many manufacturers have come up with some stellar youth ski options.
For most kids, the first set of skis will be a great way to hammer down the finer points of beginner-level ski skills but will be used and abused often. There will be days when those skis are dragged across the pavement, dropped in anger and thrown haphazardly into vehicles. So, ideally, you want good value and high durability from a pair of kid’s skis.
Kids Skis Reviewed
Starting the ski journey early is a great way for your kid to fall in love with the sport for a long time. Here, we’ve laid out the best skis for kids that allow for easy learning and a lot of fun: two central components to a great skiing foundation.
Atomic MAVEN GIRL 130-150 + C 5 GW
Designed for girls between 8-12, the Atomic MAVENs is a great kids' ski. Not only is it fast and thankfully durable, but the ski also employs Bend-X Technology. Bend-X allows smaller skiers to bend the ski, leading to a wide spectrum of turn shapes for skill building.
- Age Range: 8-12
- Width: 68 mm underfoot, 110 mm tip, 91 mm tail
- Profile: All-mountain rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Fast
- Durable
- Bend X-Technology
- Versatile
- Grip
Cons
- Tougher to control in soft powder
Brand Name | Product Type
Atomic MAVERICK JR 130-150 + C5 GW
Brother to the Atomic MAVEN, the Maverick JR is ideally suited for young shredders ready to hang with bigger kids. The forgiving Bend-X technology, grip on groomed snow and durability make this model a responsive learning ski built to create lasting memories for young skiers.
- Age Range: 8-12
- Width: 68 mm underfoot, 110 mm tip, 91 mm tail
- Profile: All-mountain rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Grip
- Speed
- Bend X-Technology
- Versatile
- Durable
Cons
- Tougher to control in soft powder
Brand Name | Product Type
Volkl FLAIR JUNIOR VMOTION
The Volkl Flair Junior Vmotion skis are a quick and reliable beginner ski model for young girls with enough responsiveness, versatility, and durability to last multiple seasons.
- Width: 67 mm underfoot, 93 mm tip, 76 mm tail
- Profile: Tip rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Easy to handle
- Responsive turn shape
- Versatile
- Durable
- All-mountain capabilities
Cons
- Limited appeal for advanced skiers
Brand Name | Product Type
Volkl JR RACETIGER RED VMOTION 4.5
For aspiring young racers, the Volkl Jr Racetiger Red Vmotion Ski is absolutely perfect. Not only is it easy to handle and race-ready at high speeds, it also provides excellent grip on groomed runs for carving. Given its race focus, however, it’s best to keep the ski out of deep powder.
- Width: 68 mm underfoot, 100 mm tip, 82 mm tail
- Profile: slight rocker (tip), flat tail
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Fast
- Easy to handle
- Race ready
- Good grip for carving
Cons
- Doesn’t float well in powder
Brand Name | Product Type
Dynastar Lemon Girl Skis with KID 4 GW B76 Binding - Girls
The Dynastar Lemon Girl is a junior all-mountain ski that helps even the smallest skiers accelerate to the next level. It was built with the goal of making skiing more fun and more comfortable for young, inexperienced riders—and that it does exactly that.
Like the M-Menace Team skis above, the Lemon Girl features a specially designed junior flex and rocker profile. The result is a versatile ride that can accommodate every type of terrain. It also makes it a breeze to steer, pivot, and stop on demand. Meanwhile, the Active Air core is lightweight underfoot and the cap construction maximises agility on the slopes.
- Width: 74-76 mm underfoot, 106-108 tip, 98-100 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Flat
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Provides a great framework for learning
- Stable on a wide array of terrain types
- Good agility and stability
- Builds confidence in young, inexperienced riders
Cons
- Best suited to beginner skiers
Brand Name | Product Type
Dynastar M-Menace Team Skis with KID 4 GW Binding - Kids
The Dynastar M-Menace Team ski provides kids with a versatile freeride experience that lets them hone their craft on the slopes, from powder to crud and ice. Combining a double rocker with junior-specific flex, your young ripper will feel confident and stable—even at speed. Plus, the ultralight core and cap construction mean responsiveness is never an issue.
- Width: 76 mm underfoot, 106-108 tip, 98-100 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Flat
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Versatile over various terrain types
- Light and agile
- Good stability
Cons
- Not ideal for advanced kids
Brand Name | Product Type
Armada KIRTI R + C5
This is a fun, stand-out park ski that’s perfect for some forays into the terrain park. Its forgiving design and ease of use make it perfect for jumps or terrain park exploration.
Width: 76-80 mm underfoot, 108-112 mm tip, 100-104 mm tail
Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Pink i.e., easily identifiable graphics for low visibility days
- Easy to handle
- Lightweight
- Fun in the terrain park
Cons
- Not as fast as other models
Brand Name | Product Type
HEAD Supershape Team Easy JRS wh/yw
The HEAD Supershape Team Easy is a great all-around performer that emphasises a soft flex and stability underfoot. Your kid won’t win any races on these, but it's a fun, general performer that can handle abuse and provide a good platform to learn critical skills on.
- Width: 64-69 mm underfoot, 102-119 tip, 88-103 mm tail
- Profile: Rocker/Camber Hybrid
Price: 0.00$
Pros
- Soft flex
- Stable underfoot
- Easy to learn carving
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not as fast as other models
Brand Name | Product Type
Buying Guide
Before settling on a set of kids’ skis, check out the following points to help narrow down your options.
Choosing the right ski length
Kids grow fast, so finding the right ski length is important. Skis standing vertically should reach between your child’s shoulder blades and the top of their head.
The newer the skier, the shorter the ski should be for easier turning. However, a shorter ski won’t last as long since your child will grow out of them faster. Measure your child in centimetres (shoulder height and full height). An ideal ski length will fall between those two measurements.
Buying new vs. used skis
The temptation to buy used kids’ skis can be strong because they’re often much cheaper than new models. The big issue is sizing.
Used ski shops have what people returned; there’s no guarantee that the sizing is right. In some cases, you get lucky, but forcing your child into kids’ skis that don’t match their current size will make it much harder for them to learn skills and could lead to a quick, loud rebellion against the sport.
Boot fit with skis
The best strategy is to head to a ski shop and have them size your child. If that’s not possible, look for ski sizing charts and general sizing guidelines. In short, ski boots rely on mondopoint sizing, which is the length of your child’s foot in centimetres. A ski sizing chart will help convert shoe sizes from various countries into mondopoint.
FAQ
Here are some common questions and answers about kids’ skis.
Q: Are shorter skis better for kids?
A: Shorter kids' skis are easier to turn and more lightweight. For every new skier, this is important because it's easier to learn how to stop and isolate leg muscles with lighter skis. However, if your child has a growth spurt, they could grow out of a pair of shorter skis after one season.
Q: What’s a good size ski for an 11-year-old?
A: This will depend on your child's height. The average height for an 11-year-old is around 145 cm. At that height, your child needs a ski length between 130-140 cm. Again, this will depend on your child's height; measure them in cm.
Q: What age range are junior skis best for?
A: Kids' skis are generally used for junior skiers between about 5 and 12. There are exceptions on either side, and it’ll depend on what your child is ultimately happy with. However, as they enter their teenage years, a lot of changes will happen to their bodies. It’s a good idea to revisit ski choices then (around age 13-14) and buy something that can grow with them during that time.
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