5 New Pieces of Ski Gear From Last Season We're Still Raving About
Every year, ski brands release a host of shiny, new products.
Sometimes, it's just the same ski or jacket they've put out for the last three years with a new topsheet or colorway, and if that gets you stoked, we are 100% here for it. However, in the world we live in today, which has an abundance of technology and seemingly reached an impasse in innovation, when products come out that are truly innovative or just break a little from the norm, it's pretty exciting.
So, whether it was an actual technological advance or just because we thought it was cool, here are some of the coolest pieces of gear that came out during the 2025/26 ski season (or roughly around then...).
The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.
Salomon/Atomic Shift 2.0 16 MN
Long has the Shift binding enticed folks who want one binding to do it all. However, previous versions of the Shift had a few issues that seemed inescapable-broken heel pieces, pre-releases, and brake issues when skinning. That is, until Salomon & Atomic released a new version this winter, replacing some of the old Shift's plastic parts with metal and promising a burlier, more functional binding and higher DIN settings.
Our Gear Editor Max spent a chunk of time on the new version of the binding and was pleasantly surprised by it. While the new Shift is still a bit of a niche product, to see Salomon and Atomic take an old product's issues and take actionable steps to improve something that could be the Holy Grail of hybrid bindings is pretty darn cool.
Fischer Nothing
Maybe putting a ski we don't actually know anything about on this list is a polarizing choice. It's not like I can say "the dimensions of this ski are so unique" because that's still sort of a secret. But that's kind of the coolest part.
Fischer's new ski was released with no product details and a blank top sheet, with the intention that a ski's specs shouldn't influence how we think it skis, but rather that the experience of skiing it should fully dictate each person's opinion. In a day and age when the market is saturated with options and marketing telling us why one ski is better than the rest, it's a refreshing approach that earns it a spot on this list. Keep an eye out soon for more on the skis. Wink wink.
Raide Research TourTech Bibs
Raide Research technically released their TourTech bibs in 2024, but I just got around to testing them this season.
These bibs are undoubtedly super feature-rich, with bits and pieces that make them more high-tech than other bibs. However, the technology that truly stood out to me above anything else was that the women's version actually fit a female body well. Wild.
Somehow, in 2026, it's still really hard to find ski pants or bibs that fit our legs and waists, accommodate ski boots, and are functional. Yet, Raide Research's bibs knock it out of the park. The beacon leashes in both thigh pockets, the laser-cut mesh upper panel, the power-strap thread-through gaiter, and the durable yet breathable fabric are just a bonus.
Armada Antimatter 114
Armada's new freeride ski, born from Max Palm's brain, is one of the more unique freeride skis to come out lately. It's also a bit of a departure from the brand's previous skis and is generally just a wild design, hence the inclusion of the Armada Antimatter on this list.
It's one of the Armada skis to use a metal laminate layer inside-Armada calls it "SpeedMetal." Those are glued to the poplar core to keep things damp at speed, but without taking that root, playful, Armada DNA out of the ski. The Antimatter also has a twin-tipped rocker shape that utilizes a multi-radius rocker in the tip to provide more stability than your average rockered, powder ski. In short, it might be one you have to ski to really understand the full effect of, but trust us that it's pretty cool.
Editor's Note:Hey, Matt here. The Armada Antimatter 114 is one of the best skis I've ever tested. The hype is real.
Related: When Telemark Was Revolutionary
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 3:44 AM.