The Best Men’s Deep Snow Skis of 2022: J Skis The Friend

Perhaps it was the name, but J Skis’ The Friend was super friendly with the majority of the SKI Test crew. These powder skis were beloved for their ease of use and very forgiving demeanor, but they were still poppy and playful at all speeds. It’s the type of ski that coaxes skiers into relaxing a bit and just enjoying soft descents and side jibs on the way back to the lift. “Sometimes you just want to grab a ski and go visit the mountain with your FRIEND,” says tester Matt Schiller with a smile. “Easy pow riding top to bottom, basic and inspiring with smiles for miles.”

Built with a maple wood core and a carbon laminate, the Friend is designed to float in the pow but still be fun to ski when the freshies are gone. With a relatively tight turn radius but a large 117mm waist, the Friend stays versatile all day long. “A comfortable poppy ski that will cruise around anywhere on the mountain,” notes tester Otto Gibbons. “Happy to ski with weight in the center and will let anyone have to think about how to grow as a ski but instead how I can get anywhere on the hill.”

As long as the testers didn’t floor it, The Friend could hold up carving on some groomed terrain. Luckily, groomers are not what you want to be skiing on when you’re riding planks this big. This is the type of ski you want for your legs to last all day, especially when it won’t stop puking snow. No one should call it quits when the refills are free. “Who’s your buddy?” asks tester Todd Casey. “The J Skis Friend is your buddy! It’s a fun, stable adventure ski.”

• Strengths: Forgiveness (1st in category), Playfulness (4th)
• Weaknesses: Crud-Performance (14th), Stability at Speed (11th)

Learn More

The best men’s powder skis of 2022
Check out J skis’ best skis featured in SKI
SKImag.com Affiliate Link Policy