Request Info: Rocker/Camber Pros/Cons details.

snugs

Member
Its spring and Im saving money for new setup for next year and there are plenty of deals in the off season so I have a question(s).

Could someone post a detailed description of the different styles of rockers and camber and their respective benefits and downfalls?

maybe sticky it too as sort of a go-to reference?

Thanks!
 
Most rocker skis still have camber underfoot. This allows them to hold an edge better on groomers, ice, etc. Skis that have full rocker (or flat underfoot; skis marketed as "full rocker" are usually if not always actually rocker/flat/rocker) are pretty much entirely for pow, they won't do as well in variable conditions but will float better. I have heard that the Shiro (full rocker) does well on groomers, might be something to look into if you really want full rocker, but if you're looking for a one-ski quiver that does great off-piste in pow and variable conditions and can still perform well on groomers, you probably want a rocker/camber/rocker. What skis do you have right now? When you get new skis, will they replace your old skis, or will you use both? What specifically do you want your new skis for? Off piste? Off piste and on piste? Backcountry? Powder days? Every day? Give some more details and we can recommend some specific skis.
 
I kinda misread your post, I thought you were specifically asking about rocker/camber/rocker (rocker tip and tail with camber underfoot) versus full rocker. Beyond that, there's also the amount of rocker, and how pronounced it is. Some skis like the DPS Spoon have very significant rocker whereas other skis have less pronounced rocker. Then on rocker/camber/rocker skis, the camber isn't always the same length. On some skis like the Obsethed, the camber is 50% of the length of the ski. Others have more, for example the Bent Chetler has only 40% camber, with 30% rocker tip and 30% rocker tail. That makes it more pow-oriented, but the 40% camber is enough that it can still carve fine. Then there's some with less rocker that are more aggressive chargers like the Atomic Automatic. And then you've got skis like the Dynastar Cham that have rocker tip, but flat tail. The flat tail helps power through turns (where a rocker tail is better for smearing turns) and provides more stability. The rocker tip of course will help float in powder and plow through crud, and there's really not much disadvantage to it for most people (exception: racers). Most all mountain skis have some rocker, at least in the tip, though not necessarily a lot. Having a little bit of tip rocker is referred to as early rise and mostly helps plow through crud. However, having too much tip rocker makes skis chattery at high speed on groomers.

Then there's terms like bomb rocker, powder rocker, all terrain rocker, etc. These vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and are pretty much just marketing terms. They do mean something, but only in the context of that specific manufacturer.
 
Cambered skis will grip onto ice and jump landings a lot better. Rockered skis are super fun on rails and such and also in deep snow. I have a pair of rocker-camber-rocker skis, so camber underfoot rocker on the ends, super fun skis. Really enjoy having the best of both worlds. I'd suggest trying to demo one of each if possible? Since a lot of it comes down to personal preference and how the skis ski.
 
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