The Nela 88 is Stöckli's women's all-mountain ski, and it punches well above its weight class. Titanal at all (the Titanal Tec Pro layup) in a women's ski this light is rare — most brands go with fiberglass only. Stöckli pairs that metal with their Softflex technology in the tip and tail and a Paulownia Super Light Core to keep the weight down. The result is a ski that's smooth and damp like a race ski but light and easy to turn like a women's-specific design.

On hardpack and groomers, the Nela 88 earned top marks in testing for hard-snow integrity and stability at speed. It's an outstanding bump ski — nimble, responsive, very stable with low rebound, and predictably quiet underfoot. The Softflex tip makes turn initiation effortless.

The low rebound that makes it so good in bumps is also its personality trade-off — it's not a springy, energetic ski. Skiers who want pop and playfulness will find it a bit muted. But for women who want a smooth, confidence-inspiring ride from groomers to crud to bumps, the Nela 88 delivers the Stöckli build quality in a women's-optimized package.