Water skis are a great way to up your summer fun on the water. Over the years, they've become increasingly specialized, from simple wooden planks to fiberglass and carbon construction, with impressive technical engineering. The advances help make it easier for beginners to learn to ride, give slalom skiers the ability to cut sharp, crisp turns, and allow trick riders to perform all kinds of jaw-dropping stunts.
But with so many fantastic models on the market, even those with tons of experience in the sport can have a tough time choosing water skis. That's why we're sharing a collection of our favorites for riders at every level, plus provide a complete shopping guide to help you find the right model.
The Best Water Skis
Best Overall Adult Beginner Skis
Blast Combo Skis HO Sports
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Best Value Combo Skis
S-1300 Combo SkisAirhead
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Best Upgrade Combo Skis
Celebrity Combo Water SkisO'Brien
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Best Overall Slalom Ski
Aspect Slalom Ski Connelly
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Best Aggressive Rocker
Rhyme Combo Water Skis Rave
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What to Consider
Since there's a wide variety of water skis used for a range of specific purposes, there are a lot factors to consider before you buy. Here, we'll discuss the basics: skier ability, ski type, size, and materials. For more specifics on the anatomy of water skis, scroll down below our reviews for our explainer.
Skier Ability
If you're an advanced waterskier, you know if you need a trick, jump or slalom ski setup for going fast and carving hard. If you're just getting into waterskiing or getting skis for family and friends, you're going to want a set of combo or training skis. Larger, heavier riders should look for skis with a wide width.
Ski Type
The majority of skis covered in this piece are combo, trainer and slalom skis, which are the most popular types of waterskis on the market. However, we also discuss more specialized types as well.
Combo/Trainer Beginner water skiers will want combo or trainer waterskis. These come in pairs. Trainers, which are typically offered for kids, are connected with stabilizer bars to help keep their feet together as they learn how to waterski. Combo skis usually have one ski with two bindings and a second with a single binding. This allows the ride transition from two skis to one as they get more comfortable waterskiing.
Slalom Slalom skis are sold as singles and have two bindings. They're intended for intermediate to advanced water-skiers who like playing in the wake, going faster, carving, and maybe doing some small jumps or tricks.
Trick Trick waterskis are smaller, fatter, and rounder than other waterskis. They usually have a flatter bottom, allowing the rider to glide over the water whether going forward, backward or sideways. Sometimes these are sold in pairs, other times they're sold as solo skis. Trick skis also don't have fins (more on that below). On solo trick skis, the rear binding is canted at an angle, much like on a snowboard, to allow for better positioning during tricks.
Jump Jump skis are specialized, longer wider planks, like their snow counterparts. They're made for stability under speed and maximum lift.
Size
Most water skis for adults range from 59 to 72 inches long, except for trick skis, which are shorter.
In general, riders 100 pounds or less do best with a ski that's between 59 and 63 inches; those in the 105-145 weight range may want to consider skis between 63 and 66 inches long; riders from 150-190 pounds will likely do well with skis from 66 to 68 inches long; and those 190 pounds and up typically need skis from 68 to 72 inches long, unless they're wider and specifically designed for larger people.
This is just a guide, as a several factors can influence the size you choose, including boat speed, whether you're buying combo skis or a slalom ski, and a skier's build.
Materials
Water skis have come a long way since the original wood planks of the 1920s. Today they're composed of a variety of buoyant materials, including polyurethane foam, fiberglass, graphite and carbon fiber. Fiberglass is found in many water skis. High-end, more expensive waterskis will consist of layers of graphite and/or carbon fiber, which can enhance ride quality and shock absorption.
How We Selected
We carved through the wake on the ponds, used our experience with skiing, and researched for hours, scouring the best offerings in every category of water ski that are currently available. We based our final selections of water skis from reputable brands, including O'Brien, Rave Sports, and Connelly, as well as on customer and professional reviews.
Best Overall Adult Beginner Skis
Blast Combo Skis
Stability bar compatible
Multiple binding options
Multiple sizes
Not great for advanced skiers who want tight carves
Key Specs
Length(s): 59-in., 63-in., 67-in.
Material: Compression molded fiber
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
HO Sports is a leader in water ski manufacturers, making high-end water skis for competition. However, they also make excellent entry level skis, like the Blast Combos, which are offered in multiple lengths, have V-base and are compatible with HO's stability bar. Not many adult combo skis are designed to work with stability bars, which make these one of the best options for beginners.
Best Value Combo Skis
S-1300 Combo Skis
Great value
Relatively inexpensive
Fits wide range of sizes
Not big enough for heavier riders
Key Specs
Length(s): 67-in.
Material: Fiberglass reinforced composite
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
If you're looking for a great pair of inexpensive water skis to keep on you boat for friends and family, Airhead's S-1300 Combo Skis are a great option. They have tunnel-shaped bottoms for good (but easy) carving, and are fun enough for even more advanced water skiers to play on. The universal bindings fit foot sizes from 5-12. The only downside is that they're not designed for heavier riders.
Best Upgrade Combo Skis
Celebrity Combo Water Skis
Multiple sizes and finishes available
Adjustable bindings
Key Specs
Length(s): 58-in., 64-in., 68-in.
Material: Fiberglass
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Beginner
The Celebrity Combo skis from O'Brien are offered in multiple sizes, fit for learning kids to adults. The base features a V-Tunnel design offering both concave surfaces for turning and a small V-like keel for stability. The smallest, 58-inch model fits shoe sizes from 2-7 and features a removable stabilizer bar, while the 68-inch model fits shoe sizes from 4.5-13.
Connelly's Aspect ski is a higher-end slalom ski for intermediate and advanced slalom skiers. The base has a tunnel design with a variable bevel for carving in variable conditions. It comes in multiple sizes and also men's- and women's-specific versions to meet the needs of a variety of skiers.
Best Aggressive Rocker
Rhyme Combo Water Skis
Wide body makes it easy to get up
Adjustable slide binding
Comfortable fit with ankle support
Not an aggressive carver
Key Specs
Length(s): 65-in.
Material: Composite; fiberglass
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
The Rave Sports Rhyme Combo Water Skis feature an aggressive rocker, which makes it easier for beginners to get up in the water. The wider body of skis also help increase float and stability for riding at slower speeds, and they feature adjustable slide bindings that are comfortable without sacrificing ankle support. There's also a slalom toe for intermediate-level skier who want to try dropping a ski.
This U.S.-made slalom ski is a favorite for slalom and intermediate to advanced water skiers. At nearly $600 it's not an inexpensive ski, but it's still less than high-end specialized carbon fiber water skis. It has a wide tunnel base with a variable bevel for carving and an adjustable tail and fin.
Larger skiers will appreciate the Connelly Big Daddy Waterski, designed for riders over 220 pounds, with 550 square inches of surface area and float. The base features a standard tunnel design which allows riders to carve through the water easily. The main drawback is that they're not as versatile for more advanced riding.
Best Advanced Combo Skis
Reactor Water Skis
Great control
Hard-carving
Retro style
Inexpensive for an advanced ski
Not a lot of size and color options
Key Specs
Length(s): 67 in.
Material: Fiberglass
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Intermediate to Expert
The O'Brein Reactor Combo Water Skis feature O'Brien's dual-tunnel base design and have an aggressive taper from front to back. The taper allows for fast, aggressive turns in water, while the dual tunnels ensure there's still plenty of contact with the water surface while maneuvering. It's too bad that they're available in limited size and color options.
Best for Kids and Teens
Jr Vortex Widebody Combo Water Skis
Removable stability bar
Combo bindings
Dual-tunnel design
Expensive
Key Specs
Length(s): 54-in.
Material: Fiberglass
Type of Ski: Combo
Single/Pair: Pair
Skill Level: Child/Teen/Beginner
Made by O'Brien, one of the best brands in waterskis, these 54-inch-long trainers have a dual tunnel base, come with a removable stability bar and have combo bindings. All this makes them ideal for kids and teens as their skills progress, so they can transition to free-floating skis and finally to a single ski. Bindings fit shoe sizes from 2-7.
Best for Small Children
Kids Platform Trainer Waterski
Easy platform for kids to learn on
Training rope
Easy bindings
Expensive for what it is
Key Specs
Length(s): 46-in.
Material: Bamboo
Type of Ski: Platform
Single/Pair: Single
Skill Level: Children/beginner
The O'Brien Kids Platform Trainer Waterski is an ideal trainer for smaller children just learning to water ski. Made of lightweight bamboo, it features a trainer rope and easy-grip handles, plus slip-in padded bindings. The platform ski is suitable for children weighing up to 85 pounds.
The Anatomy of a Water Ski
In the beginning of this story, we shared an overview of basic considerations to take into account before shopping for water skis, including the different types of skis, what to look for based on your ability level, and how to figure out sizing.
Here, we've taken a deeper dive to cover design specifics — the subtle tweaks manufactures make that can greatly effect performance, particularly for advanced skiers.
Base The base of a water ski is important to consider for stability and ride quality.
V-Shape A V-shaped bottom is found on beginner skis. Like the keel of a boat, they help the ski stay upright and straight, making it easier for riders to keep their feet under them. They're not made for sharp carving and fast riding.
Tunnel Concave This is for more intermediate skiers. Tunnel concave bases curve inward toward the center, giving more contact area with the bottom of the ski while carving. However, toward the edges, the concavity flattens out, allowing a flat surface for riding straight.
Full concave skis are for experienced skiers who go fast and spray a fat rooster tail as they carve water. The concave surface is adept at ensuring maximum surface contact with the water, no matter what angle the ski is in relation to the surface.
Trick skis are more likely to have a subtle concavity or flat bottom. This allows them to glide over the water and spin or do other surface maneuvers.
Bindings For slalom and solo skis, water skis have two bindings, one in front of the other. Trick skis, as previously mentioned, have a rear binding canted at angle. Skiers will change the angle for the left or right foot.
Combo skis have one ski with two binding and the other with a single. That allows the skier to put their dominant foot forward as they transition to riding on one ski.
With the exception of universal bindings on combo skis, which are the most adjustable, most bindings are sold in a range of styles and don't necessarily come with the skis. Check with the binding manufacture to ensure the best fit.
Edge Fatter, rounder edges are designed for starter skiers. They're made for gradual turns. Small edges combined with concave bottoms are designed for tighter, more precise turns preferred by advanced riders.
Fins Fins slice through the water providing more stability as you ride. They're not common on trick skis, but even jump skis will have them.
Chris MeehanChris Meehan is an internationally published writer, author, and editor with more than two decades of professional experience.
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