Boutique Skis vs Big Brand

Ehhhh it all depends on each brand, how their skis are made, the climate they're made in (if the factory hasnt adjusted theirs at all) what materials they use....ETC. So many variables to be honest with you.

Personally I think K2 makes a much more bomber ski compared to Surface, and Surface's durability has been slightly questionable on their park lineup over the past few years but I think they're taking strides to change that image. But yeah, so many variables, so many ways to make skis, its all hard to say man.

At the end of the day though, if you enjoy your product, it holds up well, and meets most of/exceeds your needs/wants, then your golden!

Ya i thought sooo too, but i heard Surface moved leaps and bounds forward with there durabilty. And i know k2 is bomber, and as of this year, that they have stood the test of time. But i look at topsheet quality, base strength, and the surface blows the k2 away.

Industry standard is thrown around a lot, does anyone know of any skis built with 'standard' materials?

It really depends on the manufacturer's goals and standards. Some companies (both large and small) are in it for the money, and some (both large and small) are very passionate about the products they produce.

Take Atomic for example. Atomic produces more skis than any other manufacturer, so arguably the "biggest". But Atomic also does some ultra "boutique-y" things too- the machines/presses we use are all custom made in-house to our exact specifications. Edges, bases, top sheets, wood cores, sidewalls, etc are all made by us in-house, which mean that everything is custom built by us for our exact specification. Also, there is only enough material on hand to last 4 days- nothing sits around getting stale or warped or weird, it's all super fresh. After the skis are pressed and hand finished, they are individually weighed and flex tested, and then paired with their ideal mate. This ensures that when you get a pair of skis, they have been literally matched together for you as a pair.

So, in the end, it is unfair to say all small brands are better than big brands, or big brands are better than small brands. Each brand has its own identity and its own goals, so make sure you pick the brand that best aligns with your own.

This ^

Well said Onenerdy