Stockli Edge 88 Review: A Lighter Stormrider Built for Hybrid Touring

Introduction

The Stockli Edge 88 sits in the growing category of hybrid skis built to tour and to ride lifts. It is essentially a touring-oriented version of the Stormrider 88, which means it inherits the same family character: precision, dampness, smoothness, and a composed feel underfoot. The difference is weight. The Edge 88 trims material from the profile and the core to bring the number down while keeping the construction philosophy intact.

That combination makes it a genuinely interesting option for skiers who want one ski to cover both sides of the day.

Who the Stockli Edge 88 Is For

This ski is aimed at skiers who split their time between touring and resort riding, and who are not willing to give up high-end downhill composure to get there. It accepts the full range of bindings. A straight alpine binding makes sense if you plan to ride lifts all day, and a lightweight tech binding turns it into a dedicated touring setup. Nothing about the ski forces a single interpretation.

That versatility is the point. Skiers who own one pair and want it to handle a dawn skin, a long ridge traverse, and a lift-served afternoon are the natural audience here.

The Edge 88 also appeals to riders who already like the Stormrider feel but find the standard build heavier than they want to push uphill. The Edge keeps the smooth, planted character and asks less of the climber.

Main Strengths of the Stockli Edge 88

The construction is the headline. A lightweight wood core carries a titanal laminate, which is where the ski’s smoothness and stability come from. Keeping that metal layer while reducing overall mass is a difficult balance, and it is the main reason the Edge 88 feels more composed than its weight suggests.

At 174 cm, the ski measured 1,531 g, close to the 1,500 g mark. That is not the lightest number in the touring segment, and it is not meant to be. The trade is deliberate: slightly more mass on the way up in exchange for a downhill ride that feels confident and settled.

The shape has been adjusted for touring. The tail is flatter than the Stormrider’s, which makes skinning easier, and the turn radius is roughly a meter longer. There is also a slightly longer cut that helps in softer snow. The ski asks the rider to dictate the shape and duration of the turn rather than pulling into a carve automatically, and the longer turn shape makes it easy to maneuver without feeling hooky or catchy.

The profile stays close to the Stormrider’s. Camber underfoot, a modest amount of tip rocker, and just a small amount of splay in the tail. It is not an elongated rocker design. A skin tail fixation point at the end of the ski keeps things square and practical for the touring half of the brief.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Weight is the honest trade-off. Skiers who prioritize climbing efficiency above everything else will find faster company in the 1,200 to 1,300 g range. The Edge 88 gives up some of that uphill ease, and the case for it rests on what happens after the transition.

The ski also rewards an active style. With the longer turn radius and the flatter tail, it does not generate turn shape on its own the way a tighter, more hooky ski might. Riders who like to let a ski do the work may need a few runs to adjust. Those who enjoy driving a turn and choosing their own line will feel at home quickly.

Finally, the modest rocker profile means this is not a deep-snow specialist. It handles softer snow well, but the design intent is a versatile all-mountain platform rather than a powder-first shape.

Buying Advice

Start with the binding, because that decision defines the ski. An alpine binding makes the Edge 88 a lift-served all-mountain ski with a lighter feel than the Stormrider. A lightweight tech binding turns it into a touring setup that still skis with composure on the descent. Either direction works, and the choice should follow the days you actually ski rather than the days you imagine.

Skiers who want one pair to cover both should think about where they spend most of their time. If the uphill is the point, a lighter dedicated touring ski will climb more easily. If the descent is the point, and touring is simply the way to get there, the Edge 88’s weight penalty is easy to justify.

Match the length to your height, weight, and how aggressively you ski. The 174 cm model weighed here is a useful reference point for the middle of the size range.

Conclusion

The Stockli Edge 88 delivers the Stormrider family’s precision, dampness, and composure in a lighter, slightly thinner package with a touring-friendly shape. It is not the fastest climber in its class, and it does not try to be. What it offers is a downhill experience that makes the extra grams on the way up feel like a fair trade.

For skiers who want a single hybrid ski at the top end of the precision spectrum, and who value the descent as much as the tour, the Edge 88 is worth a serious look.