The Steadfast sits between the Burner and the Hell & Back skis in Nordica’s sidecountry range – with a 90mm waist, the Steadfast is somewhat more focused on groomed snow than the Hell & Back, but still well able to cope with softer snow.

With dimensions of 132-90-118mm, the Steadfast is in somewhat similar territory to the Scott Crusade and the K2 Aftershock, at least in terms of its dimensions. The ski has a slight rocker tip, but an otherwise conventional camber underfoot and in the tail. Nordica have used a carbon composite stringer in the wood core which has reduced the weight of the ski by around 20% as against a full wood core, which makes it more of a tempting proposition to those who fancy using it for some uphill work. Nordica also make pre-cut skins to fit the Steadfast, and the tails feature notches to accommodate the skins’ fittings.

However, despite its lack of mass, the Steadfast is no lightweight in the performance department. It’s an energetic ski with plenty of rebound, so feels much more lively than a damp ski like the Volkl Mantra, and yet – given its low weight – it is surprisingly solid through carved turns on hardpack.  The 18m radius is a useful compromise between on piste edging performance and off piste stability.

Overall, the Nordica Steadfast is a good choice for a skier who wants a fairly light ski capable of touring, but without compromising its on piste performance too much.

•  Light enough for touring but without compromising on and off piste ability
• Can be paired with pre-cut skins

• None really if you want a touring ski that is also capable in bounds, though if you’re not going to do any uphill work, there are other skis that may suit you better