We don’t normally review skis that aim to sell for $399 for two main reasons: they’re built as much to hit a price point as match a performance profile, and we don’t often find them at the test venues we frequent. If we do get the chance to try one out, like the Pinnacle 85, it’s usually proffered with a confiding comment such as, “You won’t believe how well this skis for $399.”

As it turns out, the performance is usually within the bounds of credulity, but in the case of the Pinnacle 85 the claim is only mildly inflated. The Pinnacle 85 practically turns itself at the slower speeds where it’s most at home. Lighter weight skiers – tweeners come to mind – getting their first ski, particularly those who would just as soon skip messing around on groomers and head straight off-trail, will find the Pinnacle 85 a big improvement over the rental skis they learned on.