All of the buyer’s guides are good and packed with useful information but remember that magazines sell advertising and will rarely if ever have anything negative to say about a ski.  The buyer’s guides should be a reference tool that you use to help narrow your choices and fact check the salesperson that you discuss your buying options with.

Most ski rags will rate skis by the type of terrain they are intended for. Read as many “buyers guides” as possible. You can’t put a price on knowledge.  Once you’ve chosen what you think is best stay subjective. Our “try before you buy” Demo philosophy is a huge advantage for anyone looking to ski the latest technologies before they make a purchase.

Different magazines organize their information differently.  Find a style that suits you and stick with it.  The end result of the reviews will not differ that much.  Remember, this is research material.  Use the issues as background information.  Nothing will assist you in making your decision more than face to face time with an experienced sales person.  Buyer’s guides are good tools to assist you in classifying what type of skier you are as well as what type of ski you should be looking at.

Buy all of them.  Compare the information with your skiing style and make your decision on all the in-put.

I don't think that there really is a best "buyers guide". You should use the "guides" as guides to educate yourself of new models and what skis you may want to try. Find a shop that has the ski(s) you are interested in and demo the ski(s) for a day. Demoing skis are if possible are a great way to "try before you buy". Speaking to a reliable sale professional is always going to be the best way to find out firsthand about a particular ski or boot.

Seems like most buyers guides are just supplemental advertising. Go to manufactures’ websites and learn about your particular style of board. Compare boards that are in similar price ranges.

I like both Transworld & Snowboarder.  Maybe Snowboarder a little more!  You can use them as great starting points to see what’s new every year.  They both do a great job of breaking up the different categories of boards and they do give you what prices to expect.