The Escape 5 from Salomon is designed for beginner, intermediate, and recreational skiers who want an easy-to-use, forgiving XC ski that’s right at home both at touring centers or in un-groomed scenarios like backyards, power lines, and more. Salomon uses their Densolite 1000 core construction, which keeps the overall weight down to just 750 grams. The G2 Plus Grip system is designed to offer plenty of grip for uphills. These won’t be the fastest classic skis out there, but that’s not their intention. Fischer puts more emphasis on a user-friendly feel and lots of grip rather than speed, which makes a lot of sense. Beginner skiers shouldn’t have to worry too much about their technique, and benefit more from a ski with a forgiving kick zone and a big sweet spot.
Jeff Neagle took the Escape 5 out for a few laps and thought they were a great ski for most recreational skiers. “If you’re just looking to get outside and get some exercise while cruising around a touring center or just a field full of snow, you really don’t need much more than the Escape 5.” They’re not particularly fast, but you can still do some nice kicking and gliding on them in the groomed tracks.
CONSTRUCTION
PREFERRED TERRAIN
“Outside of the tracks, they perform really well too. Not super wide for soft snow, but the softer flex pattern gives you a good connection to the snow so you get a lot of grip even in bump, variable conditions.” That’s good feedback from Jeff, and valuable information for anyone who’s planning on using these skis in their backyard or anywhere you won’t find groomed Nordic trails. We know a lot of skiers are looking for skis to do just that, so don’t overlook the Escape 5 just because it’s on the narrower side, it’s still a very versatile XC ski that feels right at home both in and outside of touring centers.
Perhaps the best thing about the Escape 5 is its value. At just over $200, they offer a lot of performance at a very reasonable price. It’s pretty amazing to think just how far skis like this have come, as these days you don’t need to spend a lot to get a lot. You could outfit the whole family with skis for under $1000, which is really good.
