The Escape 60 Outpath from Salomon is an interesting ski. Among skis with full metal edges, it’s just about the narrowest you’ll find, which actually increases its versatility considering that it’s narrow enough to fit into groomed classic tracks as well. You can use it on groomed trails as a touring center, but you can also venture into un-groomed terrain and created your own trails thanks to the full length metal edges and versatile Posigrip base system.
Jeff Neagle tested the 185 cm length in the Escape 60 Outpath and gave them the highest scores for maneuverability, stability, versatility, and grip. His low scores for speed and glide are not surprising, as the Escape 60 focuses more on a user-friendly feel rather than pure speed. “I think a lot of people would really enjoy these skis. They’re a little heavy because of the metal edge, but still feel pretty good in the tracks, better than I expected.” A lot of skis with metal edges are too wide for groomed classic tracks, which really takes away some of their versatility. It’s really nice to get performance that works in both situations, whether you’re at a touring center, or in un-groomed terrain.
CONSTRUCTION
Fish Scale Grip
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Jeff had some feedback for that application as well, commenting that “the tip shape seems to provide more float and better overall performance in soft snow than the width would suggest.” 60 mm is relatively narrow for a ski designed to go off trail, but Salomon’s smooth, rounded tip shape increases the ski’s overall performance when you take it into softer snow. “It performs really well as slow speeds exploring in the trees, but then you can get right back on trail and get a little more speed. It’s pretty fun to be able to do both of those things on one pair of skis.”
That versatility is definitely the highlight of the Escape 60 Outpath. They’re a great choice for skiers who want to do a little bit of everything, but only want to buy one pair of skis. You can join friends at a Nordic center and cruise groomed trails, then you can go explore on your own in your secret backyard powder stash without ever having to even change your boots!
