Classic kick and gliders who are looking for a light, fast ski with a skin grip will love the Salomon RC 10 E-Skin skis. The skin technology has really blossomed over the past few years, and has really taken over everything from the top-end race skis to some of the bulky backcountry skis. While kicker skins and full-length climbing skins have been in use for decades, these fast-moving skins are relatively new. What I like about them is that they take up less room on the base of the ski, allowing for a more natural glide and even flex. One of the things that I don’t like about the skins is that they don’t make the same high-pitched whining noise that the fish scales make, so I don’t know how fast I’m going. I always used to use that noise as an indicator of speed, and now it’s all quiet and fast. But in reality, it seems like the skin technology is here to stay, and these skis are also relying on classic shaping and build techniques to get you where you want to go in the sport of Nordic skiing.
Built arrow-straight, with a sidecut of 44/44/44, these Salomon RC 10 E-Skin skis are built to make purely straight kick and glide strides in the track. There’s no arc in the cut to speak of, so these things are definitely more at home in the groomed Nordic track versus anywhere else. As a result, we’re not going to see high versatility scores for these skis as they’re pretty pigeon-holed into legit in-track skiing. And that’s okay, you just have to know what your limitations and preferences are in the sport of cross-country skiing, and in this case, they’re classic in-track skis and not much else. They use Salomon’s D core, consisting of foam and carbon, so it’s a unique build that’s in the mid-range of the light weight and high-performance category, ideal for upper-end recreational and fitness skiers, landing just short of high school racers and competitive classic skiers.
CONSTRUCTION
Mohair Skin Base
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Samantha Purnell skied the 189 cm length, and while that might be a bit long for her, she loved it nonetheless, with scores of all 4’s right down the card. She found them to be on the light and maneuverable side, showing that high-end feel, and with an overall impression of 4 out of 5, it’s safe to say she was a fan of these skis. In terms of the grippiness of the ski and its ability to climb, Sam notes that it’s got an “aggressive skin, good for these icy/tough conditions. Lots of camber leads to good kick and glide. I love the adjustable binding plate, and being able to adjust the kick and glide is a huge advantage.” That plate is another common occurrence these days, allowing skiers to fine-tune the grip and glide of the ski depending on terrain and snow conditions. For a primarily in-track ski, Sam notes a bit of a dual-nature, stating that the RC 10 “felt stable going downhill both in and out of the tracks as well.” For a lot of skiers, they like to dabble both in and out, sometimes making the track do the work, and others having yourself being responsible for the vector of your skis.
If you’re looking for that top-end classic feel with a unique build and a skin grip, the Salomon RC 10 E-Skin is a fantastic choice. These things are super-straight and quite light, and they love to be pushed to the limit in the tracks. For that upper-level recreational and fitness-level skier who wants a race-like shape but a more user-friendly build, something like this should be at the top of your list.
