2021 Salomon QST 99

Typically, the 99ish underfoot ski in a model line is considered the flagship model, and that holds true with the QST line from Salomon. The 2021 Salomon QST 99 returns unchanged, and that's just the way most skiers will like it. For 2020, they beefed up the build with the addition of cork, and changed the shape to make it a bit more turny, and by all accounts, those changes worked very well. Most skiers who were fans of the older QST 99 liked the updates, and skiers who had never been on a QST 99 before were immediately blown away at the versatility and all-around friendly nature of the skis. Like an SUV that spends most of its time on highways and city streets, the QST 99 has that off-road ability, but doesn't have to use it if it's not necessary. Conversely, these things have tremendous float and crud capabilities, you'll forget that they're capable of railing carved turns on groomers as well. Feel free to push hard into them and you'll get some good response on the back end. Not quite as stiff or stable as a ~99mm underfoot ski with multiple sheets of metal, but that's not what they're really going for here. These are more well-rounded and versatile than those other skis, and they certainly have their own clientele as well. Intermediate skiers looking to leap to the advanced category won't be intimidated by these, but experts who don't want to charge all the time will also feel right at home. The unchanged QST 99 is the ideal ski for the ultimate in all-mountain versatility and performance.

Phil McGrory got to ski the 188 and loved the long length. The increased taper of the ski does give it a bit shorter of an effective edge, so you can ski the longer size if you're stuck in the middle. Phil gave the ski pretty much all 4's out of 5 except for forgiveness and edge hold, which received 3's. Still, the overall scoring of the ski and the fact that they're consistent shows the consistency of the ski as well. Phil notes that the QST 99 was "damp at speed and grips the firm snow well for a ski at its width. They feel light yet they're still stable and lively. I'd recommend these for a lot of levels of skier from intermediate to expert." This shows the ski's ability to cross multiple lines in terms of target market as well as snow conditions, terrain, and turning ability-really a well-rounded ski.

Josh Wolfgang skied the 181 and calls it "my favorite QST. A blast if you want to play around all day and not take skiing too seriously. They can rail turns and slash on the sides of the trail as well." And in regards to being compared to that dual-metal laminate ski, Josh notes that the QST 99 "definitely has a limit, but some days you don't need a big burly ski that only starts performing at 40+ mph." Josh's overall impression score of 5 out of 5 and a quickness score of 5 are both quite impressive for these chameleon-esque skis. Marcus Shakun should be on the 188, but his 181 was just fine for testing purposes. It allowed him to note that the skis are very quick for 99's and that they have a very friendly nature that a lot of skiers will like. "The QST 99 is not for the guy who wants the highest performance, but just wants a trusty steed to do the deed. The ski doesn't require the attention that most high-end all-mountain skis do. The construction allows for a damper ride and flex, giving it a more laid-back feel."

So, our testers and contributors all note that the QST 99 has a spot in the somewhat less-demanding category, but that they're still capable of that high-performance quality. It's this type of duality that keeps the QST 99 in the mix for that top-billing in Salomon's line, and it's well-deserved.