This is a long-named ski that flies under the radar for sure. Just like the men's version, the QST Myriad 85 doesn't get a whole lot of press or recognition, but it really should. Unchanged for 2021 except for graphics, the Myriad does what it says it's going to do: myriad things. From steeps and trees to groomers and bumps, the 85 has the shape, profile, and construction to be all things to a huge number of skiers. There's not really a high-end or a visible low-end to this ski, as it not only punches way above its level, but also is able to handle slow speeds and easy skiing at the same time. Built with a poplar wood core and a semi-sandwich construction, don't be fooled by the lack of a full-vertical sidewall. The half-cap build actually works really well in this application, giving a bit of extra quickness to the skis, even though they're a bit heavier than their wider QST counterparts. Without the carbon and flax of the wider QST's, the 85 relies mostly on the wood for its stability and strength, and that does come at the cost of weight. What you get in return, though, is a smoother and more stable ride due to that weight, so if you prefer a bit of substance under your feet (by no means are they "heavy"), the QST 85 is a great choice for you. Our testers last year, both men and women, loved the 85 and its ability to handle any and all conditions and terrain. For just a simple ski at 85 mm underfoot and a wood core, these skis outperformed many expectations. A bit of metal underfoot in the mount zone does help with both binding retention as well as stability, so there is that bit of a bonus.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Groomers, All Mountain
Sam Purnell was a pretty big fan of this design and construction, scoring the 85 5's out of 5 for flotation, stability, quickness, maneuverability, and overall impression. For an expert skier and resident ski patroller, these are some high scores for what is billed as an "intermediate" ski. She skied the 161 and found it to be a good length, although she could also handle the 169 for sure. "I had a blast testing these! More rocker than other front-side skis, and that made the turns much more fun. The turn radius was great (16-meters at 161) and could handle the speed and aggressiveness that I ski with. Perfect for fun intermediate skiers on fast snow!" And in terms of that extra weight of the ski, Sam notes that "the weight of the ski is heavier allowing you to be more aggressive in the turns and at speed." Nice to know that by not tricking out the ski with extra materials and tech that it still holds up.
Morgan Nichols skied and thought the 161 was good for her as well, maybe a bit on the short side. 5 out of 5 for playfulness and a 4.5 for overall impression. "Great ski! So fun! Super-forgiving, quick, responsive, and secure. I really enjoyed this ski both for quick, short turns and big wide super-g turns." Great versatility there, it sounds like, again with an expert skier not having to dumb-down their skills or aggressiveness to fit the ski, the ski performs up to the skier's class. Carly Monahan also found the security and stability of the ski to be impressive. Her 161-cm tester was good for her, and she loved the torsional stiffness and edge hold of the ski with those categories earning a 5 out of 5. All other scores were 4's showing the well-rounded and versatile nature of these underrated skis. "Perfect amount of stiffness to push the speed limit a bit without feeling overly aggressive. They're playful and performed well with minimal effort." Sounds good to us, Carly! Lots of reward with not much work!
There's no real reason why these 85's shouldn't be more popular. They have a great overall personality and character for all-mountain skiing. From confidently carving front-side turns to dancing through the bumps and trees, what more do you really want from a ski?
