2027 Salomon QST 94

For 2027, the Salomon QST 94 gets one new graphic option but otherwise returns unchanged. The Salomon QST 94 is one of the most well-rounded skis on planet Earth, making quick work of groomers, bumps, and trees without missing a beat. Built with a smooth and fun-loving character, these skis have a lot of energy to go along with a very progressive rocker profile and taper shape. These skis are incredibly poised, balanced, and well-rounded and will fit a huge number of skiers and their preferred characteristics. We put these skis thoroughly through the wringer this year and loved every second of it, regardless of terrain or snow conditions. That’s the mark of a truly good all-mountain ski.

Salomon works well with their layering of the construction of the skis here. Built with a full poplar wood core, the QST 94 also benefits from layers of basalt stringers embedded in the fiberglass laminate. While many of the QST skis have used a cork damplifier over the years, the 94’s get a large cork layup—one that extends into the sidewalls of the ski but is shaped more like a horseshoe. This is in both tips and tails and allows for the basalt stringers to fully extend in the ski, providing more energy and pep. The 180, as per Salomon, sits on the scale at 1810 grams per ski. This is not particularly light, but the ski’s ability to feel agile is uncanny at this weight. Tester Sarah Haggerty notes: “My first impression is visual, I thought the pattern was fun and bright, but something about when it plays off white snow, they look incredibly distracting and too iridescent, which feels distracting. The first skiing impression is that they ski a bit shorter than the size and the tips float above the surface and are a bit chattery at slower speeds in packed powder/icy conditions. At faster speeds they did carve well and hold an edge better. They would probably be great with more snow.”

Even for an all-mountain ski, the QST 94 does have some drama in the profile. The shape of the QST 94 is more turny and directional than the rest of the skis in the QST lineup, and that’s no accident. As a result of this footprint, the ski is an amazing carver with a bit of a rearward set mount point versus the 100. In addition, it drops a meter of sidecut radius to emphasize the shorter arc. The 180 uses a 16.5-meter radius to deliver impeccably short carves and amazing rebound. Salomon states a rocker profile that utilizes a 20% tip and 16% tail bend. This leaves not a lot of camber in the middle, but it still feels very balanced and symmetrical. Tester Kevin Ross states: “I really like the wider, more squared off tail and the more "normal" looking tip shape. It's intuitive and very fun. It's an all-mountain ski in the truest sense of the word. This would be a perfect single ski quiver for someone in New England.”

Overall, this ski is fun, energetic, and incredibly well rounded. We found that this ski steered so much better than almost anything else that’s not a QST. It’s not that it turns well; it steers so competently in any type of turn or any condition. As such, it’s going to be super-helpful for skiers who are looking to improve and still be supported by the ski instead of being overpowered. While it does have some weight to it, it’s more that the QST 94 is predictable and confidence-inspiring in a huge range of snow conditions and terrain. If you are not sure which mid-90's ski to get after all this, get this one.