Steep, deep, and variable terrain are what the Salomon Outside 100 GRIP was built for. A wood core with fiberglass wrap, full-length steel edges, and an embossed grip pattern underfoot give this backcountry Nordic ski real off-track confidence, with enough width and edge bite to handle the kind of mixed snow and pitch where a skinnier touring ski runs out of road.

Why we like it:

Full steel edges on a Nordic ski this nimble is the headline. They turn variable, refrozen, or wind-blown snow from a hazard into something you can actually ski with intent. The tip notch for clip-on skins is also a smart touch when the climb steepens past what the embossed grip can handle.

Who it's for:

Intermediate to advanced intermediate skiers ready to head off the groomed track and explore steeper, deeper terrain on Nordic gear. It's a natural fit for tourers transitioning from a narrower fishscale ski into something with more float and bite, or for skiers who want one Nordic setup that can handle backcountry days as well as light off-trail exploration.

Highlights:

Salomon built the Outside 100 GRIP around a stable wood core with plastic reinforcement and a fiberglass wrap, the kind of layup that absorbs chatter from icy traverses without feeling sluggish on the climb. Underfoot, the embossed Posi Grip pattern gives you secure kick without the maintenance of klister or wax, while the Outside-specific sidecut, roughly 100 millimeters at the tip and 68 underfoot, brings real surface area for soft snow and a meaningful turn shape when you're carving down a descent. Full-length steel edges are the structural feature that makes the whole package work in steep variable conditions, and the Outside Full Skin Notch in the tip accepts the optional Outside Skin for the kind of sustained climbs where stick-on grip starts to lose purchase. The G1 base is finished with a Performance grind, tuned for the slower speeds and variable snow this ski sees.

Things to consider:

The Outside 100 GRIP is a backcountry tool first, so on hard-set groomed track it'll feel slower and more substantial than a dedicated touring or classic ski. The 175 cm single length covers a broad rider range but doesn't suit very small or very tall skiers, and the backcountry mounting standard means you'll need a BC-norm boot, not a standard NNN race boot.

Fit & sizing considerations:

The Outside 100 GRIP comes in a single 175 cm length, which is intentionally short for a Nordic ski of this width to keep it maneuverable in trees and on tight pitches. Skiers used to longer touring skis may feel the short length at first but quickly appreciate it once the terrain gets technical.