Review: 2027 Salomon QST 106 Skis

If you’ve heard of Salomon, you’ve heard of its QST line of freeride skis. 

The skis have evolved in waist widths, construction, and lengths, but the core purpose of the QST has not wavered. These are skis made for the common man that work equally as well under the feet of bona fide freeride pros such as Mike Douglas, Cody Townsend, Josh Daiek, Delia Quinn, and even ski racer Alice Robinson.

The QST 106, in particular, feels like the most approachable ski in a line of very approachable skis. Our testers reveled in how easy it was to initiate a turn, how stable it felt edge-to-edge, and how nimble it felt dancing through the powder-caked trees of Grand Targhee.

While not the stiffest ski of our test, the Salomon QST 106 stood out as a do-it-all ripper that could serve as a powder ski out East and a daily driver out West.

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2027 Salomon QST 106 Specs

• Size skied: 181cm
• Lengths available: 157cm, 165cm, 173cm, 181cm, 189cm
• Sidecut: 139mm – 106mm – 126mm
• Radius: 19.5m at 181cm length
• Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
• Weight: 2000g (181cm)

Shape, Flex, and Construction

The first thing I always notice on the Salomon QST 106 is the tip. There’s an inappropriate joke somewhere in there, but I’ll move on before I get myself canceled. 

While not the widest of our test, the 139mm tip width is fairly wide for a 106mm underfoot ski. I find this to be particularly useful when charging through chopped-up snow and crud. While the tip floats, the dampness of the poplar wood core and the stiffness of the titanal binding reinforcements make it one of the easiest, if not the easiest, skis in our entire test to turn.

One of our testers described the Salomon QST 106 as the “perfect happy medium” between burly and forgiving. So much so that he surprised himself at how much fun he had on the QST 106.

On-Snow Performance

Owning a pair of Salomon QST 106s is similar to driving a Subaru Outback with all of the bells and whistles. It won’t be the best ski in any given category, but when it comes to reliably conquering and adapting to variable snow conditions and terrain, you would be hard-pressed to find something better.

Of all the skis I own, I find myself reaching for the Salomon QST 106s the most. Fresh snow? Check. Wind buff and sunny groomers? Check. Shit-f*ck snow and ice? Check, well, most times, anyways.

“There was never a moment of ‘oh, shit, I’m in the wrong situation for this ski,’” wrote one of our testers after a powdery day at Grand Targhee. “I could lay very solid carves on groomers without worrying about losing an edge. I could also make tight, hoppy turns whenever I wanted to.”

Our last day at Grand Targhee was the perfect time to test the Salomon QST 106. We started the morning with 20+ inches of untracked powder and ended with chopped-up, borderline refrozen mank by 4 p.m. Despite this, one of our testers opted to ski the QST 106 for nearly the entire day. “They’re the most approachable ski of the test I’ve encountered so far,” he said through huffs and puffs. We were on day six of skiing, and his legs were shot, but the QST 106 kept pulling through.

Some of my best days on skis over the last three seasons have been spent on a pair of Salomon QST 106s. Their ability to respond predictably, no matter what conditions I throw at them, keeps me coming back for more.

Comparisons

106mm underfoot seems to be a sweet spot for many big-name brands, and the Salomon QST 106 has its fair share of rivals.

With that said, the Nordica Unleashed 106 is burlier and not as approachable, and the Stockli Stormrider 108, despite having a very similar shape, is an enigma in and of itself, the burliest of the bunch.

The best comparisons I can think of, though not part of our test this season, are the Moment Wildcat 108 and the 4FRNT MSP 107.

What type of Skier is the Salomon QST 106 Best for?

The Salomon QST 106 is made for you. Seriously. 

As the most approachable ski in our test and yet considered one of the most fun among the best skiers participating, the Salomon QST 106 is a balanced mid-wide freeride ski for the masses.

I would hesitate making it my daily driver out East due to the 106mm underfoot, but if you think bigger is better, go for it. For Western skiers looking for a new pair that can do almost anything, look no further than the Salomon QST 106. 

Just don’t be surprised when you want to buy a new pair every year because you skied the absolute shit out of last year’s pair. I’m currently in that boat.