2020 Salomon QST 92
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Ski Stats

Sidecut 128/92/111
Radius 18m @177cm
Lengths 153,161,169,177,185
Weight 1490g @ 177cm
MSRP $675
FIND
Power Score: 8.43

Finesse Score: 8.59

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Let the record show that no ski made as giant a leap forward in 2020 as the Salomon QST 92. In its two earlier incarnations it barely met our Recommended minimum standards, barely hanging on the tail end of the Finesse ski standings. Now it resides at the top, and the result is no fluke. The new QST has more of everything you want – edging power on trail, a better shape for off-trail, a more solid platform – and less of what you don’t want: tip chatter, indifferent grip, overall looseness. Salomon pulled off this coup by reconfiguring how it used its primary components, flax, basalt and, of course, carbon. The basalt and carbon are now woven together in an end-to-end matrix, while the flax gets its own mat directly underfoot. An all-poplar core is reinforced by a patch of Titanal in the mid-section and finished with new cork inserts in the tip and tail.

Let the record show that no ski made as giant a leap forward in 2020 as the Salomon QST 92. In its two earlier incarnations it barely met our Recommended minimum standards, barely hanging on the tail end of the Finesse ski standings. Now it resides at the top, and the result is no fluke.

When Salomon introduced the QST line, it needed to hit multiple price points, so the wider skis got the best tech while the lower-priced QST 92 was built less expensively. For 2020, the QST 92 gets the same treatment as its wider mates, the QST 99 and QST 106, and the difference is evident from the first edge set.

The new QST has more of everything you want – edging power on trail, a better shape for off-trail, a more solid platform – and less of what you don’t want: tip chatter, indifferent grip, overall looseness. Salomon pulled off this coup by reconfiguring how it used its primary components, flax, basalt and, of course, carbon. The basalt and carbon are now woven together in an end-to-end matrix, while the flax gets its own mat directly underfoot. An all-poplar core is reinforced by a patch of Titanal in the mid-section and finished with new cork inserts in the tip and tail.

The cork by itself is a major contributor to the new QST 92’s calmness, as it’s reputed to be 16 times more shock absorbing than the Koroyd honeycomb it replaces. What’s truly amazing is that the new, more torsionally rigid QST 92 comes in over 200g lighter than the 2019 version. Its strength to weight ratio has to be among the leaders, not in the AME genre, but across all categories.

Another best-in-show trait that’s not to be overlooked is the QST 92’s value. It earned the highest value score in our test, making it among the best buys of the season.

While our scores indicate the new QST 92 is still a Finesse ski, it’s Power scores made impressive gains over last year. The 2020 edition is much more accurate and substantially more secure at speed. It’s slightly slimmed silhouette – 2mm have been snipped off the extremities – also makes it a better off-trail tool, particularly in crud and/or bumps. “Good stuff for whatever the mountain brings,” summaries Steve Parnell of Peter Glenn. “A top contender for an everyday mountain tool,” agrees another PG tester, echoing a common sentiment.

Test Score Data

Total Score: 85.00
Early to Edge:
Continuous Carve:

Rebound/Turn Finish:

Stability/Accuracy @ Speed:
Short-radius Turning:
7.88
8.38
8.25
8.75
8.75
Off-piste Performance:
Low-speed Turning:
Forgiveness/Ease:
Drift/Scrub:
Finesse/Power Balance:
8.50
8.50
8.75
8.75
8.50