About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2022.

My take

The 2023 Salomon QST 98 is an all-mountain ski that can carve and play in the powder too. These are great for an intermediate to advanced skier.

About the skis I own

• Model: 2023 Salomon QST 98
• Size: 183cm

About me

• Height: 6’0’’
• Weight: 185lbs
• Experience: 26 years skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought these: October 2022
• Days tested: 15+
• Mount position: Factory Recommended
• Boots:2022 Salomon S/Race 130
• Boot Size: 26.5
• Bindings: 2022 Salomon Warden 13 MNC
• Where I’ve used it: Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood
• Terrain: Groomer, mixed snow, powder

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a ski that could shred it all. A ski that could ski both powder and groomer and everything in between. As a 98 underfoot, this ski gives a perfect amount of float and carving ability.

Why I chose this gear

I chose these skis because they were able to carve well, they floated decently, and they were able to ski it all. The Salomon QST series has always been a fun all-mountain ski, but the new 2023 rendition are a great upgrade that are fast, nimble, and fun.

What I love about them

• Speed: Out of the plastic, these aren’t too quick, but once I got some good waxing and a good tune, they really sped up.
• Edge hold: With the petal-to-the-metal skiing really hard on some groomers, these can hold that edge surprisingly really well. With a rocker/camber/rocker profile, these have a great hipped shape to them—allowing me good edge hold.
• Turns: As a medium-turn-radius ski, these QST 98s have a 17m turn radius. They can handle big, long turns well, and they are light and quick enough that they can make quick, sharp turns on the smaller side. They can handle big turns because of their partial carbon and metal core, combined with the dampened and absorbing wood core.
• Groomers: These skis can charge and carve on the groomers well. These are by no means racing skis, but these can lay down some decent turns on the hard pack.
• Powder: With an underfoot of 98, these are decent widths underfoot to ski in soft snow. They’re not ideal for deep, deep powder days but can get the job done right on a day with 3-6 inches of new.
• Trees: They’re pretty quick and nimble, so they can cruise through the trees with ease. Again, being 98mm underfoot, they are pretty easy to move.
• Backcountry: With a waist of 98, they can cruise powder, mixed snow, and some hardpack. Being lightweight, these would be a great ski option for the backcountry.
• Durability: With a TPU glossy top sheet, these skis can handle a lot of ski-to-ski contact and haven’t had any serious damage after 15 days of skiing so far.
• Weight: Weighing in at 1970g a ski, these are a decently lightweight ski option.
• Switch riding: This is a partial twin-tip ski, so it can ride switch decently. Though they’re not meant for full-time switch riding, it rides well backward.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Stability: At high speed, these don’t handle the chatter well. They do shake a lot and don’t dampen as much as I would have assumed so.
• Any workarounds?: The 183 length is almost a touch too long, and the 176 is a touch too short.

Favorite moment with this gear

Taking these skis out for the first time this year was a blast. The nimbleness of these skis, the improved feel and response, and the ease of turn initiation all made these new Salomon QST 98s much more enjoyable than years before. Having a ski that can do it all on the resort hill is really fun—knowing I only need one ski for the whole day.

Value for the money vs. other options

Salomon skis are always a great price for what one’s getting. Sure, skis aren’t cheap, but these are great skis that can give one that power to unlock skiing for the entire mountain. Some other skis in its class are the K2 Mindbender 99 or the Nordica Enforcer 100. Both are well-designed, comparable skis.

Final verdict

From chasing freestyle skiing, to touring in the backcountry, these new Salomon QST 98 skis will do it all for a skier. With the new double sidewall technology, these skis can transmit power to the edges faster than ever. They ski it all with ease, which puts a big smile on my face.