In the world of skiing, the Salomon QST 98 Skis and the Line Blade Optic 96 Skis are two top contenders for the title of best all-mountain ski. Both skis are designed to handle a variety of terrains and conditions, making them ideal for skiers who love to explore every inch of the mountain. The Salomon QST 98 is marketed as an all-mountain, freeride freestyle type of ski, with a midwidth of 98 mm, making it a great all-around, intermediate one ski quiver. On the other hand, the Line Blade Optic 96 is described as a playful all-mountain ski, solid at carving shorter-to-medium radius turns and super poppy. Both skis are praised for their versatility, stability, and maneuverability. However, they each have their unique strengths and weaknesses, which we will delve into in the following sections.

Salomon QST 98 Skis · 2024 summary

The Salomon QST 98 Skis are designed to be a versatile all-mountain ski that can handle a variety of conditions. They are marketed as a freeride freestyle type of ski, with a potential for backcountry touring. The ski is midwidth at 98 mm, making it wide enough to handle some powder but still has the camber underfoot to handle groomers and ski at resorts really well.

The QST 98 is described as a softer, more playful, freeride oriented ski compared to the stiffer, more hard charging, directional ski in Salomon's all mountain lineup. It has significant early rise in the nose and the tail which helps with the float. It's not super wide so won't be a perfect powder ski but it will float pretty well.

The ski is pretty forgiving and not super stiff. It has enough camber underfoot where skiing groomers is really fun. It has a cork damper in it so it reduces the chatter that you get from such a significantly early rise in the tips. It's a great all terrain ski you can use on the groomers, moguls, trees, powder, or backcountry. It'll work pretty well for everything!

Line Blade Optic 96 Skis · 2024 summary

The Line Blade Optic 96 Skis are designed to be a playful all-mountain ski. They are solid at carving shorter-to-medium radius turns and are super poppy. The ski has a nice, soft shovel, but it holds an edge through the turn. It's got a nice progressive sidecut, and it's got a fair amount of tip rocker and tail rocker. So that makes for easy turn initiation and better float if you get soft snow.

The Blade Optic 96 is a freeride ski that takes its cues from the Line Vision and the Line Blade. It's got the shape, the rocker camber profile of the vision, and it has the metal, as line puts it, gas pedal metal from the line blade. The ski is fairly stiff underfoot. It's not particularly flexible. It's not that easy to turn, especially on steeper firmer slopes. The tips, tails, however, are pretty loose, almost skiing like a park ski. They were kind of flapping around when going at speed.

The ski is easy turning. If you put it on edge and put a little bit of pressure in the middle of the ski, it's going to make really nice carved turns and has a nice amount of energy out of one turn into the next. It's a playful ski that's designed for maneuverability, but within that, it is a fairly stable ski. It's got a layer of Titanal from here all the way down. It's not the stiffest ski ever skied, but it felt really comfortable when the ski was on edge carving those medium radius turns at fairly high speeds.

Similarities

Both the Salomon QST 98 Skis and the Line Blade Optic 96 Skis are designed to be versatile all-mountain skis. They are both marketed as playful skis that can handle a variety of conditions and terrains. Both skis have a midwidth design, with the Salomon QST 98 at 98 mm and the Line Blade Optic 96 at 96 mm, making them wide enough to handle some powder but still have the camber underfoot to handle groomers and ski at resorts really well.

Both skis are praised for their maneuverability, stability, and ability to carve turns. They both have a significant early rise in the nose and the tail which helps with the float. They are both described as being forgiving and not super stiff, making them suitable for a wide range of skiers from intermediates to experts.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for all-mountain use, they each have their unique strengths and weaknesses. The Salomon QST 98 is marketed as a freeride freestyle type of ski, with a potential for backcountry touring. It's a great all terrain ski you can use on the groomers, moguls, trees, powder, or backcountry. It's a great all-around, intermediate one ski quiver. This ski would be ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a versatile ski that can handle all types of terrain and conditions.

On the other hand, the Line Blade Optic 96 is described as a playful all-mountain ski, solid at carving shorter-to-medium radius turns and super poppy. It's got the shape, the rocker camber profile of the vision, and it has the metal, as line puts it, gas pedal metal from the line blade. This ski would be ideal for advanced intermediate-to-expert skiers who like skiing with a relatively modern, neutral stance.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well in a variety of conditions and terrains. However, the Salomon QST 98 might have a slight edge due to its potential for backcountry touring.

In terms of carving, both skis are praised for their ability to carve turns. However, the Line Blade Optic 96 might have a slight advantage due to its gas pedal metal which provides better control at speeds.

For freestyle skiing, the Salomon QST 98 might be the better choice. It's described as a freeride freestyle type of ski and is praised for its pop and ability to handle jumps.

In terms of freeride, both skis perform well. However, the Line Blade Optic 96 might have a slight advantage due to its rocker camber profile and gas pedal metal which provides better control and stability.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon QST 98 Skis and the Line Blade Optic 96 Skis are excellent choices for all-mountain skis. They both offer versatility, stability, and maneuverability, making them ideal for skiers who love to explore every inch of the mountain. However, they each have their unique strengths and weaknesses. The Salomon QST 98 is a great all-around, intermediate one ski quiver, ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a versatile ski that can handle all types of terrain and conditions. On the other hand, the Line Blade Optic 96 is a playful all-mountain ski, solid at carving shorter-to-medium radius turns and super poppy, ideal for advanced intermediate-to-expert skiers who like skiing with a relatively modern, neutral stance. Ultimately, the best ski for you will depend on your personal preferences and skiing style.