In the world of all-mountain skis, the Salomon Stance 96 and Salomon QST 98 are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for advanced skiers and offer a blend of performance, versatility, and fun. The Stance 96 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. It's a great ski for skiers who love to charge but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. On the other hand, the QST 98 is a highly-rockered, fun-loving ski that can quite literally do it all. It's built with a Poplar wood core, double sidewalls, carbon/flax stringers, and cork damplifier, allowing skiers to bend and flex the ski while having great grip to go along with playfulness and flotation. Both skis are excellent choices, but the final verdict will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences.

Salomon Stance 96 Skis · 2023 summary

The Salomon Stance 96 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced, all-mountain ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. This ski is designed for skiers who love to charge, but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. The Stance 96 is a great ski for skiers who love to charge, but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions.

The Stance 96 is built with a poplar wood core, carbon and flax materials, and double titanal layers, making it stiff, responsive, and stable at high speeds. Its full sandwich sidewalls provide excellent edge grip and a smooth carving experience. This ski is perfect for those who want to confidently tackle a variety of terrain and conditions.

The Stance 96 excels at long, fast carves, but as an expert skier, you'll find that Salomon achieves a really great balance that retains that fast carving ability, but allows you to make really fun, high-energy, short turns as well. This ski was built to ski groomers, no matter how recently groomed. They do it with poise and power.

However, these skis lack float and are firmly in the hard-snow camp for a mid-90s ski. They are also not meant to be taken into the park nor backcountry and would not excel there. Neither do they excel at riding switch.

Salomon QST 98 Skis · 2023 summary

The Salomon QST 98 is a highly-rockered, fun-loving ski that can quite literally do it all. Built with a Poplar wood core, double sidewalls, carbon/flax stringers, and cork damplifier, the QST 98 has a sophisticated construction that allows skiers to bend and flex the ski while having great grip to go along with playfulness and flotation.

The QST 98 is a great all-mountain ski for anyone skiing out west in most conditions or even east-coast skiers when it has snowed recently. Despite a lot of rocker on this ski, it still can be carved on fresh corduroy with confidence, making this ski a versatile option. It feels very eager to make quick turns and is one of the most maneuverable skis off the groomers, making fresh snow a blast to ski!

However, the QST 98's carving performance doesn't match skis with more metal. There are skis that can handle extremely hard charging better. Also, this ski is not designed for the terrain park outside of a few basic jumps, nor is it ideal for primarily icy conditions.

Similarities

Both the Salomon Stance 96 and the Salomon QST 98 are designed for advanced skiers and are built to handle a variety of terrain and conditions. They both have a Poplar wood core and double sidewalls, which provide stability and excellent edge grip. Both skis are also designed to be versatile, allowing skiers to make both long, fast carves and short, high-energy turns. They are both built to handle groomers with poise and power, and they both have a sophisticated construction that allows skiers to bend and flex the ski while having great grip.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are versatile, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The Salomon Stance 96 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. It's a great ski for skiers who love to charge, but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. However, it lacks float and is not meant for the park or backcountry.

On the other hand, the Salomon QST 98 is a highly-rockered, fun-loving ski that can quite literally do it all. It's built with a Poplar wood core, double sidewalls, carbon/flax stringers, and cork damplifier, allowing skiers to bend and flex the ski while having great grip to go along with playfulness and flotation. However, its carving performance doesn't match skis with more metal, and there are skis that can handle extremely hard charging better.

In terms of persona, the Stance 96 is perfect for the aggressive skier who loves to charge but also wants a ski that can handle less-than-ideal conditions. The QST 98, on the other hand, is ideal for the adventurous skier who wants a ski that can handle a variety of conditions and terrain, from fresh corduroy to fresh snow.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well, but the QST 98 takes the edge due to its highly-rockered design and ability to handle a wider range of conditions.

In terms of carving ability, the Stance 96 is the clear winner with its metal-reinforced design and excellent edge grip.

For playfulness, the QST 98 comes out on top with its fun-loving design and ability to flex and bend while maintaining great grip.

Finally, when it comes to price, the Stance 96 is the winner as it comes in slightly cheaper than the QST 98, making it an exceptional value amongst metal skis.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon Stance 96 and the Salomon QST 98 are excellent choices for advanced skiers looking for a versatile, all-mountain ski. The Stance 96 is a well-balanced, metal-reinforced ski that is smooth and quiet while remaining energetic and playful. It's a great ski for skiers who love to charge, but want something with just enough forgiveness to be fun in less-than-ideal conditions. On the other hand, the QST 98 is a highly-rockered, fun-loving ski that can quite literally do it all. It's built with a Poplar wood core, double sidewalls, carbon/flax stringers, and cork damplifier, allowing skiers to bend and flex the ski while having great grip to go along with playfulness and flotation. The final verdict will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences. So, whether you're a speed demon or a playful adventurer, there's a Salomon ski out there for you!