Salomon QST 106 (2023) Review: More Float, Shorter Effective Edge, Same Composure

Introduction

The Salomon QST 106 has built a reputation as one of the most dependable crud skis in the freeride all-mountain class, and the 2023 version refines that formula rather than replacing it. The waist stays at 106 mm, the rocker-camber-rocker profile carries over, and the turn radius remains 19 meters. The changes live at the tip, the tail, and the section underfoot.

Testing covered a broad spread of conditions: powder days in medium-density, structured snow, a February thaw with wind and rain, firm and refrozen groomers, and low-tide days in the trees. That range is useful because it separates a ski that only works in fresh snow from one that keeps functioning when the mountain gets difficult.

The short version: the new QST 106 floats better than the ski it replaces, feels shorter and looser underfoot on firm snow, and keeps the composure that made the previous generation such an effective crud buster. It is still a ski that asks for input rather than one that turns for you.

What Changed for the 2023 QST 106

The most obvious change is the tip shape. The new ski uses more early taper, following the same direction Salomon took with the QST 98 and the QST Blank. Listed tip width is unchanged for a given length, but measuring across the widest point of the edge shows roughly two millimeters more edge contact, which indicates the widest point has moved further down the ski. The practical result is more surface area in the tip and a little more float.

The tail changed as well. Tail rocker is longer and carries slightly more splay, and the tail taper has been reworked. On the previous version the widest point sat closer to the tail, while the new shape tapers down earlier. Taken together with the new tip, the outcome is a shorter effective edge when the ski is tipped over on firm snow.

The rest of the profile stays familiar. It is still a rocker-camber-rocker design with a 19 meter turn radius, so the new ski has not become a tighter-turning, more aggressive shape. Salomon also shortened the effective edge less on this model than on the QST 98 and QST Blank, deliberately leaving more of the turn shape up to the skier.

Who This Ski Is For

This is a ski for riders who want one setup that handles most of a season. A 106 mm waist with rocker at both ends covers powder, chopped-up snow, and groomers without demanding a second pair in the garage, and the shape stays manageable in trees and tighter terrain.

It suits skiers who are happy to drive the ski. The 19 meter radius and the drifty tip entry reward deliberate input more than they reward a passive stance, so it tends to appeal to riders who like choosing their own line and their own turn shape.

It also suits riders who want the option of touring without committing to a dedicated backcountry setup. The QST line has always paired naturally with hybrid touring bindings, and this version continues that approach. Anyone who mostly skis lifts and occasionally heads out through a gate will find more to like here than someone planning long, repeated ascents.

Main Strengths

The strengths of the 2023 QST 106 are closely tied to the changes at the tip and tail. Float improved, the effective edge got shorter, and the underfoot section got stiffer to compensate. That combination shapes how the ski behaves across snow types.

Float and Powder Performance

In medium-density, structured powder the tip planes early and stays up. The tail follows the same logic, rising back out of the snow rather than digging in, which makes it easy to steer from the back of the ski without leaning back. The motion is best described as bobbing, in the way a fishing float pops back to the surface as soon as it is pushed under.

Float held up even in a shorter length. On the 181 cm, a size that can feel catchy or divey on some powder skis, the QST 106 never felt like it was running out of support. Larger or heavier skiers have the 188 and 189 cm options to smooth things out further.

Crud and Variable Snow

Chopped-up snow is where this ski has always stood out, and the new version keeps that edge. The taper at the tip catches disturbed snow and pops up rather than ploughing through it, and the tail offers the same behavior for steering out of a turn. Even without metal in the build, the ski settles the surface instead of transmitting every lump to the skier.

Composure on Firm Snow

A shorter effective edge does not automatically mean a nervous ski. On groomers and firm snow the QST 106 stays composed when it is skied hard, and it carves well for a ski of this width. What it does not do is yank the skier into a turn. The entry point is a little drifty, and the 19 meter radius prefers longer, straighter arcs. Skiers who want to be pulled across the fall line will need to supply that direction themselves.

Agility in Trees and Tight Terrain

On low-tide tree days the ski felt quick and easy to turn, and it handled tight spots without complaint. The carbon and flax blend in the layup gives it carbon’s energy without the harsh, pingy feel that some stiff skis develop, so it stays smooth and supple while remaining responsive.

Construction, Weight, and Mounting

Under the topsheet the layup is largely familiar: a full-length poplar wood core, Salomon’s carbon and flax blend, and cork damping material in the tips and tails, where vibration control matters most. The addition for 2023 is the double sidewall, a high-density ABS layer injected over the existing full-length sidewall. It stiffens the underfoot area, which matters once the effective edge has been shortened and there is no metal to fall back on.

Weight dropped by around 100 grams, with the 181 cm length landing just under 2,000 grams. That is not a featherweight for a 106 mm ski, and the mass is part of why the ski feels as stable as it does.

Mounting works well on the recommended line. There is some multi-directional influence in the shape, less than in the QST 98, and the ski handled 180s and switch skiing without trouble. Moving the bindings a centimeter or two forward is a reasonable option for skiers who want to ski switch more often, though going too far into the camber is not advised. This is not a purpose-built twin tip.

Touring and Binding Options

Salomon lists the Shift 13 and STH 13 among the recommended bindings, and the QST 106 makes the most sense as a hybrid setup for riders who split their time between the resort and the sidecountry. The trade-off is straightforward: a few hundred extra grams to push uphill. For short tours, a lap out the gate, or a day of mixed lift and skinning, that is a fair trade for how the ski performs on the way down.

If touring is not part of the plan, the ski works just as well as a pure resort option. It was also skied with the new Strive 16 binding, and nothing about the ski requires a touring-capable binding to perform.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The QST 106 rewards an active skier. If you prefer a ski that initiates turns for you, or you spend nearly all your time on hardpack, the longer radius and drifty tip entry will feel like work rather than an advantage.

It is also not a dedicated powder ski, a dedicated touring ski, or a park ski. It sits in the middle of all three, which is the point, but riders with one narrow, specific need will find a more focused tool elsewhere.

Length selection deserves attention. The 181 cm floats well and stays maneuverable, while heavier or more aggressive skiers may want the 188 or 189 cm to gain a little more stability and surface area.

Buying Advice

The decision comes down to how much of your season you want one ski to cover. If you want a single setup for powder days, chopped-up snow, groomers, and the occasional sidecountry lap, the QST 106 is a strong candidate because it does not fall apart when conditions turn rough.

Binding choice shapes the rest. A hybrid touring binding such as the Shift 13 turns the ski into a genuine one-quiver option for riders who split their time between lifts and short ascents, while a standard alpine binding keeps the setup lighter on the descent and simpler to live with.

If you already own a wider powder ski or a narrower carving ski, think about where the gap in your quiver actually is. The QST 106 makes the most sense as the ski you reach for when you do not know what the day will bring.

Conclusion

The 2023 Salomon QST 106 is an evolution done with restraint. The tip and tail changes add float and shorten the effective edge, the double sidewall restores the stiffness that the shorter edge gives up, and the weight dropped by around 100 grams along the way. The result is a ski that handles deep snow better than its predecessor while keeping the composure that made the previous version a standout in crud.

It is not a ski that flatters a passive stance. The 19 meter radius, the drifty tip entry, and the lack of metal mean it responds best to a skier who is willing to give it direction. For anyone who wants one setup that covers resort days, variable snow, and the occasional tour, that trade is easy to accept.