Equipe sl 10 review

Overview

The Salomon Equipe SL 10 is the most accessible slalom model in Equipe, Salomon's new race-inspired line for 26-27, which takes the place of the S/Race models in Salomon's range. It is sold as a system package with the Salomon MI12 GW binding (DIN 4–12), so ski and binding come as one matched unit. On paper this is a genuine short-turn carver: a 121 mm shovel and 68 mm waist in every length, a tail that narrows from 106 mm at 150 cm to 104 mm at 170 cm, and a radius that grows one metre per size, from 10 m at 150 cm to 14 m at 170 cm. Salomon positions it below the Equipe SL 12 as the more forgiving choice for advanced piste skiers who want quick, precise turns with all-day comfort and easy handling.

On-snow performance

The 68 mm waist and tight radius point to fast edge-to-edge transitions and short, rhythmic turns on groomed snow. Two sheets of titanal around a full poplar core should give real bite on firm and icy pistes, while the poplar core and the thinner 4 mm ABS sidewalls are where Salomon finds the extra tolerance compared with the SL 12 and SL Pro, which step up to 7 mm sidewalls and ash in the core. The result we expect from the spec sheet is a ski that pulls into the turn readily at moderate speed and forgives a slightly late edge change, rather than one that demands race-level pressure on every arc. At 1,790–1,870 g per ski it is also noticeably lighter than the SL 12. The limits are equally clear: the short radius wants to finish turns, so long, fast GS-style arcs are not its strength, and soft or ungroomed snow is outside its brief.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: full poplar woodcore, which Salomon says maximises liveliness, stability and ski-to-snow contact while filtering vibrations.
• Metal: double titanal, one layer on either side of the core (0.6 mm + 0.4 mm).
• Sidewalls: full sandwich construction with 4 mm ABS sidewalls and a 4° side edge angle.
• Edges: a wider steel edge that tolerates more sharpening sessions.
• Profile: Salomon's racing profile.
• Binding: Salomon MI12 GW, GripWalk compatible, DIN 4–12.
• Lengths and shape: 150 cm (121/68/106, R10 m), 155 cm (121/68/105, R11 m), 160 cm (121/68/105, R12 m), 165 cm (121/68/104, R13 m), 170 cm (121/68/104, R14 m).
• Weight: 1,790 g (150) to 1,870 g (170) per ski.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Equipe SL 10 suits advanced skiers who spend their days on groomers, like short turns and want race-style grip without the stiffness of a full race-room build. If you ski faster and harder, the Salomon Equipe sl 12 is the step up: an ash insert in the core, PCS cork damping, 7 mm sidewalls and a P749 race plate with the I12 TL GW binding, at roughly 360 g more per ski at 160 cm. Above that sits the Salomon Equipe sl pro with a solid ash core and full camber. Against the Salomon S race sl 10, the model whose place Equipe takes in the range, it keeps the same 121/68 mm shape family and adds a 150 cm length. Outside Salomon, the Elan Ace sl11 is a comparable 68 mm slalom carver that uses a single Mono Ti sheet instead of two, and the Rossignol Hero elite st ti offers a beech core with one titanal layer across a similar 11–14 m radius range.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Tight 10–14 m radii make short, rhythmic turns easy to string together.
• Double titanal gives real grip on hard and icy pistes.
• Poplar core and 4 mm sidewalls make it the most forgiving Equipe SL.
• Light for a double-metal slalom ski at 1,790–1,870 g per ski.
• Five lengths from 150 to 170 cm, including a new short 150 cm.

Cons

• Short radius limits it in long, high-speed turns.
• Strictly a groomer ski; soft snow and bumps are outside its brief.
• Strong, aggressive skiers will want the stiffer SL 12 or SL Pro.
• Sold only as a system package with the MI12 GW binding.

Verdict: The Equipe SL 10 is Salomon's entry point into proper slalom carving: double titanal grip and short radii, softened by a poplar core and thinner sidewalls. It is the right Equipe SL for advanced piste skiers who want precision without race-level demands.