Stance pro w 82 review

Overview

The Stance Pro W 82 is the narrowest women's ski in Salomon's Stance Pro family: a frontside-leaning all-mountain ski for women who spend most of the day on groomed runs and want real grip when the snow turns firm. It is built on a full poplar woodcore with Salomon's Powerflex Ti laminate underfoot, full sandwich sidewalls and wide steel edges. The 26-27 version keeps the shape, construction and profile of the previous season. It comes in four women's lengths — 151, 161, 169 and 177 cm — and is sold either as a flat ski or as a package with Salomon's Mi11 GW binding on an Easytrak plate.

On-snow performance

With 82 mm underfoot and a radius that runs from 11 m in the 151 to 15 m in the 177, this is a ski that wants to carve. Salomon's All-Mountain Profile combines medium-to-high camber underfoot with progressive rocker in the tip and tail (about 15% tip and 12% tail rocker). In practice that means the ski enters a turn easily and releases cleanly, while the cambered section gives a solid platform on hardpack. Published reviews describe it as clearly piste-oriented, with ample edge grip and a strong exit from the turn thanks to a stiffer tail.

The narrow waist makes it quick from edge to edge, and the moderate tip rocker helps it through moguls and the chopped-up snow you find on the side of the run in the afternoon. It is not a powder ski: in deep or wind-affected snow the 82 mm platform runs out of float, and some reviewers note that it feels less settled at higher speed in variable snow than heavier skis with full-length metal.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: full poplar woodcore, described as delivering energy, stability and snow contact while filtering out vibration.
• Powerflex Ti: a titanal layer underfoot that runs the full width but not the full length of the ski and is split through the middle — it adds grip and damping without the stiffness of a full sheet.
• Sidewalls & edges: full sandwich sidewalls for precision, wide steel edges for grip and durability, tip and tail protection, and a base with 50% recycled content.
• Profile: All-Mountain Profile — Rocker/Camber/Rocker.
• Dimensions: 122/82/104 mm (151), 123/82/105 (161), 124/82/106 (169), 125/82/107 (177).
• Radius: 11 / 12 / 14 / 15 m.
• Weight: 1190 / 1350 / 1500 / 1690 g per ski.

Weight climbs steeply with length: the 151 and 161 are light for a ski with a titanal laminate, while the 177 carries the mass of a full-size unisex ski.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Stance Pro W 82 suits intermediate-to-advanced women — and stronger skiers who like quick, short turns — who ski mostly groomers but want a ski that copes with moguls and the occasional detour off the side of the piste.

Next to the Armada Antimatter 82 w it swaps a metal-free caruba-and-carbon build for a titanal laminate underfoot, which gives it a more planted, damp feel on hard snow. The Volkl Mantra 84 w is a slightly wider option with a titanal frame and a more freeride-flavoured character. The Volkl Blaze 82 w is the lighter, more off-piste-minded choice with a freeride rocker. Within Salomon's own range, the Salomon Stance pro 82 is the unisex sibling that continues into longer lengths, while the Salomon Stance pro w 88 adds width and a double-titanal build for more all-mountain range.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Strong edge grip and a powerful turn exit on groomed snow.
• Quick edge-to-edge response from the 82 mm waist and short radii.
• Powerflex Ti adds damping without making the shorter lengths heavy.
• Four lengths from 151 to 177 cm cover a wide range of heights.
• Available as a flat ski or as a package with the Mi11 GW binding.

Cons

• Limited float in deep snow and soft off-piste conditions.
• Can feel less composed at speed in variable snow than full-metal skis.
• The stiffer tail asks for an active, centred stance; tentative skiers may find it demanding.
• Weight rises steeply in the 177, so the longest length loses the light feel of the shorter ones.

Verdict: The Stance Pro W 82 is a frontside-first women's all-mountain ski with a full poplar core and a titanal laminate underfoot. For women who carve groomers most of the day and want a ski that grips and drives out of the turn, it is one of the more precise options at this width.