Equipe sl 12 review

Overview

The Salomon Equipe SL 12 is the middle 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 complete system: the ski comes on Salomon's P749 race plate with the I12 TL GW binding. The shape is a classic slalom carver's: 121 mm at the tip, 68 mm underfoot and a 105 mm tail at 155 and 160 cm that narrows to 104 mm at 165 and 170 cm, with radii of 11, 12, 13 and 14 m across the four lengths. Construction is a clear step up from the Equipe SL 10, with an ash insert in the poplar core, Salomon's PCS cork damping and 7 mm sidewalls, aimed at advanced and expert skiers who want short, fast turns with real power behind them.

On-snow performance

The spec sheet points to a quick, precise short-turn ski for firm groomers. Two titanal layers, the ash insert and the PCS cork inserts are all there to give grip and calm on hard snow and ice, and the 7 mm sidewalls are built for direct edge contact. Ski Essentials, which published a 2027 review of this ski, describes it as fast, precise and energetic, with very short, clean turns and strong grip on firm snow, and also as stiff, not forgiving and in need of a committed skier; one of their reviewers found it felt long for a pure slalom ski. That fits the construction: this is a ski that rewards pressure on the shovel and punishes a lazy stance. Off-piste and soft snow are not part of the picture.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: poplar woodcore with an ash insert; Salomon credits the poplar with stability, liveliness and forgiveness, and the ash with power.
• Metal: Double Ti, one titanal layer on either side of the core (0.6 mm + 0.4 mm).
• Damping: Power Control System (PCS), which fuses cork inserts with the titanal layer to damp vibration.
• Sidewalls: full sandwich construction with 7 mm ABS sidewalls and a 7° side edge angle.
• Edges: a wider steel edge that tolerates more sharpening sessions.
• Profile: racing profile, mainly camber with a short tip rocker (Salomon quotes 8% tip rocker).
• Plate and binding: P749 race plate with the I12 TL GW binding.
• Lengths and shape: 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: 2,150 g (155), 2,190 g (160), 2,290 g (165) and 2,320 g (170) per ski.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Equipe SL 12 is for strong piste skiers, ex-racers and club skiers who like to carve short turns at speed and want a ski that holds on hard snow. If you want more tolerance and a lighter ski, the Salomon Equipe sl 10 uses a full poplar core, thinner 4 mm sidewalls and the MI12 GW binding, and is around 360 g lighter per ski at 160 cm. For a more race-oriented build, the Salomon Equipe sl pro moves to a solid ash core and full camber. Compared with the Salomon S race sl 12, the model whose place Equipe takes in the range, it keeps the 121/68 mm slalom shape and the 11–14 m radius steps. Among other brands, the Head Worldcup rebels e sl is a 68 mm slalom ski with titanal and a race plate across 150–170 cm, and the Elan Ace speed magic slx pairs Dual Ti with Elan's R2 Frame Woodcore in a similar slalom shape.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Short 11–14 m radii for quick, clean slalom turns.
• Double Ti, ash insert and PCS cork target grip and calm on hard snow.
• 7 mm sidewalls give a direct, powerful edge connection.
• P749 race plate and I12 TL GW binding come matched in the package.

Cons

• Stiff and demanding; it punishes a backseat or passive stance.
• Heavier than the SL 10 at 2,150–2,320 g per ski.
• Strictly a groomer ski with no real range off the piste.
• No 150 cm length, unlike the SL 10 and SL Pro.

Verdict: The Equipe SL 12 is Salomon's serious slalom carver for skiers who already carve with commitment: race-style shape and metal, cork damping and a race plate, without going all the way to the solid-ash SL Pro.