Salomon MTN 86 Carbon — Expert Review

Overview

The Salomon MTN 86 Carbon is a lightweight touring ski that still feels composed on the descent. At 86 mm underfoot, with traditional camber, a short tip rocker, and a relatively flat tail, it’s built for efficient climbs, confident edge hold, and precise, predictable turns on firm and mixed snow. The cork tip damper does real work to calm down carbon’s usual chatter.

Key takeaways

• Lightweight efficiency: climbs fast without feeling flimsy on the way down.
• Hard‑snow confidence: high camber and full sidewalls deliver edge hold and stability.
• Versatile for its width: tip rocker helps in soft snow, but 86 mm still has limits in deep powder.
• Calmer than many carbon builds: cork in the tip adds damping for a smoother ride.

Who is it for?

• Tourers who prioritize low weight and long days, but won’t compromise on edge hold and predictability when conditions get firm or steep.
• Skiers who like a traditional feel with clean, medium‑radius arcs and strong support from the tail.
• Less ideal if your tours regularly target deep, blower powder or you want a surfy, playful feel.

Construction and features

• Karuba wood core with carbon reinforcement: low weight with solid torsional stiffness.
• Full sandwich sidewalls: precise power transfer and bite on ice.
• Cork Damplifier tip: reduces vibration, improving composure in chop and refrozen snow.
• Recycled materials: roughly 30% recycled topsheet and ~50% recycled base content.
• Tail skin clip: quick, secure transitions in the backcountry.

On‑snow performance

• Uphill: excellent efficiency; low swing weight helps in kick turns and technical skin tracks.
• Firm snow/ice: strong edge hold for the width; the 18–19 m sidecut prefers medium‑length turns and feels planted.
• Variable snow: noticeably calmer than many carbon tourers; still light, so stay centered and active when it gets rough.
• Powder: tip rocker helps, but 86 mm only goes so far—consider 88–95 mm if soft‑snow days are your norm.
• Steeps/couloirs: flat tail, torsional grip, and predictable camber inspire confidence for precise placements and speed checks.

Comparisons

• Blizzard Zero G 85: lighter and more laser‑like on ice, but more demanding. The MTN 86 rides smoother and is more forgiving in mixed snow.
• Dynafit Blacklight 88: lighter and wider for the climb; Salomon is more damped and predictable in punchy or breakable conditions.
• Fischer Transalp 86 Carbon: similar mission; Salomon feels a touch calmer, while the Fischer is a bit livelier.
• Elan Ripstick Tour 88: more float and play but a bit heavier than the Salomon in comparable lengths.

Mounting and setup tips

• Bindings: Marker Alpinist, ATK Raider, or Salomon MTN Summit keep weight low; pick a slightly beefier tech binding if your descents are priority one.
• Length: go true‑to‑size for stability; size down for tight trees/technical tours, size up if you value high‑speed composure and steep security.
• Mount point: the factory line works well; at most +1 cm if you want quicker turn initiation.

Specs (with what they mean)

• Rocker/Camber: high camber + short tip rocker, flat tail — maximizes edge contact and stability while easing turn entry.
• Dimensions: 120‑86‑106 mm (172 cm) — 86 mm is quick edge‑to‑edge; tip/tail shape influences float and turn support.
• Sidecut radius: 18 m (172 cm) — stable, medium‑arc turns; composed at speed in variable snow.
• Weight: about 1150 g (172 cm, per ski) — efficient on the skin track with enough mass to feel planted downhill.
• Build: karuba core, carbon layup, full sidewalls, cork tip — stiff, light, and better damped than many pure carbon skis.
• Lengths: 148/156/164/172/180 — a useful range for different rider sizes and objectives.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What length should I choose for the Salomon MTN 86 Carbon?
A: Choose roughly your body height for balanced stability and edge hold. Size down slightly for technical touring or tight terrain; size up for more high‑speed composure and steeps.

Q: Is 86 mm enough for powder?
A: For 10–20 cm of fresh it’s fine, aided by the tip rocker. In deeper, low‑density snow, an 88–95 mm touring ski will float easier and be less work.

Q: How does it compare to the Blizzard Zero G 85?
A: The Zero G 85 is lighter with even sharper edge hold but feels more demanding. The MTN 86 Carbon is calmer and more forgiving while still very capable on firm snow.

Q: Which bindings pair well?
A: Lightweight tech bindings like Marker Alpinist, ATK Raider, or Salomon MTN Summit match the ski’s character and keep the system weight low.