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Salomon QST Echo 106 Review

Heavy, albeit forgiving skis that are excellent for intermediate backcountry skiers or folks who want to optimize downhill performance
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Salomon QST Echo 106 Review (The QST Echo 106 is about as heavy as we recommend any dedicated, human-powered skier justifies. And, then, we...)
The QST Echo 106 is about as heavy as we recommend any dedicated, human-powered skier justifies. And, then, we recommend you consider that weight, and its pros and cons, very carefully.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Price:  $800 List
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Manufacturer:   Salomon
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 4, 2024
78
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 17
  • Weight - 25% 5.5
  • Firm Snow - 20% 8.0
  • Powder - 20% 9.0
  • Crud and Poor Snow - 20% 9.0
  • Stability at Speed - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Salomon QST Echo 106 is a high-performance downhill ski for fit humans powering their own ascents and descents. It is heavy for a touring ski but performs very well on the downhill. The expert skiers in our test team loved them, but the sweet spot for these skis is folks who struggle more on the downhill in untamed snow and tough terrain. This makes them a perfect companion for intermediate skiers who already have a solid fitness base but are new to the rigors of backcountry skiing. These fun skis earn a solid recommendation for the skier who wants a bit of extra downhill performance and doesn't mind the additional weight on the uphill. See how they stack up against the competition in our review of the best backcountry skis.
REASONS TO BUY
Damp
Floaty
Great edge hold
REASONS TO AVOID
Relatively heavy
Not the most stable at high speed
Editor's Note: We mounted the QST Echo 106 with Plum Oazo 8 bindings and tested them as an in-line ski through the 2022-2023 season. We updated this review on November 4, 2024, with new alternatives based on changes to our award-winning lineup.

Compare to Similar Products

 
salomon qst echo 106
Awards Top Pick Award
Optimized for Downhill Performance
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Backcountry Skis
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
  
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Heavier skis that offer meaningful performance on the downhill, ideal for newer backcountry skiers or for experts who don't mind trading a bit of efficiency for a bit more funThis relatively wide all-season ski is one of our favorites and great for all-around human-powered useReasonably affordable and great for a wide range of human-powered skiing, these are your backcountry "quiver-of-one"One of the best on the market, there is nothing remarkable about these skis, and that is a good thingSkis optimized for downhill performance across many circumstances and skillsets, but you'll pay a price in weight
Rating Categories Salomon QST Echo 106 Blizzard Zero G 105 K2 Wayback 106 Black Crows Camox F... Elan Ripstick 106
Weight (25%)
5.5
7.6
8.3
7.5
4.6
Firm Snow (20%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Powder (20%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
Crud and Poor Snow (20%)
9.0
8.5
7.0
7.0
9.0
Stability at Speed (15%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
Specs Salomon QST Echo 106 Blizzard Zero G 105 K2 Wayback 106 Black Crows Camox F... Elan Ripstick 106
Measured Weight Per Ski (g) 1779 1513 1436 1510 1858
Measured Length Tested (cm) 180 178 179 182 177
Measured Waist Width (mm) 105 105 105 97 106
Weight Per Surface Area Ratio (g/cm²) 0.8 0.72 0.68 0.71 0.86
Measured Weight Per Pair (g) 3557 3025 2872 3024 3715
Measured Weight Per Pair (lbs) 7.8 6.7 6.3 6.7 8.2
Manufacturer Claimed Length (cm) 181 180 179 183 180
Available Lengths (cm) 157, 165, 173, 181, 189 164, 172, 180, 188 165, 172, 179, 186 157.1, 164.3, 172.1, 178.4, 183.4 167, 174, 181, 188
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail (mm) 140/105/125 133/104/118 131/105/120 137/97/117 143/105/119
Manufacturer Claimed Dimensions (mm) 136/106/123 133/105/118 132/106/121 130/97/115 143/106/120
Turn Radius (m) 16 23 22.3 18 19.5
Construction Type Sandwich Sandwich Semi-Cap Sandwich Sandwich
Core Material Poplar, Caruba Paulownia Paulownia Paulownia, Poplar Tubelite
Rocker/Camber Profile Tip and tail rocker, camber underfoot Tip and tail rocker Tip and tail rocker, flat underfoot Tip rocker, camber underfoot Tip and tail rocker, camber underfoot

Our Analysis and Test Results

When the downhill part of your backcountry ski day matters the most, choose the Salomon QST Echo 106, especially if the snow is soft or variable. These weigh more than we usually recommend, but they ski way better than expected.

Performance Comparison


salomon qst echo 106 - the beautiful, ridgetop approach to the tetons' mayan apocalypse...
The beautiful, ridgetop approach to the Tetons' Mayan Apocalypse Couloir. This one has an involved approach and exit, but relatively straightforward skiing. The weight of the Echo 106 is an unnecessary burden on a ski day like this.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Weight


This is a heavy ski for human-powered adventures. Our tester pair weighed 1784 and 1773 grams, respectively. Using the common convention of discussing ski weights in grams per ski, that's an average of 1779 grams per ski. That makes for an average of 3557 grams, or 7.8 pounds for the pair or 3.9 pounds per ski.


No matter how you look at it, the QST Echo 106 is heavier than has become typical for backcountry skis. You will see advertising and catalog copy mention their low weight, but this is relative to the rest of Salomon's line. As compared to resort skis, these are indeed lightweight. As compared to the other modern touring skis in our lineup, they are quite heavy. But it's important to point out that these heavier skis also don't perform better than the Echo 106.

salomon qst echo 106 - the albedo effect of the lightly-colored echo 106 actually avoids...
The albedo effect of the lightly-colored Echo 106 actually avoids prodigious icing in a lot of situations. This keeps them lighter for you on the uphill.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Firm Snow


You don't typically choose 106 mm-waisted backcountry skis for firm snow. You also don't typically expect skis with a soft longitudinal flex pattern to do well on firm snow. Throw out your typical expectations with the QST Echo 106. These ski firm snow as well as other narrower, stiffer options. Therein is a recommendation for these skis and a cautionary tale in trying to generalize about specific construction or design attributes. Ski design and performance are complex and relative.


The outstanding firm snow performance of the Echo 106 is likely credited to the relatively stiff torsional flex pattern. With all of the skis we tested, we made a comparative examination of the torsional flex by performing a rudimentary “twisting” motion of the ski. Very few skis in our lineup were as resistant to this type of flex as the Echo 106. As long as you stick to lower, “backcountry appropriate” speeds and ski energy levels, these skis will handle whatever firm conditions you want to throw them into.

salomon qst echo 106 - we did some testing inbounds. here, last light on a mid-winter day...
We did some testing inbounds. Here, last light on a mid-winter day at Grand Targhee resort. The QST Echo is great inbounds like this. We don't test for these circumstances, but we can comment. You might consider the QST Echo as a lightweight soft-snow inbounds ski. Would be an odd choice, but not unreasonable.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Powder


Simply put, everybody loved the powder performance of the Echo 106. There is something about the way this ski pops and floats that makes it feel like a much bigger ski. Our testers felt like it skied low angle, deep snow more like a 120 mm ski.


When compartmentalizing backcountry skis, we often say something like, “These are great all-around skis that ski powder well.” We'd flip that script for the Echo 106. These are great powder skis that ski everything else really well. But the important takeaway from this metric is that they ski powder like bigger, purpose-built powder skis. That's a very good thing.

salomon qst echo 106 - pair heavy skis with light bindings for a worthy compromise in...
Pair heavy skis with light bindings for a worthy compromise in pursuit of efficiency and enjoyment. This is a common strategy of high volume ski touring guides.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Crud and Poor Snow


We don't necessarily like leaning on weight so much in our discussion of ski performance. We would like to be more nuanced or sophisticated in our assessment. However, the more we do this, the more we realize that weight is the best way to ski tougher snow. Bigger, heavier skis simply shred tough snow better than smaller, lighter skis do – it's physics. Since the Echo 106 is heavy, it performs well in poor snow conditions.


That said, we can acknowledge when poor snow performance transcends our expectations for a given weight class. For their weight, the Echo 106 skis much better than directly comparable models in sloppy snow or breakable crusts. Even across testers, conditions, and accompanying boots, these skis track well with predictable edge engagement and reliable control. The consistency of our findings gives us the confidence to say that the Echo 106 skis cruddy snow well. If you particularly struggle in tough snow, the added weight of the Echo 106 is likely justified. These are excellent skis for the super fit uphill athlete who is newer to – or clumsier with – downhill skiing.

salomon qst echo 106 - the salomon qst echo 106 is a forgiving, versatile downhill...
The Salomon QST Echo 106 is a forgiving, versatile downhill performer for those that don't mind lugging the extra weight uphill. Its dimensions are consistent with what we and many others have grown to consider ideal for a “quiver of one” for soft-snow backcountry skiers.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Stability at Speed


For most backcountry skiers in most circumstances, downhill speed should be regulated more by the potential consequences of a high-speed fall than by the stability of our skis. No matter how predictable your skis are, smacking into something at high speed – away from the comforts of a ski patrol – is bad news.


Despite its penchant for crushing in most conditions, the QST Echo 106 is less stable at speed than we were expecting. Bigger, stiffer skis in our test – even those that weigh about the same – are a little more steady at high speed and in steep terrain. The Echo 106 isn't “wobbly,” but it doesn't have the locked-in feeling afforded by even burlier skis. But compared to anything lighter or smaller, this ski is rock solid.

salomon qst echo 106 - if we were like other ski review sites, we could try and attribute...
If we were like other ski review sites, we could try and attribute the Salomon downhill performance to specific construction qualities. Given our experience with the complexities of ski construction, we just can't bring ourselves to draw those sorts of conclusions.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Should You Buy the Salomon QST Echo 106?


The ski guides on our test team have seen a wide spectrum of skiers in the backcountry. The extra weight of the Echo 106 is justified for folks who really want to optimize downhill performance. While we all want to make the downhill more fun, there is always a balance to strike in the backcountry. Efficiency uphill is a function of gear weight and fitness. For less-experienced backcountry skiers who are quite fit and efficient on the uphill but have a lower level of skill on the downhill, the tradeoff of the Echo 106 makes a lot of sense. Alternatively, if you are super fit and, for whatever reason, you know that you will be ascending at rates and volumes well below your capabilities, then this ski will make the downhill portions of your day that much more enjoyable.

What Other Backcountry Skis Should You Consider?


We have also enjoyed the Elan Ripstick 106, which is a bit livelier at high speeds but doesn't offer the same smooth performance in powder or poor snow conditions. If you want a ski in a lower weight class, alternatives to the QST Echo 106 are plentiful. The lighter weight Blizzard Zero G 105 is similarly sized but offers a better balance of uphill and downhill performance.

Jediah Porter