Salomon claim the MTN Explore 88 W has "...the best ratio between climbing efficiency and downhill performance..." and we are inclined to agree. Super light but capable of standing up to charging down the hill, the use of Salomon's patented CFX Superfiber has given these skis a bit of an edge.
Up or down, they feel well balanced and have buckets of stability and float, which is really important when you are off to explore unfamiliar terrain. Our testers agree that we're happy to take them wherever our mountain guide went with confidence, as whilst on the narrow side for touring skis nowadays they float beautifully in powder, but with enough torsional stiffness to deal with the cruddiest of crud. Strengthened by a full-length layer of Salomon's CFX Superfiber: a mix of carbon, for strength without weight, and flax to dampen the chatter some super-light skis have.
The flex feels smooth throughout, with the 5-point Hook Free Taper where the widest parts are closer to the foot than the tip/tail, thus preventing hooking - the Koroyd honeycomb in the tip reduces swing weight, producing skis that are easy to steer and pivot.
At 1,220grams they are light skis that can be used for both multi-day trips and a dander around resort. They lose just a bit of edge hold at higher speeds on the groomers, but they need at least one downside! Value for money, they're going to last and can take you from beginner tourer to expert mountain goat. Another big plus point is that Salomon offers pre-cut skins for all of its touring skis.
