Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis Review (Women's)

by Frank V. Persall

Do you ski much? Have you ever been skiing? If your first time is coming up, it's easy to go in thinking that all skis are created equal. I mean, they're these long flat boards you strap to your feet. How hard can it be?

Truth is that there are as many differences between skis as there are differences between tires. Tires may all look the same, but anyone that loves their car will tell you that they don't all drive the same.

And they aren't the ramblings of someone that is way too involved in their area of interest. Equipment matters. Your choice of skis matter. It's through that lens that we conduct this Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis Review.

I've been on my skis more than most casual skiers. Let's just say I've been doing this long enough to know what a bad set of skis feels like. I found the Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis to be rather remarkable for the money I spent on them.

I would have appreciated them more if I were a total beginner since they cut you a lot of slack when you're on the slopes. But I can also see a beginner taking these skis along with them long after they know a thing or two about the sport. These aren't training wheels, so to speak.

Let's take a closer look at how each small element makes a difference in how the snow carves and flies around your feet.

Salomon QST Myriad 85 Review - Link

Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis Womens
Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis Womens

Type: Skis

What I like

The extra little bit of weight in the feet has given me the luxury of knowing what to expect each time I get on the slopes. I don't have trouble turning, whether I'm on powder or I'm on hard-pack.

My cousin and I bought these skis at the same time, and I was more experienced than her. She had never been on a mountainside before. Either she's a prodigy or I just suck, because she did amazing. The skis took care of the novice just as well as they took care of the intermediate skier.

I should emphasize that these skis do well on all surfaces. They do have preferences. But you're not going to automatically wipe out on any surface unless you ski directly into a tree.

What I don't like

Your toes don't have so much room to spread out. These skis are a bit narrow compared to others. They're still stable and reliable, but it's a mental security blanket for some people. Narrow skis make some of my friends feel like they're on the ledge of a cliff, like, "don't look down!" I don't have a problem with it, though.

I don't get the mentality, but I like the extra weight. It makes me feel grounded. I'm a petite girl and lighter skis make me feel like I'm going to fly away. Others might want something lighter.

I almost can't write this article since there's nothing I personally don't like about these skis. But I lent mine to one of my more "daring" friends and he felt frustrated by the limitations. But he also trains for extreme-style sports. So if you're doing somersaults over a canyon, these might not be the skis for you.

What are The Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis?

These are skis billed as "Intermediate," but I honestly don't see why a beginner wouldn't be able to handle these just fine.

Some sports products are aimed at a very small, narrow window of buyers. Whereas these skis are aimed like a blast from a shotgun: Trying to hit as many points as possible at once.These skis try to be many things to many people, hence the name "Myriad." And they really do take on several different factors in both the person wearing them and the places they'll be used.

More succinctly, You can slap these skis on without worry about your skill level and go on the slopes without worry too much about the terrain you'll find yourself on.

There's a few ounces of extra weight here, but that doesn't mean that these skis are overweight. That extra bit means that there will be greater stability and momentum.I can tell you that light skis make you feel like you're going to go flying off the face of the hill, and it isn't a pleasant feeling.

Who Are The Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis For?

Anyone that wants to find out just how serious they are about skiing will be able to use these skis. You want to own a pair but you also don't want to break the bank -- and it would be nice if the skis would grow with you if you decide that you're hooked and you want more.

These skis will take care of you as you grow as a slope-slayer.

Now, the real pros will find out that they don't have to dumb down their skills in order to use these skis. They keep up with experienced feet just as well. There's no high-end or perceptible low-end to these skis. They can be pushed well above their level and they can also manage slow, careful speeds.

But once your confidence begins to build, these skis will take care of you as you begin to push past the boundaries of your skill level.

Overview Features of The Salomon QST Myriad 85 Skis

Poplar Wood Core

The wood core gives these skis much of their stability and strength. This does lend a little bit of weight to the skis, but that doesn't mean that they're heavy by any stretch.

It just means that you have a little "substance" underneath your feet that will keep you balanced and under control.

The result is a smoother, stable ride than you might expect from skis in this price range and the natural springiness of the wood absorbs shock and makes rebounding relatively easy.

All-Terrain Rocker

You'll find that you float on soft snow and also that you can steer precisely and easily on harder snow. In either scenario, turning while on the slopes remains easy. T

here's something to be said for having some capability on every kind of surface.

Although it is worth noting that these skis perform best on a downhill, groomed surfaces. But other surfaces don't do bad at all.

Hook Free Taper

The widest point in the sidecut tapers in toward the tip earlier for less drag and hooking in powder. Swing weight is also reduced making the ski even more maneuverable in heavy or awful snow conditions.

You never know what sort of state the mountainside is in just by looking at it, so things like this go a long way towards making sure you're alright.

Basalt Layers

This stick sandwiches basalt around the wood core, which is lighter than metals like aluminum or titanium, but still offers extra stability and dampness.

After all, you don't want to be too loaded down when you're heading downhill.

Salomon QST Myriad 85 Pricing

I bought my set of these skis on sale from Amazon here for $319.99.

It's obviously not dollar-store pricing, but that's a good thing.. you don't want laminated plywood for $49.99 that's going to snap while you're zooming down the course.

This is still a great price for what these skis have to offer. I'd even go so far as to say that if you ever buy one set of skis and one set only, make it this one.

$319.99 isn't bad for a one-time price for the number of times I'm on the slopes and If it's the last time I ever go skiing, then it didn't cost me my life's savings.

Salomon QST Myriad 85 Alternatives

Product Link
Salomon QST Lumen 99 VIEW THIS PRODUCT
Atomic Vantage 75 VIEW THIS PRODUCT
Armada ARW 96 VIEW THIS PRODUCT

My Recommendation for Salomon QST Myriad 85 Buyers

My Recommendation for Salomon QST Myriad 85 Buyers
My Recommendation for Salomon QST Myriad 85 Buyers

Your skiing aspirations could begin and end with this Salomon QST Myriad 85's skis set. They may not carry you through Xtreme-style sports, but they will keep you stable and balanced on most surfaces available to the casual skier.

If I had to shrink it down, the skis get better as you do. They encourage you to push past your limits. And they can keep up with you when you do. I honestly don't see myself laying out money for another set of skis anytime soon. That's coming from someone that is on the slopes at least once a week.

If you're interested you can also check out my other product reviews here.

Ruby Young

Salomon QST Myriad 85 Review by Co-Author: Ruby Young


I am based in West Virginia, USA, but I travel extensively throughout Europe and the USA, who enjoys, travel, skiing and snowboarding. I try to combine the things I love with my work, so I write articles about things I find interesting that I discover in my life.

About Frank V. Persall

Frank is originally from the UK, but he has a passion for skiing that knows no bounds. He has made it his life's mission to visit the best ski resorts across the USA and the World. Frank loves spending time with his wife and three children on ski slopes, as they all share his love for the activity.

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