Salomon S/MAX W 8

After skiing with the Salomon S/Max W 6, our team of testers put the more expensive (+100 euros) S/Max W 8, and more performant on paper, through their paces. At the end of the tests what did we think of them?

They are targeted at intermediate skiers who want to improve their positioning and precision skills. The Salomon S/Max W 8 are a good compromise between ease and performance for this section of the public.

With a sandwich construction and the ‘edge amplifier’ you feel the stability and precision of these skis. When speed increases there’s no chatter from the skis. Some of our testers remarqued on the noticeable reactivity, almost aggressive, underfoot that they needed to know how to regulate.

The Salomon S/Max W 8 are happy doing short turns on compact snow. In these conditions you can really have a blast with these skis. If you increase the radius from medium to long you lose stability as you speed up. At “normal” speed they deliver the best result, carving and precision.

The main characteristics of these Salomon S/Max W 8 is their turn initiation ease: you could say it’s instinctive.

We used these skis on different terrain even if they weren’t designed for them. In moguls they come out well because of their pivoting ease. You do need to avoid putting pressure on the tail. The tail’s stiffness can trap you and they don’t help you to reposition in the center of the skis.

In soft snow and not necessarily very deep they are a dream and sequencing turns is child’s play. Of course you do get the best out of these on groomed slopes.

Perfect skis for progressing and having fun by discovering the joys of carving.

"The main characteristics of these Salomon S/Max W 8 is their turn initiation ease: you could say it’s instinctive."

Rating

• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
• TURN INITIATION
  8
• CARVING
  7
• SKIDDING TURNS
  9
• RADIUS VARIATION
  6
• OVERALL GRIP
  7
• REACTIVITY
  6