Last tested
2023
Status:ongoing
2024

MTN 80 Carbon

A classic from the French brand, it's designed for steeps and gorges, but it's an excellent all-rounder for traditional uses of a lightweight ski
In brief
Suitable for
steep terrain, gullies
Not suitable for
modern, fun skiing style in deep pow
Also suitable for
traditional skimo, versatile at the 170 length
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  • Buyer’s Guide reviews
  • In words
  • Technical specifications

Buyer’s Guide reviews

Positioning
Handling
Traditional ski-tourer, New school ski-tourer
Suggested curve arc
Short radius
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On-snow performance
Hard / packed
Powder
Wind-blown / crust
Damp / wet
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The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
Trip purpose
Height difference / Engagement
Performance / Line
Skiing / Slope
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Recommended use
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Recommended level
Technical Level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
High level
Weight
lightmedianheavy
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In words

Intro
With the debut last year of the glorious 88 and 95, it remains the elder statesman of the MTN range, with a few well-placed nips and tucks here and there. It's the Salomon ski for technical skimo and for steep gorges, as it distributes the effort well even in jump turns. Despite its age, it's kept up with the times and remains light enough, given that it was ahead of its time back when it was first launched. Though it's increasingly facing competition from the other, more versatile, models in the MTN series: the 86, 91 and 96.
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On the snow
You may have noticed that you can count the skis with a waist of less than 85 mm on one hand. Current trends are heading increasingly towards 90, so the 85s look narrow. So this solid 80, from great skimo tradition, has started to feel the pressure from the competition of skis that are wider at the waist, even within its own house. It's a valid option for general use, because for skimo and gorges it remains an ace, vying for the scepter with the Dynastar Vertical 82. Despite weighing in at just over a kilo, the skis hold contact well with the snow and in turns. It's also agile in transitions, changing and entering turns quickly. And it comes back under and closes turns with a natural flow. It's delicate and doesn't wear you out, but it grips well on steep slopes and hard terrain. It's instinctive and pretty easy, but it's intended use case makes it a ski for talented skiers who will know how to fully appreciate it.
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Lab
Slightly concave at tip and tail, flat at the waist. No structure or wax. Not much edge 1.5 x 1.3 mm at 89.5°, base edge 1.5°, too much at tip and tail. Needs waxing and tuning.
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Technical specifications

Construction
cap
Materials
carbon fiber, carob wood, basalt fiber, cork
Base
recycled polyethylene
Available sizes
158, 164, 170
Made in
Austria
Price
600 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 170 to get all the details
170 cm
Length
XXXXX
115 cm
Tip width
XXXXX
101 cm
Tail width
XXXXX
80 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
1.000 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
18 m
Sidecut radius
XXXXX
N/A
Load-bearing surface
XXXXX
N/A
Tip torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Center torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Tail torsion
XXXXX
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Top stories
Thoughts
Necessity

Editorial

Thoughts
At the heart of every ski (duplicate)

Editorial

Location
Test Center Pontedilegno Tonale

Our freeride base camp 

Location
Base Camp Race

Sertorelli Sport Hotel

Location
Test Center Cervino Ski Paradise

To test the equipment and skins for the Race category, we based ourselves in Breuil-Cervinia

Location
Test Center Livigno

For the second year in a row, we headed to Livigno, aka Little Tibet.

Race
Intro
Race: boots

Innovation at the lower end of the market

Instruction
Boots under the microscope

We tested flex, walkability and liner warmth in the Light, Tour and Free unisex models

Intro
Made for women: skis and boots

Strong women

Free
Intro
Free: boots

A new era

Recommended pairing
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Scarpa
F1 LT
Buckles: 2
Weight: 990 g
Top match
tested 2024
Boots
Race
Dynafit
Mezzalama
Buckles: 2
Weight: 875 g
Top match
tested 2024
Boots
Race
La Sportiva
Raceborg II
Buckles: 2
Weight: 735 g
Top match
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Ultimate
Buckles: 2
Weight: 788 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
La Sportiva
Solar II
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.185 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
Atomic
Backland Pro UL W
Buckles: 2
Weight: 929 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
La Sportiva
Stellar II
Buckles: 1
Weight: 1.075 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
Salomon
MTN Summit Pro W
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.020 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
La Sportiva
Skorpius CR II
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.190 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight
Buckles: 2
Weight: 990 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Dynafit
TLT X
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.030 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Scarpa
F1
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.260 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Tecnica
Zero G Peak
Buckles: 2
Weight: 980 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Tecnica
Zero G Peak Carbon
Buckles: 2
Weight: 990 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Roxa
RX Scout
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.290 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Carbon UL
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.021 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Salomon
MTN Summit Pro
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.150 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Salomon
S/Lab MTN Summit
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.050 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Carbon
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.162 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Made for women
Atomic
Backland Pro W
Buckles: 3
Weight: 1.050 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Roxa
RX
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.290 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Dalbello
Quantum Evo
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.050 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.140 g
Recommended setup
tested 2025
Bindings
Tour
Salomon
MTN Pure
Type: full pin
Weight: 295 g
Top match
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Haute Route 10 Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 220 g
Top match
Tour Binding of the Year
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
RT 11 Evo
Type: full pin
Weight: 325 g
Light Binding of the Year
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Timepacer 12
Type: full pin
Weight: 250 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Tour
Ski Trab
Titan Vario.2 + Stopper 7-9
Type: full pin
Weight: 309 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Plum
Oazo 8
Type: full pin
Weight: 205 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Trofeo Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 170 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Superlite 150
Type: full pin
Weight: 150 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
GR Olympic Long
Type: full pin
Weight: 192 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Mezzalama
Type: full pin
Weight: 125 g
tested 2025
Bindings
Light
Tour
Plum
Pika Stopper
Type: full pin
Weight: 265 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Plum
R170
Type: full pin
Weight: 170 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Superlite 150 +
Type: full pin
Weight: 294 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Race
Light
Kreuzspitze
RS
Type: full pin
Weight: 169 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Mezzalama+
Type: full pin
Weight: 165 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Kreuzspitze
GT 2.0
Type: full pin
Weight: 223 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
GR Olympic Tour
Type: full pin
Weight: 148 g
preview 2024
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
Olympic II
Type: full pin
Weight: 120 g
tested 2024
Bindings
Light
Tour
Plum
Pika
Type: full pin
Weight: 265 g
preview 2024
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Trofeo 6 Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 204 g
tested 2024
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
RT 10 Evo
Type: full pin
Weight: 280 g
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tested 2026
Skis
Light
Scott
Explorair 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.440 g
People's Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Zag
Ubac 89
Width Center: 89 mm
Weight: 1.300 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Augment
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Width Center: 82 mm
Weight: 1.280 g
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Skis
Light
Elan
Ripstick Tour 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.270 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Atomic
Backland 85
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.250 g
Smart Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Ski Trab
Stelvio Life 85
Width Center: 85 mm
Weight: 1.230 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Fischer
Transalp 86 CTI
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.190 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Ski Trab
Stelvio Life 85 WMN
Width Center: 87 mm
Weight: 1.180 g
Light Ski of the Year Lady
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Dynastar
M-Tour W 85
Width Center: 84 mm
Weight: 1.150 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.130 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Blizzard
Zero G 88 W
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.110 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Ski Trab
Mistico.2
Width Center: 90 mm
Weight: 1.110 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Blizzard
Zero G 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.100 g
Pro's Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Salomon
MTN 86 Carbon
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.260 g
Ski of the year Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynastar
M-Vertical 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.180 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Elan
Rispstick Tour 88 W
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.160 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
K2
Wayback 89
Width Center: 89 mm
Weight: 1.275 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight Pro
Width Center: 80 mm
Weight: 960 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Atomic
Backland 88 W
Width Center: 89 mm
Weight: 1.200 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Majesty
Superscout Carbon
Width Center: 85 mm
Weight: 1.270 g