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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R170
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