This model debuted last season, weighing 200 g less than the OG QST 106, making it lighter on the uphill and ideal for relaxed descents on soft terrain
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- In words
- Technical specifications
Buyer’s Guide reviews
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
In words
Intro
The iconic QST freeride series is about to turn a page. This new model, which adds the Echo label, has the same geometry as the standard QST 106, but it's shed more than 200 grams in weight to appeal to tourers who love clocking up vertical. As a result, it's gone from being a resort freeride ski to a valid candidate for a one-ski quiver for modern freetouring. The main changes are in the sandwich construction; carob has been added to the poplar core, which, together with innovative basalt inserts and Cork Damplifiers at the tip and tail, keep this ski solid and stable despite its low weight.
On the snow
The standard QST has always been a favorite with alpine skiers, especially those with a competitive background, who love getting low to the snow and making the most of the edge hold (which is up there with that of a groomer ski). The new Echo maintains the same skiability, but suffers slightly from the lighter construction in terms of pure performance. It remains a versatile, manageable ski, particularly in tight turns, where its flex pops the ski back under you when exiting the turn and facilitates fast edge transitions. It's best in soft snow, where it floats super well, and calls for a little more focus on hard, icy terrain, as it tends to chatter a bit, especially with a pin binding. A step-in binding allows for better power transmission in descent, but holds you back on the ascent compared to a pin binding, where this ski can take on vertical of a thousand meters or more. A nice set up for a wide swath of intermediate to expert skiers.
Lab
Very concave, and remains fairly concave after 9 runs through the tuning machine. Roughly sanded, waxed. Decent edges 1.7 x 1.9 mm at 90°, base edge 1.5°. Finish a bit rough but ok, a bit of rust, protruding sidewall. Tuning required.
Technical specifications
Construction
sidewall
Materials
carob wood, poplar, basalt fiber, cork
Base
sintered polyethylene
Available sizes
157, 165, 173, 181, 189
Released in
2023
Made in
Austria
Price
780 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 181 to get all the details
181 cm
Length
XXXXX
139 cm
Tip width
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126 cm
Tail width
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106 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
1.760 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
19 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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