A ski for all conditions and everyone? With the Q-Lab, Salomon is launching a ski on the market that is supposed to be a mixture of racing and freeride ski. A true all-rounder. Can the ski fulfill the expectations?
First impression
At first glance, the ski looks very similar to Salomon's Quest series. However, the core of the Q-Lab is Salomon's S-Core. This is a special core that is normally used by Salomon for racing skis. The ski also has a titanium layer, which is supposed to deliver even better performance on hard snow. The shovel has been fitted with a honeycomb construction to save weight, as the Q-Lab is relatively heavy at around two kilograms per ski, which is typical for Lab. The design is not too playful, but immediately catches the eye. The bright ski base is particularly eye-catching. So if someone should lose this ski in the powder, they have a good chance of finding it again.
Tester and test conditions
As ski tests are always subjective, here are a few details about me. I'm about 178 cm tall and weigh around 70 kilograms. I also carry between five and ten kilograms of equipment in my backpack. I normally prefer more playful skis, but I also like to step on the gas from time to time.
I was able to test the ski in almost all conditions: In powder, hard snow and also on the piste. The binding was a Salomon STH 2 WTR 13. This binding can also be used with Salomon touring soles (WTR soles). I tested the Q-Lab in a length of 183cm.
Practical test
The Q-Lab is relatively wide for a ski that should also perform well on the piste. Nevertheless, that's where it's really fun. Thanks to its stiff flex, it runs very smoothly, carves beautifully and the edges have a very good grip. In general, the Q-Lab is definitely a ski for speed and
Likes long turns in particular. Of course, short radii are also possible, but they require a little more power. In densely overgrown forests, you therefore need a little more power, because the Q-Lab likes it fast and prefers large radii.
Thanks to the relatively stiff flex, which is probably due to the titanal layer, it can also be skied well in hard snow and icy conditions, because it really ploughs through the snow and doesn't start to slough. Thanks to the reinforced edges and high torsional rigidity, you still have good grip on icy surfaces and therefore feel safe.
Although the Q-Lab is not necessarily a ski for deep powder days, it floats very well in deep snow thanks to the tip rocker and its wide shovel. During my last vacation, I even left the wide powder boards in the cellar for the Q-Lab. Because the ski is also really fun in powder, especially on fast turns. The length of 183 cm was ideal for me, I can still steer the ski well and it floats well in powder. For taller or heavier people, this length might already be too small. In this case, the larger version (190 cm) is recommended.
Conclusion
The Q-Lab is an all-purpose weapon. I can recommend the Salomon ski especially to those who are looking for a ski that still runs smoothly at high speeds and performs well in all conditions. However, the skier must have sufficient strength in their thighs. For those who normally ski more playful and easy to control skis, the Q-Lab is certainly a change, as it was for me. However, it has now become one of my favorite skis!
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Speed stability
+ All day/every day ski
- requires a bit of strength when skiing
Details
176 | 135 - 103 - 124 (radius 20 m), Weight 4200 grams
183 | 138 - 104 - 127 (radius 20 m), weight 4500 grams
190 | 145 - 109 - 134 (radius 20 m), weight 5050 grams
Here is the link to the Salomon website with further information.
