2026 Salomon Stance Pro 86

Salomon’s Stance Pro 86 is a welcome addition to the all-mountain Stance line, bringing a thicker core, more on-trail chops, and a steady overall feel than we’ve seen before. While these skis have more of a front side feel to them, they’re still quite versatile, and we’ve had them out in some pretty choppy conditions so far. The Stance Pro 86 definitely held up its end of the bargain, delivering predictability and confidence with each turn. We’ve often referred to the current Stance lineup as having more of a traditional feel, but the new Stance Pro 86 takes that to the next level with a thicker wood core and more of a natural style to it.

The construction of the ski relies more on that wood core, with a full and thick poplar layup bringing power and stability to the mix. The titanal laminate has the new and interesting shaping here, as it is split down the middle and extends outward towards the edges in more of a wing-style. This allows the ski to flex more naturally in a torsional manner while still keeping the central spine sturdy and damp. These skis also use wider steel edges for increased traction and grip. It all adds up when it comes to weight, as these skis top the 2000-gram mark per ski in the 185 cm length. They’re stiff, but still approachable. Tester Marc Angelillo notes that it’s “powerful, lively, and stable” as a result of the construction and works best in “an all-mountain format.”

In the mid-80's we’re looking at a ski that’s going to serve well in a variety of conditions and terrain. These skis have a nice and responsive flex to go along with an all-mountain shape and style. The 185 uses measurements of 126/86/108 mm to produce a 19-meter turn radius. This longer arc puts more emphasis on the skier and their desired styles of turning. You can let them run in longer turn formats and they also work well in short swing turns. If you’re trying to make a clean mid-radius arc, it’s a bit tough. Salomon utilizes a 15% tip rocker profile and a 12% tail bend to bring some versatility to the ski, but overall, it’s a very classically shaped and styled ski with minimal taper. Tester Christian Strong notes that “I would think that trails and trees would be good for this ski, it was good at all turn lengths and very forgiving.”

It’s a strong ski, so the audience is likely going to be more on the advanced side of the spectrum. The thicker wood core contributes to the stiffness here, and with metal in the middle, it’s quite damp and sturdy. The width allows it to be more accessible for a variety of turn shapes and styles, and makes it quick, but the build is going to keep it more in the advanced and on-trail realm.