Skate skiing is a workout, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable workouts you can get with the right equipment. The Salomon RS 8 Skate Skis with Prolink Pro Skate Bindings ($370) are a joy to ski on through mid-winter powder all the way through spring crust. The skis are comfortable on the feet, have an exceptional glide, and feel oh-so fast.
These skis fall outside of the beginner ski price range, but don’t break the bank by any means, and they will keep you skating happily for years of technique improvements, hard workouts, and social skis.
In short: In short, I absolutely loved the Salomon RS8 Skate Skis with Prolink Pro Skate Binding. I’m biased toward skate skiing as my discipline of choice, and, as such, have collected many pairs of skate skis over the years. That said, these rose to the top for every skate ski I embarked on this winter, even edging out my more expensive and technical pairs of skis.
- Sizes: 174 cm (88 lbs.) – 191 cm X-Stiff (220 lbs.)
- Sidecut dimensions (tip/waist/tail width): 45/43/44 mm
- Grip: Waxable (skate)
- Weight (pair): 2 lbs., 15 oz.
- Included bindings: Prolink Pro Binding
- Binding compatibility: NNN Boots
- Intended use: Skate Skiing on groomed track
- Intended skill: Intermediate
Pros
- Stable and balanced ski
- Extended glide
- Good price for an intermediate ski
Cons
- Can feel long
- On the heavier side of skate skis tested
Salomon RS8 Skate Skis Review
I believe that cross-country skiing is meant to be fun. And these skis are just plain fun. Every time.
Skate skiing can feel like a lot to get the hang of. For a beginner, there’s still so much to think about when you’re out on the trail. Where do your feet go in relation to your poles? What’s the ideal body position for weight transfer? When should I use V1 or V2? Somehow, these skis seem to take the guesswork out of it and make skate skiing feel as natural as walking. That’s a lot of praise, but I promise, they are just so fun.
Salomon markets this ski as “easy to ski on,” and I found that statement to be true. The Salomon RS8 strikes a perfect balance between stability and speed, again as advertised. The skis are lightweight and agile. The rockered tip at the front of the ski means I sized up from my typical skate ski length (by a few centimeters).
The extra length felt unwieldy for a few minutes when compared to my other skis, but after a few minutes it provided stability I was not expecting. The skis have a thin, but pronounced, edge that grips the snow just right when transferring weight from one leg to the other.
The combination of grip and stability helps elongate the glide phase. This allowed me to stay in a V2 in steeper terrain longer than I may have been able to on other skis.
Although on the beginner side of the Salomon skate skis line-up, the RS8 comes standard with the G5 World Cup Base without bumping it into the next price bracket. The base increases performance and prioritizes speed through varying snow conditions.
Though these skis shine year-round, I absolutely loved them when spring crust season came around. These responsive and agile skis made the freedom of crust skiing so much fun. Quick turns and steep ups and downs felt easy and intuitive.
To be fair, these skis are on the heavier side compared to other skate skis on the market. If you’re looking for the lightest and most advanced pair, you may want to look elsewhere. If you’re not counting grams and want a well-balanced ski, this is a great choice.
Conclusion
The Salomon RS8 Skate Ski with Prolink Pro Skate Bindings are geared toward intermediate skiers. They are priced appropriately for that ability range; however, I would argue these skis are ideal for anyone excited about skate skiing and looking for a ski to improve with and enjoy.
The balanced design will reward good technique, but also encourage you to get out and practice more. We loved them so much that they earned an award as our favorite skate skis in our Best Cross-Country Skis buyer’s guide.
You can pay more for lighter and more technically advanced skis for sure, but these skis will help you learn while prioritizing fun.
