10 Best Völkl Skis of 2023 | All Types of Skiing

Traditionally, Volkl’s Mantra series promised big performance returns for skiers with the strength and technical know-how to keep up. The updated M6 Mantra retains the capacity to absolutely devour a slope but no longer requires superhuman skills to ski.

Volkl retained the capacity to ski hard all over the mountain and significantly lowered the barrier of entry. People who say they like their skis to be “punishing” haven’t tried the M6 Mantra.

This sixth version of the Mantra isn’t just an exciting new release from Völkl, it’s earning high accolades as one of the best men’s all-mountain skis on the market.

Using a combination of their carbon tips, 3D Radius Sidecut, and titanal that scales with the length of the ski, Volkl opened up possibilities for riders who can’t otherwise meet the strength and skill demands of a ski like this. These features ultimately yield a ski with softer tips that you can ski without immaculate form at low speeds.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, the Secret 96 builds upon what freeride rippers loved in the notorious and waisted 102 version of the ski in years previous.

Völkl’s flagship women’s freeride ski is notably more accessible than previous iterations, with a big uptick in versatility to boot. This more compact ski drives like all the previous versions, but offers a marked uptick in maneuverability.

Much like the M6 Mantra above, skiers love that the Secret’s stiffness scales according to its size. With more length, comes more titanal underfoot. Variable sheet length gives the skier a better experience based on body type or ski preference, so not everyone is consigned to the same downhill missile as in previous versions.

When skis are described as “lightweight” and “directional”, you’d be safe to assume they’re carbon based backcountry models- not what you’d want to ride in most conditions unless you had to. Volkl’s Blaze series belongs to a growing category of lightweight freeride skis. The Blaze 94 is our top pick for the pined after 50/50 resort and touring hybrid. 

The Blaze 94 has plenty to offer those riding inbounds- it’s easy to turn and easy to learn, balancing a forgiving, versatile ride with a little more pop and liveliness than we’re used to seeing from Völkl.

While low weight is admirable, Volkl takes pains to compensate for the compromises this entails. A modest amount of metal underfoot adds just enough stability to trust your turns, but that’s where the charging attitude stops. Rather than blasting through variable snow, pliable tips let the ski swallow up any unavoidable bumps or hazards.

We’d recommend the Blaze series to a wide range of skiers- but for the purposes of inbounds riding intermediate skiers working on honing their off-piste technique will find a lot to love here. 

Volkl’s enduring legacy as a world-class ski manufacturer is easily read in their high-end freeride and race skis. But that integrity extends to the rest of their models too- even those built for brand new skiers. The Deacon X carries the same piste-inspired influence as the rest of the lineup with special considerations made for those still learning.

The Deacon series is a good fit for traditionally trained skiers- and the Deacon X is for skiers just starting their training. They’re built to be forgiving- with features that make it easier to turn and harder to catch an edge. The Deacon X  makes it easier to learn how to ski without doling out punishment.

This model comes strongly recommended for those who anticipate spending most of their time on groomed terrain mastering the fundamentals.

Rising from the ashes of discontinuation, the Katana is by far the most demanding ski out of Völkl’s freeride lineup. It’s comparable to the Racetiger in terms of the tier of rider it takes to keep this monster under control, but for different reasons.

This retooled version of the Katana is easier to control than the long-retired original, but is still built for charging. If you aren’t yet a savvy skier used to heavier options, then it can quickly get away from you.

While it seems the new Katana is a little more user-friendly than the previous retired version, it’s still a whole lot of ski. It’s up there with the full-titanal Blizzard skis in terms of driving power and charging capabilities, but that’s simply what it takes to be a leader in the freeride and big mountain categories.

We’d recommend the M6 Mantra to most skiers over the Katana. Put bluntly, it’s just too much ski for the average resort rider. But if you yearn for the metal laminate skis of yore, the Katana delivers old school driving power, and more.

The Revolt 121 isn’t the only powder ski that Völkl makes, but it is the most fun. Taking notes from freestyle park riding, it’s a front runner of the more “playful” side of the Völkl lineup.

You can take the play and creativity you would get from a slimmer waist and apply it to a big mountain environment, provided the snow is reasonably soft.

Volkl has a myriad of skis for a myriad of mountains. The Revolt 121 is a great powder ski. But it’s also a pretty stellar soft snow option for those who don’t mind some limitations when it comes to flying through debris fields.

It’s a ski built for natural terrain but can still hold its own on hardpack and groomers- for a powder ski. In terms of playful, poppy, floaty fun- you won’t find anything better from Volkl, or most of the competition.

As displayed in the Revolt 121 above, Volkl occasionally likes to show off their rebellious side with this line of freestyle-influenced, all-mountain models. Where some may see this as a departure from their fairly traditional reputation, the Revolt line was built using direct feedback from the Volkl freestyle team and maintains the stringent integrity of construction you’d see in any other model. 

What sets the 104 apart from the rest of the series is its wide range of applicability. The Revolt 104 could very well be the only ski you own, provided you’re keyed into its nuances. It’s a soft, playful all-mountain option that would pair pretty well with hybrid touring bindings.

With deep and long rocker lines the Revolt 104 retains great float for a medium-waisted ski, almost wanting to turn themselves in powder. On days between storm cycles you’ll have no trouble slashing and jibbing your way around sloughed-up chop or sinking an edge into softer groomers.

The only place that the Revolt 104 falls behind the rest of Volkl’s all-mountain skis is on firm snow. Lacking the metal laminate reinforcement seen in the M6 Mantra and others in its category, things can feel awfully chattery on hardpack. If you don’t mind feathering your edges down icy slopes, the Revolt 104 delivers a fun, freestyle ride on the rest of the mountain.

Where the Revolt 104 is a park/freeride hybrid that emphasizes all-mountain performance, the Revolt 90 is Volkl’s take on a traditional park ski. It’s built with competition style park riding in mind, with the stiff build and durability it takes to stomp big tricks.

In sum, it’s by far the best park option that Völkl makes, as well as reasonably dependable ski for the rest of the mountain- keeping in mind the inherent limitations of a park ski.

While we appreciate Volkl’s more well-rounded options, we feel that they really shine when they specialize. The Revolt 90 is a prime example of this- balancing traits like a low swingweight with XL feature stiffness. It’s an awesome park ski that doesn’t try to be anything more than that.

If you’re primarily interested in freestyle skiing and don’t need too much off-piste performance it could be the only ski you need.

To round out Völkl’s eclectic series of all-mountain and freeride skis, the Kanjo 84 is an accessible on-piste/off-piste cruiser that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

The Kanjo can deliver short, snappy, and precise turns when you ask it to but has a more forgiving feel than some of the heavier skis on this list.

If you’re looking for a good entry level option to start exploring variable terrain on the mountain, the Kanjo is a great ski to take you there.

The Kanjo is a great first step before moving onto something like the M5 Mantra or the Revolt 104. It’s also perfect for people who get a few dozen days in a season and need something forgiving that allows more freedom than something purely on-piste. It’s probably the best intermediate ski that Völkl makes, and a contender for the best “sophomore” skill-level ski on the market.

Taking the same energy that their large radius skis deliver and repacking it into an energetic all-mountain machine, the Kendo 88 is an energetic frontside ski that can hold its own on the rest of the mountain. 

It’s in the running for the best mogul ski out there, but is a ton of fun to ride regardless.

Though you can let the Kendo off leash and play around in variable snow, where it really shines is hardpack and moguls. It’s a great option for proficient skiers who either don’t see many huge storms, or have a sizable quiver and want something more specialized for mid-season dry spells.