Reviewed by our Gear Geeks:
THE BEST VOLKL SKIS OF 2021
Our experts at work
We gave our Gear lovers one job:
Check out different Völkl Skis and write reviews of the best.
The result is 10 of the best Völkl Skis on the market today.
Hunter Bierce
PSIA Ski Instructor
Hunter Bierce is a PSIA Ski Instructor and multidisciplinary outdoor professional.
Bradley Axmith
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Vikingship building gear enthusiast and waterworld fanatic.
With nearly 100 years in the industry, there’s no arguing with the pedigree of Völkl skis. But these legends of the racing world have garnered more recent attention for their diverse and innovative selection of freeride skis.
Volkl skis are still made in Germany and continue to bring innovation and quality to the mountain.
Starting with their flagship recreational racer, here are our favorite Volkl skis from this season’s lineup. See which one might fit your needs as a skier.
Top 10 Volkl Skis
See our quick top 10, or go further down and read our in-depth reviews.
- Volkl Deacon 79 Ski
- Volkl Blaze 106 Ski
- Volkl M5 Mantra Ski
- Volkl Revolt 104 Ski
- Volkl Revolt 121 Ski
- Volkl Bash 86 Ski
- Volkl Katana 108 Ski
- Volkl Kanjo 84 Ski
- Volkl BMT 109 Ski
- Volkl Racetiger Pro Ski
To see how they stack up against the competition, be sure to check out our Top 10 All-mountain Skis list from this year.
The Deacon is Völkl’s take on a frontside carver built for a more general audience. There’s no question that with a full sidewall, titanium sheet, and vibrational dampening technology, the Deacon is still very much inspired by race skis. But it’s more accessible than the rest of the Volkl race lineup, and average skiers will feel much more comfortable while retaining that snappy and fast feel. The Volkl Deacon is for those who’ve hung up their race skies but decided they don’t want to stop going fast. They’re great for precise skiers who enjoy ripping up morning hardpack and freshly groomed corduroy as well. But the most significant benefit they have over the Racetiger is the ability to make smaller, more reasonably sized turns you might need on a busy resort slope. As the industry trends ever towards lighter freeride skis and touring options, Völkl’s response is the Blaze 106. A staunchly practical option very much in line with the Völkl ethic. Compared to skis in a similar hybrid touring niche, the Blaze 106 is on the lighter end and skis a little bit damper. It’s a great option for people who want to split their time between the resort and the backcountry but have limited resources for a multi-ski setup. With the Blaze 106, these Völkl skis are suitable for many things, but the thing it’s best at is a compromise. It’s not on par with big-mountain smashers in terms of downhill performance and not as quick up the skin track as a dedicated touring ski. But if you split your time pretty evenly, you won’t be disappointed by its performance on either end. The M5 Mantra is a skier’s ski. By this, I mean the people putting in 100+ days a season riding their resort will get the most out of it. The Mantra is Völkl’s front runner freeride ski, now in its 5th iteration. It’s a heavy-handed hard charger that checks all the boxes in terms of all-mountain features and is an easy choice for serious single-quiver skiers. The M5 Mantra is the kind of ski that I would expect any of my hardest riding ski bum friends would have. We like it so much that it made our top 10 list this year. It doesn’t give you anything special in terms of powder performance or pop but certainly won’t hold you back if you’re skiing deep snow or on your favorite jib run. It’s very much a “you get out what you put into it” situation, and if you think that you can keep up, the Mantra is a good place to hedge your bets. Keep an eye out for the M6 Mantra scheduled to be released in the winter of 21/22. If the M5 Mantra seems like too much ski for you, the Völkl 104 Revolt is a perfect step down in terms of stiffness and drive, favoring instead a lighter and more playful freeride style. The Revolt 104 is conceptually somewhere between a park and an all-mountain ski. It’s also a reasonable choice for a hybrid backcountry ski if you’re looking for something that’s favors playful descents more so than quick climbs. All-told, for park skiers in the market for something that can hold its own on the rest of the hill, the Revolt 104 is a sensible choice. But for more serious alpine skiing, we recommend opting for the M5 Mantra with a little more oomph or the wider Revolt 121 to milk a little more powder performance out of it. The Revolt 121 isn’t the only powder ski that Völkl makes, but we like it because it’s more than just a boat to take out when the forecast is calling for feet. Compared to the Revolt 104, it’s an all-mountain ski optimized for freeride performance. You can take the play and creativity you would get from a narrower waist and apply it to a big mountain environment. Völkl skis have myriad skis for myriad mountains. The Revolt 121 is a great powder ski. But it’s also a pretty stellar everyday option for those who don’t mind some limitations when it comes to flying through debris fields. It’s definitely a ski built for natural terrain but can hold its own on hardpack and groomers. In terms of playful, poppy, floaty fun- you won’t find anything better from Völkl, or most of the competition. Where the Revolt 106 is a park/freeride hybrid that emphasizes all-mountain performance, the Bash 86 is closer to a traditional park you can take on the rest of the mountain. The Bash 86 is one of the more rideable Völkl skis. You don’t need to be superman to bend it, as proven with its generous butter zone. It skis as well forwards as it does backward. The Bash is a good park ski, but it’s not quite sturdy enough for too much more than taking the occasional resort lap. Those looking for a more aggressive ride they can also lap the park with would be better suited with the Revolt 104. But if you’re primarily interested in freestyle skiing and don’t need too much off-piste performance it’s a reliable option. 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 skier it takes to keep this monster under control, but for different reasons. It’s not that it takes a heroic effort to make turns, the multi radius sidecut helps with that, but the Katana is 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. Depending on your skiing style, it might be the perfect fit, but I would opt for the Mantra for my money unless you need a real monster. 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 point, or rather an exit point from the groomers, 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 a purely on-piste ski. As Völkl’s offering in the mid-waisted touring category, the BMT 109 is a lightweight, highly versatile ski that is still focused on providing a full descent. Compared to other dedicated touring options, the BMT is a competitively “fun” ski to ride. But like so many of these carbon-backed skis, it suffers some notable performance hits when you get onto hard, uneven snow. The BMT 106 will fit the bill for backcountry skiers seeking a workhorse that can perform in any conditions. It may have the same trappings as other backcountry skis. However, based on the benefits that it offers on the climb coupled with reasonable downhill capabilities, it is a fair counterpoint to some of the heavier hybrid skis on this list, like the Blaze 106. You could call the Racetiger Völkl’s heart and soul. It’s not just one particular ski, but a whole line of different sizes and styles playing off the same concept. The Racetiger is not so representative of Völkl’s entire ski catalog but pays a hearty tribute to their history in the racing world and continued presence on the cutting edge of GS ski technology. These are serious skis built for frontside experts and racers. These Völkl skis aren’t for everyone, and that’s a good thing. They’re one of the premier consumer-level race skis out there; about as close as you can get to a full FIS certified rocketship. If you use the whole hill and don’t like to see anyone in front of you while you’re riding, the Race Tigers are the ski for you.
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If you’re crazy about Völkl skis and want to learn more about their touring line, keep an eye out for the Rise Beyond 96 slated for release in the 21/22 season.
Guide to Volkl Skis
History
Like so many of these early pioneers of the ski industry, Völkl skis started as a small family-run craftsman business in Germany under the master cartwright of Georg Völkl. It wasn’t until 1923 that they officially opened for business as a ski manufacturer, originally under the name Vöstras.
Völkl continued to grow through the years, making striking impressions on the ski world such as the much-heralded “Zebra” ski in the late 60’s, and making their first foray into ski racing in 1970. Völkl was sold to GmbH in 1992, and since grown to acquire both Marker bindings and Dalbello boots.
Tradition
Völkl’s first few decades manufacturing skis with German efficiency were very much rooted in staunch practicality, so much so that you can almost tell they got their start making carts. That is, until they shocked the ski world in 1967 with the Zebra ski. With its gregarious topsheet and more progressive flex design, the Zebra was met first with ridicule, and then the admiration of the ski world.
Shortly thereafter in 1970, Völkl ventured into the competitive race world for the first time. In my experience as a skier, I’ve known Volkl skis primarily as a racer’s brand, so that goes to show how much of an impact they had. Völkl has continued to win titles and set standards across the industry. Most recently we’ve seen impressive contributions to the world of freeride skiing.
Price
Völkl may be known for quality and a fine attention to detail. But they’re not particularly renowned for their low prices. To give you an example the Racetiger Pro will go for around $800 USD, and that’s with a significant mark down from their original price.
To be fair, the price goes down significantly if you’re expanding your search beyond their painstakingly crafted race skis towards the all-mountain style.
As a whole, the Völkl lineup is on the upper end of the spectrum when compared to the rest of the industry. Be certain, the price will shoot up once again if you should look into the V-Werks models. To see how Völkl skis stack up against the rest of the competition in terms of price and performance, be sure to check out our 10 skis of the year list.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Völkl Skis
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Are Völkl skis any good?
Völkl is a long-trusted name both in the ski race world and, more recently, within freeride circles. We like the products Völkl turns out so much that two of their freeride skis made our top 10 list this year. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Some models of Völkl skis have become almost household names in lodges worldwide.
Legendary Volkl Skis
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What are the best Völkl skis?
Völkl makes a number of great skis in all categories. They’ve been making race skis for over 100 years, but we tend to favor their hard-charging freeride models manufactured in this century. If race skis are your thing, then you have to check out the Racetiger. Otherwise, here’s a list of a few of our favorites.
Best Volkl Skis
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Where are Volkl skis made?
Volkl skis continue to be made in Germany. Since its origins the company has been based in Straubing, Germany and appears to remain firmly committed to retaining it’s traditions of manufacturing with the motto: “the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts”.
Read a guide to the lineup of Volkl skis reviewed by our skiers
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What is Völkl’s V-Werks Technology?
V-Werks is Völkl’s premium variation of all your favorite models. They’re designed to be lighter weight and more responsive than other versions of their respective models- achieved by using premium materials such as carbon and titanal sheets. V-Werks skis tend to ride much differently than their counterparts, and as a whole tend to be better suited for touring.
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What bindings should I use with my Völkl skis?
Völkl themselves recommend mounting their skis with some Marker Bindings. Any of the Royal Family line should be great depending on how hard of a skier you are and what you want to do. It’s important to note that the lightweight and low-volume V-Werks models of Volkl skis are only compatible with Marker bindings.
Check out our review of some Marker bindings found in our list of the best ski bindings.
If you already have a Volkl Ski or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
what is todays model that is most like the grizzly?
The Grizzly was for skiers who wanted to push the limits of skill and speed both on the groomers, and through variable terrain. Ski technology has come pretty far over the last decade, but there are still plenty of skis out there that carry on that same hard-charging attitude.
If you’re in search of pure, unadulterated power I’d recommend checking out the newly revitalized Katana. It’s a true beast of a ski originally from the same era as the Grizzly, with a marginally wider waist for added off-piste performance. The M5 Mantra is another viable option. It’s a little more dialed back and forgiving than the Katana, but if you’re missing the Grizzly you won’t be disappointed by its driving power anywhere on the mountain.