2023 Volkl Deacon 84

The 2023 Volkl Deacon 84 spans a nice line between front side and all-mountain that a lot of skis and ski companies try to do, but are not quite as successful as Volkl and this 84 in that regard. Built like a front-side race carver with lots of respect given to the upper-end Deacon race skis in the line, but with a wider body and a more versatile platform for true all-mountain well-roundedness. Volkl really throws a lot of technology at the Deacon 84, starting with the full-sensor multi-layer wood core. This is a denser wood core that stabilizes the ski in a sturdy format. The Deacon 84 features a titanal frame, much like the one that the more freeride-oriented Mantra and Kendo possess, and this makes for a fun-loving ski with a ton of precision to the edges. These skis also use 3D Ridge, 3D Radius Sidecut, and 3D Glass to complete the technological masterpiece. It all adds up to a super-solid and wicked fun carver that can do a bit of everything.

Dave Hatoff found his 177 cm test length to be just right, and he gave 4’s out of 5 for stability, quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression. Playfulness and flotation got 3’s, but this is the type of spread we’re looking for with a mid-80's carver like this. Dave notes that the Deacon 84 is “Smooth, predictable and stable. Nice variety of turn shapes at different speeds. Lively and damp. Great hard snow grip, soft snow capability and all-around front side versatility. Skied like a Cadillac, smooth and stable.” When you set the edge on these skis, they certainly come around quite nicely. Also on the 177, David Wolfgang noted it skied true to the length, scoring it 4’s out of 5 for overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, forgiveness, and stability. 3’s for flotation, quickness, and maneuverability falls in line with what we’re looking for out of a pretty burly ski like this. “Designed to be an all-mountain ski, the 84 waisted Deacon loves to arc wide turns but still retains the turning on a dime feature. When you drive it into a quick turn the ski turns it up a notch. Great ski for the all-mountain skier who loves the groomed but occasionally wants to venture in the bumps and the woods.” Yes, mainly groomed, but there is some versatility for adventure for sure.

John McIntosh called the 177 a “perfect length” for him, scoring top marks of 5 out of 5 for overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, quickness, and maneuverability. All other scores were 4’s, so John sees a higher baseline average for these skis. John calls it “One of my favorites this test. Designed for the frontside, this ski really blurs the line into the all-mountain category. While it really excels in edge grip, quickness, and maneuverability, it is a very capable ski in a variety of conditions. The 3D radius technology really works well, allowing for a variety of turn shapes seamlessly moving from short turns to longer and back with aplomb.” Jeff Neagle was all 3’s and 4’s on his card, with the top marks going for overall impression, versatility, stability, quickness, and maneuverability. He notes that “The Deacon 84 really is a fantastic all-mountain ski. I always think about Volkl's mid-80 mm skis (there are a bunch) and the Deacon 84 always feels like the most carving-focused out of that group. Every time I ski it, its performance basically confirms those thoughts. For an 84 mm width ski, the Deacon rips carving turns. I love the 3D Radius feel when linking carves. The harder you push, the shorter your turn gets, which is a very rewarding experience. If you want to make a bigger arc turn, you just don't pressure the forebody of the ski as much and let it ride. It might not make a Super G size turn, but if you like big sweeping carves, it'll do that just fine. While it feels more like a carving ski than anything else to me, it does come along with some reasonable versatility. The 3D Radius really boosts that, in my opinion. The tips and tails are less catchy than you'd expect if you just glance at its shape. There's not a ton of rocker, but the longer radii helps the ski pivot relatively smoothly. You're not going to get the quickness of a Kanjo 84 or Blaze 86 off-piste, but if you're a carving enthusiast who likes to go off trail sometimes too, the Deacon is a great option.”

There’s a whole lot of fun to be had on the Deacon 84. Built mostly for higher-end skiers looking for a strong and sturdy all-mountain carver, the Deacon 84 has very few limitations, and makes an awesome choice for eastern skiers looking for one ski to do it all, especially with a precise feel to it.