2026 Volkl Mantra 88 W

The 2026 Volkl Mantra 88 W is a new ski for this year, replacing the Kenja as the all-mountain, high-performance ski within Volkl’s lineup. Kenja, for years, had been a fan favorite for strong skiers looking for a versatile carver that keeps up both on and off-trail. The new Mantra 88 W brings all of that power and grace and puts it into the next generation. With a flatter overall profile and a very sophisticated build, the Mantra 88 W is a solid on-trail carver with modest off-trail aspirations. It’s fine in the bumps and the trees and can plow through crud and chop, but there are more playful and creative skis out there in the world. This one, though, is so incredibly responsive and precise and works great on the feet of active and confident skiers.

Volkl uses their multi-layer wood core in this ski, placing more beech stringers along the sides and more poplar stringers in the center. They use their tailored titanal frame to emphasize the control on the edges. When the metal is combined with the beech, it shows Volkl’s commitment to edge grip and carving control. It’s a stiff ski, too, with a strong flex that does require some skill to bend. When you do, though, it’s a lot of energy that builds up in these skis. In the 163 cm length, the Mantra 88 W sits on the scale at 1710 grams per ski—heavy enough to make quick work of adverse conditions but still light enough to create some mobility and agility. Tester Mar Kuhnel cleverly notes that “It’s no secret, this is a Mantra and it does exactly what you’d think! Stiff, strong, stable, and requires a fair bit of skier input in order to get the most out of it. Felt great blasting through variable snow, no worries in the stability department. Also holds an edge on firm snow, this is a great all mountain option for strong skiers.”

At 88 mm underfoot, we do expect versatility to come along with precision. This ski blends those attributes reasonably well, but it does fall more on the precise side of the spectrum. Featuring Volkl’s 3D Radius Sidecut, you can make clean carves in a multitude of shapes and styles. This triple radius creates the capacity for short carves at higher edge angles without compromising stability at speed in shallower angles. Overall, it’s a very intuitive way to shape a ski and it totally works. Volkl also uses long and low rocker in both tips and tails to accompany low camber. This flat profile enhances the use of the 3D Radius and makes it simpler to create all sorts of carved turns with relative ease. Alli Ruschp scored the ski a 10/10 for Overall Impression and states: “LOVE this ski, it's quick and easy to turn but still extremely stable! Able to make quick turns or larger GS turns at high speeds and it's a smooth ride no matter what.”

This ski is an advanced and expert ski for sure. It has a very high-performance ceiling and works great on the feet of skiers who have a strong skillset, sturdy legs, and relatively stiff and proper fitting boots. This is not a lazy ski—it prefers to be activated and skied thusly. While the precise nature of the ski keeps it from being super-fun in an off-trail capacity, the flatter profile does make it feel like it can be swiveled around with relative ease compared to the stiffness and weight.