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Reviewers' score
17.5
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BEST SKI

Völkl Mantra V.Werks review 2020

BEST SKI
Best ski 2020

PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments

Already much noticed during the pre-tests, the Mantra V.Werks quickly won over the Proskilab reviewers. To put it bluntly, the "V.Werks" version has nothing to do with the classic version of the Mantra "M5" reviewed last year and renewed by the brand this year. The edge lines, construction, weight and behaviour are very different. It must be said that the Mantra V.Werks is a unique ski on the market.

First of all, the ski surprised the reviewers with its behaviour on the piste. It proves to be remarkably lively, stable and reassuring, very gripping for this category on packed snow, including at very high speed. It offers rather particular sensations, that of a ski that is both very light and solid underfoot, very thin, deforming longitudinally while maintaining a high torsional rigidity.

The ski is light (1,680 kg according to Völkl, in 178 cm) without being a lightweight for a backcountry or freeride touring ski. It does, however, appear to be lighter underfoot, probably due to the "3D" construction designed to reduce inertia when pivoting. The "Ice.off" covering helps to avoid storing snow on the ski. The weight–performance ratio is exceptional.

The reliability of its behaviour, its grip, its lightness underfoot, and the liveliness of the ski make it a ski that gives a lot of sensations. The Mantra V.Werks is a ski on which the reviewers had a lot of fun.

Off-piste, its lightness, the finesse of the ski, the almost inexistence of the sidewalls, the width at the waist of 99 mm make it a very comfortable ski in powder snow. It also defends itself very well in choppy snow, thanks to its ease of pivoting.

It requires a certain technical level to make the most of it. The reviewers noted that it skied on the front while pressing on the housings. It's also a little less comfortable in small curves.

A freeride touring ski par excellence, comfortable on all terrains, the Mantra V.Werks from Völkl is not cheap, but offers behaviour that is unique on the market. It's a very wholehearted recommendation from the Proskilab reviewers for all those who prefer technical excellence without paying too much attention to their wallet.

Review: Pros

  • Excellent behaviour on the piste, "fast and sound" ski
  • Stable and reassuring, gripping, able to go very fast for this category
  • Lively ski, with a good rebound at the end of curves
  • At ease on all terrains
  • Pivots very well, low resistance to rotation
  • Floats and pivots well in powder, comfortable in choppy snow
  • Easy, comfortable at all speeds
  • Lively ski, a feeling of lightness underfoot and a lot of fun
  • Very progressive flex

Review: Cons

  • Aimed at medium/large curves; is a little less comfortable in small curves
  • Ski that wants to be skied on the front if you don't want to be surprised at high speed
  • Ski that requires a certain technical level from the rider

The ski review scores

Turn initiation
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Stability
☆☆☆☆☆
18.0
Stability/turning performance
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Grip
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Short turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Long turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
18.5
Skid turn performance
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Handleability
☆☆☆☆☆
15.5
Comfort
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Snow contact
☆☆☆☆☆
16.5
Soft snow fluidity
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
Freeride - Flotation quality
☆☆☆☆☆
18.5
Handling in powder
☆☆☆☆☆
18.5
Performance on hard snow
☆☆☆☆☆
17.0
Freeride - Performance on hard snow
☆☆☆☆☆
17.5
All-terrain comfort
☆☆☆☆☆
18.0

Who's it for?

Good → Expert

Manufacturer's remarks

The V.Werks range includes all of the technology that our engineers, testers, workers and machines in Straubing, Bavaria, can put into a ski.
For the Mantra V.Werks, you can, of course, find the famous 3D construction, which makes it possible to have a finer ski from the nose to the tail, while keeping more rigidity under the binding. The entire length of the ski is covered with several layers of carbon. There is a wood core with a 0.6 mm titanium band forged in this core. The Mantra V.Werks has a cambre underfoot and a rocker in the nose and tail with 99 mm under the waist. With the weight reduction of the 3D construction and carbon, the ski weighs only 1,680 g for 178 cm.
This incredibly light and efficient ski has succeeded in impressing all of the reviewers for its abilities on the piste, its liveliness thanks to its light weight, its versatility in off-piste due to its width and its comfort thanks to the Titanal band.

Features of the Mantra V.Werks

Brand : Völkl
Model : Mantra V.Werks
Year : 2020
Family : Freeride touring
Size tested : 178 cm
Tip size : 135 mm
Waist size : 99 mm
Tail size : 117 mm
Radius for the size reviewed : 20 m

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Reviewed by PROSKILAB™

in La Clusaz, France, March 2019