Volkl Mantra 88 W Review
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The quick verdict: The sharpest tool in women's all-mountain skiing. Titanal frame grip, a three-radius sidecut that carves any turn shape, and composure on ice that embarrasses softer skis. It expects real technique and real speed. ~$850
Overview
Volkl retired the long-running Secret name and brought its women's all-mountain skis into the Mantra family, and the 88 W is the firm-snow specialist of that new line. It shares the Mantra 88's design language in dedicated women's lengths: a multi-layer poplar and beech core with beech stringers along the sides, Volkl's Tailored Titanal Frame bordering the ski rather than blanketing it, and woven carbon in the tips to sharpen response without adding swing weight.
The signature trick is the 3D Radius sidecut. Instead of one arc, the ski blends three: roughly 23.5m in the tip, 13.2m underfoot, and 21.3m in the tail on the 163cm. Pressure the middle of the ski and it snaps short turns; stand against the whole edge at speed and it stretches into long GS arcs. Published tests of the 2027 ski praise exactly this dual personality, scoring its edge grip and firm-snow stability at the top of the women's category. Volkl positions it for advanced and expert skiers, and for once the label is not marketing inflation.
Key Specs
| Spec | Volkl Mantra 88 W |
|---|---|
| Waist width | 88mm |
| Dimensions | 134 / 88 / 114mm at 163cm (brand site) |
| Turn radius | 3D Radius: 23.5 / 13.2 / 21.3m at 163cm |
| Lengths | 149, 156, 163cm |
| Weight | About 1,710g per ski at 163cm (published test measurement) |
| Core | Poplar and beech multi-layer with beech side stringers |
| Metal | Tailored Titanal Frame, plus woven carbon tips |
| Profile | Rocker / camber / rocker, low and long rocker lines |
| Base | Sintered, full sidewalls |
| Price | ~$850 flat, without bindings (brand site) |
Sizing & Fit
Three lengths topping out at 163cm is the Mantra 88 W's most limiting spec. Skiers around 5'8" and taller, or anyone who likes a ski at forehead height, bumps into that ceiling fast; the unisex Mantra 88 continues the size run upward with the same construction for those who need it. Within the range, size for your usual height marker and resist the urge to go short for quickness, because the 3D sidecut already handles short turns and the extra length pays off in stability. The ski rewards a stiff boot, 100 flex and up, and precise fit matters more here than on any other pick in our guide; our boot sizing guide explains why. Any standard alpine binding with a 90mm brake fits.
Where It Shines
- Ice and refrozen hardpack: testers describe grip other all-mountain skis simply do not reach, a consistent theme in 2027 test write-ups
- Carving versatility, with the three-radius sidecut delivering slalom-tight and GS-long turns from one ski
- High-speed composure: the Titanal frame and 1,700g-class mass keep it planted when lighter skis start to chatter
- Edge-to-edge quickness for a metal ski, helped by the carbon tips' low swing weight
- Build quality and durability that Volkl's German factory has a long published track record for
Tradeoffs to Know
- It is demanding: reviewers repeatedly note it punishes backseat skiing and needs an engaged driver to come alive
- Powder and soft chop are survivable at 88mm, but reviewers rate its float and off-piste playfulness modest; the Santa Ana 102 is the better storm ski
- The 163cm cap excludes taller skiers from the women's version entirely
- At low speeds it feels like what it is, a heavy precision instrument waiting for you to go faster
Who It's For
Former racers, strong technical skiers, and anyone whose home hill ices over by 10am. If your idea of a perfect morning is empty corduroy, railed turns, and nobody in the way, this is the best women's ski money currently buys for that job. It also suits aggressive all-mountain skiers in firm-snow regions who visit soft snow rather than live in it.
Who Should Skip It
Progressing intermediates will have more fun and improve faster on the Black Pearl 88, which forgives the mistakes the Mantra magnifies. Skiers who prize light, playful energy over raw grip should look at the Ripstick 100 W. And powder-first skiers are shopping in the wrong width class altogether.
How It Compares
The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is the same width built for a wider audience: easier to flex, easier to forgive, nearly as capable on all but the iciest days. Most skiers are better served by the Pearl; the Mantra exists for the ones who are not.
The Elan Ripstick 100 W is the temperamental opposite, light and metal-free where the Mantra is dense and Titanal-framed. Choose by snow: scraped and firm favors Volkl, soft and variable favors Elan.
The Nordica Santa Ana 102 matches the Mantra's appetite for speed but moves the fight to crud and powder. Skiers who charge in the West pick the Nordica; skiers who charge in the East pick the Volkl.
See the full lineup in our guide: The Best Women's All-Mountain Skis of 2026-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Volkl Secret 96?
Volkl consolidated its women's all-mountain skis under the Mantra name, so the Secret line ended with the 2025-26 season. The Mantra 88 W and its wider siblings carry the same role forward; remaining Secret stock still turns up discounted and remains a fine ski.
Is the Mantra 88 W too much ski for an intermediate?
For a true intermediate, usually yes. It does not become unstable at moderate speeds, but its weight and stiffness mute the feedback that developing skiers learn from. Advanced skiers transitioning from a softer ski adapt within days; intermediates tend to plateau on it.
Mantra 88 W or the unisex Mantra 88?
Construction is essentially shared; the W brings shorter lengths and graphics. Skiers who fit within 149-163cm can choose on availability and price, and taller skiers should simply buy the unisex ski in the right length.