2022 Volkl M6 Mantra

The Volkl Mantra might be the most recognizable or most well-known ski on the market, and arguably has been for the past 2 decades. For 2022, we get an updated version, which marks the 6th iteration of the Mantra, hence the new name, M6 Mantra. The last time the Mantra changed it marked a significant departure from the previous design, going from reverse camber back to underfoot camber with significantly different construction. Going from M5 to M6 is a more subtle change. The shape largely stays the same, but Volkl has made certain tweaks that have resulted in what we think is the best Mantra yet. First, they’ve added 3D.Radius to the shape, something that we’ve had in the Kendo and other Volkl skis for a couple years now. The 177 cm Mantra now has an 18 m radius underfoot with a 30 m tip and 24 m tail. We also get what Volkl calls Tailored Titanal Frame and Tailored Carbon Tips. Titanal Frame has been changed so that there’s a different amount of metal in each length. Regardless of length, there’s less metal up in the tip, which has reduced swing weight. To retain torsional stiffness and good tip in precision when entering a turn, Volkl added their Tailored Carbon Tips, a cross hatching application of carbon that’s essentially a more specifically engineered version of the previous Carbon Tips found in the M5 Mantra. Based on the in-depth feedback from our testers, it’s clear the Mantra is still among the best all-mountain ski for those who value precision, edge grip, and responsiveness.

Jeff Neagle has plenty of experience on Mantras. In fact, he noted in his feedback that he’s skied every Mantra that’s ever been made. Solid scores from Jeff on the M6 Mantra after skiing the 177 cm length, with torsional stiffness/edge grip and overall impression both earning 5 out of 5 scores, and just about every other criterion right behind at 4 out of 5. “In most ways, this still feels like the M5 Mantra. Similar sound and vibration damping from it, similar precision, responsiveness, stability, and edge grip, but the tweaks they made really improved the ski in noticeable ways. For me, being pretty lightweight, I felt like it was easier for me to get it to come across the fall line, and I give a lot of credit to the 3D radius for that. If I got the ski to flex, I found I could access that shorter radius underfoot and really get the ski to shorten up its turn radius. That's something that I had a harder time achieving on the M5 Mantra. I felt like I had to go 40 mph first, then turn, but this new version is easier to manipulate at slower speeds, which I think is a good thing. I'm not sure why, but I had a slightly easier time in more technical terrain or when making shorter turns on this than the previous version. It's not a smeary, slidey, ski, but can make some rhythmic, skidded turns, which I think a lot of skiers will appreciate. Good stability, but that's not surprising as the Mantra has always been very stable. It just eats up variations in the snow surface. Definitely more of a charge-through ski than a dance-on-top ski, which was noticeable when testing this back-to-back with the Blaze 86.”

Bob St.Pierre tested both the 177 and 184 cm lengths in the M6 Mantra as a way of testing the differences between the Tailored Titanal Frames and how it affects performance. He ultimately decided that the 184 was the better length for him, but it’s awesome to get his feedback on both skis. “Very interesting updates to the Mantra, with the tailored titanal frame and carbon tips. By making it size-specific, they're able to adjust the flex and performance of the ski, making it more customized per skier. The 184 felt like the right size for me, although I'm on a longer ski in wider shapes. I don't think I'd like this ski so much in softer snow, and certainly not the deep stuff, but it really excels on firmer snow and groomers. It's definitely a wide on-trail ski versus a narrow freeride ski. Still has that Volkl metallic feel and sound to it, for better or worse. Very precise carving ski for a 96 mm underfoot ski. Emphasis on precise. It's pretty amazing how the sizing makes such a difference. On the one hand, when you get the sizing correct, it makes the ski feel like it's custom built just for you. The turn radius, the flex, it all feels so good when it's appropriate for your height and weight, but if you're off, it really alters the way the ski performs.” We’ll focus on Bob’s scores for the 184 length, which included 5 out of 5 for quickness/maneuverability, stability, torsional stiffness/edge grip, and overall impression.

Matt McAlary had never skied a Mantra, basically the opposite of both Jeff and Bob, and it’s always nice to get a new perspective. “I had never been on any rendition of the Mantra, so I was able to approach the M6 with an open mind and no expectations. I took it down nosedive the first run, and the first thing I noticed was how surprisingly easy it was to make short turns on it. On the lift, they felt like they were going to really want to ski fast on longer arcs, but when they're on snow, they gain a livelier personality than their weight might suggest. With that being said, these things do like speed and they handle it in a very smooth and stable fashion. I found the M6 very intuitive. To be honest, I feel like the M5/M6 have received a bit of an unfair treatment in the sense that I feel like they get looked at or categorized in a way that is geared more towards an expert skier, but I could see some athletic intermediates on this thing as well. Now maybe that has something to do with the updated sidecut, but either way, I think this ski is more approachable than a lot of people might think. Would an expert have an easier time handling it, yeah, of course, but I still think skiers with a more conservative style can enjoy this ski at relatively lower speeds and still get a lot out of it. This would be a great option for a lot of east coasters who are looking to own just one set of skis. It rails on groomers but it also floats well. Personally, I think it's more fun to arc turns on this ski than it is to mess around in the soft stuff on the sides of the trails. I think it lacks a bit in terms of playfulness but to me, that's an accepted tradeoff for what is ultimately an extremely smooth, precise and stable ski everywhere else.”