2025 Volkl Katana V-werks

Innoavtion in the ski world is few and far between. Volkl, though, does it better than most. The 2025 Volkl Katana V.Werks is what happens when the concept of a ski comes to reality. This futuristic-looking ski is extraordinarily unique in the ski industry, and while it has a pretty narrow audience, for that group, this is exactly what is needed. For skiers who spend a lot of their time searching out the most technical, deep, and challenging terrain on the planet, this ski is one of the few that does it at a light weight and with a high level of precision. In terms of a hybrid touring ski, the Katana V.Werks can accommodate a touring binding as well, with certain build nods to the uphill capabilities of this ski. It has an interesting and novel approach to ski construction, taking the extremes of the process and putting them all together in one crazy-looking package. We get a new graphic for 2025, but otherwise, the ski returns structurally unchanged.

They really send all of the engineers to the kitchen for this one. Since V.Werks skis from Volkl usually have a greater use of carbon, the Katana is no different. Volkl does start with a Multilayer Woodcore light, which not only uses a blend of lighter weight woods, but also mills out vertical strips from the core to keep weight down. The big thing with this wood core is that it’s mainly found in the central ridge portions of the ski and a full-width underfoot zone. There’s little to no wood along the edges of the ski in the forebody and through the tail, relying on the full carbon jacket to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the sides of the ski. They’re razor-thin, and insanely precise, so when you do find yourself putting some effort into the initiation phase of the ski, you’ll get a whole lot back when it comes to life. The same is true from the tail—it's very stiff and precise, so the completion phase of the turn is about as quick and grabby as it gets. Tester Noah Novotny’s feedback illustrates how this ski does have a narrow audience: “This ski felt long and stiff. The larger turn radius made it feel a bit unruly. It held an edge well but despite the flat camber it didn’t feel very responsive." We were more hopeful of some positive responses, but it’s such a particular ski, it’s just not going to fit everyone’s needs or wants.

There’s some very interesting stuff going on with the shape and profile as well. It’s a good thing that we’re dealing with a fully-rockered ski here, as that build would be pretty tough to deal with if the ski had a lot of camber in it. Instead, we’re getting a very smeary and drifty ski for the weight and stiffness, and these attributes are truly what sets the ski apart from anything else out there in the world. There aren’t many skis at all anymore that are fully rockered like this, and it makes perfect sense that the one that is, also has the most innovative and futuristic-looking construction. The turn shape is long to go along with it, registering a 23.5-meter radius in the 184 cm length. That allows for straighter and more aggressive skiing for those who like to take a direct line down the hill. For long turns and pure powder performance, this Katana V.Werks has it all going for it. Noah continues to state that he’s “Not exactly sure what it’s for. It’s got the width of a powder ski but its very traditional shape was the opposite of playful, something I think most people are looking for in a powder ski.”

In addition to the uniqueness, there’s also a slight price barrier here for some. At over $1000, these skis aren’t what we’d call a bargain. While the 2025 Volkl Katana V.Werks is not an everyperson style of ski, it does have that unique appeal that will resonate strongly with a more select few. The balance of precision and quality marries with the distinctive shape to create a highly capable expert-level ski for big mountains and aggressive skiing. The use of carbon, minimal core profile, and high-end features makes this ski stand out for sure, taking that concept ski style of mentality to the next level. That’s what you’re paying for at the end of the day—it's a unique and individual ski that is not just a cookie cutter model. Whether it’s right for you or not is another question entirely.