2025 Volkl M7 Mantra Ski Review

There’s no secret as to why the Volkl Mantra is widely considered one of the most influential skis of all time. This ski, in one form or another, has been around for over a decade, constantly and confidently filling the roles of strength, power, agility, and versatility when it comes to upper end all-mountain skis. For 2025, Volkl introduces the M7 Mantra—the latest evolution in cutting-edge technology contributing to endless edge grip, total stability, and a ridiculously high-performance ceiling. We are also getting the new Secret 96 which features the exact same build and shape as M7 but with different graphics and shorter lengths. Everything that is said or mentioned about the M7 also applies to Secret 96. While much of the construction remains largely the same, the addition of a new shape brings this ski into the next generation. It’s all about predictability and intuition with the M7 Mantra. These skis are simply much easier to ski than the outgoing version with no loss of performance in the top gear. This type of innovation is purely Volkl—their use of sophisticated technology to achieve this particular effect is nothing short of remarkable.

Volkl has always gone above and beyond with their construction techniques, and this M7 is no different. In many ways, this ski serves as the benchmark for all other Volkl skis, whether they’re in the race room or more in the recreational side of the catalog. Similar to how automobile technology filters down from the race cars, so too do many of Volkl’s skis. Starting with a multi-layer wood core consisting of beech and poplar, the M7 gets a sturdy start. They’re able to put the denser beech in more important areas, specifically in the mid-zone of the ski as well as along the sides in the forebody and through the tail. It’sbasically likethey’re starting their Articulated Frame concept within the wood core, they just don’t go so far as to call it that quite yet. Stacking on top of that wood we do find their Articulated Titanal Frame. This marvel of modern ski engineering does a few things. First, it allows the ski to flex smoothly and naturally. This comes in handy when we get to talking about the turn shapes. With a full metal layer on bottom and a three-piece layup on top, the M7 feels powerful, damp, precise, and almost futuristic. The width of the frame parts are tailored to fit the specifics of each length, leaving no skier behind when it comes to performance. In M7, Volkl alters the frame width slightly to accommodate the new radius. In the forebody, the metal is narrower as it melds with the Articulated Carbon Tips. This re-shaped carbon/fiberglass layer sits in the front of the ski and creates lightning-fast turn initiation with a lighter weight. By replacing the heftier metal with more zesty carbon, the M7 becomes easy to turn with insane precision. In the mid-section of the ski, the metal plate extends forward and rearward, overlapping with the fore and aft frame sections, leaving only narrow channels along the sides of these pieces. You’renever without two connected metal laminates in the M7, and that’s surely by design. One of the build upgrades for M7 is a new interface with the frame pieces, allowing for increased durability and fewer delamination issues. Basically, they just angled the frame away from the sidewall for about half a centimeter, bringing the sharper end of the frame away from the sidewall. This simple fix should eliminate many issues and should restore skier’s faith in Volkl as a quality ski manufacturer. In terms of weight, we’re not seeing a huge difference, although the new skis just feel a bit lighter. The M6 and the M7 both sit on the scale at 2080-2090 grams per ski in the 177 cm length. That keeps the M7 on the plus side of the 2000-gram mark andmaintains its spot in the burlier of the skis in this range. At the end of the day, if you were pleased with how the M6 felt from a construction perspective, it’s safe to say you’ll feel very similarly about the M7.

At a Glance:

2025 Volkl M7 Mantra Skis

The shape is where things get interesting. Volkl, and other ski companies over the years, have become quite adept at building skis with multi-radius sidecuts. Fischer, Line, and Scott come to mind as manufacturers that have dabbled in spherical styles of radii, but Volkl seems to have a very clear understanding as to the benefits, as well as profiling the skis to assist with this form of arc—they certainly play into each other, much like how the flex adds to this cohesive feel. Volkl’s 3D Radius Sidecut used in previous generation Mantra skis as well as many others within the line garnered attention by being extremely intuitive and natural feeling. You can explain it all you want with words, but there’s no better way to understand it than by skiing it. For 2025, M7 takes it to the next level with 4 Radius Drive. This sounds like a nice neighborhood for skiers, but in reality, it’s adding another layer to the magical onion that is the M7 Mantra’s on-snow character. 3D used to have long radii in the forebody and through the tail with a shorter arc in the middle. This made long and fast turns very easy and smooth while shorter carves felt like pure front-side trenches. With 4 Radius Drive, the turns are simply more progressive. We couldn’t help but notice the smoothness and ease with which the curve starts, followed by the absolute ripping terror that followed in the rebound phase. There’s a building anticipation with these skis, proceeded by a total snap at the end. It’s the flow, the surge, that makes the 4 Radius Drive such an effective shaping technology. The new radius for 2025 is the second one found in the ski. The first, third, and fourth all remain very close to what we saw on M6, but the second arc is the one that makes a bigger difference. While the M6 had radii of 30/18/24 in the tip/waist/tail of the 177, the new M7 in the same length uses 25/40/16.8/22 as its four arcs. This leads to maximum precision in the tip, more resistance in the mid body, a tight arc underfoot, and a controlled and smooth release/transition to the next turn. The fun thing here is that you can choose to live in any of these radii and feel the intended turn, or you can simply ignore all the numbers and simply enjoy the ski. This technology aligns very well with the rocker profile of the ski. Volkl is unique in that they approach rocker a bit differently than others. We get long and low rocker in basically all of their skis, specifically those that use multi-radius sidecuts. Even in the narrower Peregrine 80, the rocker profile closely resembles that in the new M7. This creates an easy and smooth feel, allowing the strength of the ski and the sophistication of the build to do the heavy lifting when it comes to carving clean and powerful turns. If the M7 was rockered or cambered heavily, one way or the other, the multi-radius cut wouldn’t quite know what to do. By using a flatter overall profile, especially versus the M6, the 4 Radius Drive works harmoniously with the curvature of the ski. At 96 mm underfoot, there’s some serious surface area here, especially for how energetic it feels and for how well it turns. Versatility is more of a suggestion than a necessity, these skis, despite that mid-90's zone, feel a lot more comfortable on smooth and groomed surfaces.

While we mainly focus on a ski’s all-mountain and well-rounded nature if it’s in this width realm, it’s impossible to overlook the on-trail persona of the M7, and we don’t think that’s a bad thing. Skis of this shape that carve like this are few and far between, so it’s certainly fair to highlight the highlight, and in the case of the M7, it’s a purely carved turn. We’ll get to softer snow and off-piste for sure, because it is a big part of the story, but for the most part, where this ski excels is in on-piste formats. This does not mean that the snow always has to be firm and groomed, rather even trails that were groomed recently or even yesterday are still considered as part of the equation here. Plainly, the M7 is about as grippy, smooth, and energetic as skis come these days. Even on mellower terrain, the M7 hooks in, delivers as promised, and then thoroughly rebounds you into the next turn. It’s a very clear case of skiers getting more out of it than they put in, which even though defies the laws of physics, still seems to be the norm when linking carved turns on an M7. This may be the exception to the rules of equal and opposite reactions when it comes to on-piste performance. We had it out on multiple days, some firmer than others, and it didn’t seem to matter much to the Mantra what type of surface it was on. With pure edge hold on the firmer days and total power and confidence on the softer days, when engaged, there’s no wavering with the M7. It carves like a much narrower ski on ice yet takes full advantage of its width when encountering softer snow. We got it in spring conditions, and we can’t think of too many better options out there than this. Going from the lighter and more agile Blaze 94 to the M7 on spring snow, it was very apparent that the burlier Mantra was shock-proof at any speed. Any speed. When the snow gets cut, chopped, chunked, or crudded, the M7 is unphased. We’ve felt this way about the Mantra 102 over the years, and that feeling certainly filters into the 96 as well. There’s simply a non-flinching gene that this ski has that many others simply do not.

For better or for worse, this applies to off-trail situations as well. You kind of want an all-mountain/freeride ski to be somewhat flinchy when it comes to mobility and creativity. Off-trail skiing is a lot about object avoidance—you can’t always just let the skis rip and hope for the best. Whether it’s a tree, rock, mogul, or cliff, off-trail skiing has a lot of natural hazards that need to be dealt with. The M7 will not do the work for you—you must drive it like you mean it. Thankfully, there are some built-in aspects that assist with these endeavors. The shorter radius in the tips and the long and low rocker profile all help with getting the ski where it needs to go. Surprisingly, the profile does make it somewhat easier to throw sideways than some more traditionally cambered skis, so that’s a good thing. It’s all about effort. While there are more playful and floaty options in this mid-90's range, including the aforementioned Blaze 94 that requires far less work off-piste, there aren’t many/any that carve nearly as well as this M7. In the trees, be prepared to handle the precise nature of the ski—you can make it swivel, but you must remain light on your feet. In the powder, try and stay centered and be prepared to feel the bottom in anything less than a foot of fresh. In the bumps, make sure you have a good skillset to make it work, and if possible, downsize a bit to take advantage of the shorter ski’s agility. There are concessions to be made in off-piste scenarios, but that doesn’t mean the M7 falls short, it simply takes more work. We mainly see the benefits here for off-trail skiing in wider zones like bowls and exposed areas. If the snow is even somewhat packed, whether by wind, human, or gravity, the M7 will light it up. If it’s deep and you want to stay on top, there are some better choices out there. Depending on how much time you plan on skiing off-trail, you could always supplement with a wider and more amenable ski to the more precise and rigid M7 but that’s a personal choice that you, the skier, will have to make.

We suspect the apples will not fall far from the trees. Mantra skiers from the past dozen years will still gravitate to the new M7. Those that prioritize precision, power, edge grip, and sophistication will love the moves made and the chances taken by Volkl as progress continues in a forward direction. While other companies use their race department to further technological advances and development, Mantra has traditionally filled that role for Volkl when it comes to their all-mountain and freeride skis. The continuation of these advancements solidifies the M7 as a cutting-edge tool for carving turns on-piste and barreling through off-piste scenarios with uncommon confidence. While the fourth radius will bring some more skiers into the fold, this M7 is still firmly entrenched in the expert realm. Advanced skiers seeking precision and stability will also have a home here, and it’s more than acceptable to size down if needed. The strength is in the build, not the length, so no shame for going shorter if you’re caught in the middle. If M7 is the leader of the skis in terms of innovation, we’re excited to see how it filters into the other skis in Volkl’s extensive lineup.