The Volkl M7 Mantra is the flagship of Volkl's all-mountain freeride line, a wide-bodied ski that carves far better than its waist width suggests. A poplar and beech wood core, a full sheet of titanal under a three-piece metal frame, and tailored carbon tips combine to deliver a ski loaded with energy and edge grip for skiers who like to push the pace.

Why we like it:

That three-piece Tailored Titanal Frame is doing real work, the ski stores and returns a ton of rebound when you load it up through a turn. The tailored carbon tips lighten the swing weight too, so for a ski with this much mass it comes around quicker than you'd expect.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert skiers who like to drive a ski hard and mix on and off-trail terrain at speed. There's an entry point to this ski; it rewards strong technique and confident input rather than a relaxed, cruising style.

Highlights:

Volkl builds the M7 around a multi-layer poplar and beech wood core, placing beech toward the edges for power and smoothness while the central poplar handles flex and soft-snow articulation. A full layer of titanal sits below the core and the three-piece frame rides on top, providing grip and energy while still letting the ski flex properly. The big story is the shape: the 4 Radius Drive adds a longer second radius in the mid-body, smoothing out the jittery feel some skiers found in the previous generation and unlocking composed performance at shallower edge angles. The long, low rocker lets you access all four radii, so the ski can lay down a race-like carve or slide and release at will.

Things to consider:

This is not a ski for mellow or moderate skiers. The stiffness and weight demand attention, and it doesn't fare as well in soft snow as the width and rocker might imply; it's a carver at heart. If you're between sizes, sizing down crisps up the carving feel at a slight cost to off-trail stability.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Sizes true to length. Stick with what you usually ride, or drop a length if you favor a quicker, more energetic carve over top-end stability.