A Masterpiece : Volkl Kendo 88 (2024) : Ski Review
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- Elliott Reviews the Volkl Kendo 88 for 2024 in a 177cm Length.
To Buy These Skis via Affiliate Link: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Music: SAFAKASH - Wait a minute
0:00 On Snow
1:41 Build and Specs
5:19 First Impressions
6:50 Volkl Mantra VS Volkl Kendo
7:32 The Good
10:15 The Bad
13:26 Score
18:18 Skiing POV
Thanks to all of you out there for watching! You all make Ski Demos like this one possible. Cheers.
I'm 6'2" and a 220 lbs. I have this ski in a 184 and it's a terrific ski. It's very front side oriented, but a 61 years old, this is where I spend most of my time. It rips and is smooth as silk. Better than avg in bumps and good in boot depth powder. Live in western Wa and and get a variety if snow conditions and it's good to great in most of them.
I'm glad you finally reviewed, this is my Tahoe crud cutter and carving ski
Good choice!
Glad you finally got to review this ski Elliott.Got to demo them when they first came out in the 88 size a few years back, and straight away noticed the difference in the shorter radius turns as opposed to my 2016 Kendos. Thank you for your review, it just reinforced what I thought of them, I'm a couple of months off 68yrs old but I still like to point them down the hill and have some fun.
Been waiting for this one.. Look forward to watching the review tonight.
Ellitott! You rock man. This is the next ski on my "to-demo list". Thank you AGAIN.
Awesome! yes they're definitely amazing skis.
Thanks Elliott! Love the review ~ demo'd a few similar width/style skis and this really helped solidify my buying decision.
I’m surprise you tried the 177, I’m 5’8” and ski the 177.
Luv the Kendos….they love speed….and so do I.
Probably why he's describing them as feeling like slalom Racetigers. I'm also 5'8" with a racing background. And to me they feel just like my GS Racetigers lol. For me these are a much more long radius focused ski. Yeah the 16m underfoot can allow these suckers to pull across the fall line way harder than you'd expect but with 30m in the tips they still don't feel like particularly turny skis. I'm actually not a fan of the 3d radius on these. So far it feels a little unpredictable trying to make slalom turns on these.
I've been waiting for this! I absolutely love these skis. But I still might buy the Maverick 88tis based on your reviews.
Luv my Kendos.
They're so so good
Great review as always. Which would you select for front side only skiing. Kendos or Maverick 88ti. I am based in Australia Thanks
Just picked up a pair, only 1 day on slopes with them. I’m 185#, 6’..skiing the 177cm. Still getting use to them, quick on turns, holds a good carve. They were a few times hooky on day 1 (detuned tips a bit more after the ski day) I’ve skid Blizzard Bonafide (180cm) for a long time (love them also). Kendo’s can really turn. Excited to get out on them again in a couple days.
I’m skiing Ripstick 96s black editions and they’re a great ski. But I rented some Kendos on vacation and they’re way more fun to bust crud on and have amazing edge hold on ice. Glad you reviewed them.
How ironic, I'm ski the Kendo 88's currently yet am looking at the Ripstick 96. Would love to hear your thoughts on the Ripstick and the differences from the Kendo. My hope is to get a more playful ski for off piste, yet still enjoy the groomers.
@@driverjohns6051 if you want a more playful ski for off piste you’ve come to the right ski model. The RS 96 Blacks are a great bump and tree ski. You already have a great ski for icy groomed runs and going fast so perfect quiver addition.
@@driverjohns6051hey, just saw this. I bought Kendos recently.
Kendos are better than Ripstick Blacks in the following areas:
- Icy groomed runs
- Chopped up/skied out groomed runs
- Moguls; the narrow shovel seems to help there
Ripstick Blacks are better than Kendos in the following areas:
- Soft groomed runs
- Less than 6 inches of fresh snow that isn’t chopped up
Skied these (177 cm length 88 waist) on a mid-spring Tahoe day (hard snow/icy morning, hard/firm pack midday) last week. Lots of fun. Predictably pushed 1"-3" through wind-pack and were a dream with mixed radius turns on the non-icy hard pack. They were quick to maneuver on the exposed steep and icier pitches of Black diamond runs. Skied Atomic Maverick Ti 95 (172 cm) in the afternoon, Not as much fun. Really had to get the Mavericks up to speed and push them to get the same lively feel of the Kendos when mixing up the turn radius.
I think these are great if you never want to worry about the conditions. Ice, crud, mashed potatoes, dust on crust, crust on dust, doesn't matter. Only thing I felt unsafe on was boilerplate and death cookies, but idk if those would feel good on any ski.
Own the 2023 Kendos but almost got the Mavericks. Elliot described both skis perfectly. Feel that I had to drive the Mavericks into a carve more with my leg muscles as opposed to the Kendos where you're using your whole body evenly. Legs were more tired with the Mavs at end of day than with the Kendos. But, it still feels great carving on the Mavs. They're also much more nimble at slower speeds and far better in trees and such than Kendos. But... Kendos have great stability and give you a LOT of confidence charging down steeps :) All tradeoffs! Both skis are a lot of fun but in different ways!
Tried it this winter and found it was a absolute train. A bit heavy feeling on the feet but once moving the power in the turn is Impressive! I have a pair of Deacon 84 and if i was buying again i would be torn really. Most impressive ski i have tried in a while. A one ski quiver for the North East…yes. I never owned Volkl skis of my life but now own 2. Their actual build technology just match my ski technique perfectly but to be honest all top skis i tried were very good but volkl have that flex radius and turn initiation dialed.
What would be a good off trail ski to go with these to complete my 2 ski quiver?
Hi, thanks for the reviews. I'm 6'3" and 270 lbs, and I usually go for the longest possible ski (they normally reach up to the top of my head). I think I'll go to the mid 180's for my next ski for more maneuverability on narrow and/or moguly slopes.
Is the Kendo not being replaced with a new model next year?
I have K2 Disruption mti's from a couple of years ago with a similar waist width... How would you compare those two?
By the way, I agreed with your past reviews on the Nordica 94 which I found a little lacking, but I'm excited about your new Nordica 99 review that is more positive.
Hi Elliot, excellent review. This one was on my bucket list to test but could not find a store where to rent a pair. So I ended up testing (and buying) the K2 Mindbender 89Ti. I am mostly riding in the Swiss Alps on groomers and only every now and then some off-piste runs. How would the Kendo 88 compare to the K2 Mindbender 89Ti? Sounds like the Kendo 88 is even more carving oriented.
Great review. I own the Kendo 88 and agree 100% with your assessment. I love the stability and power of this ski on the groomers. You confirmed my thoughts about this ski being more challenging to maneuver in the trees, moguls, etc. I ski at Bogus Basin and am wondering what you might recommend for a more playful ski off piste? (Ripstick 96? vs Fischer Ranger 96?). Please keep there reviews coming!!
100% the mavs Elliot has pushed on this channel for are the real deal off piste while also putting smiles on faces on the groomer. I’m coming off of some other all mountain brands and I demoed the mavs and skied trees like I never have before.
Informative review! I’ve been skiing the Mantra M6 for two seasons and love them on powder days, especially the 3D radius. Looking for a front side carving ski for shorter turns on hard snow. Just bought these Kendo 88s today, to complement my M6s on non powder days at Steamboat. 6’2, 220 and went with the 184s. 40% Spring sale at Curated.
Nice find! Next time just fyi evo will price match and take i think 5% off or something. Assuming the sizes match etc.
Curious if anyone has thoughts on the kanjo, some good deals around and want a fun but a bit less demanding ski for when I am in a mood and skiing with my young child
From what I've read they're pretty much the same
Hi Elliot, please review the Volkl Deacon 84 when you get a chance. I know you didn't like the narrower version of the ski, but this one you might like (with some interesting tech like 3D/ titanium construction). I'm mainly curious to see what you think of the "low ride" bindings where you have closer contact with the ski and more responsiveness. Thanks.
Have old 2010 Kendo's full camber-88 mm. I Imagine there is some relation to the new ones? East coast skier, only use them on powder days, pretty good in soft moguls (why i got them) can turn quickly, good thru chopped up snow and hold an edge well on hard snow. Tail is stiff so can't skid them easily, need to go a certain speed for them to come to life but i've never had them chatter. I pretty much shelved them for years and used a soft 82 mm twin tip in it's place for powder, moguls, spring skiing (disaster on ice). But I am liking the edge hold now and power thru the chop, not enforcer quality but they are lighter. Enjoy the Reviews! Maybe add some videos of you skiing.
I'm 6"2" 250lbs. Picked up QST 98 last year and they are great for lower speeds but looking for something with more stability when hard charging. Do you think the Kendo or the Mantra would be better for this?
Mantra is definitely the burlier of the two and the harder charger.
I have a pair and told Mike how much I like them.
He likes the Deacons so I wonder how he would like these
@@RicketySkiReviews We'll find out next season.
Great review. Just bought a par.
Nice, hope you love them!
@@RicketySkiReviews if you can get your hands on some Stereo Skis I would love to hear your review. They got some great carvers
Just tried these now, and must say your review is spot on. Must be best value skiis of the year, and the carving capebilities is on antoher level. I will not a call this an all mountain -rather «all slopes» - ski.
Just saw the new Volkl Mantra line up....the Kendo will now become the Mantra 88, then the Mantra M-7 with the 96 waist, the Mantra 102, AND the Mantra 108.
The colors will be (in order from above) grey n Blue, grey n Red, grey n Orange, and grey n Pink.
Now I just need to win the lottery so I can own the lineup 🙂
Elliott, you mention at the end that you wouldn't recommend these for an intermediate/low advanced skier. Do you have an 88 you would recommend for an intermediate skier in Colorado?
I had the very same question, but from the other side of the Rockies in Utah.
This is my second season on the Kendo 88. I was an intermediate/advanced level when I purchased them. This is a ski you can grow into. For me it took effort to break my poor/lazy ski technique, but now I feel amazing when skiing on them. Certainly a rewarding ski if you want to improve your skills.
Demoed these and the atomic mavericks just last week and legit can’t decide which to buy. The kendo’s are so fun and precise on groomers but the mavs were better on the moguls. Pretty sure I want the lighter mavs for all around performance but man volkl just has some X factor on fast speeds that other skis don’t.
I demoed these and didn't care for them or the Mantra which I liked even less. I felt like they were kind of planky and rough riding. Not sure what it is. I'm a big guy and carving is my jam. The snow wasn't great but I enjoyed the Ripstick Black Edition and Rossignol 94ti's tremendously on the same day. I rode up the chair with a guy that chose to buy the Kendo's that day so I guess preferences can vary quite a bit!
Perfect description. Let's be real, with climate change, more times we'll be skiing on piste or shitty freeze-thaw hard-soft snow conditions. Perfect powder, rare. Kendo 88 (2025 Mantra 88) vs mantra 96... slalom and versility, my pick is the 88. Skied both, and while 96 better in deeper, it's a pain on piste...needs a bit more side cut. Agree, it's a bit of a handful in moguls due to the wdge hold...which is why it's such an epic carving ski.
I figured you would like those skis.. I am sure that I would like them too..
Another excellent review. People hear "all mountain" and should be able to assume that the ski will be enjoyable and/or effective over the entire mountain or resort. But we know that is not true. There are a few important sub-categories within the all mountain category. This would be a more frontside (on piste) oriented all mountain ski due to its profile and construction. Could be helpful to your viewers to do a separate video on each major category of ski (pure carving (quasi-race), all mountain, freestyle, and powder) and discuss the sub categories of each category. I do think freeride skis would be a sub-category of both freestyle and powder. Big differences between a stiffer hard charging powder ski and a playful flexible powder ski as an example.
Probably helpful to use a dry erase board and try graphing out the condition and the zone a particular ski is most optimal functioning within.
that would be an effective way to illustrate different skis for sure. Great idea@@exothermal.sprocket
Will be interesting to see how the 2025 Mantra 88 is similar and/or different as the 'Kendo' and 'Katana' models are going away.
What?! No way!!!
Woooow. Wonder why???
I’m thinking of delaying my purchase because of this but it’s hard to pass up the end of season deals going on right now
Situation seems a bit like how Blizzard Brahma/Bonafide/Cochise are going away on 2025...
Apparently the Mantra 88 will just be a Kendo with a new top sheet. No other changes.
@@45shrike yes that’s what I was told also. So previous Kendo, Kendja, and “new” Mantra 88 are identical skis, just different top sheets.
88 TI for the win?
This sounds like what you wanted the Elan Wingman to be, especially with the ability to change turn shape….. i have the Wingman and with the changes they made to this in 23-24 its seems like this is more versatile while remaining more front side oriented
Black Crow Mirus cor or kendo 88 ?
Mirus Cor hands down.
Depending what you want. Kendo is more for hard charging carvers at speed. The BC is not.
You wouldn’t go longer?
Now if we could bang on the head of Salomon, maybe they'd send you a Stance 90 for testing.
Or stance 84
@@whiteleghorn6835 The 90 had a construction change for '24.
Völkl is pronounced like Felkl, ö being more like e than o. Stockli is Shtocklee. The weirdness of German language ;)
Thanks for the review.
Kendo, Brahma and Enforcer the top big dogs in 88
wide frontside carver for groomers to slush to mashed po tay toes -- ride them mash them on single black or blue... At home in the shire not for the rocks (dwarves) and trees (elves)....
Bit late on this. They aren't making the Kendo anymore. Gone like the Brahma.
Brahma 88 rocks! It’s a beast
They are still making it. Next season it’s called the Mantra 88. Kendo, Kenja, and Mantra 88 all the same build.
@@johnman7251 Apparently for 25-26 the Mantra 88 will be redesigned but for 24-25 it’s still a Kendo 88 with a new top sheet. Source: talked with a Volkl rep.
You might really really like the Brahma 82 the way you ski!
I would love to try them, just haven't managed to find a pair to demo, and Blizzard has been quiet the last year.