Curated Ski Expert Brandon got to test the 2023 Volkl M6 Mantra at Powder Mountain in Utah this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories. A quick note before we dive in, Curated experts are not sponsored and have no ties to any particular brand, so these are honest and unbiased opinions of the gear. If you have questions about the Volkl M6 Mantra or need help finding the right skis for you, reach out to a Ski Expert here on Curated to get custom ski recommendations tailored to your needs.

Brand Claims

What does Volkl claim about this ski? The Volkl M6 Mantra is a great all-mountain ski. It holds an edge well and is a versatile ski for most snow conditions.

Overall Impression

What was your overall impression of the ski? The Volkl M6 Mantra was a ton of fun to ski, and it was very easy to turn. It has an 18 meter turning radius, but it felt like it was able to turn quicker than that. I was able to toss this on edge pretty quickly for those shorter turns and make longer radius turns as well. I also had a ton of fun in the trees with this, so it really is a versatile ski that’s super fun to ski anywhere on the mountain.

How does the shape of the ski affect the way it rides? The Volkl M6 Mantra has a decent amount of rocker in the tip and minimal rocker on the tail with traditional camber underfoot. It also has something called a 3D side cut, which makes it really easy to initiate turns. As I mentioned earlier, it was really easy to hop into my turn and turn this thing quickly. So due to the side cut on this ski, it is really fun and able to turn really quickly.

Carving

How well does the ski hold an edge, and does it feel stable in a turn? The Volkl M6 Mantra was a really fun ski to carve on and felt very stable. The Tailored Titanal Frame kept the ski from chattering. I had a good time out there making shorter and longer radius turns and really didn't experience any chatter. The ski felt really powerful all the way through the turn, and it was a lot of fun.

How did the ski handle high and low speeds? The Volkl M6 Mantra has a ton of energy when turning and I was able to ski it at higher and lower speeds. It was very easy to control at higher speeds because of the metal in the build of the ski, and I didn't have any problem with chatter.

Freestyle

How did the ski feel in the air? I did get to catch some air on the M6 Mantra today. It feels really stable in the air and on landings.

How did the ski feel skiing switch? I didn’t get to do any spins or switch skiing. It has a very directional shape with minimal rocher in the tail, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to do much switch skiing on the M6 Mantra.

What conditions were you skiing today on the Volkl M6 Mantra? I was able to ski in a variety of conditions today from hard-packed groomers to some softer groomers and some tree skiing. The skis felt nimble and quick edge-to-edge, and they were a lot of fun in the trees.

Freeride

How do you think the ski would feel in powder? With their larger shovel, I think the M6 Mantra would be a fun powder ski for all but the deepest days.

What terrain is the M6 Mantra ideal for? The Volkl M6 Mantra is a hard-charging all mountain ski. It can handle anything from groomers to trees to powder.

Is there any terrain that you think skiers should avoid in these skis? I wouldn’t recommend the M6 Mantra for skiing big mountain lines or jumping big cliffs. It’s only 96mm underfoot, and it’s nice to have something a little wider for those big mountain lines.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend these skis to? I would recommend the Volkl M6 Mantra to anyone looking for a stable and versatile all-mountain ski. They hold an edge well on harder-packed snow, so they would be a great ski for someone who skis in a coastal snowpack on the East or West coast.

Is this a good ski for someone who is shopping for their first pair of skis and transitioning from rental gear? I wouldn’t quite recommend the M6 Mantra as someone’s first pair of skis after rentals. There is a lot of metal in the core of the ski, so they take a little more work to drive than a rental ski.

Chat with Brandon to find out more about his experience on the M6 Mantra, or have any of our Ski Experts put together personalized gear recommendations and determine if the M6 Mantra is right for you. Note that the 2024 version of the Volkl M6 Mantra is linked below - same tech, just different graphic: