About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2022.

My take

The Volkl Blaze 94 is a great carving ski that can ski in bounds and in the backcountry. These ultra-lightweight carvers are a ski meant for an intermediate to expert-level skier who wants to make some great turns with a real featherweight ski.

About the skis I own

• Model: 2023 Volkl Blaze 94
• Size: 186cm

About me

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 185lbs
• Experience: 26 years skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought these: October 2022
• Days tested: 15+ days
• Mount position: Factory Recommended
• Boots: 2022 Salomon S/Race 130
• Boot Size: 26.5
• Bindings: 2022 Look SPX 12
• Where I’ve used it: Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood, Stevens Pass
• Terrain: Groomer, mixed snow, light powder

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was looking for a ski in the 90-95mm underfoot range that was really lightweight and a really good carver. Also, I wanted to see if I could use it for resort skiing and maybe backcountry skiing.

Why I chose this gear

As I could demo these skis before buying, I found these Volkl Blaze 94s ripped and were extremely light underfoot. They were nimble, quick, and overall could carve super well. I thought about the K2 Mindbender 90 or the Armada Declivity 92, but the Volkls provided a smooth glide for carving I liked the most.

What I love about them

• Speed: Not only are the bases quick right out of the plastic, but these skis have an excellent base material that is resilient and protects against scratches and damage.
• Edge hold: These have an excellent edge hold. Great edge cut out of the plastic. It’s even better when tuned at home.
• Turns: These are such a delight to turn, both at high speed and when I slowed down. Volkl came up with their 3D Radius Sidecut, which has three radii in one ski shape, giving the ski great versatility. It has a long radius at the tip and tail for stability and smoothness and a short radius in the middle of the ski, allowing the user to switch from long turns to short turn tempo.
• Groomers: These handle really well on the groomer. I am pleasantly surprised with how well these carve at slow and fast speeds. With a great edge hold, these crush the groomer.
• Trees: The Volkl Blaze 94 is very nimble and quick to move. These can cut and zip through the tree skiing like the trees aren’t even there. A good shape and nice hip cut make turning easy in the tight-turn trees.
• Moguls: Although I did not test these skis on moguls, these skis would be able to charge through them. They are quick and soft enough that the ski could absorb some of that hard bounce but has some stiffness that the ski will bounce back and rebound nicely.
• Backcountry: With a 94mm underfoot platform, these skis are ideal for the backcountry. Considering the skis are extremely lightweight, these skis are an awesome choice for the touring setup.
• Durability: With a sturdy topsheet, these Blaze 94s have been quite resilient to ski-to-ski contact. These have held up nicely from over 10 days of skiing in multiple snow conditions.
• Weight: So incredibly lightweight. It is a wonderful surprise to get the turning quality with the weight of these skis. One of the lightest weight options for an all-mountain/touring ski in the mid-90mm ski range.
• Stability: With the metal and wood hybrid core, these skis are poppy and soft when I want the ski to work for me. It has a great energy recoil but won’t chatter if I want to relax and not step on the ski the entire run.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Powder: The skis are not ideal for powder, as they are 94mm underfoot which wouldn’t provide very much flotation, but they can handle a light amount of snow with ease.
• Park: Being a flush ski with no tail rocker, these wouldn’t be so fun in the park.
• Switch riding: Much like park riding, these directional carving skis aren’t made for switch riding.

Favorite moment with this gear

Taking these Volkl Blaze 94s out for their first few turns was such a wonderful moment. They carved well, were nimble, and so incredibly light. Their turning and carving abilities made me feel like I was on a race ski again. These Volkl Blaze 94 can rip and still feel fun for a wood and metal core ski.

Value for the money vs. other options

These Volkl Blaze 94 skis are really fun, and I think are fairly versatile. They are 94mm underfoot, so they can shred most snow conditions and are light enough to be used for a touring setup. Some other good options include the Nordica Enforcer 94, the Blizzard Rustler 9, and the Armada Declivity 92Ti. All are great skis, but the Volkl Blaze 94 are so light, nimble, and fun that they were hard to pass up.

Final verdict

The Volkl Blaze 94 offers all-mountain cruising at its best. These are lightweight, dynamic, and can carve like a race ski. Not only do these skis crush it on the resort, but they can also be a great ski for the backcountry.