Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 vs Atomic Bent 90 Skis · 2024
VS
Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | $419.99 40% off | $329.97 40% off |
User rating | 5(1) | 4.33(3) |
The Curated Take | Best for experienced skiers looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in various conditions. | Best for ambitious beginners to advanced skiers who enjoy freeride/freestyle skiing due to its playful design and versatility. |
Ski type | Freeride, Carving, All Mountain | All Mountain |
Skill level | Expert, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
In the world of skiing, the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Atomic Bent 90 are two skis that have made a name for themselves. Both skis are designed for all-mountain use, but they each have their unique strengths and weaknesses. The Völkl Kendo 88 is a fast, edge-to-edge ski that excels in carving and freeride categories. It's a directional, frontside, on-piste, freeride jammin’ ski that is perfect for intermediate to advanced level skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. On the other hand, the Atomic Bent 90 is a playful, freestyle-oriented ski that is great for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a ski that can handle both the terrain park and all-mountain. It's a versatile all-mountain/park ski that is light, poppy, and stable underfoot. While both skis are excellent choices, the best one for you will depend on your skiing style and preferences.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are a directional, frontside, on-piste, freeride jammin’ ski that is designed to deliver ultimate versatility. It's a very fast edge-to-edge ski that is perfect for carving up groomers. The ski features a 3D turn radius that is intuitive and allows for a variety of turn styles. Whether you want to open up the throttle for long, GS, fall line, arc style turns, or make tighter turns in bumps or on groomed runs, the 3D turn radius allows you to do that.
The Kendo 88 has a multilayer wood core, a bit of carbon fiber weave in the tip, and the tailored titanal frame. This construction creates a very stable, damp, and responsive ski. It's a ski that thrives in carving and is also great for moguls given how quick edge to edge and nimble it is. However, it's not the most playful ski and it's not designed for freestyle skiing. It's also not the best off-trail ski in 5+ inches of powder.
The Kendo 88 is recommended for intermediate to advanced level skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. If you like skiing bumps every now and then, but it's not your main jam, then the Kendo 88 is for you. However, if you're just getting off rental skis or you're looking for something that's good on and off trail, the Kendo 88 might not be the best choice for you.
The Volkl Kendo has the 3D radius sidecut - what is that? In the 184 length, it’s a 31m turn radius up in front of the foot, 17m turn radius under the foot, and in the back it's a 26m turn radius. This is very unique. Volkl has been playing around combining this, and it essentially creates a very easy turning ski!
The Volkl Kendo has the 3D radius sidecut - what is that? In the 184 length, it’s a 31m turn radius up in front of the foot, 17m turn radius under the foot, and in the back it's a 26m turn radius. This is very unique. Volkl has been playing around combining this, and it essentially creates a very easy turning ski!
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
Atomic Bent 90 Skis · 2024 summary
The Atomic Bent 90 Skis are a playful, freestyle-oriented ski that is designed for all-mountain use. It's a versatile ski that is great for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a ski that can handle both the terrain park and all-mountain. The Bent 90 is light, poppy, and stable underfoot, making it great for side hits, jibs, slashes, and jumps.
The Bent 90 features a partial twin tip design and Atomic's HRZN tip, which gives the ski very good float in deeper snow, despite having a skinnier waist. It's a ski that is fun and playful, with a stiffer flex pattern in the midsection of the ski to up its performance on hardpack, where it can carve more gracefully than the wider Bents.
The Bent 90 is recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a versatile ski for both the park and all-mountain. It's also a great ski for younger skiers and lighter skiers who want a ski for hard snow days or for low tide days out in Tahoe. However, it's not the best choice for pure beginners who are more cautious and are just starting out on the mountain.
So the Bent 100 and the Bent 120 definitely get all the press and hype, and this 90 underfoot version is fairly new. But, my overall impression is that I really had a lot of fun on the ski. It was stiff throughout. It held an edge like nobody's business, and it was fun. It had a lot of energy in and out of the turn.
So the Bent 100 and the Bent 120 definitely get all the press and hype, and this 90 underfoot version is fairly new. But, my overall impression is that I really had a lot of fun on the ski. It was stiff throughout. It held an edge like nobody's business, and it was fun. It had a lot of energy in and out of the turn.
Atomic Bent 90 Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Atomic Bent 90 are all-mountain skis that are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers. They both offer a versatile performance that allows skiers to tackle a variety of terrains and conditions. Both skis feature unique technologies that enhance their performance on the slopes. The Kendo 88 features a 3D turn radius for easy turning, while the Bent 90 features a partial twin tip design and Atomic's HRZN tip for good float in deeper snow. Both skis are also designed to be stable and responsive, providing skiers with a confident and enjoyable skiing experience.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both skis are versatile, they cater to different types of skiers and styles of skiing. The Völkl Kendo 88 is a fast, edge-to-edge ski that excels in carving and freeride categories. It's perfect for skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails and enjoy making both long and short turns. It's not the most playful ski and it's not designed for freestyle skiing. Therefore, it's not the best choice for skiers who enjoy tricks and jumps.
On the other hand, the Atomic Bent 90 is a playful, freestyle-oriented ski that is great for skiers who want a ski that can handle both the terrain park and all-mountain. It's a versatile ski that is light, poppy, and stable underfoot, making it great for side hits, jibs, slashes, and jumps. It's also a great ski for younger skiers and lighter skiers who want a ski for hard snow days or for low tide days out in Tahoe.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When it comes to carving, the Völkl Kendo 88 takes the lead with its fast edge-to-edge performance and 3D turn radius that allows for a variety of turn styles. For freestyle skiing, the Atomic Bent 90 is the clear winner with its playful design and features that make it great for side hits, jibs, slashes, and jumps. In terms of versatility, both skis perform well, but the Atomic Bent 90 has a slight edge due to its ability to handle both the terrain park and all-mountain. Lastly, for stability, both skis offer a stable and responsive ride, but the Völkl Kendo 88's multilayer wood core, carbon fiber weave, and tailored titanal frame give it an edge in terms of dampness and responsiveness.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Atomic Bent 90 are excellent all-mountain skis that cater to different types of skiers and styles of skiing. The Kendo 88 is a fast, edge-to-edge ski that excels in carving and freeride categories, making it perfect for skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. On the other hand, the Bent 90 is a playful, freestyle-oriented ski that is great for skiers who want a ski that can handle both the terrain park and all-mountain. Both skis offer a versatile performance and are designed to be stable and responsive. The best ski for you will depend on your skiing style and preferences. So whether you're a carving enthusiast or a freestyle lover, there's a ski out there that's perfect for you. Happy skiing!
