In the world of skiing, the Völkl M6 Mantra Skis and Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers, offering a blend of power, agility, and versatility. The Völkl M6 Mantra Skis are renowned for their impeccable edge hold and variable turn radius, making them a dream for those who love to carve at high speeds. On the other hand, the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are praised for their forgiving nature and playful tip and tail, making them a great choice for those who enjoy a more freestyle approach to skiing. While both skis have their strengths, the choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference and skiing style.

Völkl M6 Mantra Skis · 2023 summary

The Völkl M6 Mantra Skis are a new school build on a construction that has been a proven package for strength and versatility. They are designed with a variable turn radius that provides a plethora of turn shapes for the expert level skier. This makes them an incredibly powerful platform for those willing to push it, and a progressive ski for the intermediate skier with expert level intentions and an applicable athleticism.

The Mantra M6 comes with a multilayer wood core and tip and tail rocker. For the first time, the newly designed ski body will be adapted to a 3D radius sidecut concept with a tailored Titanal frame. This adaptation allows the tip and tail ends to be weight-optimised, and the torsional stiffness to be influenced, thereby improving the ride qualities. This retains the familiar stability of a Titanal ski while also making the Mantra M6 noticeably lighter and more agile to control. The new handling characteristics of the Mantra M6 are also enhanced by the tailored carbon tip. The dedicated positioning of the carbon fibres results in a precise tip response and vastly improves the ski’s torsional stiffness.

The Mantra M6 is ideal for supreme grip on edge at speed, variable turn radius gives progressive grip no matter the turn shape, and it's surprisingly easy to turn laterally, despite the long effective edge. However, it may not be the best for beginners due to its high energy, and it lacks surface area for powder floatation.

Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis · 2023 summary

The Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are designed to be a somewhat forgiving all-mountain and groomer ski. They feature Titanal banding instead of a normal Titanal layer, which is supposed to give the ski more energy and power transmission. The Declivity 92 Ti is claimed to be the everyday ski that can handle a little bit of everything, from charging hard, fresh corduroy, to a little dust on crust, ripping trees, and off-piste.

The Declivity 92 Ti comes with a Caruba wood core, which is the lightest wood core in any Armada ski. This makes the ski forgiving in nature, but there is enough ski and stiffness to still have your back underfoot. The ski also features Titanal banding, a new kind of Titanal layer that Armada has been testing out with some of their skis. This layer stiffens the ski up, giving it a real predictive flex pattern throughout the ski.

The Declivity 92 Ti is great for carving, with a 17.5-meter turning radius, it isn't too difficult to move edge to edge, and you’re able to accomplish those shorter radius turns, longer radius turns, and anything in between. The ski holds an edge like a dream, and you can keep pressing and pressing on it, and it's still going to be there for you.

Similarities

Both the Völkl M6 Mantra Skis and the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers and are built to handle a variety of conditions. They both feature a Titanal layer in their construction, which provides excellent edge hold and power transmission. Both skis also have a multilayer wood core, which offers a balance of strength and flexibility. They are both designed to be versatile, with the ability to handle groomed trails, off-piste conditions, and even some fresh snow. Both skis also have a similar waist width, with the Mantra M6 at 96mm and the Declivity 92 Ti at 92mm, making them both suitable for all-mountain skiing.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Völkl M6 Mantra Skis are ideal for skiers who love to carve at high speeds and demand a ski that offers impeccable edge hold. They are also suitable for skiers who enjoy a variety of turn shapes and need a ski that can handle the variations of energy needed. However, they may not be the best choice for beginners or those who prefer skiing in powder due to their high energy and lack of surface area for powder floatation.

On the other hand, the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are great for skiers who enjoy a more freestyle approach to skiing. They are more forgiving and playful, making them a good choice for those who like to experiment with different styles and conditions. They are also a good choice for skiers who want a ski that can handle a bit of everything, from charging hard on fresh corduroy to ripping trees and off-piste. However, they may not be the best choice for beginners or those who prefer a more traditional skiing style.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well, but the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis might have a slight edge due to their more forgiving nature and playful tip and tail. For carving and edge hold, the Völkl M6 Mantra Skis are the clear winner with their impeccable edge hold and variable turn radius. In terms of weight and agility, the Völkl M6 Mantra Skis are noticeably lighter and more agile to control, thanks to their 3D radius sidecut concept and tailored Titanal frame. However, for freestyle skiing, the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis take the lead with their more playful and surfy nature.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Völkl M6 Mantra Skis and the Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis are excellent choices for advanced to expert skiers. The Völkl M6 Mantra Skis shine in their carving abilities and edge hold, making them a dream for those who love to carve at high speeds. The Armada Declivity 92 Ti Skis, on the other hand, offer a more forgiving and playful ride, making them a great choice for those who enjoy a more freestyle approach to skiing. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and skiing style. So whether you're a speed demon who loves to carve or a freestyle enthusiast who likes to play around, there's a ski out there for you. Happy skiing!