Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 vs Atomic Maverick 88 Ti Skis · 2023
VS
Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | $419.99 40% off | $359.97 40% off |
User rating | 5(1) | 3(2) |
Ski type | Carving, All Mountain, Freeride | All Mountain |
Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
Tail profile | Partial twin tip | Flat |
In the world of all-mountain skis, the Völkl Kendo 88 and Atomic Maverick 88 Ti are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers who love to carve on groomed runs but also want the versatility to handle variable conditions. The Kendo 88, with its wood core and titanal metal layers, is known for its stability at high speeds and excellent edge control. On the other hand, the Maverick 88 Ti, with its poplar core and titanal reinforcement, offers a perfect balance of stiffness and flex, making it a playful yet stable choice. Both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two will ultimately depend on your personal skiing style and preferences.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 skis are a versatile all-mountain option that offers a combination of performance and agility on a variety of terrain. With an 88mm waist width, these skis strike a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions.
The construction of the Kendo 88 skis incorporates high-quality materials to optimize performance. They feature a wood core combined with layers of titanal metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission. This construction enhances the ski's responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance.
In terms of on-snow performance, the Kendo 88 skis excel in a variety of conditions with more of an emphasis on groomers and hardpacked snow. Their light amount of camber underfoot provides reliable edge grip and precise carving on firm snow, while the slight rocker in the tip and tail adds maneuverability and helps with turn initiation. This combination makes them effective on groomed runs, moguls, and even lighter amounts of soft snow.
The Kendo 88 skis are known for their stability at higher speeds, offering a smooth and confident ride. Their construction and shape contribute to excellent energy transfer and edge control, allowing for powerful turns and a solid connection with the snow.
These are going to carve like crazy, and still let you hit the fresh snow. Groomers to trees lets do it with these. But these still have a wider shovel up front with a bit of rocker to handle some boot top powder if there's an unexpected storm. They are agile and quick edge-to-edge, but if you want to arc them fast down wide open groomers, they'll stay stable and confident. These have Volkl's '3D turn radii', meaning that you have 3 different turn radii packed into one ski. So you can make short quick turns, or long GS style turns.
These are going to carve like crazy, and still let you hit the fresh snow. Groomers to trees lets do it with these. But these still have a wider shovel up front with a bit of rocker to handle some boot top powder if there's an unexpected storm. They are agile and quick edge-to-edge, but if you want to arc them fast down wide open groomers, they'll stay stable and confident. These have Volkl's '3D turn radii', meaning that you have 3 different turn radii packed into one ski. So you can make short quick turns, or long GS style turns.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023
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The Atomic Maverick 88 Ti skis are designed for the everyday skier who wants a lighter and nimble ski that can happily lay trenches on groomed trails, but still has enough versatility to go bang through some bumps or navigate some soft fluff in the trees.
The Maverick wraps a poplar core between two thin sheets of metal that give it extra strength while carving turns, but it still has enough rocker and Atomic's patented HRZN tip for some off-piste exploration. This construction makes the Maverick 88 Ti shine on groomed and hard pack terrain, but it's also capable of handling fresh stashes of snow.
The Maverick 88 Ti is a fantastic option for someone who is looking for a ski that offers a perfect balance of stiffness and flex. With its titanal reinforcement, it provides added stability and control, making it a strong and responsive choice for skiers who love to charge hard on the slopes.
Atomic built the Maverick 88 Ti for the everyday skier who wanted a lighter and nimble ski that could happily lay trenches on groomed trails, but still had enough versatility every once in a while to go bang through some bumps or navigate some soft fluff in the trees. The Maverick wraps a poplar core between two thin sheets of metal that give it extra strength while carving turns, but it still has enough rocker and Atomic's patented HRZN tip for some off-piste exploration.
Atomic built the Maverick 88 Ti for the everyday skier who wanted a lighter and nimble ski that could happily lay trenches on groomed trails, but still had enough versatility every once in a while to go bang through some bumps or navigate some soft fluff in the trees. The Maverick wraps a poplar core between two thin sheets of metal that give it extra strength while carving turns, but it still has enough rocker and Atomic's patented HRZN tip for some off-piste exploration.
Atomic Maverick 88 Ti Skis · 2023
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- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and Atomic Maverick 88 Ti skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers who want a versatile all-mountain ski. They both have an 88mm waist width, making them ideal for carving on groomed runs while still offering maneuverability in variable conditions.
Both skis feature a construction that combines a wood core with metal layers, providing stability, dampness, and power transmission. This construction enhances the skis' responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance.
In terms of on-snow performance, both skis excel in a variety of conditions, with an emphasis on groomers and hardpacked snow. They both offer reliable edge grip and precise carving on firm snow, and their slight rocker in the tip and tail adds maneuverability and helps with turn initiation.
Both skis are known for their stability at higher speeds, offering a smooth and confident ride. Their construction and shape contribute to excellent energy transfer and edge control, allowing for powerful turns and a solid connection with the snow.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both the Völkl Kendo 88 and Atomic Maverick 88 Ti skis are versatile all-mountain options, they cater to slightly different personas.
The Kendo 88 is ideal for skiers who love to charge hard on groomed runs and appreciate a ski that offers stability at high speeds. Its construction enhances its responsiveness and edge hold, making it a great choice for skiers who value power and precision. However, its extremely firm flex rating sacrifices some forgiveness and playfulness, making it less ideal for fresh powder days.
On the other hand, the Maverick 88 Ti is a fantastic option for skiers who want a perfect balance of stiffness and flex. Its titanal reinforcement provides added stability and control, making it a strong and responsive choice for skiers who love to charge hard on the slopes. However, its focus is more on firm snow and groomers, making it less ideal for deep powder days.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
Performance on Groomed Runs: Both skis perform exceptionally well on groomed runs, but the Völkl Kendo 88's construction enhances its responsiveness and edge hold, giving it a slight edge in this category.
Versatility: Both skis offer versatility in variable conditions, but the Atomic Maverick 88 Ti's balance of stiffness and flex, along with its HRZN tip, gives it a slight advantage when it comes to off-piste exploration.
Stability at High Speeds: Both skis are known for their stability at high speeds, but the Kendo 88's titanal metal layers provide extra stability and dampness, making it the winner in this category.
Forgiveness and Playfulness: The Atomic Maverick 88 Ti, with its balance of stiffness and flex, offers more forgiveness and playfulness compared to the Kendo 88, making it the winner in this category.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and Atomic Maverick 88 Ti skis are top contenders in the all-mountain category for the 2023 season. They both offer a combination of performance, agility, and versatility that advanced to expert skiers will appreciate.
The Kendo 88 shines in its stability at high speeds and its excellent edge control, making it a great choice for skiers who love to charge hard on groomed runs. On the other hand, the Maverick 88 Ti offers a perfect balance of stiffness and flex, making it a playful yet stable choice for skiers who want a bit more versatility in their ski.
Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your personal skiing style and preferences. Whether you value power and precision or versatility and playfulness, both skis are sure to deliver an exhilarating ride on the slopes.
