Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 vs Blizzard Brahma 82 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) | 4(1) |
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 | Partial twin tip |
In the world of all-mountain skis, two names stand out: the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Blizzard Brahma 82. Both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers who love to carve up groomers and hardpack, but each has its unique strengths and weaknesses. The Kendo 88, with its 88mm waist width, offers a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions. It's known for its stability at higher speeds and its ability to hold its edge even on ice and hardpacked snow. On the other hand, the Brahma 82, with its narrower 82mm waist, is a true all-mountain carving ski that excels at high speeds and hard carving. It's built with a wood core and two sheets of metal, making it rugged and tough. Both skis are versatile and can handle a range of conditions, but the Kendo 88 is better suited for groomers and hardpacked snow, while the Brahma 82 shines on groomers and icy conditions.
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
- We price match
- Returnable
Blizzard Brahma 82 Skis · 2023 summary
The Blizzard Brahma 82 skis are a true all-mountain carving ski. With a narrower 82mm waist, these skis are built for speed and hard carving. They are constructed with a wood core and two sheets of metal, making them rugged and tough. This construction provides a ton of grip and retains the same strength and power that have made the Brahma 82 a fan favorite for narrower all-mountain skis.
The Brahma 82 skis are designed to handle a variety of conditions, but they truly shine on groomers and icy conditions. They are agile and stiff, making them ready to carve hard. They are built to go fast and hard, and they can ski at slower speeds but where they shine is on the top end.
These skis are heavy and stiff, which means they want to go fast. They can handle some 1-2" powder days and do just fine charging through mixed snow conditions. However, these are not powder skis and are built for when the snow isn't flying.
I purchased this ski for on piste carving during icy and hardpack days that happen in early/late season out west and most days on the east coast. For this job, it excels like no other. I was inspired to get low and really put weight the skis for deep carves. The skis are heavy and stiff- they want to go fast and hard. They can ski at slower speeds but where they shine is on the top end.
I purchased this ski for on piste carving during icy and hardpack days that happen in early/late season out west and most days on the east coast. For this job, it excels like no other. I was inspired to get low and really put weight the skis for deep carves. The skis are heavy and stiff- they want to go fast and hard. They can ski at slower speeds but where they shine is on the top end.
Blizzard Brahma 82 Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Blizzard Brahma 82 are designed for advanced to expert skiers who love to carve up groomers and hardpack. They both feature a wood core combined with layers of metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission. This construction enhances the ski's responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance. 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. Both skis are versatile and can handle a range of conditions, but they each have their own areas where they excel.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers, the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Blizzard Brahma 82 have some key differences that make them better suited for different types of skiers and conditions. The Kendo 88, with its 88mm waist width, is a versatile all-mountain option that offers a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions. It's ideal for skiers who spend a majority of their time on groomers and hardpacked snow, but still want the ability to handle variable conditions and lighter amounts of soft snow.
On the other hand, the Brahma 82, with its narrower 82mm waist, is a true all-mountain carving ski that excels at high speeds and hard carving. It's built for skiers who love to go fast and hard, especially on groomers and icy conditions. It's not as versatile in deeper, softer snow, but it can handle some powder days and mixed snow conditions.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When it comes to versatility, the Völkl Kendo 88 takes the win. Its 88mm waist width and slight rocker in the tip and tail make it more adaptable to a variety of conditions, from groomers to moguls to lighter amounts of soft snow.
In terms of carving performance, the Blizzard Brahma 82 comes out on top. Its narrower 82mm waist and stiff construction make it a true all-mountain carving ski that excels at high speeds and hard carving.
For stability at high speeds, it's a tie. 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.
Finally, for maneuverability, the Völkl Kendo 88 wins. Its light amount of camber underfoot and slight rocker in the tip and tail add maneuverability and help with turn initiation, making it more agile and quick edge-to-edge.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Blizzard Brahma 82 are excellent choices for advanced to expert skiers who love to carve up groomers and hardpack. However, they each have their own strengths and are better suited for different types of skiers and conditions. The Kendo 88 is a versatile all-mountain option that offers a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions. It's ideal for skiers who want a ski that can handle a variety of conditions and still offer excellent performance on groomers and hardpacked snow. On the other hand, the Brahma 82 is a true all-mountain carving ski that excels at high speeds and hard carving. It's built for skiers who love to go fast and hard, especially on groomers and icy conditions. So, whether you're a speed demon who loves to carve hard or a versatile skier who likes to tackle a variety of conditions, there's a ski for you in this comparison.
