Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 vs Nordica Enforcer 94 Skis · 2024




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Side by side comparison | ![]() ![]() Out of stock | ![]() ![]() Out of stock |
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Price | $419.99 40% off | from:$479.99 40% off |
User rating | 5(1) | 5(1) |
The Curated Take | Best for experienced skiers looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in various conditions. | Best for all-mountain skiers seeking versatility, stability, and high-speed performance. |
Ski type | Freeride, Carving, All Mountain | Carving, All Mountain |
Skill level | Expert, Advanced | Advanced, Expert |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
In the world of all-mountain skis, the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Nordica Enforcer 94 are two top contenders. Both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers and are praised for their stability, dampness, and versatility. The Kendo 88 is a narrow all-mountain ski that excels in carving and is particularly suited for east coast skiers who spend a lot of time on groomers. The Enforcer 94, on the other hand, is a go-everywhere, do-it-all ski that is great for high-speed carving and off-piste adventures. Both skis are built with Titanal metal for stability and dampness, but the Enforcer 94 has a touch of forgiveness due to its carbon chassis. While both skis are excellent choices, the Kendo 88 might be a better fit for those who prefer groomers, while the Enforcer 94 is a better choice for those who like to venture off-piste.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 is a narrow all-mountain ski that is designed for advanced to expert skiers. It features Titanal throughout, making it a stiff all-mountain charger. The ski has a little bit of tip rocker to help with turn initiation and float in softer snow. It has an 88-millimeter waist and a fairly mellow side cut, making it ideal for carving on groomers. The ski has a 16-meter turn radius, which is great for short to medium turns, especially on groomed Eastern terrain. The Kendo 88 is very stable in the turn and can handle a range of conditions. It's great in hard snow, good in soft snow, and a little bit too stiff for super manky snow. The ski is also very damp, with the Titanal layer on foot absorbing the vibration. This ski is ideal for groomed terrain in the east or anything firmer in the west. It's a solid mogul ski for an expert mogul skier, but not recommended for an intermediate mogul skier.
The best ski for everything on the mountain. This ski delivers ultimate versatility, carves with ease, rips up the moguls, and handles crud and chunk like no other. At just 88 mm underfoot, this ski really engages with the snow, having a daily high engagement edge. It also floats in the pow and loves to dolphin dive from the deep pow to the surface with a sense of playfulness that leaves me wanting endless runs. Having just bought the ski last year, I would happily buy another pair if I need to. If I had to choose only one ski for the rest of my life, this would be it.
The best ski for everything on the mountain. This ski delivers ultimate versatility, carves with ease, rips up the moguls, and handles crud and chunk like no other. At just 88 mm underfoot, this ski really engages with the snow, having a daily high engagement edge. It also floats in the pow and loves to dolphin dive from the deep pow to the surface with a sense of playfulness that leaves me wanting endless runs. Having just bought the ski last year, I would happily buy another pair if I need to. If I had to choose only one ski for the rest of my life, this would be it.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
Nordica Enforcer 94 Skis · 2024 summary
The Nordica Enforcer 94 is a versatile all-mountain ski that is designed for intermediate to advanced skiers. Nordica claims that this is your directional, frontside, on-piste, freeride jammin’ ski - and it checks out! The ski has a 3D turn radius that is really intuitive. It allows you to have options: if there's nobody on the run and you want to open up the throttle these are awesome for long, GS, fall line, arc style turns. If it’s a little busier where you're skiing and you're making some tighter turns in either bumps or on groomed runs, the 3D turn radius really allows you to do that. The ski's got a multilayer wood core, a bit of carbon fiber weave in the tip, and the tailored titanal frame. This creates a very, very stable, damp, and responsive ski. The Enforcer 94 is not a freestyle ski, but it does have a good amount of pop. It's not the most playful ski, but it's a blast carving.
This is one of the most popular skis on the market for good reason. Nordica really markets this as a one ski quiver for people that like to go off piste. This is definitely a stiffer, more confident ski. It has more camber underfoot and more of a flat tail. This is definitely a ski made for skiing on trail at higher speeds. If you're comfortable at higher speeds, you could really just let them rip. It felt a little bit stiffer through the shovel than the Enforcer 100, so it was a little bit more adept at cranking higher speed turns.
This is one of the most popular skis on the market for good reason. Nordica really markets this as a one ski quiver for people that like to go off piste. This is definitely a stiffer, more confident ski. It has more camber underfoot and more of a flat tail. This is definitely a ski made for skiing on trail at higher speeds. If you're comfortable at higher speeds, you could really just let them rip. It felt a little bit stiffer through the shovel than the Enforcer 100, so it was a little bit more adept at cranking higher speed turns.
Nordica Enforcer 94 Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Nordica Enforcer 94 are all-mountain skis designed for advanced to expert skiers. They both feature Titanal metal in their construction, which provides stability and dampness. Both skis are also designed for carving, with a focus on stability and edge hold. They both have a bit of rocker in the tip to help with turn initiation and float in softer snow. Both skis are also praised for their performance on groomers and their ability to handle a range of conditions. They are both described as being stable at high speeds and having a damp construction that absorbs vibrations.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers, the Völkl Kendo 88 is particularly suited for east coast skiers who spend a lot of their time carving on groomers. It's a stiff all-mountain charger that holds an edge like nobody's business. It's also a solid mogul ski for an expert mogul skier. However, it's not recommended for an intermediate mogul skier and it's not the best choice in deep powder.
On the other hand, the Nordica Enforcer 94 is a go-everywhere, do-it-all ski that is great for high-speed carving and off-piste adventures. It's a bit more forgiving than the Kendo 88 due to its carbon chassis, and it's also fun in moguls and tight spots. However, it's not the best ski for powder, and it's not a freestyle ski.
In terms of persona, the Kendo 88 is perfect for the east coast skier who loves carving on groomers and occasionally ventures off-piste. The Enforcer 94, on the other hand, is ideal for the adventurous skier who loves high-speed carving and off-piste adventures.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When it comes to carving, both skis perform exceptionally well, but the Völkl Kendo 88 might have a slight edge due to its stiff construction and excellent edge hold.
In terms of versatility, the Nordica Enforcer 94 takes the cake. It's a go-everywhere, do-it-all ski that can handle a variety of conditions and terrains.
For moguls, both skis are praised for their performance, but the Enforcer 94 might be a bit more forgiving and fun due to its carbon chassis.
Finally, for powder, neither ski is the best choice, but the Enforcer 94 might handle it a bit better due to its wider waist and rocker in the tip.
Overall, the winner depends on the skier's preferences and where they typically ski. The Kendo 88 might be the winner for east coast skiers who love carving on groomers, while the Enforcer 94 might be the winner for skiers who love high-speed carving and off-piste adventures.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the Nordica Enforcer 94 are top-notch all-mountain skis that offer stability, dampness, and excellent carving abilities. The Kendo 88 is a stiff all-mountain charger that excels on groomers and is perfect for east coast skiers. The Enforcer 94, on the other hand, is a versatile ski that is great for high-speed carving and off-piste adventures. Both skis are built with Titanal metal for stability and dampness, but the Enforcer 94 has a touch of forgiveness due to its carbon chassis. While both skis are excellent choices, the Kendo 88 might be a better fit for those who prefer groomers, while the Enforcer 94 is a better choice for those who like to venture off-piste. So, whether you're an east coast skier who loves carving on groomers or an adventurous skier who loves off-piste adventures, there's a ski out there for you. Happy skiing!