Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 vs Armada Declivity 88 C Skis · 2023

Published on 02/10/2024 · 6 min readCompare Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 and Armada Declivity 88 C Skis · 2023. Get expert insight below!
Dennis Walton, Ski Expert
Austen Law, Ski Expert
Jake Renner, Ski Expert
Contributed By Ski Expert Dennis Walton, Austen Law, Jake Renner, Gary Neft, Trevor Lawson and others

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Side by side comparison

Out of stock
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023
Out of stock
Armada Declivity 88 C Skis · 2023
Price
$419.99
40% off
$389.97
40% off
User rating
5(1)
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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, two models stand out for their exceptional performance and versatility: the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis, both from the 2023 lineup. The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are known for their stability at high speeds, excellent edge hold, and versatility across a variety of terrains. They are particularly adept at carving on groomed runs and hardpacked snow. On the other hand, the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are celebrated for their lightweight construction, agility, and ability to carve like a champion. They are also versatile, capable of handling groomers, mixed snow, and even light powder. Both skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers and offer a balance of performance and agility. However, they each have their unique strengths and are suited to different types of skiers and conditions.

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. 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.

Dennis Walton
Ski Expert

The Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are an ideal all-mountain option for the advanced to expert skier looking for a ski that emphasizes carving like a champion. Their carbon, metal, and wood core provides extreme lightweight but does not compromise the ability to carve and rebound well. They carve like a race ski, absorb vibration like a freeride ski, and pop and rebound like a park ski.

The Declivity 88 C Skis are designed to handle speed with ease. They do not chatter and are very easy to turn in long GS or short slalom. They are versatile enough to ski on any terrain except deep powder. The skis are also known for their stability at high speeds, offering a smooth and confident ride.

The Declivity 88 C Skis are lightweight and nimble, thanks to the Caruba core that reduces weight without compromising the ability to hold hard turns. In addition, the core makes no performance compromise: it is both ultra-light and hard-charging.

The Armada Declivity 88C is an awesome, new, modern all-mountain ski with a carving emphasis and some excellent frontside ambition. The 88C is a high-performance, one-ski quiver that can shred anything on the mountain. They’re geared toward the high-end carving junkie who wants to ski everything.

Austen Law
Ski Expert

Similarities

Both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are designed for advanced to expert skiers who demand high performance from their gear. They both have an 88mm waist width, making them versatile for a variety of conditions, from groomed runs to variable snow.

Both skis are praised for their stability at high speeds and their ability to carve with precision. They both feature construction that enhances their responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance.

Both skis are also designed to be versatile, capable of handling a variety of conditions and terrains. They both excel on groomers and hardpacked snow, and can handle lighter amounts of soft snow.

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 Kendo 88 Skis are ideal for skiers who value stability and power, particularly at high speeds. They are perfect for those who love carving on groomed runs and hardpacked snow, but also want the versatility to handle variable conditions.

On the other hand, the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are perfect for skiers who value a lightweight, nimble ski that can carve like a champion. They are ideal for those who want a ski that can handle speed with ease, and are versatile enough to ski on any terrain except deep powder.

The main difference between the two skis lies in their construction. The Kendo 88 skis feature a wood core combined with layers of titanal metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission. The Declivity 88 C Skis, on the other hand, feature a carbon, metal, and wood core, which provides extreme lightweight but does not compromise the ability to carve and rebound well.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

  1. Performance on Groomed Runs: Both skis perform exceptionally well on groomed runs, but the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis have a slight edge due to their superior stability and power at high speeds.
  2. Versatility: Both skis are versatile, but the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are slightly more versatile due to their lightweight construction and ability to handle a wider range of conditions.
  3. Construction: The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis win in terms of construction due to their combination of a wood core and layers of titanal metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission.
  4. Weight: The Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are the clear winner in terms of weight, thanks to their carbon, metal, and wood core that provides extreme lightweight without compromising the ability to carve and rebound well.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are exceptional all-mountain skis that cater to advanced to expert skiers. They both offer high performance, stability at high speeds, and versatility across a variety of conditions. However, they cater to slightly different personas and have their unique strengths.

The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are ideal for skiers who value stability and power, particularly at high speeds. They are perfect for those who love carving on groomed runs and hardpacked snow, but also want the versatility to handle variable conditions.

On the other hand, the Armada Declivity 88 C Skis are perfect for skiers who value a lightweight, nimble ski that can carve like a champion. They are ideal for those who want a ski that can handle speed with ease, and are versatile enough to ski on any terrain except deep powder.

In the end, the choice between the two will depend on the individual skier's preferences and needs. Both skis are top-notch options that will not disappoint on the mountain.

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Shop Skis on Curated

Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023
$419.99$699.99
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