One of the Best Frontside Skis for $350 Off

2026 Völkl Mantra 88 ($850)

Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 cm
Dimensions: 134-88-114 mm

Pros and Cons
+ Great edging on hard snow
+ Confidence-inspiring in crud and at speed
– Too stiff to be playful
– Not the most forgiving

The Völkl Mantra 88 (formerly the Kendo 88) needs no introduction. It may have recently undergone a name change, but it’s still the same no-nonsense frontside ripper that skiers from East to West reach for during early-season laps, low-tide days, and really, any day when you’re not sure what the resort is going to throw at you. With an 88-millimeter waist, a Titanal band that frames the ski from tip to tail, and Völkl’s 3D.Radius technology that lets the ski shift from short to long turns depending on where you apply pressure, the Mantra 88 was built to arc and respond like a carving ski on firm snow while also plowing through crud and push piles with the confidence of a much wider ski.

“As long as you don’t need flotation, this ski has no limits,” reported veteran SKI tester and PSIA Alpine Demo Team Coach Michael Rogan. “You can ski hard snow in a NASTAR course or in bumps, but it’s not for the faint of heart. You need to be prepared to work a bit, which is the rewarding part about a ski like this.”

The Mantra 88 will get a graphics update for the 2027 season but remains otherwise unchanged. And while we’re not about to give away the winners and losers of the 2026 SKI Test, we’ll just say this: it would behoove you to pick up this ski now while it’s nearly $350 off. Because next season, everyone’s going to want one.