Mantra 102 w review

Overview

The Volkl Mantra 102 w is the women's freeride flagship in Volkl's Mantra line — 102 mm waist, Tailored Carbon Tips, Tailored Titanal Frame, Multilayer wood core, 3D Radius Sidecut and a full sidewall construction. Designed for advanced women who push hard off-piste and want a chassis that holds up at speed in variable snow.

On-snow performance

On groomers the Mantra 102 w carves with serious authority for a 102 mm waist — the Tailored Titanal Frame provides genuine high-edge-angle hold, and the 3D Radius Sidecut keeps medium-radius arcs natural without forcing a long-radius commitment. Off-piste is where it earns its tier: 102 mm waist with the Mantra-class frame floats reliably in fresh snow and handles chopped powder and crud with confidence. It demands a confident driver to make the most of the chassis — light intermediates will outride it.

Construction & specs explained

Multilayer wood core, Tailored Titanal Frame (less metal in shorter lengths, more in longer), Tailored Carbon Tips for torsional precision, Full Sidewall, P-Tex 2100 base, 3D Radius Sidecut, Tip & Tail Rocker with classic camber underfoot. Sidecut approximately 142 / 102 / 124 mm. Radius 19 m at typical mid-length. Weight 2209 g per ski at 184 cm. Available lengths approximately 170 / 177 / 184 / 191 cm.

Who it's for & comparisons

An advanced woman skier who pushes hard off-piste and wants the most authoritative women's freeride ski in Volkl's lineup. Compared to the Volkl Blaze 94 w it adds 8 mm of waist plus a full Titanal Frame for serious freeride duty — the Blaze 94 w is the lighter, more forgiving option. Against the men's Volkl Mantra 102 it shares the same construction philosophy with women-specific Tailored Frame tuning. Cross-brand, the Head Kore 104 Ti W is a comparable Ti-W freeride; the Nordica Santa ana 88 unlimited is narrower but in the same advanced segment.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Tailored Titanal Frame for genuine freeride authority.
• 3D Radius Sidecut adds piste manners to a wide ski.
• 102 mm waist genuinely floats in soft snow.
• Full sidewall for reliable hard-snow edge hold.
• Four lengths cover advanced women across sizes.

Cons

• Heavy at 2209 g per ski (184 cm) — not a touring option.
• Demands confident driving — intermediates will struggle.
• Wide for everyday piste use; better as a freeride-focused ski.
• Pricier than non-Titanal women's freeride options.

Verdict: The Mantra 102 w is the right pick for the advanced woman freeride skier who wants Volkl's authoritative women's chassis. Step down to the Blaze 94 w for a lighter all-mountain; step up the Volkl line if you want even more powder float.