“Mantra” has become one of the most recognizable names in skiing over the past decade-plus. After releasing the reimagined M5 Mantra<\/strong><\/a> in 2018, Volkl now ups the ante for 2021-22 with the M6 Mantra<\/a><\/strong>. On the women’s side, the update is mirrored in the Secret 96<\/a><\/strong> which is identical in construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While that M5 release was noteworthy because it featured an entirely new ski, the story with the M6 is more about refinement than overhaul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In releasing the M5, Volkl <\/a>debuted a new technology: Titanal Frame. One of the first skis to popularize today’s trendy “metal-where-you-need-it” concept, the M5 featured U-shaped titanal wrapped around the tips and tails of the skis. The thought was to provide the power and stability of metal without making the ski bulky. Needless to say\u2014it worked. The M5 rocketed to the top of the men’s all-mountain ski category, where it’s stayed since. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The M6 features a new take on Titanal Frame, which Volkl calls “Tailored Titanal Frame.” Rather than build the same amount of metal into every M6, Volkl decided to vary the length of the metal by ski size. So, the longer the M6, the more titanal it contains. Same goes for the Secret 96. The intention? Give bigger, heavier skiers more power, support, and oomf <\/em>while maintaining maneuverability on the shorter sizes for smaller skiers who don’t need as much metal to get the same performance. Essentially, Volkl is trying to match the flex pattern to the skier and give skiers of all sizes a ski they can bend without buckling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, Volkl varied the carbon in the tips (Tailored Carbon Tips) to make the skis more intuitive and precise to turn and more energetic. Those criss-crossing lines of carbon also vary by ski size, and they help keep the M6 both maneuverable and torsionally rigid at high speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly: Volkl brought 3D Radius Sidecut, the variable sidecut radii seen in recent models like the Kendo 88<\/a>, Deacon 84<\/a>, Blaze 94<\/a>, Blaze 106<\/a>, and Mantra 102<\/a>, to the M6. This upgrade gives the ski a longer turn radius in the tips and tails and a shorter radius underfoot. The idea: Double down on the skis’ versatility and skiability at all speeds and making all turn shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.powder7.com\/ski-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/volkl-mantra-m6-rotated.jpg\")
<\/a>Volkl M6 Mantra Review: Field Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n