2025 Völkl M7 Mantra Skis Review

The Lowdown

A directional all-mountain charger that maintains Volkl's signature on-piste performance, the 2025 Völkl M7 Mantra is certainly not the "dad ski" I initially wrote it off as. In fact, these were perhaps one of the most exciting new skis for the upcoming 2024/2025 season. They maintain the Mantra's ultra-smooth and powerful, Cadillac feel while offering significantly improved maneuverability and forgiveness through variable snow conditions as well as tight trees and/or moguls. I'd never experienced this level of confidence-inspiring edgehold while also still feeling empowered to duck off trail into some tight trees to score some untouched turns.

Also worth noting is that Volkl’s Mantra Collection now embodies a wider range of waist width options, including the Mantra 88 (previously the Kendo 88), M7 Mantra (96mm), Mantra 102, and Mantra 108 (previously the Katana 108). That said, the M7 is currently the only model featuring their new 4 Radius Drive aka 4D sidecut, which proved to be far more than just marketing speak and a design element I expect to see rolled out across the line in the coming years.

Ride Impressions

Initial Impressions
My first time on the 2025 Mantra M7s was in late January at Mission Ridge (WA) when conditions were firm in the morning but softened continually to spring-like slush by the end of the day. On the initial chair ride up the mountain, the M7s felt stout and heavy but after a couple of runs familiarizing myself with them, I realized that their brilliant smoothness and crud-busting power were both byproducts of their heft.

Groomers
On groomed snow, these M7 Mantras are like a Cadillac CTS-Van (which is Cadillac's supercharged sportscar if you're not a car person). They provide a super smooth, powerful and planted feel but with nimble, easy turn initiation. Don't get me wrong, these certainly don't have the loose and "surfy" feel of a soft, fully rockered ski, but they also don't lock you into any particular turn radius when you put them on edge. They are unique in that they still feel precise and powerful yet they're also incredibly accommodating. Want to exclusively make sweeping, long-radius GS turns on one run and then quicker, short-radius turns on the next? Perhaps a mix of short-, medium-, AND long-radius turns? These do it all with effortlessly with confidence-inspiring precision and power and I credit that to their unique 4D radius sidecut.

With all that said, at the end of the day these are still a 96mm waisted ski that's designed to thrive both on- and off-piste. If you're expecting them to carve like a 76mm slalom ski, they're going to leave you wishing for more. Skiing the steep, frontside groomers at Schweitzer though these proved to be an absolute blast and felt stable no matter how fast I pushed 'em.

Powder
With more powder-oriented skis in my arsenal, the 96mm waisted Volkl Mantra M7 skis admittedly weren't my first choice on pow days, but I did get out on them on several days with 2" - 4" of fresh snow. In these conditions, the M7s provided float that definitely outpunched both my Rossignol Black Ops 98s and new Blizzard Anomaly 94s. In comparison to the M6, the new M7 definitely provides better overall performance and more effortless turn initiation through deeper, uncut snow too. Whereas the M6 was a ski that I was more reluctant to take into tight trees in search of fresh turns, the M7 lends the nimbleness I wanted to feel confident.

Chop
Leftovers and chunder are where these skis really surprised me! With their powerful, titanal frame, heavier feel, and slightly softer flexing tips, these new Mantra M7 skis bring the perfect blend of dampness to charge confidently through the oftentimes heavier and tracked out PNW snow. They also transition seamlessly from on-piste to off-piste, making them great for those days in between storms when you're largely skiing groomers but frequently duck into the ol' reliable side stashes for a couple untouched turns. As an all-mountain, 96mm waisted ski, these bring exactly what you want for the majority of days on the hill — because lets be honest, most days aren't filled purely with bluebird corduroy, nor 6"+ storm-skiing powder days.. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Who Are They For?

For the more traditional directional skier looking for a one-ski quiver or just a versatile ski to make the most of variable conditions in between storms, the 2025 Volkl Mantra M7 is an incredible choice. Although I admittedly pre-judged these as bland "dad skis," after my first day of skiing on 'em, I realized they are anything but. Powerful, damp and precise yet somehow capable of making quick, short radius turns as readily as they'll make swooping GS-style turns. The M7 Mantras do everything you ask 'em to, with the sole exception of leaving the ground — although let's be honest, if you're here reading this review, you're probably not too interested in catching air anyways. Am I right?