2025 Völkl Secret 96 Skis Review

The Lowdown

The Volkl Secret 96 is a fast and fun directional ski that thrives on hard snow and excels in variable conditions. It’s an absolute ripper when there’s little fresh snow, and loves everything from party laps to outpacing your friends. Constructed with tailored titanal that scales with the size of the ski, Volkl has created an accessible metal ski that people of all levels will love. It is also one of the only flagship ski lineup’s that still has a layer of metal at all. Rather than shying away from the approachability of heavy materials, Volkl has found a way to make them arc beautiful turns and inspire skiing that sticks to classic forward-leaning form. The Secret is out - these skis rip!

Ride Impressions

I rode a 170cm length of the 2025 Volkl Secret 96, which was the perfect size for me and fell just above my head. I would buy the Secret 96 following the classic ski shop size criteria: between your chin and the top of your head, getting longer the more terrain you feel comfortable skiing. You don’t need to aggressively size up or down to get the most out of it because the metal is scaled as the ski gets bigger or smaller. Because this Secret is designed to be fast and stable, sizing up will enhance these features, but make it harder to drive and maneuver in tight places. Sizing down will do the opposite. I have found that sizing down in heavy skis takes away their speed and thus, joy. For beginner to intermediate riders, however, it makes them more approachable yet still powerful, and I would encourage riders to explore their preferences. If you are a more intermediate rider or love to ride trees, a shorter Secret will help you thrive. If, like me, you take it out to rip fast and hard down groomers, sizing at the top end of your range and swooning over the metal layup is the way to go.

While the Secret 96 is advertised to be a versatile “all-mountain ski,” if you’re reading this review then you already know that term is subjective. The reality is, the Volkl Secret IS good in everything, but it’s not great in super soft powder. I will always recommend that powder skiers indulge in a wide, surfy ski to get the most out of their pow day (check out the Revolt lineup), but for the average day with 3 inches or less of fresh snow, the Volkl Secret 96 fits the definition of “All Mountain” pretty dang well.

Like any good reviewer, I tried to get out on the Volkl Secret 96 in a variety of conditions. The first day was perfect; sunny, hard, and carvable. This describes the strength of the Volkl Secret perfectly. It thrives on hard snow. Whether it’s fresh cord, a skied-out groomer, or hard chop, the Secret effortlessly digs into hard and soft conditions and holds turns like a dream.

Later, I brought it to Alta at the beginning of a snowstorm. Endless refills? More like time to rip the best groomer ski ever. Kidding, kind of. I took it through the trees, played in the pow, and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of float a metal-based ski had to offer. Ultimately I still felt limited by the Secret 96 off-piste, but for a few runs it holds its own. The light Utah snow weighed me down the deeper the snow got, and didn’t provide QUITEW enough play that I needed to bump through trees and small paths. However, it still engaged with ease on powdery groomers. This is perhaps the most freed I felt.

After exploring both ends of the Utah conditions spectrum, the Volkl Secret 96 came out regularly for party laps, precip-less days, night skiing, and rides with people of all different abilities. Because it takes a bit of power and form to engage, I was getting a workout even when riding with people still learning.

Metal skis are becoming “Pro models,” and disappearing from the main lineups of many ski companies, so directly comparable lineups are becoming harder to find. At the moment, the Secret 96 can be compared to the Dynastar M-Pro 99, Blizzard Black Pearl 94 / Anomaly 94, and the Elan Ripstick 96. Having skied all of these models, I found the Secret 96 to be more fun than all but the M-Pro, which is on par with Volkl and comes in a slightly more playful flavor.

Rating: ★★★★★

Who Are They For?

Riders who like to charge hard or send it on groomers will really appreciate the Volkl Secret 96. Because it’s made of metal, it requires more power to properly engage, so folks who can get in the front of their boots and drive a directional ski will get the most out of the Secret. Perhaps this is why the Secret/Mantra lineup has historically been popular with learners and older folk, who are actively learning “traditional” form or have ridden directional skis for years. I find the Secret rides best with the wind whistling in your ears. If you like to dig in and go FAST when the snow is hard, you’ll be giddy (and maybe a little sore) after a day on the Secret 96.