Thread: Volkl Kendo vs Saolomon Lord? All Mountain skis, any thoughts?

I'm 33 years old, 6'4 190lbs, ski on the west coast. (Mainly Oregon for now)

I have a pair of Salomon Czar's that are 112mm under foot for real powder days and an older pair of Volkl AX3's 70mm underfoot.

I have been looking for a ski in the 80-95mm range, something that I can fly down the groomers with confidence, yet can handle a decent powder day. More of an all mountain ski.


The Volkl Kendo's really caught my eye, My only concern is that the Kendo's do not have Rocker technology for crud and powder. Do you think that will be a major hinderance? The Salomon Lord has a similar sidecut but has a Rocker.. but would that make it less efficient on the groom?

I'm looking for my next everyday ski, I had been skiing the Czar's, but want to keep those just for deep days and maybe downgrade my AX3's to my early/late season ski. Any input would be appreciated. =)

Take a look at the Volkl Bridge. More fun, doesn't suck like most Salomons, and has "resort rocker" for ya. The Kendo doesn't really do anything for me, nor did the un-rocketed Mantra, which the Kendo is based on.

I thought the lords sucked when I skied them, just too soft and no edge bite.

For that range, look at Explosiv/Mantra for carvy fun, or bump up a tiny bit to something like a bromodel. If you're willing to sacrifice some edge bite, the prophet 100's are fun and light.

If you are looking at salomon, the sentinel is the way to go. Way better than the lord on everything...

Originally Posted by schuss

I thought the lords sucked when I skied them, just too soft and no edge bite.

Agreed. The Lord sells very well, but it's not my favorite on snow.

Originally Posted by schuss

For that range, look at Explosiv/Mantra for carvy fun

Agreed. The newer Mantra has the edge hold, predictability, and the rocker you're looking for. Demo some 184cm Mantras.

Originally Posted by snej

If you are looking at salomon, the sentinel is the way to go. Way better than the lord on everything...

The Sentinel is a great ski, too. With a metal layer, generous sidecut, and slight tip rocker, it's an excellent clone of the Mantra. (That's not a bad thing.)

Yeah, for some reason I really want to buy the Kendo, even though I should probably spend money on other things right now. I would get the Mantras for sure but I already have my deep powder ski, so I would make this my go to ski if it hasn't snowed in a week etc. but If I still want to ski a little bit of everything. I was skeptical at first but I think it sounds like a good ski for what I want. One more question...



My AX3's are 184, My Czar is 182... I actually thought about getting the Kendo's in a 177, do you think that would be a good length? (I'm 6'4, 190, tall/skinny) I was just thinking about going smaller for maneuverability but I do like speed and stability. You think a 177 or a 184 would be better overall?

^^ You should get the 184.

You should get the Mantra instead of the Kendra (ahem, Kendo.) It's not too wide for the piste.

Originally Posted by skimaxpower

Demo some 184cm Mantras.

The Mantra is NOT a deep powder ski by any measure. I have not skied the rocker version, but I can't imagine that unless the basic construction of the ski bass been changed, it's still an all-around charger, not a floater.

6'4",190#, and you're considering 177cm???? Sheesh... EpicSki might be a better place for you to grab some advice.

Stay away from the Lord... it is a weak ski, with no rocker even though it claims "rocker 210"... look at the side profile and depress the camber, there is no rocker at all. The Kendo, the Mantra and the Sentinel are all good skis, just don't be a wussy and get a ski in your size range.

I've skied both (look up my Kendo review). Lord is quiet 'meh' not bad or good. Kendo is great, mine have very little camber at all and ski pow and crud fantastically well for a 'narrow' ski. I ski the 177 and I'm 5'10" 170 and it's perfect. Get the 184.

The Kendo is a fine ski but I wouldn't consider it if I'm skiing much fresh (10cm+ overnight) because it just isn't nearly as fun for that as my other options. I'll generally only pick them if it's hardpack or I'm skiing with friends. I'm 6'1" and 220lbs and I ski the 191; I couldn't fathom going any shorter.

List o' skis that are way fucking better than these two (in no particular order):

Line Prophet 100/98
Dynastar 94
Dynastar 87 or 98mm twin tip
Volkl Bridge
Volkl Mantra
Nordica Hell an Back
Blizzard Bonifide (just better in every way shape and form)
Atomic Theory (softer twin)
Moment Tahoe

Kendo is meh. Lord is at the bottom of my list. Neither have rocker.

I've heard good things about the Bridge as well. I'm 6'2", 205 and skiing the Nordica Soul Rider 185 myself. It's by far the best "do everything" ski I've been on. Pretty playful, holds a good edge when charging....it's pretty badass actually.

187 Blizzard Bonafide if you're over 190#s and have a pow ski...

For flying down groomers with confidence I would take the Kendo over the Mantra. For handling a decent pow day I would take the Mantra but can think of many other skis I would prefer to have for any type of powder.

I prefer the Kendo over the Mantra. The Kendo is an excellent mid to large radius carving ski. The Mantra is to fat to carve as well and not fat enough to be a good powder ski IMHO.

I am not a huge fan of the Mantra except as a one quiver ski. If you already have a pow ski then get a true all mountain carving ski. Something like the Kendo if you want a 20 pus radius. I am personally more partial to 17-18 meter all mountain carving skis so I sold my Kendos.

When I look for a ski I decide what width do I want, what radius, what stiffness and what type if any rocker. From there it is pretty easy to narrow done the choices and I could probably be happy with a few skis from those choices. So I guess what I am saying it is hard to recommend a ski with out having at least that input. Plus your two choices don't match in the same criteria I use. The Kendo is much stiffer and has a larger radius.

James

+1 on James. Well said.

You couldn't ask for two more different skis to compare. The world ain't just about rocker or sidecut. Flex patterns matter. The Kendo is a narrow Mantra; stiffish, lotta pop, great bite, not my first choice in trees or bumps, but doable. Not a soft snow ski, but a crud ski that carves. The Lord is soft, compliant, mediocre bite, definitely nicer in trees and bumps. OK in crud, better for a narrow ride in moderate pow. Not a super carver.

Go wider unless you don't really like to go off piste. I own the Kendo and pretty much only used it early in the season when Tahoe was strictly man-made and core shots (you know, like three weeks ago). It's a good ski but if I were only going to have one it would be around 100mm, and I'm shorter and lighter than you by a good amount.

Edit: Totally misread your original post. Not a one ski quiver. In that case, yeah, go with the kendo and the new version at least has some early rise to it.

Originally Posted by JONG Q Public

For flying down groomers with confidence I would take the Kendo over the Mantra. For handling a decent pow day I would take the Mantra but can think of many other skis I would prefer to have for any type of powder.

I prefer the Kendo over the Mantra. The Kendo is an excellent mid to large radius carving ski. The Mantra is to fat to carve as well and not fat enough to be a good powder ski IMHO.

FWIW the Mantra will carve trenches in hardpack as well as the Kendo and at a higher speed limit. An S7 will also carve trenches in hardpack. Whenever I hear the standard "wider skis can't carve turns as well as narrow skis" BS its because someone is too lazy to tip the ski over.

FWIW, I have the new Mantra as an everyday ski and love it on hardpack/groomers and thought it was tits the few times I had it in 8-10" of fresh snow.

5'11 on 177cm, I'd go 184 if I got a do-over.

I skied the Kendo last weekend in 184 is a turny ski. I'm 6'2, 220, and wouldn't go any shorter. It was good in crud and ice, but I can't speak to how it would be in fresh stuff. I also tried the Blizzard Bonafide, and Kastle MX88. For the crappy conditions, the Kastle ruled, the Kendo was second, and the Bonafide a distant 3rd. I have Monster 88s in 186, and I just was trying similar skis. I'd put the MX88 over them, but not the others.

i have the kendo in 191. while it is obviously not as good as wider skis in pow, it is definitely ok. very good on groomers, not so good in bumps (due to stiff tips?).
i like it, and it put my old dynastar bigs to a rest immediately (and i loved those skis).
I have dedicated powder skis and wanted something for piste skiing that won´t let you down if there is still crud or pow. and for this purpose it´s good for me.

FWIW, I tried my brothers 191 Kendo's in Telluride last month while he tried my 195 Motherships

When I finally caught up to him, I had to threaten to beat his ass to give my ski's back.

This obviously doesn't help the OP at all

The Lord has a real soft shovel. The Mantras will do all except for the tightest of trees. The Kendo's will only really replace the A3s.

Originally Posted by Kim Jong-un

FWIW the Mantra will carve trenches in hardpack as well as the Kendo and at a higher speed limit. An S7 will also carve trenches in hardpack. Whenever I hear the standard "wider skis can't carve turns as well as narrow skis" BS its because someone is too lazy to tip the ski over.

Then why do racers use narrow skis. Are they lazy like me. I think the active part of both our quotes is "as well"

I am curious why you think the Mantra will carve at a higher speed then the Kendo. The Kendo is the same stiffness and may be a bit stiffer in the tail and has a longer running length in the same length since it has no rocker.

Both skis carve but the Kendo is easier to carve with or I guess you could say the Kendo requires a lazy skier to appreciate the ease at which it carves.