Short Review: Volkl V-Werks Katana

[singlecross]

Any change in the rocker profile as well, or in the taper out back? Or rec mount point?

No, everything else looks exactly the same

[flatlands]

Hello, I have here V-Werks Katana 21/22 and 24/25 here side by side. Ski length is 191.

The older model has been so perfect to me that I wanted to have a spare pair. I am less than 80 kilos and a bit short of 180 cm.

Yes the tips are somewhat of different shape. The sidecut seemed to be the same on rest of the ski - base to base.

I cannot tell for sure, but it seems that at least part of the carbon laminates are placed differently in these two models. The 24/25 model has the carbon laminates on the surface clearly visible, as is the surface structure along the carbon laminate type and direction to be seen. This varies along the ski length. That is not the case with the 21/22 model, where the carbon laminate structure seems equal along the ski.

I am going to return the new 24/25 pair to the shop, as to me, it seems there is a problem:

Here is the problem: Völkl says that the 191 ski is 2002 grams
My other 24/25 ski weighs 2006 grams which is quite right. But the other ski weighs only 1919 grams. The difference in weight is 85+ grams. Started weighing the skis as my hand told me to do so. I could feel the difference.
The model 21/22 has weight difference of 21 grams, but that was with bindings.

The sport shop representative told me that this kind on weight difference of 85+ grams is normal with long and wide skis. I cannot believe that claim. Especially taking into the consideration that V-Werks Katana is somewhat premium ski.

Wanted to hear others comments on this as I am old enough to not start playing with anything half proper. Btw. the product number on the side of the 24/25 skis is the same.

Any comments on this?

Cheers KO

[Lord Thomas]

I've weighed quite a few expensive skis that were 85 grams apart. It's not all that uncommon. I had a pair of Salomon MTN Lab 184's (that was the 114mm ski) that were 84 grams different and toured on them for most of a season. Didn't notice the weight difference on the way up or the way down, YMMV.

[bry]

^^same. I have and ski a couple of resort pairs that are 80-90g apart, like 2450/2540. I can't tell. I put a couple stickers on the lighter ones to psychologically balance them out.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[kootenayskier]

Skis are assembled by human beings. Manufacturers strive for consistency, but the amount of resin, the weight, and the skiing characteristics are inevitably going to vary. World Cup racers ski multiples of the “same” ski, apparently sensitive to minor variations, but I’m not. I’d suggest that on powder/all terrain ski like the V-Werks Katana, this doesn’t matter in the slightest.

[SkiJitsu]

Skis are assembled by human beings. Manufacturers strive for consistency, but the amount of resin, the weight, and the skiing characteristics are inevitably going to vary. World Cup racers ski multiples of the “same” ski, apparently sensitive to minor variations, but I’m not. I’d suggest that on powder/all terrain ski like the V-Werks Katana, this doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Like everyone above said this is pretty normal. Mike McCabe, CEO of Folsom, was on the Blister podcast a while ago talking about this. One of the things he mentioned is that wood being a natural product has a ton of variability no matter what you do and can absorb resin at different rates.

[Skip Dooley]

Hello, I have here V-Werks Katana 21/22 and 24/25 here side by side. Ski length is 191.

The older model has been so perfect to me that I wanted to have a spare pair. I am less than 80 kilos and a bit short of 180 cm.

Yes the tips are somewhat of different shape. The sidecut seemed to be the same on rest of the ski - base to base.

I cannot tell for sure, but it seems that at least part of the carbon laminates are placed differently in these two models. The 24/25 model has the carbon laminates on the surface clearly visible, as is the surface structure along the carbon laminate type and direction to be seen. This varies along the ski length. That is not the case with the 21/22 model, where the carbon laminate structure seems equal along the ski.

I am going to return the new 24/25 pair to the shop, as to me, it seems there is a problem:

Here is the problem: Völkl says that the 191 ski is 2002 grams
My other 24/25 ski weighs 2006 grams which is quite right. But the other ski weighs only 1919 grams. The difference in weight is 85+ grams. Started weighing the skis as my hand told me to do so. I could feel the difference.
The model 21/22 has weight difference of 21 grams, but that was with bindings.

The sport shop representative told me that this kind on weight difference of 85+ grams is normal with long and wide skis. I cannot believe that claim. Especially taking into the consideration that V-Werks Katana is somewhat premium ski.

Wanted to hear others comments on this as I am old enough to not start playing with anything half proper. Btw. the product number on the side of the 24/25 skis is the same.

Any comments on this?

Cheers KO

So is it that there’s an 85 gram difference between right and left skis of the same pair? Or 85g average difference between the pairs?

Either way it doesn’t matter at all.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[flatlands]

Thank you for your input. Appreciated.

I am, however, sending the skis back as it seems my 21/22 pair is better balanced. The 24/25 pair was intented to be a spare pair - a warranty kind of. I like the 21/22 model so much.
I do understand that skis are somewhat unequal to each other. A competition cross country skier may have selected his/her 30 pairs out of 60 or more. Consumers will get the leftovers. And befor the compatition athlete makes his/her selection the manufacturer has put most similar skis onto pairs.

The weight difference is so that the other ski is lighter and the other ski is heavier. The difference is 85+ grams. There is a 2 cm difference in the balance point between skis too. Maybe that is not something that woild have an effect on anything.

The skis are ready to have a trip back.

Cheers KO

[milkman]

.