Dynastar LP vs. Volkl Mantra

[Bandit Man]

So now that my relocation package has gone through and I'll be moving to Seattle this summer, the little lady is gonna see just how many skis I really have stashed all over the house. With this thought bearing down on me, I wanted some input on a few "prime candidates" for PNW do-it-all skis, since I'm gonna have to thin out the quiver.

I'm thinking of picking up either a 186 LP or 184 Mantra and would love to get input on how they compare to each other. I know the LP's rip from other threads, but since I'd be putting out quite a bit for a pair, are they worth the extra scratch versus a Mantra? Oh, I'm also betting that the PNW won't have another draught next year and I'm planning on Cascade Cement and Whistler Blow...

I'll start with saying I've searched and hadn't seen this comparison...yet.

So...JONG away...

[focus]

So now that my relocation package has gone through and I'll be moving to Seattle this summer, the little lady is gonna see just how many skis I really have stashed all over the house. With this thought bearing down on me, I wanted some input on a few "prime candidates" for PNW do-it-all skis, since I'm gonna have to thin out the quiver.

I'm thinking of picking up either a 186 LP or 184 Mantra and would love to get input on how they compare to each other. I know the LP's rip from other threads, but since I'd be putting out quite a bit for a pair, are they worth the extra scratch versus a Mantra? Oh, I'm also betting that the PNW won't have another draught next year and I'm planning on Cascade Cement and Whistler Blow...

I'll start with saying I've searched and hadn't seen this comparison...yet.

So...JONG away...

got the same questions on my mind. I want one of these guys to rip up MI winters with.....

edit: and yeah, sure, we know..."get BROS! THEY ROCK!" ....now that we've got that out of the way.....

[SquawMan]

Jim S has skied both and owns an Explosiv so he decided to go with the LP because it's sufficiently different from the Mantra/Exploder

here are some of his comments from GapicSki

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=20194

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=25225&page=2

p.s. I recently bought a Mantra because it's burly enough, but not quite as burly as the LP, and it's lighter feeling without giving up any stability at high speed.....both are awesome crud busters and have no speed limits

demo them side by side, you can't go wrong with either one

[Duker]

Id compare the LP to a tank, Then Id compare the mantra to an H2..... What do you really need?

[Huckwheat]

Being a daily Explosive skier (with no knowledge on the Mantra), with a pretty casual style (mounted forward and like to butter turns as much as carve), I thought the Legend Pros were alot of work. You really have to stay on that ski.

I have friends obsessed with them though, so judge by your personal style.

[Buster Highmen]

Don't omit Stockli DP/SSs from consideration.

[skier666]

One's Volkl, that should answer your question.

[doofdoof]

<seriously>Get Bros! They ROCK!</seriously>

[Bandit Man]

So, here's the confession part...I have some 180 Exploders, 183 Gotama's, and 179 Pistols (haven't skied these all year).

I'm thinking of ditching the Exploders and Pistols for that 185-cm, 95-mm waisted do-it-all for the PNW. Like I said, I have too many skis...

My concern is that I not Spancered like PhUnk, so I might not be LP worthy. I'm fairly certain that I can handle the Mantra's, though. The Stockli also looks nice, but can it bet all than different (other than length) than the Exploder?

[phUnk]

^^^ Psst! Despite being slightly spancered, I'm moving to the new Dynastar Big Trouble (Dynastar's Scratch BC, Pistol, etc. killer) next year because I want a ski that requires less energy to ski all day.

[Buster Highmen]

The Asteroid is stiffer than the (red buddha) Exploder, much burlier and a better ski on the pack.

[dude_le_skibum]

Id compare the LP to a tank, Then Id compare the mantra to an H2..... What do you really need?

i have ridden both and this is the best way to describe the 2

[Jim S]

Hi Bandit Man and Squawman.

First, Bobo's Mogul Mouse in Reno has the LP for $499 instead of the $1200 tag.

Second, I ski the 186 Legend Pro, 180 Explosiv, and demo'd the 184 and 177 Mantra. I'm 6' 2", 190 lbs, very aggressive, charge hard, skiing for decades. I alternate the Legend Pro and Explosiv every other time I ski.



Dynastar Legend Pro is like the Explosiv. I've posted comments at the Barking Bear forum but in a nutshell:

LP is more groomer friendly than the Explosiv; it carves more readily and holds a superb edge on hardpack and ice. It feels narrower than the Explosiv even though it's waist is 2mm more. My perception: this may be due to the smaller turn radius compared to the Explosiv. ...Will bust through anything like the Explosiv. Hence I think it is more versatile than the Exploder it has better on piste performance. It is heavier and feels smoother and more damp than the Explosiv. A bit more work to ski all day due to it's length, stiffness, and weight but it's so much fun to ski on.

Naturally the shorter and slightly lighter 180 Explosiv is easier to swing around in the steeps and tight chutes; more maneuverable in crud and tight spots.




Mantra was very good but didn't light my fire enough to have me ditch my Explosiv or purchase the Mantra:

177 was way too turny. More so than my 179 cm Seth Pistol (04 05 model).

184 was nice and a fine one ski quiver if you like fat...which we do. However, as you know, it's not as stiff as the LP or Exploder. It skis powder better than both of them and busts through crud quite well.

Note I demo'd the LP the same day I demo'd the two Mantra. I fell in love with the LP after one run and at $499 it was a no brainer to add to my quiver. IMHO, BOTTOM LINE:If you have to pay a lot for the LP, I think I'd stick with your Exploders.

[Jim S]

Gee, Squawman's post almost has me sold on the Mantra despite my experience.

[SquawMan]

Gee, Squawman's post almost has me sold on the Mantra despite my experience.

Jim, are there any tunes on your CD about something called 'Buyers Remorse?'

just kidding

[Jim S]

Har de har har har.

I looooooooooove my Explosiv and Legend Pro. No remorse at all!

[funkendrenchman]

Har de har har har.

I looooooooooove my Explosiv and Legend Pro. No remorse at all!

Now you just need a Mantra to round out the quiver.

[bossass]

I own the LP and have skied the Mantra. I like the LP better and I don't think it's all that much to handle, and I'm not in great shape. The Mantra is a great ski, I guess I just like skis that are really damp, which the LP is.

BTW, I just found out a couple days ago that the 179 Made'n AK with 916s, mounted plus 3.5 is a fucking great ski. I skied fresh for three hours straight on Tuesday at Mt. Hood Meadows with nobody there. Hucked it and stucked it, too. Best day all season.

[vinnay]

anyone been on the 06 stocklis?? from what ive seen it seems that the new dp should definitely be in this debate, and the ss will probably be an interesting choice against m777s, im88s and karmas.

[extreeski]

I think you should get the mantra and keep your gotamas. They'll be all you need up here in the PNW.

Welcome. We'll meet a crystal some day.

[Jim S]

I have the 189cm Maden and it's a freakin' blast in fresh powder. Total hedonism.

It's a soft ski so at the end of the day when things get chopped up and a bit fimer I prefer the LP or Explosiv.

[Shin-to-Win]

With great expectations I headed over to the demo tent at Cystal today to take a spin on the next great ski . . . Volkl Mantras. I stepped up and asked for a set of 184's with hopes of comparing to the 191's. No deal. 170 & 177 only. The rep said he didn't have any 184's and said they are hard to come by.

I took a pass and tried some other too-short skis Head Monster 88 in something short of 180 as well. Liked them, great on groomers, not bad in light chop. Rep said they are mounted 5cm back on purpose. They need to be skied from a more upright position. Blah blah blah. Bottom line, they were fun, but I wouldn't want them on a powder day or going aggo in variable steep chute. Not enough ski. Of course, he didn't have access to anything longer either.

Later in the day I wandered back over to the Volkl tent and decided to at least try the 177cm version of the famed mantras. I liked my 180 exploders, but they were too short and while I never skied the 190, I kind of knew I wouldn't like it without a little more tip to help with initiation.

So I take the 177 out for a relatively steep fall line run of now corned up mank. They held a nice line, but they really hooked around way too much for my taste. I couldn't throw them out gently and butter turns in the corn. They just wanted to carve across the hill. On the groomers, they cut a much nicer trench than the explosives due to the shorter radius and bigger tip.

I guess the whole point of this thread is that the 177 Mantra is very very different from a 180 explosive. Better for carving, less versatile for the chop. For a reasonably aggressive skier, I would go up to 184 if you are debating between the two.

[Jim S]

177 and 184 Mantra ski dramatically differently. I took one run on the 177 and turned them in for reasons you mention. The 184 was much better but I'm not giving my 180 Explosiv up for anything.




Banditman,

For goodness sake, don't sell your Explosiv.

[extreeski]

Yea, Jim, you need a 184 because you weigh over 190. right? And shin to win, you mind if I ask your weight and height?

Reason I'm asking is that I am a 175 pound 5' 5" skier, I could see myself maneuvering those 177's through everything and anything. Skied the 176 B3, and was able to ski it in all types of turns and it floated and cut through crud amazingly. If the volkl is even better with wider dimensions. Cmon.

Carving ain't a bad thing. Actually can be fun. And I've heard the 177's don't deflect half as much as other skis at 176-9 length. I bet they ski the breakable crust as well as they float in pow.

[Jim S]

I'm 6' 2" and 190 lbs. I would imagine the 177 would be fine for you.

FYI, I felt the 177 Mantra was more turny but pleasantly stiffer than my 179cm Seth Pistol (04 05 model, which I rarely use).