REASONS TO BUY
Stable
Damp
Solid edge
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Less nimble
Updated Topsheet
The Confession has new graphics, but very little else has changed about this ski since we tested it. See the current version in the photo above.
January 2020Volkl Confession Review
Ruthless big-mountain ripper that destroys chop as well as it floats
Credit: Volkl
RELATED: Best Powder Skis
Our Verdict
The Volkl Confession is a lean, mean, mountain slaying machine. It's build to charge on gnarly terrain, which is why so it's so popular on the pro circuit. Titanal bands combine with a vertical sidewall, generous camber underfoot, and a slight rocker in the front to provide a stable platform for hard-charging, deep snow debauchery. The traditional shape encourages aggressive turn shapes while the multilayer wood core reinforced with carbon stringers absorbs shocks from massive impacts. If you intend to send that no-fall zone and make it look easy, then you'd better hope you're on the Confession.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Volkl Confession | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Big Lines |  Best Bang for the Buck | |||
| Price | $749 List | $899 List | $799 List $829.00 at Evo | $900 List $899.95 at Evo | $850 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Tears through big-mountain lines and smashes through chop as well as it floats | Powerful, burly powder ski that is strong enough to handle the unexpected | This ski floats well enough for freeride and holds steady on big-mountain lines | The Pescado is well-named, these planks float and slash like a surfboard | This surfy ski is fully dialed in the powder and energetic on the groomers |
| Rating Categories | Volkl Confession | Nordica Enforcer Pro | Moment Wildcat | Line Pescado | Elan Ripstick 116 |
| Float (25%) | |||||
| Stability at Speed (20%) | |||||
| Playfulness (20%) | |||||
| Crud (20%) | |||||
| Carving (10%) | |||||
| Versatility (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Volkl Confession | Nordica Enforcer Pro | Moment Wildcat | Line Pescado | Elan Ripstick 116 |
| Waist Width (mm) | 117 | 115 | 116 | 125 | 116 |
| Rocker | Tip and tail rocker | Tip and tail rocker | Mustache rocker | Tip Early Rise-Camber-Tail Early Rise | Amphibio |
| Available Lengths (cm) | 179, 186, 193 | 191 | 174, 184, 190 | 180 | 185, 193 |
| Shape | 144-117-133 mm | 143-115-132 mm | 141-116-131 mm | 158-125-147 mm | 143-116-132 mm |
| Radius (m) | 21.2 m | 21.5 m | 25 m | 19 m | 20.3 m |
| Weight Per Pair | 9.92 lbs | 10.3 lbs | 9.45 lbs | 8.6 lbs | 8.8 lbs |
| Core Material | Wood, titanal bands (torsional multilayer) | Poplar, beech, balsa | Wood (aspen, pine) | Wood | Wood (tubelite) |
| Tested length (cm) | 179 | 191 | 184 | 180 | 185 |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
For this review, we tested the 179 cm version of the Confession. Surely, some of the testers would have been happier with the 186 or 193—but that could be said about many of the skis in this review. Despite its relative shortness, even our biggest testers felt solid while clicked into the Confession.
Performance Comparison
Deep turns for the Confession.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Float
Compared to other skis like the Moment Wildcat and Line Pescado, we felt the Confession had less float, less playfulness, and greater stability. While it still managed to stay atop creamy, boot-top hero snow, we found it a little heavy to swing around on low-angle and tight terrain, though it still scores well. Similar to how it carves, the Confession performs better when pushed fast through deep snow. It was outperformed by the DPS Alchemist Lotus 124 and the Line Pescado.
With titanium reinforcement, the Confession has an incredibly damp and stable ride.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Stability at Speed
Top-end stability is no doubt the forte of the Confession. The sandwiched core of poplar, ash, carbon, and titanal gives the ski a stiff but progressive flex that can power through high-speed maneuvers while still dampening chatter. Extra rigidity from the carbon stringers also reduces vibrational deflections. Even in the shortest offered length, 178 cm, the Confession has no speed limits. It's scary fast and super stable and earned one of the highest scores in this metric — and was only outperformed by the Nordica Enforcer Pro. Comparable contenders include our Editors' Choice, the DPS Alchemist Lotus 124.
Playfulness
By nature, the Confession isn't a blatantly playful ski. Unless you consider shredding spines and stomping mandatory drops to be playful. Then, it's really playful. But the directional, stiff nature of this ski didn't feel as stunty as, say, the Moment Wildcat. Lacking pop and buttery spin abilities, we felt that other skis performed better in this metric.
There seems to be no chop the Confession can't handle.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Crud
In short, this ski is a champion of crud, taking home a top score. Only the Enforcer Pro is better. With all the structural fortifications and tough-as-nails construction, the Confession has the same dampness we'd expect to find in a metal laminate ski (i.e., the Enforcer). On both high and low-angle, it eats up anything in its path, letting you drive it anywhere you'd like with reckless abandon. Stupendous torsional rigidity keeps your edge locked in even when cranking short radius turns through bumpy chunder. It seems that the harder we pushed this pair of blanks, the more reliable it became.
Burly sidewalls enable the Confession to bite in all kinds of snow.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Carving
At first glance, the Confession may not seem like an arc-friendly ski. For skiers used to narrower widths, lighter weights, and softer flexes, it could feel a bit cumbersome and slow edge-to-edge. But once it's laid over, this model locks in and doesn't let go. Compared to other skis in its width, the Confession is a savage and aggressive carver. Evidently built with the ex-racer in mind, this ski necessitates higher speeds and lots of forward pressure to rail turns.
More lackadaisical carvers would probably prefer a softer, lighter ski, but wouldn't get the same exiting power offered in the Confession. Comparable models include the Enforcer Pro, while the DPS Alchemist was close behind.
Eating up some variable conditions; no sweat for the Confession.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Versatility
Overall, the Confession is a very capable and dynamic ski on ever-changing snow conditions. The combination of aggressive edge hold, top-end stability, and crud-busting stamina make it a very solid choice for strong skiers looking to go fast all day. While there might be better options for dedicated floatation, this is a very well-rounded powder ski.
Best Applications
This is a bonafide big-mountain line slayer. If you like getting puckered atop steep chutes and chossy cliffs, then you'll find a friend in the Confession. While it could also have great utility on your next cat or heli adventure, this competitor is a bit on the heavy side to serve as a backcountry crossover ski. It's more likely to serve you as an inbounds, all-mountain enforcer.
No pizza. Only schnitzel.
Credit: Scott Rokis
Value
For a middle-of-the-road MSRP, the Confession is a good value. Not only is this ski built to last but it's also capable of tearing it up on more than just powder days.
Conclusion
We loved this ski. Even in the shortest length available, the Confession was eager to send in any and all conditions. It is a damp and powerful ski that will crush big lines with ease. Furthermore, its ability to power through chop means that you won't find yourself frustrated when you venture out of the deep stuff. All in all, the Confession is badass big-mountain powder ski.
—Rob Woodworth
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