– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Voile V6 Skis — Review

by Guest Blogger February 25, 2015
written by Guest Blogger February 25, 2015

Boone Caudill

(Shop for Voile V6, recommended as a perfect touring ski!)

Voile V6, genotype of the perfect touring ski.

Voile V6, genotype of the perfect touring ski.

Last April, I put Dynafit bindings on a pair of Voile V6 skis and headed up into the spring backcountry for some “real” ski testing. At 155 lbs, 6’-1”, the 183’s seemed to be a good fit. A bit of fresh snow on top of early corn formation, with morning temperature rising, left a variable mix. The idea with these skis is they’re a narrower, lighter version of the now classic Voile V8 (a WildSnow.com all time favorite). With a more or less 100 mm waist (depends on length), they end up in the “100 is the new 80” category that seems to be the perfect compromise between weight, agility, and width.

I can ride the lifts on the four mountains in the Aspen area, but unless there is an epic dump, I prefer to wander around in the backcountry. Thus, considering the size of this admittedly long pair of planks, I did appreciate what Lou would call an “average weight” according to his research, but is still light considering the overall range of ski weights.

Peeling skins while looking out over our wildly beautiful local mountain range always sets the tone for delicious turns. My first run was an easterly aspect with protected northerly pockets retaining soft snow. In the trees at the top, the Voiles packed a responsive energy that kept me out of trouble. I’m typically skiing a shorter ski in the trees — these 183’s were a welcome surprise. The tip rocker combined with the 100mm waist and the 109mm tail put me in good position to get down into the soft snow, yet maintain speed and agility.

Popping out of the trees on the easterly aspect I found myself carving luscious turns in premature corn with a bit of newsoft on top. The pack was fragile, starting to break through as I pushed the speed and tightened the radius. Again I was impressed with the sense of confidence in the boards — as the graphics well represent — on my feet. The sidecut combined with the rocker helped keep the tips from catching on the breakable crust.

My second outing was spring corn above timberline. We skied early morning on frozen corn, putting in final turns later on as the hard surface gave way to the beautiful warm spring sunshine. I was impressed with the stability on the hard, frozen, early morning corn. In my search for the perfect one ski quiver, I have been weighing in on the final position to take in the balancing act between ski weight and stability when hard on edge. I believe the Voile V6 hits the sweet spot.

No question, these skis were designed for backcountry powder — and more. Light enough to climb all day and big enough to ride smooth and fast through the light stuff, they’ll also elicit a smile on piste or corn. Recommended.

(Guest blogger Boone Caudill is one of the pioneers of Aspen’s commercial powder tours. He’s been skiing, hunting, cabin building, climbing and otherwise enjoying the backcountry since before he could walk.)

(Shop for Voile V6, recommended as a perfect touring ski!)

18 comments
1
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
From the Source — Marker’s Take on Kingpin, & New Volkl VTA Skis
next post
Wasted Weeks — Looking at Ski Binding Patents

18 comments

Joefbtg28 February 26, 2015 - 8:52 am

Got a powder touring setup, now looking for late/early season longer tour setup. I am 5’11” 175lbs and fairly aggressive skier. Voile V6, G3 Zenoxide c3 105, or G3 Synapse 101? Judging from how my other sandwich construction skis have held up, I like that the Voile and the Zenoxide?? are cap construction. Too many options in the lightweight touring category these days!

Lou Dawson 2 February 26, 2015 - 9:21 am

Joe, I’d agree, amazing options out there! My take is that aggressive tour skiers like the G3 offerings. Lou

Mark Worley February 26, 2015 - 11:13 pm

Been hoping to sell these at our shop. Thanks for a great review. Oh, and I know graphics really don’t matter, but dang, don’t these Voiles look great!

Joefbtg28 March 12, 2015 - 4:07 pm

Thanks Lou!

I did think the v6 felt a bit weak for my tastes, but they look soo pretty! I will go with the zenoxide most likely.

Scott March 17, 2015 - 11:53 am

I skied the V6 with the G3 Icon binding on the mountain the other day and I was quite impressed. Even on hard pack they hold a great edge and are even excellent in the moguls too! I am the same size as you are and would definitely consider the ski for my ‘narrower’ plank. Love those Icons too!

Brian November 27, 2015 - 2:34 pm

So after a quick search and not seeing anything…any advice on mounting location for these skis? I generally prefer a slightly forward mount but that’s a carry over from alpine days. Mounting speed superlite 1.0s.

Lou Dawson 2 November 27, 2015 - 3:17 pm

Hi Brian, I’d stick with the factory mount position, that’s my recollection anyhow. Lou

brandon December 3, 2015 - 4:27 pm

what size v6 would ya’ll recommend. 6’3″+ 175lbs. like to go with 183’s for weight and having no more ski than necessary, but would the 188 be more appropriate. this would be pretty much just a backcountry ski. and would like to have it for longer tours, and multiday. thanks

Lou Dawson 2 December 3, 2015 - 5:18 pm

Obewhanskinoobie here, channeling through His Blogness. You are 190.5 centimeters tall. You are pretty much just ski touring, big. At your height a 188 is totally appropriate. Obe

brandon December 4, 2015 - 5:11 pm

kinda too bad. in that the 188 are only 2oz. lighter than the v8 186. currently have 186 gotamas was trying to justify not getting fat. but i think that tipped the scales. so, looking for a spring and longer or multi day trips. v6 good choice? vector? coombacks aren’t any bigger. thanks. great resource ya’ll are.

Mel Cooke January 24, 2016 - 4:31 pm

I’m having a hard time finding a sizing chart for the Voile V6. I’m 5’10”, 170-175 depending on the week and am what I would call an advanced intermediate skier spending much of the day on single blacks. I am typically skiing 75% of the time at the resort but am mostly playing off-piste in the trees when I’m there.

I also wonder if anyone knows a place in the great Pacific Northwest who rents these skis.

nate porter January 24, 2016 - 5:51 pm

There’s a size chart by body weight on the Voile website. Scroll down the page for the V6. Looks like you’d be good with either the 173 or 183 depending your terrain and preferences.

Erich February 11, 2016 - 7:02 pm

Been on some 108 waisted skis this year as my everyday, first pair over a hundred, and certainly had some good days.. Been a good year in n.w Colorado..But after half a season I was ready to get back on something quicker edge to edge and with camber of some sort..a true skinna’..2016 style..
I had tried the v-8 setup w fritchi at and also own some vector bc ..and knew voile had these v6 …a perfect in between..?..They are!
Super fun in bounds, and a perfect match for any skin track, they didn’t let me down until I was ready to go down..and nicely they did through untracked but warmed up and tree branch deposited powder..feeling energized the next pitch was steeper and deeper, with an opening at the bottom I knew could handle some gs turns to the runout..the v6 was up for it and I was once again psyched to be on a ski that didn’t “waffle”..
After flicking the tour lever on my switchbacks, an easy jaunt to the spork (I know, no one calls it the spork) was all I had left to finish up with 40 creamy shaded ridge turns to the bridge and the trail..easy $.. Super fun..
With a trusted company like voile, you can’t go wrong ….they have been around forever, have an awesome product with a great warranty…and oh yeah…U.S.A!!

David cobb January 13, 2017 - 7:49 pm

I am heading to Ouray for several days of back country skiing. Staying at a opus huts. I plan to rent Voile V6 – trying to figure the size. I am 62 years. 5′ 6″ 160 lbs. I’m an expert skier and very picky about how equipment feels on the snow. I enjoy a ski with easier initiation but enough strength to hold a turn. Just pick up a pair of Nordica Enforcer 100. Tried the 184 and settled on the 177. 184 were fine, but 177 were more playful. The company I am renting from only have 173 and 183 in stock. I know I can handle 183 but not sure that is best for uphill. Though not sure whether 173 will not be enkugh ski downhill. Any advice?

atfred January 14, 2017 - 9:53 am

I’m about your size and age and I’d go with the 173 – easier on the uphill, and more nimble in tight spots. You typically don’t go so fast in the back country that you would need a long ski – at least I don’t.

Ross Manning March 9, 2017 - 4:15 pm

I’m thinking of buying the BC version of this ski for rolling terrain & longer hut trips, and possibly taking these to Europe for spring Haute Route and other Alps trips. I’m tossing up between the 178cm & 183cm. I normally ski on about 185cm for bothy my back country & resort skis, but seems some folk go shorter for ski mounaineering, particularly in spring when shorter ski on steep & icy tracks may make kick turns easier & sorter turns on the down may be called for. However, I’m tall at 6’2″ and about 190lb so concerned that the ski may not offer as much support in the 178.

Should I go with the longer ski, or would the shorter ski offer some benefits in maneuverability?

Lou Dawson 2 March 9, 2017 - 4:48 pm

At your height I’d go for the 183, that’s still a few cm shorter than your height… Lou

Ross Manning March 12, 2017 - 7:49 pm

Thanks Lou – Just ordered the 183cm version. Now for bindings – I think I’ll mount Vipecs on these, as it should allow easy transitions in rolling country

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure
  • rob coppolillo on The No-Beacon Day — Using Terrain to Minimize Avalanche Exposure

Gear Reviews

  • Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital 100 Ski Review

    January 14, 2021
  • Meidjo 3.0 Binding Review – Backcountry Telemark Evolves

    January 12, 2021
  • Tele Tech First Look — Voile Ultra Vector BC, 22 Designs Lynx, Scarpa TX Pro

    January 5, 2021

Trip Reports

  • Finding Early Turns on Rainier’s Muir Snowfield

    November 14, 2020
  • Treading Lightly Through Close-to-Home Mountains

    October 6, 2020
  • Snoqualmie Classic — Chair Peak Circumnavigation

    May 26, 2020

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020
  • Totally Deep Podcast 81 — CAIC Director Ethan Greene

    December 9, 2020
  • Unraveling the Mysteries of Avalanche Education — Totally Deep Podcast 80

    November 16, 2020

Tips & Tricks

  • 10 Essential Mistakes for the Backcountry Ski Touring Beginner

    December 2, 2020
  • Buying Used Gear Guide Part II — Poles, Avy Gear, Packs

    November 25, 2020
  • Save Your Ski Day — Emergency Car Kit Essentials

    November 24, 2020

Ski Touring Stories

  • Giving Myself the Gift of Backcountry

    January 15, 2021
  • Six Who Dared — Elk Mountains Traverse & Richard Compton Tribute

    January 7, 2021
  • Risky Business — Zahan Billimoria on Solving for Z

    December 14, 2020

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Envisioning a Friendly, Busier Backcountry —...

January 18, 2021

Versatile and Sustainable — WNDR Vital...

January 14, 2021

Euro Puro Amoro — La Sportiva...

January 13, 2021