THE GEAR PICKER
skis / compare
Head-to-head · freeride

Faction Studio 3 vs Völkl Katana V-Werks

The Studio 3 and the Katana V-Werks compared. They share 112 mm underfoot. The Studio 3 is 54 g heavier at the default length (1,900 vs 1,846 g). Turn radii are 20 m and 23.4 m.

Faction Studio 3 — topsheet
Studio 3
$949 MSRP 5 lengths · 165, 172, 178, 184, 190 cm
Völkl Katana V-Werks — topsheet
Katana V-Werks
$1,650 MSRP 3 lengths · 177, 184, 191 cm

Where each ski sits across every ski we carry

Studio 3
Katana V-Werks
Waist
112 mm
112 mm
Narrower · firmer-snowWider · powder
Weight
1,900 g
1,846 g
Lighter · playfulHeavier · damp & planted
Tip taper
28 mm
31 mm
Straighter · grippyMore taper · loose
Turn radius
20.0 m
23.4 m
Shorter · quickLonger · stable

Head to head, by character

Each ski's own read, side by side — the same three things that define how it skis.
Turn & shape
A long 20.0-meter radius is built for open, sweeping turns that want room to run; a moderate taper keeps the shovel engaged for hold at speed rather than quickness.
A 23.4-meter radius is a straight-line shape — it resists tight turns and is built to run long and fast, with a moderate taper that keeps the tip planted.
Stability & dampness
Built without metal on a poplar wood core, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,900 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Built without metal on a lightweight multilayer wood core, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,846 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Float & width
At 112 mm it's a wide, soft-snow ski built to float and plane more than to carve hardpack. Rocker at tip and tail lets it smear and release easily, while the camber underfoot keeps an edge.
At 112 mm it's a wide, soft-snow ski built to float and plane more than to carve hardpack. A cambered profile holds a clean edge underfoot while the width carries the float.

Full spec comparison

SpecStudio 3Katana V-Werks
Waist 112 mm 112 mm
Sidecut 140·112·134 mm 143·112·132 mm
Weight @ default 1,900 g 1,846 g
Weight range 1,740–2,080 g 1,846–2,002 g
Turn radius 20.0 m full-length 23.4 m full-length
Metal None None
Core Poplar wood core Multilayer woodcore light
Lengths 165–190 cm 177–191 cm
MSRP $949 $1,650