Ski: 2021-2022 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm
Available Lengths: 172, 179, 186, 193 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 185.7 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2236 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2165 & 2211 grams
Stated Dimensions: 136-108-125 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 136.0-107.5-124.7 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius: 22.9 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 60 mm / 33.5 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~4 mm
Core: Fir/Aspen + “Titanal Y-Beam” + Fiberglass Laminate
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -9.75 cm from center; 83.1 cm from tail
Boots / Bindings: Nordica Strider 120; Head Raptor 140 RS, Dalbello Lupo SP I.D. / Tyrolia AAAttack2 13 AT
Test Location: Crested Butte, CO
Days Skied: ~20
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 19/20 Mindbender 108Ti, which was not changed for 20/21 or 21/22, apart from graphics.]
Intro
We discussed on our latest GEAR:30 podcast the origin of the line, the technology behind it, and how it came to be with K2’s head ski designer, Jed Yeiser.
in this post, we’re gonna dive into the specifics of the entire line, what sets these skis apart from other models on the market, and take a closer look at the Mindbender 108Ti.
The Entire Mindbender Lineup of Skis
The men’s line of Mindbender skis will consist of the Mindbender 85, 90C, 90 Ti, 98 Ti, 108 Ti, and 116C.
The skis with “Ti” in their name have a Y-shaped layer of titanal, while the skis with a “C” in their name feature a variable-braid carbon laminate.
The women’s Mindbender lineup will include the Mindbender 85, 88 Ti, 90C, 98 Ti, 106C, and 115C. The same naming scheme (e.g., “Ti” and “C”) applies to the women’s skis, and all the women’s versions have “Alliance” at the end of their name (e.g., “Mindbender 115C Alliance”) to reference K2’s team of female skiers that contributed to the design of the skis.
We’ll soon be talking with four of the women behind K2’s alliance to discuss the backstory of the project, and we’ll also be reviewing several of the women’s Mindbender skis.
K2 will also be making a junior Mindbender ski, the Mindbender Team, which is based on the Mindbender 108Ti, has a waist of 98 mm, and will be offered in 145, 155, 165 cm lengths.
One interesting thing with the Mindbender series is that K2 says that they designed each ski independently in order to make it perform best for the conditions and styles in which it’d be skied. This isn’t revolutionary, but it’s certainly not the norm. Typically, many brands start with one ski, and then scale up and down in width while not changing all that much in terms of shape and construction. But since people tend to use a 90mm-wide ski very differently than a 116mm-wide ski, it makes sense to treat their designs distinctly.
And if that talk about Y-shaped titanal and variable-angle braiding sounds weird to you, you’re not alone. So let’s dive into the tech that K2 is highlighting in the Mindbenders:
“Torsional Control Design”
K2 says that, with the Mindbenders, they were able to independently fine-tune both the longitudinal and torsional flex of the skis. They did this with two techniques — their “Titanal Y-Beam” and “Carbon Spectral Braid.”
Both of these technologies aim to accomplish the same goal: have a fairly torsionally rigid shovel, a strong, very torsionally rigid section underfoot, and a more maneuverable, less torsionally rigid tail. This is meant to make the skis more stable and precise where you need them to be (in the front and underfoot), while still having a tail that’s easy to release when you need it to. It’s certainly an interesting concept, especially if it works.
With the “Ti” skis, K2 used a Y-shaped layer of titanal that extends over the edges of the ski in the shovel, spans edge-to-edge underfoot, and only sits over the center of the ski in the tail (see image below). K2 says that the Titanal Y-Beam “delivers the highest levels of precision and stability in a damp, stable platform.”
With the “C” skis, they used a carbon weave that has a denser, high-angle weave in the shovel which then progresses to a less dense, lower-angle weave as you move toward the tail of the ski.
K2 says the Carbon Spectral Braid “keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important.” Seeing as the carbon weave is used on the powder-oriented Mindbender 116C and 115C, that justification makes sense. If you’re only skiing soft snow, you probably don’t need a super strong, damp, or heavy ski. It’s also cool to see K2 offering the Mindbender 90 in both titanal and carbon iterations to give skiers more options.
So, that’s the design philosophy behind all of the Mindbender skis. Now let’s take a look at the big-mountain charger of the group, the Mindbender 108Ti.
What K2 says about the Mindbender 108 Ti:
“String ‘em up and slap ‘em down. These freaks were made to run. Utilizing our proprietary Titanal Y-Beam™, this freak of a ski is meant to do one thing: mash. From deep pow to the chalky steeps, this beast is the big mountain charger you’ve been waiting for.”
Well, there’s definitely some “Swagger Award” potential here. But the main points seem to be the Mindbender 108Ti’s high-speed stability and its versatility across both soft and firm snow.
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Mindbender’s technology might be new, but the Mindbender 108Ti’s shape is not all that crazy by modern standards.
The Mindbender 108Ti has a bit of tip and tail taper, but not nearly as much as the K2 Pinnacle 105 Ti (which it effectively replaces). The Mindbender 108Ti’s taper lines border on the conservative end of things, which, for a ski that’s supposed to “mash,” is probably a good thing. The Mindbender 108Ti’s shape reminds us of the 4FRNT MSP 107 and Elan Ripstick 106, and isn’t all that different compared to other chargers like the Blizzard Cochise and ON3P Wrenegade 108.
The Mindbender 108Ti’s rocker profile isn’t all that crazy, either. It has a pretty deep tip rocker line compared to other skis in its class, but the Mindbender 108Ti’s tip doesn’t start rising that much until near the end of the ski. The Mindbender 108Ti’s tail rocker line is also fairly deep, but again, doesn’t rise till near the very end.
Interestingly enough, the Mindbender 108Ti’s rocker profile looks awfully similar to a now-deceased ski that we very much loved, the Line Supernatural 108. And that’s probably not a coincidence — you can listen to our podcast with Jed Yeiser for more on how the Supernatural 108 played a role in the design of the Mindbender 108Ti.
The Mindbender 108Ti’s subtle taper and low rocker lines should equate to more effective edge than more heavily rockered and / or tapered skis like the ON3P Wrenegade 108 and Prior Husume. Yet the Mindbender 108Ti’s fairly deep rocker lines should help with its soft-snow performance, especially when you take a look at the next section…
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the longitudinal flex pattern of the Mindbender 108Ti:
Tips: 5.5-6
Shovels: 6.5-7.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 8-9.5
Underfoot: 9.5
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5
Tails: 7.5-8
The first thing that stands out is the Mindbender 108Ti’s tips — they’re very soft. This is probably the only thing on the Mindbender 108Ti that reminds us of K2’s Pinnacle skis. The Pinnacle 95 Ti and Mindbender 108Ti’s tips both feel similarly soft, and they’re far softer than most other “chargers” like the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume, etc.
But then the Mindbender 108Ti ramps up in stiffness smoothly to a large section around the middle of the ski that is quite strong. It finishes with a tail that’s also strong, though not as stiff as some other skis in its class like the Moment Commander 108, Black Crows Corvus, and Prior Husume.
Weight
K2 is very adamant about the Mindbender 108Ti’s ability to charge, and its weight of just under 2200 grams per ski for the 186 cm version seems in line with that. It’s not the heaviest ski in its class, but it’s far from the lightest. And as more and more skis get lighter and lighter, the Mindbender 108Ti’s weight puts it closer to the heavier end of the spectrum. If you’ve read just about any ski review on Blister, you’ll know that this is something we’re excited about.
For reference, here are a bunch of our measured weights for a number of notable skis. As always, keep in mind the length differences to try to keep these comparisons apples-to-apples.
1923 & 1956 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106, 189 cm (17/18-18/19)
1996 & 2012 Dynastar Legend X106, 188 cm (17/18-18/19)
2013 & 2013 Moment Commander 108, 188 cm (18/19)
2022 & 2047 Faction Dictator 3.0, 186 cm (17/18-18/19)
2026 & 2056 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 107, 184 cm (17/18-18/19)
2030 & 2039 Rossignol Soul 7 HD, 188 cm (17/18-18/19)
2036 & 2064 Salomon QST 106, 188 cm (18/19)
2046 & 2120 Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm (18/19)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19)
2143 & 2194 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 184 cm (18/19)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20)
2182 & 2218 Nordica Enforcer 110, 185 cm (17/18-18/19)
2250 & 2307 Argent Badger, 184 cm (19/20)
2283 & 2290 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 189 cm (18/19)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18-18/19)
2318 & 2341 J Skis The Metal, 186 cm (16/17-18/19)
2335 & 2399 Line Supernatural 108, 186 cm (14/15-16/17)
2376 & 2393 Blizzard Cochise, 185 cm (15/16-18/19)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious about
(1) Will we be able to notice the difference in torsional rigidity between the Mindbender 108Ti’s tips, midsection, and tails? If so, what is the on-snow result?
(2) K2 is saying a lot about the Mindbender 108Ti’s stability, so just how stable is it compared to the other chargers out there?
(3) The Mindbender 108Ti has pretty soft shovels, so will they be a liability at high speeds, a benefit at slower speeds (and in deeper snow), or will we really notice them at all?
(4) Will the Mindbender 108Ti feel most at home off piste, on piste, or equally comfortable in both?
(5) The Mindbender 108Ti isn’t super light or super stiff, so should non-experts also be considering it?
(6) The Mindbender 108Ti looks a bit like the Line Supernatural 108, and K2 says that ski did play a role in the Mindbender 108Ti’s development. So is this new ski a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108?
Bottom Line (For Now)
The K2 Mindbender 108Ti combines a unique new construction with a more traditional shape, rocker profile, and weight. Blister Members can read our initial impressions in our Flash Review linked below, and then stay tuned for our full review for more info.
Flash Review
Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Mindbender 108Ti for our initial impressions. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us.
FULL REVIEW
K2’s new Mindbender lineup has been getting a lot of buzz. The skis have some interesting technology going into their construction, K2’s marketing copy sure hypes them up a lot, and they certainly seem like a significant departure from K2’s recent Pinnacle skis that they effectively replace.
We’ve been spending a lot of time on the Mindbender 108Ti in a wide range of conditions — from the deep storms Crested Butte’s been getting recently, to firm, steep, technical terrain. And after all that, we’ve come away quite impressed.
Powder
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs): At 108 mm wide, the Mindbender 108Ti isn’t some dedicated pow ski (K2 makes the Mindbender 116C for really deep days). But even in over a foot of pow, I’ve come away really liking in the Mindbender 108Ti in deeper snow.
The Mindbender 108Ti’s combination of (1) a pretty traditional, rearward mount point, (2) fairly wide and not-very-tapered shovels, and (3) a soft flex in those shovels all equated to very good float for a ski that’s only 108 mm wide.
At slower speeds and on flatter terrain, the Mindbender 108Ti planed pretty well. But it was when I got it up to speed when the fun really started. The soft tips did a great job of rising to the top of the snow, and I think I could be pretty happy on this ski in up to around a foot and a half of powder. On really deep days, I’d opt for the wider Mindbender 116C (which we’ll be talking about soon). But for a 108mm-wide ski, the Mindbender 108Ti floats very well.
The Mindbender 108Ti is not the surfiest ski out there, but if I stayed forward on it, it was still pretty easy to maneuver in deep, steep, and tight terrain. If you’re coming from skis with a lot of tail rocker, you’ll probably find the Mindbender 108Ti to be a bit more work when it comes to making small turns in deep snow. But if you’re coming from more traditional skis with flat tails, I’d be surprised if you found the Mindbender 108Ti difficult in these conditions.
Jonathan Ellsworth (5’10”, ~175 lbs): We’ve been skiing such deep snow here in Crested Butte that I’ve ended up being on a number of narrower skis (read: 108 mm wide), and in deep snow (even when hitting stashes of 2 feet or more), the Mindbender 108Ti has been my favorite. As Luke said, everything about the construction and design of the ski works to keep the ski planing, and if I disagree at all with Luke, it would be that I found the Mindbender 108Ti to be quite surfy / surfy enough — certainly when compared to a number of other 108mm-wide skis, and even when compared to some 118mm-wide skis. Then again, I would say that Luke typically prefers a slightly looser ski than I do, and I wouldn’t read too much into the differences in our take on this ski: of the 108mm wide skis on the market, I’m comfortable calling this one of the better skis for deep snow.
I’d also like to point out that this is a really fun ski to carve up clean, untracked pow. If the snow wasn’t super heavy, that non-very-tapered tip shape never felt hooky to me, but instead was easy to engage and very happy to slice clean, deep turns. I like.
Sam Shaheen (5’10”, 145 lbs): I will echo what Luke and Jonathan said above and point out one thing that I really appreciate about the Mindbender 108Ti in powder — its large sweet spot. For a ski that is relatively strong and damp, it feels comfortable being skied from a variety of stances. Especially in the varied terrain at Crested Butte, I really like that I can adjust my stance to the terrain. Wide open pow field? Ski it neutral. Tight, steep chute? Ski it forward. Big drops or deep variable snow? Ski on the heels for a turn or two.
The Mindbender 108 Ti just feels like a very versatile platform, and it does surprisingly well in powder. As was said above, I’d be happy to have the 108Ti in snow up to ~18”.
Soft Chop
Luke: The Mindbender 108Ti is a blast in soft, choppy conditions. And that’s where I think a ski like this should excel — when it’s not super deep, but everything is still soft and you’re looking for stuff to jump off of and a soft runout to straight-line through.
In super deep chop, the Mindbender 108Ti’s softer shovels did “plow” a bit, rather than punching right through. But if the chop was soft and shallower than around a foot, I could still blast through just about anything on the Mindbender 108Ti. And in super deep chop, skiing the Mindbender 108Ti a bit more neutral / not pressuring the shovels as much helped alleviate the “plowing” effect.
There are a few skis on the market that encourage more of a “destroy the mountain” mentality than the Mindbender 108Ti, but I think most skiers will find this ski to be very stable in chop.
Jonathan: I’m going to focus on Luke’s last paragraph — I definitely wouldn’t put the Mindbender 108Ti in the ‘destroyer of mountains’ category. But I also think that a broader range of skiers will find the 108Ti to be stable enough in chop, and far more versatile and less fatiguing than true ‘destroyers’. And in shallower cut up snow (less than 12”) I would stay centered or get on the shovels a bit, and the ski was (for me) a nice combination of ‘stable enough’ and ‘playful enough’ to make the conditions fun.
Sam: Yep, for me, the 108Ti is a great combination of stable in chop while remaining quite easy to handle. Many of the ‘destroyer of mountains’ skis are very stable at speed, but are a huge pain in the ass to ski at slower speeds or in tight spaces — plus, they are very punishing of mistakes. The Mindbender 108Ti strikes a great balance between outright stability while still being fairly loose and decently forgiving of mistakes.
Firm Chop / Crud
Luke: In shallower, firmer conditions, the Mindbender 108Ti’s shovels become more of a positive feature. They do a great job of absorbing harsh impacts, yet the ski is strong enough so that I can drive it hard and keep it tracking.
Again, there are some skis that will let you smash and mash your way down the mountain with less regard for what’s in front of you, but of the ~108mm-wide skis I’ve been on the most, the Mindbender 108Ti sits near the top when it comes to stability. And unlike many of the skis that are more stable than it, you don’t have to be in attack mode all the time on the Mindbender 108Ti — it still feels very comfortable when just cruising at mellow speeds.
Jonathan: Interesting. Because with about 6 or 7 days on the 108Ti, I am currently thinking of this ski as a bit more soft-snow oriented as opposed to firm-snow oriented. See our Deep Dive Comparisons to get a clearer sense of where we’d locate this ski, but mostly, I would say that in firm chop and crud, what makes the 108Ti fun in those conditions is how relatively easy it is to pivot the ski and still ski pretty hard and fast with a dynamic style, and yet (as Luke notes) if you really want to slow down and pick your way through firm chop and crud, the ski accommodates that quite well, too.
Sam: It’s interesting to hear Jonathan and Luke’s takes on this ski in firm snow. I haven’t gotten quite as much time on it as they have, but I’ve been really happy with the idea of this ski as a 1-ski quiver — which very much includes firm snow.
For my skiing style and preferences (generally a dynamic style and I prefer lighter, more forgiving skis), the Mindbender 108Ti feels like it can do just about everything I want it to do. No, it isn’t an amazing firm-snow ski that’s extremely damp or that has a ton of energy, but the 108Ti feels instantly intuitive in most terrain. It’s easy to ski and is fairly forgiving while still being pretty damp with a decent top end. The more dynamic your skiing style, the more I think you’ll like the Mindbender 108Ti on firm snow.
Groomers
Luke: My first few runs on the Mindbender 108Ti were on groomers and, despite being a wider ski, I immediately felt comfortable on it. Turn initiation felt super intuitive and easy — just put a bit of pressure on the front of your boots, and the skis basically pull you into a turn.
The Mindbender 108Ti doesn’t bend easily into super tight slalom turns, but it’s still pretty versatile in terms of turn shapes. I could make GS turns at low speeds, GS turns at high speeds and high edge angles, or just let the skis run into big, fast, Super-G-style turns. And throughout all of those turn shapes, the Mindbender 108Ti maintained its calm, damp feel. It even produced a bit of energy when I was really bending it (though it’s far from the most energetic ski out there).
Of the 108mm-wide skis I’ve used, the Mindbender 108Ti is one of the better carvers. While I think this ski excels off piste, it’s still a lot of fun on groomed slopes.
Jonathan: Unfortunately, with all this fresh pow we’ve been getting, I haven’t been able to get the 108Ti on much corduroy. This is also the furthest thing in the world from a complaint. Let it snow!
Sam: I’ll have to dito Jonathan here, fortunately.
Bumps, Trees, & Tighter Terrain
Luke: Plenty of skis can mob through chop or rip groomers, but many of those skis are a handful when the terrain gets tight and technical. But, surprisingly, the Mindbender 108Ti struck me as pretty easy in this terrain. Its tail is not difficult to slide on firm, shallow snow, it doesn’t feel very punishing, and I never felt like the ski was the one in the driver’s seat, rather than me.
Chock this up to K2’s “Torsional Control Design,” the Mindbender 108Ti’s rocker profile, or witchcraft, but the Mindbender 108Ti does a really good job of blending stability and forgiveness.
Yes, there are plenty of easier skis out there if you first and foremost want a ski that’s forgiving in bumps and trees (see the “All-Mountain – More Forgiving” section of our Winter Buyer’s Guide). But given how fun and stable it is at speed, I think the Mindbender 108Ti strikes a really nice balance.
Jonathan: I totally agree. I think high intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers should have no problem with the 108Ti in tighter trees. In bumps and trees, this ski feels lighter on my feet than it actually is, I think because it is so willing to pivot. This is not a ski that really requires you to muscle it around — especially given its relative stability.
Sam: “The Mindbender 108Ti does a really good job of blending stability and forgiveness” — Luke Koppa. And also my one-sentence review of this ski.
Mount Point & Stance
Luke: All of the Mindbender skis have pretty traditional mount points. The Mindbender 108Ti’s recommended mount point of -9.75 cm from center puts you pretty far back on the ski, and it does feel like it. But as I just talked about, it’s not a super demanding ski. So for technically proficient skiers that don’t end up in the backseat super often, I think the Mindbender 108Ti’s recommended mount point will feel nice.
On the recommended line, the Mindbender 108Ti felt best when skied with a forward, driving stance. But I could ski it centered when needed, and it wasn’t as punishing as some skis in its class (especially those with equal or better stability) if I did get backseat.
I ended up skiing the Mindbender 108Ti with the bindings mounted +1, +2, and +3 cm in front of the recommended line. As someone who prefers skis with a more balanced feel, I ended up liking the ski best with the bindings at +2 (-7.75 cm from center). Here, I could ski it a bit more centered, it felt slightly more balanced in the air (though still fairly heavy), and I didn’t feel like I lost anything in the way of edge hold, carving performance, etc. At +3, I felt like the Mindbender 108Ti’s tails washed out a bit early while carving, so I wouldn’t recommend mounting it super far in front of the line.
Jonathan: I’ve only been skiing it on the recommended line, and while I don’t suspect that I’d dislike it at +1 or +2, I also haven’t found myself in situations where I wished I was more forward on the ski (e.g., in CB’s plentiful steep and techy terrain, where quick maneuverability is a valuable attribute). So if you’re used to skis with mount points in the -9 to -12 range, I would be very surprised if you didn’t get along with the 108Ti on the recommended line.
Playfulness
Luke: As we’ve mentioned before, playfulness is a complex concept — skis can be “playful” in various ways.
In terms of feeling balanced in the air, poppy, or otherwise eager to spin and flip, the Mindbender 108Ti is not very playful. It’s heavy, has a mount point that leaves you with a lot of tip and little tail, and I’d say it’s more damp than poppy.
But in terms of being able to release the tails into slashes, the Mindbender 108Ti is notably more playful than most straight-up “chargers”. So if those skis have sounded or felt a bit too one-dimensional for you and you like to both carve and slarve your turns, then the Mindbender 108Ti’s level of playfulness might be what you’re looking for. But if freestyle performance is a priority and / or you ski with a neutral / centered stance, then I’d recommend checking out other options in the “All-Mountain Freestyle” section of our Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Jonathan: Yep.
Sam: Agreed. I’ll add that another thing that can make a ski feel playful is energy out of a turn. And, as Luke said, the Mindbender 108Ti is not that poppy. It has a more planted feel and isn’t very balanced in the air. It is pretty loose and happy to slash and break out of turns, but this is not a playful ski in most senses of the term.
Who’s It For?
Because of its combination of forgiveness and stability, we’d be comfortable recommending the Mindbender 108Ti to a very wide range of skiers. We think intermediate skiers with fairly good technique (i.e., you know how to drive the front of a ski) could get along well with it, and it’d be a great ski to grow with as you progress.
But we also think that advanced to expert skiers looking for something that’s quite stable at speed, yet quite manageable when you’re not charging should check out the Mindbender 108Ti. It’s not the most stable ski out there, but it’s not some twitchy deflection machine either. And for a lot of skiers, we think that should make it a very appealing option.
Bottom Line
The K2 Mindbender 108Ti is a versatile ski — both in terms of conditions / terrain as well as the skiers we think will get along with it. It offers good stability in rough snow, floats very well in powder, is a blast to carve on-piste, and does all of this without the demanding / punishing nature of some of the other skis in its class.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive of the Mindbender 108Ti to see how it stacks up against the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume, Folsom Hammer, 4FRNT MSP 107, Black Crows Corvus, Faction Dictator 3.0, Head Kore 105, Moment Commander 108, Nordica Enforcer 110, and J Skis Metal.
The Titanal Y Beam innovation seems like a variation of Volkl’s Titanal Frame concept used on the Mantra M5 where you remove material where you don’t want/need it and the Carbon Spectral Braid (what marketing BS) seems very much like the Carbon Tank Mesh (also marketing BS) from Atomic’s Vantage line which came out a couple of years ago and which Rossi also have on their Experience Line so it’s not exactly ground breaking innovation that we are seeing here.
That’s not to say it doesn’t work but it’s not this amazing new innovative technology which the K2 marketing machine is making it out to be, unlike Renoun’s HDT and Head’s use of Graphene and Koroyd in the Kore skis which are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ski engineering.
Hi, dbq – I guess I’m really not sure what your point is or what your concern here is? But there are a whole lot of assumptions you’re making. I think you’ll hear in my conversation with Jed Yeiser that he makes no claim about some “amazing new innovative technology” — instead, he is talking about how these skis were built, plain and simple. I can also tell you that there is no consensus whatsoever among ski engineers that Head’s use of graphene and Koroyd “are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ski engineering.” As you probably know, our stance on this stuff is that we allow ski companies to talk about the tech they’ve used to build products, but then ultimately, we just go see what that product does on snow. And in the case of K2, I don’t see them talking about how it is simply the tech itself that has somehow changed the game here. Which brings me back to my original question, which is that I’m not really sure what your concern is?
Hi Jonathan
First of all, I have no specific concerns per se with the Blister piece. I was merely making an observation that the tech employed by K2 (which may well be effective) is nothing revolutionary.
To be fair (and I wasn’t clear about this) I had just watched the K2 marketing video bigging up the tech (which is not the subject of your piece) for the new line before I read your piece which may have influenced my comments. To your point, if it works, it works and that’s the important thing.
There may not be consensus among ski engineers about the Kore tech (I am no position to debate that with you so I will accept your statement as fact) but I think Blister’s own testing has concluded (and consistent with my own experience) that the stability and dampness offered is remarkable for skis of that weight and that was my point.
Respectfully yours
K2 acquired the Titanal Ybeam with Karhu, a brant that used the approach with their products (like Karhu 100BC)
I wanna try this skis so bad! :)
I had a few days of demo action this week and wasn’t quite sure that the Rustler was the right ski for me and my ski shop went to the back and grabbed the one pair of K2 Mindbender 108 skis he had. I snapped them up and skied them for a few hours today in some fresh Tahoe snow. It’s the ski I’ve been searching for and I’m excited to get them on some real powder tomorrow morning. So Far on 5″ of fresh snow they were great. Skied some scratchy wind blown stuff, fast smooth runs and dipped in the trees which are still a little bony. Love these skis. Adding to DPS 112, DPS Alchemist and my old beat up Rossignol S3 quiver.
I’m glad I took the leap of faith on a ski I never did a demo day on.
For decades I had K2 written off as a mass market consumer brand. The big ass orange with red flames Seth Morrison with a piezoelectric light was the most recent K2 ski I purchased. It was a GREAT ski while it lasted. The base peeled like an orange and the new generations K2 developed just didn’t look interesting to me. Along with the reputation of skis that wear out sooner rather than later I have just not been curious, until the Mindbender. The splay and sidecut lines look exactly like my preference, well the tip taper may be a bit much but skiing them is the proof in the pudding.
@Julian, have a look at the 99ti. It’s got less tip taper.
I know the K2 reps around here (Colo) are genuinely very excited about these new lines, in a way they haven’t been since the Pettitor, perhaps.
While what I was hoping for was a lighter weight Pettitor (that would let me ski it with my now sometimes suspect knee), this looks good. Very good.
The 108 is the ski I’ll focus on, at least initially. I have liked the Pinnacle 105 with a bit increased base bevel at the tip and tail (more and more playful as this deepens, or as it approaches the contact points tip and tail), but it was not a real breakthrough ski for me – just something fun in between my narrower “old snow” skis and Katanas 112s/Sickle 111s/ON3P Jeffrey 110s and wider Bibbys, etc.
Since one of my best friends is a K2 (somewhat informal) rep in the industry and has been for years, I’m starting to get excited for him, at the very least.
First K2 I’ve seen in a long while that makes me say “hmmmm, interesting”.
As an older dude that skied K2s almost exclusively for about 20 years (XR10 through VO Slaloms and 810 FOs) I’m stoked to see this from them!
What do you think is the main difference between the mindbender 108 and the armada tracer 108? Do you have any advice about mounting point?
I hope that 108ti was not made because such skis as Head Kore 105. It is difficult to have two in one, usually it does not go well. Although if 108ti are at least as good as Marksman, I can’t wait for them :-)
Hope to see a deep dive between this, the Nordica 104 free, and eventually the new ON3P Woodsman.
So is the Mindbender 108Ti a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108?
To me it sounds that first are foremost the Mindbender 108Ti is the more versatile ski. And, obviously, it is much much better option in deep powder. So not exactly a direct replacement.
What’s your take on the mixed laminate/ cap construction? I was a bit disappointed the new Mindbender series isn’t full sidewall. Leaning toward the Enforcers series now.
to the best of my knowledge it is true full vertical sidewall with a rounded cap over the topsheet edges except underfoot where it is true vertical (well, angled vertical, if you will) up to a squared edge at the topsheet.
this is not like the old Annex or Sidestash or Hardside or Darkside etc with the “hybritech” sidewalls that were vertical sidewalls extending from underfoot then transitioned to true cap sidewalls nearer to tips and tails.
Sounding better the more I read. Seems like pretty minimal tail rocker. That goes in my personal “plus” column.
Hoping the 116 has a similar profile.
I am 62, 5′ 7″ and weigh 160. My main skis are174 k2 sidestash and 174 moment wildcat. The sidestashes seems the right length but the wildcats seems short. I ski a lot of tight trees but also like to rip gs turns in chop and variable snow. Would you recommend the 172 or 179 length?
$800 for K2 built in China ski, that will probably last 1or 2 seasons before falling apart. No Thanks, I’ll spend my money on a Moment or ON3P that I can get 300+ days on
I skied this ski now for 10+ days in BC/Revelstoke and North East. Love it. I’m gonna ditch my 116-118mm wide skis and just ski this one all around at the resorts outwest on pow or firm days. When it gets really deep or if I’m going for the backcountry powder I’ll ski my 125mm/1800g Pescados with Shift bindings.
I was looking for a two ski quiver for a couple of years and think I finally found it with Mindbender 108.
I do have additional ~88mm skis for east coast and 109 Volkl BMT for bigger days in the backcountry or ski mountaineering goals.
Hope someone finds this useful as it took me quite a lot of buying and selling gear to figure out the perfect combo so I can stop thinking about skis and actually enjoy skiing. Jonathan helped a lot with his recommendations, especially figuring out Pescados for me ;)
Also I mounted them at first at +1 and hated it. Almost threw it into the trash :). Remounted next day at the recommended line and they were perfect. I’m on 186cm ski.
Nothing to the ski here, but would you happen to have a high-res of the first photo? I totally want that as a wallpaper! If Sam agrees of course :)
One interesting observation is the 108 has a tip of 136 and the 99 has a tip of 138. Hence the much shorter turn radius for the 99
How does this ski stack up to the Atomic Vantage 107ti? Are they comparable? Or do they have big differences? I really like both skis but I’m torn on which would be better for me. Thanks guys!
Can you define dynamic style?
When we talk about a “dynamic” or “active” style, we’re basically talking about skiing with more finesse than brute force. A “dynamic” style typically means you ski “lighter on your feet” — rather than skiing straight through rough snow, you tend to find lines that let you avoid big impacts by making lots of quick adjustments mid-line. You tend to get your skis in the air often, whether that be on jumps or just when skiing through variable terrain (e.g., moguls, trees, steeps).
A less dynamic style will often mean you tend to keep your skis planted on the snow and won’t be making as many minute, quick adjustments.
As a result, people who do not ski very dynamically tend to generally prefer heavier skis that do a better job of blasting through everything and muting out harsh impacts.
Dynamic / active skiers tend to prefer skis with more energy, and skis that are often a bit lighter since they make it easier to make quick adjustments. And if you’re skiing with an active style, you won’t need a ski that’s quite as damp, stable, and heavy.
Really enjoy the detail and information in this review. Thanks! I’m 5’8″ – 160 and live/ski in Utah. That looks similar to Luke’s body type. Was this review based on the 186 length for all skiers? I’m coming off a 178 cm twin tip ski and mainly focus on skiing off piste. I’ve been planning to order the 179 length as that was the closest size to my previous skis, but but I’ve been used to a ski with more tail rocker than the K2 Mindbender 108. Do you have any insight into whether there would still be enough flotation and stability in a 172? I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but an advanced skier. If you could clarify whether each person tested the 186 skis or if you were on different lengths, that would help. Thanks!
Yep, everyone at Blister spent time on the 186 cm. For all of our reviews, the length that we list at the top is the length that all of the reviewers skied. For some skis, we’re able to try multiple lengths, in which case we will note that at the top of the review. Despite not having a twinned tail, the Mindbender 108Ti is not very difficult at all to pivot and slide, and I wouldn’t say that it feels particularly long for its actual length.
Hey Luke- very helpful. From Maine but do most skiing in Utah, closer and well…more snow.
I’ve been demoing most of m last trips out but will be getting more than 10 days this season and will be buying in the next 2 weeks.
Love to get off piste but have a more Northeast style/ stance. I like to carve big turns when back on the mountain but will be searching for fresh tracks whenever possible. So far the Rustler 10 has been the go to but the 108ti is on the radar. Realize you’ve mentioned the Cochise in this article but hoping you could give me a quick comparison and preference on sizing. 46 YO, 6’1”, 190lbs, expert. Thanks!
Anyone have time on the 193? I ski the 192 rustler as my dd looking to add a the 108ti to my quiver. I still want to be able to spin and flip with it…not sure about 186 or 193?!
We haven’t had anyone on the 193, but my initial thought is to go with the 186. The Rustlers measure shorter than the Mindbenders in their respective lengths, and combined with the heavier weight of the Mindbender and decreased tail rocker, I think the 186 would probably feel similar to the 192 cm Rustler, while the 193 cm Mindbender would probably feel significantly longer and more sluggish (particularly if you want to throw tricks). Hopefully someone who’s been on the 193 cm Mindbender 108 can chime in though.
Okay thanks Luke. I am a pretty big guy 6 foot in boots, 210 pounds w/ gear. Come from a racing backgorund but have been competing in a few FWQs. I still prefer a dynamic and playful style when appropriate! But still like to be able to pin it when I can/have too. Just wondering if the 186 will be enough ski when I want it to be.
Yeah, that’s a tough call. What skis did you use before the 192 Rustler 11? I’m still leaning toward recommending the 186 due to the weight, measured length, and more directional shape & mount point of the Mindbender, and the fact that Jonathan (who’s bigger than me at 5’10” ~180 lbs) liked the 186.
6’ with ski boots and 210 pounds with gear FYI
Thanks Luke, I had the rustler 11 188 and got a pair of 192s after. Really glad about that decision. 192 R11 will still be my big day, day after a storm ski.
Sorry for the delay — been trying to find some people who have skied the 193. Still haven’t found anyone, but I think it really comes down to whether you place a higher priority on stability at speed or maneuverability / playfulness. I think I’m still leaning 186 since it’ll still be notably more damp and stable vs. the 188 cm Rustler 11 without being much more sluggish, but I think the 193 could work if you want this ski to be more of a charger and then you could let your Rustler 11 be your more playful ski.
Thanks Luke, any word on the 193 108ti….?
Doesn’t look like we’ll be getting on it any time soon, unfortunately, but we’ll update this post if / when that happens.
>”There are a few skis on the market that encourage more of a “destroy the mountain” mentality than the Mindbender 108Ti, but I think most skiers will find this ski to be very stable in chop.”
What skis would they be? WOuld the Bibby be one?
Just a heads up that I pulled the trigger on a pair of these in 186. Short review: First resort powder ski that I’ve ever loved. Thanks for pointing me at this ski here, and in the buyers guide.
Caveat: With only four full days on them, the tips are chipping a lot. More than my oldest skis (Hell and Backs @ ~ 200 days). It probably doesn’t really matter, but with the yellow top sheet and black underlayer, it really stands out.
I’m going to see what K2 has to say, and will post back here. The seller wasn’t much help, and recommended NOT sending them back to K2 for warranty consideration, since they thought it would be denied. This flies in the face of every interaction I’ve ever had with K2, and I skied on them almost exclusively from 1968 through 1990.
Stay tuned.
Following up my comment above, neither K2 or the seller (Ski Essentials) is interested in doing anything about the topsheets chipping badly if you even look at them sideways. In fact, after four days of skiing, K2’s response included reference to my “misuse and lack of care for the skis”, and went on to recommend that I “bring the skis in for maintenance epoxy and sealing at a local ski shop to avoid further damage and moisture getting in between and creating advanced wear”.
Again, after four days. Back to Nordica, Head and Fischer for me, I guess. Nothing I’ve got in the garage, including the above-mentioned 200-day old Hell and Backs, looks 20% as bad as these do.
To be fair, I’ll post this quick update: Last spring, in March 2021, a new pair of these just, well, showed up. Thanks K2 and Ski Essentials!
hey, do you think that this would be a good 50/50 ski? im looking to put shifts on it but im not to sure if this would be good for touring.
Very interested in this ski and love your reviews, but I have a question. Looking at the flex pattern published for the 186cm length in this article for the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti, it looks like the tail goes from a 7.5 rating to an 8 at the very tip. This struck me as unusual as most skis flex patterns published here (beginning at the tip and ending at the tail) ramp down from the heel towards the tail ending at a lower rating at the very end. Is your pattern correct as shown? Does the tail suddenly get stiffer at the very end or are the numbers transposed? There was no mention of this phenomenon in the description. If the tail flex pattern is correct, what is the purpose of having a stiffer tail end?
I wouldn’t read into it too much — it’s not totally out of the ordinary, and the “8” at the very end of the tail is only in reference to the last few cm’s of the ski (i.e., an area that you’d rarely actually be pressuring while skiing, due to the ski’s rockered tail). Some skis flex slightly stiffer at the very end, while others flex softer, but in general, I’d pay much closer attention to what we say in our full review, rather than a point (or half-point) difference in our flex pattern numbers for a particular part of the ski.
Hi I ski a 169 and love the sound of these have a misbehaved at the moment so how do they compare with the women’s 107 Mindbender as don’t make this short enough for me
Hi! Do you have any early thoughts on the updates on the 2023 Mindbender 108 Ti? (supposedly have slightly more metal, 100g more weight, and a bit more tail rocker?)
Hey Blister folks :)
1) How will the Mindbender 108Ti perform in terms of jumping 1-3meters clifs, rocks, wind effected entrances?
2) I understand that popping may not be the thing on this skis, but how are the landings?
3) Playfulness isn’t the thing here but did you find it fun to jump from here or there around the piste and in the chopped snow?
Everything else sounds perfect here :)
Im planning to purchase a set of these in the upcoming days. I am leaving a 2014 pair of 179cm volkl bridge twin tips, and looking for something that will do everything. Preferring to play in fresh snow, in trees, bumps and bowls, but also rip groomers when needed.
Im 5’10” and 195lbs intermediate / advanced skier – I demoed a set of these in the 186 variety, which I liked, but wasnt able to get into bumps and trees with them and wasnt able to try the shorter 179 version. Just curious which one you think would suit me best?
Thanks!
Hello, I am looking to upgrade from old 179cm volkl bridge twin tips that are rocker/flat/rocker, to the mindbender 108 ti. I am 5’10’ advanced intermediate and enjoy playing all over the mountain. I was able to demo the 108ti in the 186 length – which I enjoyed, but didnt have an opportunity to get into the trees or mess around in any bumps and also wasnt able to test a set of the 179s. I am curious if you think I should stick to the same length as my previous ski, or increase to the 186s? Any thoughts are much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
anyword how this compares to the armada declivity 108?