Ski: 2021-2022 K2 Reckoner 102, 184 cm
Test Location: Crested Butte, Colorado
Days Skied: 11
Available Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 184.1 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1896 & 1942 grams
Stated Dimensions: 134-102-127 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 133.3-101.6-126.4 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (184 cm): 19.3 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 58 mm / 51 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 5.5 mm
Core: aspen/fir + carbon stringers & “Spectral Braid” + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point:
- “Midsole”: -4.25 cm from center; 87.8 cm from tail
- “Team”: -2.15 cm from center; 89.9 cm from tail
Boots: Dalbello Lupo Pro HD, Nordica Strider 120, Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130
Bindings: Tyrolia AAAttack2 13 AT
[Note: our review was conducted on the 20/21 Reckoner 102, which was not changed for 21/22, apart from graphics.]
Intro
As the narrowest ski in K2’s 20/21 Reckoner collection, the Reckoner 102 slots into a crowded, but often quite versatile category of ~100mm-wide, playful all-mountain skis.
Along with the Reckoner 112 and Reckoner 122, the Reckoner 102 represents a new (and pretty different) direction for K2’s freestyle skis, and we’re quite excited about the whole collection.
I spent several days on the Reckoner 102 at Crested Butte and you can check out the full review below, but first, we’ll take a closer look at the Reckoner 102’s design:
What K2 says about the Reckoner 102
“From deep pow to the park and everywhere in between, the Reckoner 102 heeds the call. So whether you’re whipping cork threes off cattracks or pivoting through tight East Coast trees, the Reckoner 102 will treat you right. Mash, bash, and float. Jump, bounce, and charge. It’s the ski you need. Like, actually need.”
I’ve been reading a lot of ski descriptions lately and it’s making me realize how similar most of them are. Apparently, every ski is supposed to do everything well, including the Reckoner 102. And apparently, you “actually need” the Reckoner 102.
Anyway, this isn’t a jab at K2’s marketing in particular, more just my mind going a bit numb after reading too many ski descriptions. But we’ll certainly be using the Reckoner 102 in a wide range of conditions to really see how warranted K2’s claims are regarding the versatility of this ski.
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Reckoner 102 has a fairly traditional shape and, interestingly, it’s even slightly less tapered than the 96mm-wide K2 Poacher.
Overall, the Reckoner 102’s shape is fairly similar to the Moment PB&J and Prior Northwest 100, though the PB&J is a bit more tapered. And then there are skis like the Fauna Pioneer and Faction Prodigy 3.0, which are much more tapered than the Reckoner 102.
Conversely, the Reckoner 102 has pretty deep rocker lines for a ski of its width. The tip and tail rise are pretty subtle / low-slung until the ends of the ski, but the rocker lines themselves are pretty deep, particularly compared to something like the Armada Edollo, Fischer Ranger 102 FR (at least in the tail), and Line Blend. The Reckoner 102 still has a notable amount of camber underfoot, and its rocker profile is nearly symmetrical.
All in all, I like this design; the subtle tip and tail taper and low-slung rocker lines seem like they’ll offer lots of edge-length to engage when tipped over, but the rocker lines are still pretty deep and that usually equates to a surfier ski that’s easy to pivot.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Reckoner 102:
Tips: 5.5-6
Shovels: 6-6.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 7-9
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9-7
Tails: 6.5-6
This is not a stiff ski. The Reckoner 102 starts quite soft at the tips, there’s a slow (but smooth) increase in stiffness as you move to the middle, the underfoot section is nice and strong, and then there’s another slow and smooth ramp-down in stiffness as you move the tail. The flex pattern of the Reckoner 102 is quite round / symmetrical, with a very subtle difference between the tips and tails.
The Reckoner 102 is much softer than the Moment PB&J, ON3P Magnus 102, and Faction Prodigy 3.0, but not as soft as the Line Blend. The Reckoner 102 is the softest of the three Reckoners that we’ve flexed, with the Reckoner 112 and 122 having stiffer tips and tails and flex patterns that ramp-up quicker near the middle of the ski.
Mount Point
Like the other Reckoners, the Reckoner 102 came with two mount points: “midsole” and “team.”
The “midsole” line is around -4.2 cm from true center, while the “team” line is around -2.1 cm from true center.
As with the other Reckoners, both of the Reckoner 102’s mount points are quite close to center, and far from traditional.
Weight
The Reckoner 102 is a fairly light ski, but looking at today’s market, it’s weight isn’t anything super out of the ordinary (particularly for a playful ski).
At an average weight of 1919 grams per ski for the 184 cm version, the Reckoner 102 is much lighter than the Faction Prodigy 3.0, ON3P Magnus 102, K2 Marksman, Dynastar Menace 98, and Nordica Soul Rider 97, but it’s similar compared to the Moment PB&J and Prior Northwest 100.
For reference, here are our measured weights for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to keep things apples to apples.
1787 & 1793 Fauna Pioneer, 184 cm (19/20)
1806 & 1862 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (19/20–20/21)
1848 & 1903 Line Sick Day 104, 186 cm (17/18–20/21)
1849 & 1922 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
1875 & 1881 Line Sir Francis Bacon, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
1896 & 1942 K2 Reckoner 102, 184 cm (20/21)
1903 & 1912 Moment PB&J, 188 cm (19/20)
2002 & 2014 J Skis Allplay, 184 cm (16/17–20/21)
2005 & 2035 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
2006 & 2065 Head Kore 105, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2011 & 2028 Moment Wildcat 108, 184 cm (19/20)
2019 & 2022 Rossignol BLACKOPS Holyshred, 182 cm (18/19–20/21)
2027 & 2052 K2 Reckoner 112, 184 cm (20/21)
2030 & 2039 Rossignol Soul 7 HD, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2049 & 2053 Whitedot Altum 104, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
2067 & 2074 Line Blend, 185 cm (15/16–19/20)
2079 & 2105 Kastle FX106 HP, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2080 & 2089 Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm (17/18–19/20)
2089 & 2105 Nordica Soul Rider 97, 185 cm (12/13–20/21)
2097 & 2113 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2101 & 2104 Fischer Ranger 102 FR, 184 cm (18/19–20/21)
2111 & 2125 J Skis Vacation, 186 cm (18/19–20/21)
2113 & 2140 Armada ARV 106, 188 cm (18/19–19/20)
2120 & 2134 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (19/20–20/21)
2126 & 2136 ON3P Magnus 102, 186 cm (18/19–19/20)
2133 & 2134 Faction Prodigy 3.0, 183 cm (18/19–19/20)
2144 & 2153 K2 Marksman, 184 cm (16/17–19/20)
2165 & 2219 Icelantic Nomad 105, 191 cm (19/20–20/21)
2170 & 2180 Dynastar M-Free 108, 182 cm (20/21)
2190 & 2268 Armada ARV 106Ti LTD, 188 cm (18/19–19/20)
2202 & 2209 Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, 186 cm (19/20)
2221 & 2245 ON3P Jeffrey 108, 186 cm (18/19–19/20)
2222 & 2229 Dynastar Menace 98, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
2232 & 2244 ON3P Woodsman 108, 187 cm (19/20)
2233 & 2255 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm (19/20–20/21)
2318 & 2341 J Skis The Metal, 186 cm (16/17–19/20)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) Given its low weight and softer flex pattern, how stable will the Reckoner 102 be at higher speeds and more variable snow?
(2) K2 is certainly emphasizing the Reckoner 102’s versatility, so just how well will it handle everything from pow to the park?
(3) The Reckoner 102’s design looks pretty freestyle oriented, but should some directional skiers be considering it as a more playful, all-mountain option?
Bottom Line (For Now)
On paper, the new K2 Reckoner 102 looks like it’ll be a very playful ski, and it looks like it has the potential to be pretty versatile. Blister Members can check out our initial on-snow impressions in our Flash Review linked below, then stay tuned for the full review.
Flash Review
Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Reckoner 102 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
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs): As I discussed on episode 90 of our GEAR:30 podcast, the Reckoner 102 became my favorite ski of K2’s overhauled, 20/21 all-mountain-freestyle collection. While it certainly isn’t a ski for everyone, the Reckoner 102 offers a very distinctive, genuinely different ride than a lot of the skis on the market, and I think that could make it really appealing to certain skiers.
Powder
Depending on where you ski, your ~102mm-wide ski could be your dedicated pow ski or one that you only break out on shallow / firm days. Regardless, if you end up skiing your 102mm-wide skis in some pow, it’s worth noting that, for its width, the Reckoner 102 is pretty great in deeper, softer snow.
I think the Reckoner 102’s fairly fat and quite soft shovels and tails are a big part of how this ski performs across all conditions, and I think they help a lot in fresh snow. The Reckoner 102 encourages a pretty centered stance across the board, so as long as that works with your skiing style, I think you’ll be happy with its flotation. In the ~10” of snow I got it in at Crested Butte, I had zero problems making “bouncy,” short turns with my weight centered around the middle of the ski, and could feel the softer ends of the ski bending and rising up with each turn.
The Reckoner 102 isn’t as surfy and super easy to throw sideways in deep snow as its wider, more tapered, and more rockered siblings, the Reckoner 112 and Reckoner 122. But few 102mm-wide skis are and I had zero complaints in the surfiness department given the Reckoner 102’s “do-everything” design intent.
Just for kicks, I decided to totally disregard all the hard work K2’s engineers had put into deliberately making the Reckoner 102 a freestyle-oriented design, and attempted to ski it with a directional style with a lot of pressure on the shovels. In deep snow, that doesn’t work super well, and even at 5’8” and 155 lbs, I could get its tips to dive in 10” of snow if I really laid into the shovels. But that’s not what this ski was made for (and that same forward stance was less of an issue in other conditions).
All in all, I have no complaints about how the Reckoner 102 handles deeper snow, given that it’s a 102mm-wide, freestyle-oriented ski.
Soft Chop & Slush
I absolutely love skiing the Reckoner 102 in soft, yet somewhat bumpy / inconsistent conditions like the day after a ~6” storm or the end of a hot, slushy spring day. And if you like really playful skis, there’s a good chance you will, too.
It’s not as noticeable in deeper snow (where most skis can feel “playful” in some regard), but the Reckoner 102’s exceptionally playful overall ride really shines and becomes clear in these soft, shallow conditions. Unlike a ski like the Line Sir Francis Bacon (likely the most “playful” ski I’ve ever been on), the Reckoner 102 doesn’t have any super obvious design characteristics that you’d think make it so playful, but it just is.
The reasons I’m talking up the Reckoner 102’s playfulness in this section are (1) simply because it’s a defining characteristic of the ski and (2) it’s ridiculously fun to take advantage of that in softer, yet-not-super-deep conditions.
So, what does that actually translate to on snow? For one, the Reckoner 102 is incredibly easy to get airborne. I could see much heavier skiers feeling like they don’t get quite as much rebound / energy out of the 184 cm Reckoner 102 as I do, but to me, it feels very lively. And the cool thing is that I can just as easily bend, load, and launch it off little slush bumps at slow speeds as I can bigger hits at higher speeds. Soft chop and slush basically transform the mountain into a terrain park, thanks to all the piles of pushed-around snow, and the Reckoner 102 is awesome for jumping off every single one.
The Reckoner 102 also offers a really fun blend of carving performance and easy maneuverability, and it’s a more equal / balanced blend than the wider Reckoners. I’ve become a fan of skis with deep, yet low-slung rocker lines and the Reckoner 102 reinforced that. It’s really easy to lay over on edge and crank out Slalom to GS turns from a centered or somewhat forward stance, and creates lots of pop coming out of a turn. But with less edge pressure and a more centered stance, it’s super easy to throw sideways, even in fairly deep slush and soft chop. I like to carve, I like to do silly slashes, and the Reckoner 102 likes to do both.
Now, one of the big questions for me when checking out the Reckoner 102 was how stable it’d feel, given how soft and fairly lightweight it is. But throughout all my time on it, I was continually impressed by how hard I could ski this thing.
That said, there are some important caveats here. First and foremost is your skiing style. If you like to really lay into the shovels of your skis when skiing at high speeds (especially if you’re a lot heavier than me at 155 lbs), you’ll find the Reckoner 102 to be less stable. Or, if you know you like stiff and / or heavy skis that have the strength and mass to just blow through patches of snow, the Reckoner 102 doesn’t offer the same sort of stability.
But the reason I think I could ski much harder and faster on the Reckoner 102 than I expected was because its overall design just feels so cohesive. Some skis out there feel like there’s one aspect of their shape or flex or rocker profile or something else that just seems a bit out of place vs. the rest of the design. Not so with the Reckoner 102. Everything about this ski feels like it’s working toward the same goal: providing a super playful, super predictable ride in a variety of conditions.
What all of that equated to when skiing fast in soft chop and slush was a ski that never randomly folded up on me and never got knocked around more than I expected. From the first few turns, I felt like I knew exactly what the Reckoner 102 was going to do at a variety of speeds, and that predictability was a huge part of why I could ski it quite hard.
Rather than blowing through patches of pushed-around snow, the Reckoner 102’s shovels would bend up and over them, all while very rarely throwing me off balance. I could go fast and make big turns in consistent conditions and then instantly slam it sideways into a soft pile fo snow, shed some speed, and feel the Reckoner 102 predictably bending around my boot.
Again, the Reckoner 102 isn’t a ski for those who place high-speed stability at the top of their priority list, but if you’re mostly interested in how playful it is and ski in a way where you can take advantage of that (i.e., pretty centered, constantly looking to get in the air), you’ll be able to ski it hard.
Groomers
As I hinted to above, I really like how the Reckoner 102 carves. While it unsurprisingly isn’t as super loose and surfy as the wider Reckoners, the 102 is far and away my favorite carver of the group (again, no surprise there).
The Reckoner 102 is easy to get on edge (even at pretty slow speeds), I can bend it into very tight turns or open it up into longer ones, and it pops me out of a high-edge-angle turn with lots of energy. At the same time, it’s nearly effortless to feather and scrub turns on the Reckoner 102, which is great when the skier in front of you decides that they really want to see what the snow is like all the way on the other side of the run, like, right now.
In terms of edge hold, I’d say the Reckoner 102 is pretty average for its class. I found myself having to ski it a bit more centered / without as much pressure on the shovels on super firm groomers as those soft shovels and tails can wash out a bit on really firm snow when you really bend them, but I really don’t have any complaints about its edge hold given that it’s a 102mm-wide freestyle ski.
It’s also worth noting that, the firmer and shallower the snow, the more I felt like I could drive the shovels of the Reckoner 102. It certainly doesn’t carve like a directional ski with a mount point of, say, -8 cm or farther back from center, but I could drive the front of the Reckoner 102 just about as much as I would personally want on firm snow (again, I’m 5’8”, 155 lbs and don’t typically find myself complaining about skis being way too soft). The nice thing is that you don’t need to be skiing it in a directional style to have fun on groomers since the Reckoner 102 is easy to bend and lay over with just a tiny bit of pressure on the front of your boots.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
Once again, I’m a big fan. That same versatility I mentioned above regarding the Reckoner 102’s ability to both carve and slarve is a big plus when the terrain gets tighter.
The Reckoner 102 dug in and held an edge in firm bumps when I needed it to, but I also never found myself feeling like its tails were too difficult to release and slide. This is not a ski that encourages a super forward, try-to-snap-your-shovels-in-each-trough style of skiing bumps. But the Reckoner 102 is really easy to ski in tight spots, it’s very forgiving of backseat skiing, and I never felt like it was holding me back from skiing bumps and trees as fast as I wanted from a fairly neutral stance.
Oh, and it’s great for doubling-up moguls and gapping the troughs, in part because it’s so poppy, and in part because it has a huge sweet spot. That’s particularly nice for me because, when I decide to try to link some gaps in between bumps, I’m usually disproportionately focused on the takeoff, with little consideration paid to how I’m actually going to land. The Reckoner 102 has let me get away with a lot of silly stuff.
Firm, Variable Snow
Like many softer, lighter skis, the Reckoner 102 feels most out of place in really nasty, firm, bumpy snow.
That said, very few skis feel amazing in refrozen, rock-hard, truly awful “snow,” and on anything softer than that, I still had a pretty good time skiing the Reckoner 102. It was very easy to slide and slash my way through rough snow at a moderate speed, predictably bending at the ends and doing a very good job of absorbing the spine-disassembling chatter for how light it is.
I think the Reckoner 102’s suspension is quite good for its weight, some of which could be due to the ski’s core construction, but a lot of which I think simply comes down to the fact that it’s not super stiff. I could feel and see the Reckoner 102 bending and conforming to the snow under my feet, as opposed to a similarly light and super stiff ski that tend to bounce off all of it.
It should come as no surprise, given what I’ve written above, that the Reckoner 102 doesn’t encourage super fast, aggressive skiing when the conditions are on the “Why I am I skiing today?” end of the spectrum. But it’s very predictable and not scary in these conditions, and unlike skis that do excel in this scenario, the Reckoner 102 is really fun and easy to ski at slower speeds, or when you can find that one feature left on the mountain with a smooth runout.
Playfulness / Park / Freestyle
I’ve never been great in the park, and the things I like to jump off tend to be scattered around the mountain, not between the fences of the stunt ditch. We’re hoping to have reviewer Sam Shaheen add his thoughts on the Reckoner 102’s rail, big-jump, and buttering capabilities next season, but I can talk about how it works for everything else.
As I’ve reiterated many times, the Reckoner 102 is an exceptionally “playful” ski in basically every interpretation of that word.
It’s very poppy, it’s got a low swing weight, it feels totally balanced in the air to me, it’s super easy to bend and butter, it encourages a centered stance, and it requires very little effort to throw it sideways.
There are some more tapered, more rockered skis in this width that are surfier / looser than the Reckoner 102, but that was only really noticeable to me in deeper snow. And while the Reckoner 102’s tips and tails aren’t super tapered, I didn’t find myself catching an edge more often than normal when I under- or over-rotated a spin.
I still suck at butters, but the Reckoner 102 was a great ski for practicing them. Its soft tips and tails are easy to bend but I never felt like I hit a “hinge point” while bending the ski, which made for a predictable flex throughout the ski. I do think some larger skiers, or those used to buttering stiff skis (e.g., ON3P Magnus 102), may find the Reckoner 102 too easy to bend or that it doesn’t provide enough rebound, but I can say it’s great for butter newbs like me.
I think one of the biggest things to consider if you want to throw tricks on the Reckoner 102 is how much you typically rely on the stiffness of your skis on landings. Personally, I never had a major issue with a lack of support from the Reckoner 102’s front or back half during off-balance landings. As long as I wasn’t landing extremely far forward or backseat, I was able to ride it out on the Reckoner 102. But if you’ve gotten used to stiff skis and how they can let you get away with sketchy landings, this will be something to keep in mind, particularly on bigger airs and landings in deeper snow.
Mount Point
I skied the Reckoner 102 at several different mount points, but I haven’t highlighted that up to this point because the ski didn’t feel drastically different whether it was mounted on the “team” line (-2.1 cm from true center), the “midsole” line (-4.2 cm from true center), or a cm behind the midsole line (-5.2 cm from true center).
Those different mount points came with the usual trade-offs — the Reckoner 102 felt most balanced and a touch more supportive behind the bindings on the “team” line, while I could drive its shovels a little bit more when it was mounted near or a cm behind the “midsole” line. Changing the mount point didn’t dramatically change how I could ski the Reckoner 102, but the main point is that it felt great when skied on all three of those mount points, so you can just pick the one that aligns with your style and the skis you’ve spent time on.
Who’s It For?
Beginner through expert skiers who are looking for a versatile, ~100mm-wide all-mountain ski and who particularly want something that’s really playful.
If you know you love directional skis with rearward mount points, heavy constructions, and / or stiff flex patterns — and you want your ~100mm-wide ski to let you ski it similarly to those skis — the Reckoner 102 isn’t for you. And if you want a freestyle ski that’s very strong and stable at high speeds, you’ve got better options.
But if you know you like playful, softer skis that make lower speeds and smaller features really fun, the Reckoner 102 should be on your list. At the same time, I think the Reckoner 102 would make for a great addition to a quiver if you’ve already got stronger, more stable skis and you want to add one that is a lot more playful and more fun on days when you’re not looking to destroy everything in your path.
The Reckoner 102 makes the most sense for people who are accustomed to more center-mounted skis and the more neutral stance they encourage. But (when mounted around -4 or -5 cm from true center) it can also work for skiers coming from more directional skis, provided that they accept that they’ll have to make some adjustments to their skiing style.
The Reckoner 102 feels comfortable across most conditions and terrain, so it could be a great one-ski quiver if you like the sound of what I’ve described in this review. And personally, it’s high on the list of my favorite spring skis of all time.
Bottom Line
The K2 Reckoner 102 is a ski where all of its design elements just make sense and work really well with each other to create an extremely playful, predictable, and surprisingly versatile ski. It’s far from the most stable ski out there, but its ability to make slower speeds fun will make up for that for a lot of people. And at the same time, once those skiers get used to it, they’ll likely be surprised by how hard they can push it.
There are a lot of skis out there that are quite good at a lot of things but that consequently don’t stand out in a really particular aspect. The ultra-playful Reckoner 102 is a refreshing change of pace.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Reckoner 102 to see how it compares to the Reckoner 112, K2 Marksman, Line Sir Francis Bacon, Moment PB&J, Prior Northwest 100, ON3P Jeffrey 108, ON3P Magnus 102, Whitedot Altum 104, Fischer Ranger 102 FR, Dynastar M-Free 108, Faction Prodigy 3.0, Sego Big Horn 106, Nordica Soul Rider 97, Fauna Pioneer, Rossignol BLACKOPS Holyshred, Line Sakana, & Blizzard Rustler 10.
The Reckoner 102 vs. Revolt 104 comparison is going to be gooooood.
interesting blend of the marksmen/catamaran and new mindbender series.
this could be an awesome “need one ski to do everything” set up.
“The Reckoner 102 vs. Revolt 104 comparison is going to be gooooood.”
I’ve skied both. The Revolt 104 is more stable, very similar to the old Gotama. Loved it! Reckoner is lighter and a bit softer.
how does this compare to the shreditor 102 from a few years ago
Unfortunately, that’s one of the skis that I was never able to get on before it was discontinued, though I really wanted to because I bet I would’ve really liked it. That said, based on what our reviewer Jason Hutchins said about the Shreditor 102 in his review of it, I think I can make some safe assumptions.
I’m confident that the Shreditor 102 is notably more stable than the Reckoner 102, while the Reckoner 102 has a much lower swing weight and is more nimble overall. I’m confident that the Reckoner 102 carves better, especially for shorter turns, while the Shreditor 102 is better for making longer turns through choppy conditions. The Shreditor 102 likely floats better, while the Reckoner 102 is likely better in terms of edge hold. Overall, the Reckoner 102 seems like a more playful, quicker ski while the Shreditor 102 is more stable and damp.
These vs Atomic Bent Chetler 100’s for all-mountain skiing (mostly groomers) like in Big Sky MT?
I LOVE my older Shredditor 102’s as a Telemark ski that I patrol on. They rip Alpine turns on groomers on all but the firmest snow and are super easy to release to smear and scrub speed. They are solid and playful at the same time, and perfect for pow days and everything except bullet-proof conditions (did I mention I’m in VT?). Do you recommend the Reckoner 102 as a replacement or think another ski for a similar balance of fun and stability based on your comments above? Always looking for ideas!
Great review, thanks for it guys. Now, after reading, I want to buy a pair. Need a “one-skis-to-rule-the-world” to replace my heavy Poachers for a next seasons, and this looks like a good choice for me.
Just got a pair of the Reckoner 102, and was wondering if I should detune the tips and tails..edges are pretty sharp.
I’d at least ski it for a day or two before detuning. I didn’t do any detuning on our test pair and loved the factory tune.
Thank you, will do that.
Sup Luke, wanted to say I really liked the way you describe how you ski moguls, as that’s my style as well— jumping over the troughs and off the moguls whenever I can, ie not skiing moguls very “traditionally” and just having fun with em.
I’m currently on Armada ARV 106s and am looking for something more flexy and fun for this type of mogul/tree skiing. Sounds like you really liked these Reckoners for that— would you recommend them over the Volkl Revolt 104s? How about the J Skis Vacation?
Thanks! Love your reviews
I’m a little bigger than you at about 5’10 170/175 I really want to use this as a 50/50 park all mountain ski. I’m stuck between the 177 and 184 my old park skis are really old ARV 87 (fully cambered) 177 and I like that length a lot but obviously they are a little different as they have no rocker at all. Thoughts?
Hmm, I think I’d lean 184 for the Reckoner 102. Coming off the ARV 87, I imagine the 177 Reckoner would feel pretty soft and short to you. It could work if you really wanted to maximize playfulness, but especially for a park / all-mountain ski, I’d lean toward the 184.
How would it compare to the menace 98 (my current ski)?
Check out our Deep Dive of the Reckoner 102: https://blisterreview.com/deep-dive/deep-dive-k2-reckoner-102
In there we compare it to the Menace 98 and Nordica Soul Rider 97 (which share a lot in common), as well as a bunch of other skis in roughly the same class.
Long story short though, the Menace 98 is a bit like a stronger, more damp, more stable, more directional Reckoner 102. The Menace can be driven harder through the shovels, gets knocked around less at speed, and carves a bit better, while the Reckoner 102 has a lighter swing weight, is easier to slash around, easier to bend, and generally feels more playful in most regards.
Hey Luke,
I am looking to replace my K2 Kung Fujas, and it seems that the Reckoner is pretty similar (dimensions are almost identical). Just wondering if you had ever skied the Kung Fujas before and what you would say about the comparison of the two. I absolutely love the Kung Fujas, but it is time for a new ski.
Thanks,
Sean
I am 5’9” and weigh 130 lbs. I’ve been reading up on skis and have found this one might be for me. I’m not sure what length 170 or 177 cm. I like to do everything on the mountain. I like trees, moguls long black runs (international) and some double blacks. Would this be a good ski for that and what size would be best?
Also I have never bought a pair of skis. So this would be my one and only pair.
I have a pair of bentchetler 120s, and love how nimble and playful they are. Looking for something that is similarly nible, but less wide. What do you think of the reckoner as such a ski?
Delaminated and total fail in less than one year. Performance was good while they lasted, but I can not recommend.
Spot on review!
One of my absolute favorite skis.
Own 170cm version as jibby park ski and 177cm as 1-ski-quiver for trips.
Smaller and older than Luke ie. tiny old fart and tend to like similar skis than Luke.
Thanks Luke! These skis sound like a blast! My current quiver is a pair of Nordica Unleashed 98s and a pair of Dynastar MFree 108’s. I am considering adding these to my quiver as a fun/playful lightweight ski that I could use when there isn’t much fresh snow, but when it’s also not hardpack (that’s when I use my Nordica’s). Based on your review, these sound like a perfect compliment to my Nordica Unleashed 98’s that are a little bit heavier & more chargey.
Given that I’d really be using these as an all-mtn jibbing & playful ski, do you think I should go for the 177cm length, or the 184cm length? For background, I’m 5’9 and 155lbs.
Thanks!
Sounds like the Reckoner 102 would be a great fit for what you’re describing. If you’re on the 180 cm Unleashed 98 and that feels like the pretty ideal length, then the 177 cm Reckoner 102 would probably make sense.
If you’re on the 180 cm Unleashed 98 and it ever feels short, or you’re on the 186 cm and it feels pretty good, then I’d go 184 cm for length.
Also, the more you plan on using the Reckoner 102 in softer snow, the more I’d lean toward the 184 so it doesn’t get bogged down as much. Given how soft and playful it is, I’d generally lean toward the longer length if between sizes.
Hope they don’t change this ski too much for next year. I thought I liked heavier, stiffer skis, and own a dozen pair in that category. But the more I ski the Reckoner 102 in a 184 mounted -6 (works much better for me than the 177), the less interest I have in the rest of the quiver. That soft flex swallows up terrain, and somehow the grip underfoot is very solid. Me 178 cm, 72 kg – directional all-mountain skier.
Talking to the designer behind the 24/25 Reckoner line, he said the goal with the 24/25 Reckoner 102 was primarily to increase durability without drastically changing its on-snow performance. I’ve now got a couple days on the new Reckoner 102, and his description seems accurate — it doesn’t feel all that different vs. the original Reckoner 102.
Durability hasn’t been an issue for me, but I’m not a park skier. Got about 40 days on the 184 this year, and just bought another pair. Seriously – this ski has changed my life as a skier. I was out with a guy at Snowmass a few years ago, and he was on skis he pressed in his shop. He made very soft skis, but was skiing switch at 40+ mph on roughed up groomers. I was on Enforcer 88’s getting jarred around. Long soft skis offer great suspension for lighter skiers.