1710 & 1744 Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 184 cm (18/1919/20)1795 & 1817 Moment Wildcat Tour, 184 cm (18/1919/20)1854 & 1903 Whitedot Ragnarok 118 Carbonlite, 190 cm (17/1818/19)1862 & 1873 Faction Prime 4.0, 185 cm (18/1919/20)1910 & 1941 Scott Scrapper 115, 189 cm (17/1818/19)1931 & 1959 Volkl BMT 122, 186 cm (17/1818/19)2013 & 2099 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 184 cm (18/1919/20)2019 & 2051 K2 Mindbender 116C, 186 cm (19/20)2034 & 2052 Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm (17/1819/20)2043 & 2046 4FRNT Inthayne, 188 cm (18/19-19/20)2083 & 2097 Line Magnum Opus, 188 cm (15/1618/19)2102 & 2137 Line Sick Day 114, 190 cm (17/1819/20)2126 & 2173 Rossignol Super 7 RD, 190 cm (17/1819/20)2130 & 2130 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 190 cm (18/1919/20)2133 & 2133 Salomon QST 118, 192 cm (17/1818/19)2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20)2183 & 2190 Black Crows Anima, 188.4 cm (17/1819/20)2196 & 2199 Icelantic Nomad 115, 191 cm (17/1818/19)2220 & 2252 Faction Prodigy 4.0, 186 cm (17/1819/20)2212 & 2215 Armada ARV 116 JJ, 185 cm (17/1819/20)2222 & 2278 Prior CBC, 184 cm (17/1819/20)2228 & 2231 Blizzard Spur, 192 cm (17/1819/20)2230 & 2250 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 115, 185 cm (17/1819/20)2246 & 2265 Fischer Ranger 115 FR, 188 cm (17/1818/19)2267 & 2270 Whitedot Ragnarok 118, 190 cm (16/1718/19)2296 & 2309 Liberty Origin Pro, 192 cm (17/1819/20)2297 & 2317 K2 Catamaran, 184 cm (17/1819/20)2311 & 2342 K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 184 cm (19/20)2341 & 2357 Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, 189 cm (18/1919/20)2343 & 2360 J Skis Friend, 189 cm (18/19)2346 & 2351 Nordica Enforcer Pro, 191 cm (17/1819/20)2382 & 2395 ON3P Billy Goat, 184 cm (17/1818/19)2408 & 2421 ON3P Kartel 116, 186 cm (17/1818/19)2429 & 2437 Kingswood SMB, 188 cm (16/1718/19)2438 & 2480 DPS Foundation Koala 119, 189 cm (19/20)2438 & 2492 Rossignol Black Ops 118, 186 cm (16/1719/20)2490 & 2529 K2 Catamaran, 191 cm (17/1819/20). But if the groomers are fairly smooth and / or soft, the Mindbender 116C is totally capable of carving a clean turn, and it can make a pretty wide variety of turn shapes. How does this ski stack up against ON3Ps (now custom) Wren 114 and what one can infer on their new Woodsman 116 (as the stock more directional replacement). There are many pow skis that stay more composed on groomers if those groomers have been cut up by skiers throughout the day. Free Drop Off to the Bow Valley and Calgary. But its also strong and stable enough in soft snow that Id also be happy using it inbounds, Id just have to ski a bit more actively than I would on a heavier pow ski. Overall, the Mindbender 116C feels like a directional pow ski thats pretty versatile in pow it felt happy to make big, arcing turns when given the room, but it could just as easily noodle through deep snow in tight trees. The Mindbender 116C is not a super damp charger of a ski, but given its soft-snow orientation, that seems to make sense. Strung up with our patent-pending Spectral Braid technology and Powder Rocker profile, this surprisingly lightweight fat ski can run with the best of em, from effortless turns in the lightest snow to punching through that end-of-day chop. The 186 cm are almost cherry! This construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. They dont extend as deep into the ski, and the Mindbender 116Cs tips and tails are much more blocky they dont taper to as much of a point as the Pinnacle 118s. So would you recommend the 186cm or the 193cm? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The Mindbender 116Cs deep tip rocker line, softer shovels, and rearward mount point all help to make this ski plane very well in deep snow and I never had issues with tip dive in the ~2 feet of snow in which I skied the Mindbender 116C. I didnt notice a big difference in terms of quickness with the bindings in this range the ski felt a touch quicker and more balanced at +1 and +2, but it definitely still felt like a directional ski that felt best when skied with a forward, driving stance. I like to go fast and jump off natural features but the terrain i ski required a lot of turns (thigh trees). Luke: As you could probably guess by its name, the Mindbender 116C is 116 mm wide. K2 has then added a 30 degree bevel to where the topsheet meets the sidewall. Heres how wed characterize the flex pattern of the Mindbender 116C: Tips: 5.5Shovels: 6-7In Front of Toe Piece: 8-9.5Underfoot: 9.5Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5Tails: 7.5-7. Ready to help! Which we know in advance. Luke: During the first few hours of a resort powder day (when the snow was still quite soft), I had a ton of fun on the Mindbender 116C. | View Privacy Policy | View Terms of Use. I bought this as powder optimized touring ski. > 22 m radius is best forpowder and big-mountain. K2 flipped its entire freeride family this year, closing the Pinnacle period and beginning the Mindbender era. A variable angle carbon fiber laminate allows the torsional and longitudinal stiffness to be adjusted independently. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The dip in torsional rigidity makes the Mindbender 116C feel narrower when its tipped and pressured, so traditional powder techniques rhythmic turning style fits its strong suit. So many know it all whiners build your own fucking skis then. Its good to see K2 getting up to speed on good ski design. After skiing it, wed agree with that initial take. And, turns out, this style of skiing can be a lot of fun, provided that you arent the type of skier who mostly just wants to get to the bottom as fast as possible. Despite its rearward mount point, the Mindbender 116C felt very nimble and quick (something that sets it apart from the Mindbender 99Ti and 108Ti). Unlike the Mindbender 99Ti and Mindbender 108Ti, the Mindbender 116C is quite light, does not have any metal in its construction, and its not super stiff. Why do you ask? I have full confidence the carbon k2 will last more than 20 days. LOL. Its tail is forgiving, its light, and its easy to pivot and slide around. If you like to find powder stashes at your local resort, go on backcountry missions for the freshest of fresh or heli ski trips to BC, powder skis are what you need to stay afloat. Ski bindings are not included or installed as part of this purchase. Board idea cooked up by Team Rider Antti Jussila to be playful, snappy, and tough as nails. Adding a 30 angle to the sidewall in K2s Hybritech construction, SlantWall increases a ski's agility and responsiveness while maintaining accuracy and power. This is a ski thats designed for soft snow, and thats where it excels. I think you will lose a lot a speed at 186 cm based on your body weight. The Mindbenders are almost too good to be true, and they're sure to make you a convert. Strung up with our patent-pending Spectral Braid technology and Powder Rocker profile, this surprisingly lightweight fat ski can run with the best of em, from effortless turns in the lightest snow to punching through that end-of-day chop. Powder Rocker document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Freeride boots for women who need one boot to rule the resort and the backcountry. The main differences being my Wagners have an all aspen core, hand laid up biaxial carbon tow and theyre were built by one of my best friends Scott H. In Telluride 9 years ago. ski manufacturing is going backwards instead of foreword. But if you never attempt to stand on the edge, you can still smear your way along just by twisting your feet sideways. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Blister Members can check out our initial on-snow impressions in our Flash Review linked below, and then stay tuned for our full review. No elements found. Powder Rocker is designed for unmatched flotation in deep snow. Like the other Mindbender skis, the Mindbender 116C has a very traditional mount point of around -9.8 cm from center, which puts it squarely in the more traditional / more directional end of the spectrum. And like the other Mindbender skis, the Mindbender 116Cs rocker lines are subtle and dont rise abruptly, instead staying low until the ends of the ski. When I analyze the specs, construction and shape they are very similar on paper to my 9 year old Wagner Custom 115s. The Mindbender 116C effectively replaces K2s current Pinnacle 118, and the two skis have some very notable differences. Despite not being all that stable, the Mindbender 116C is predictable, which is a valuable trait in a ski thats this light and thus requires a more conservative / active style in challenging conditions. This item is Out of Stock in our Stores but more is on its way. Strung up with our patent-pending Spectral Braid technology and Powder Rocker profile, this surprisingly lightweight fat ski can run with the best of em, from effortless turns in the lightest snow to punching through that end-of-day chop. I own a pair amongst many other pow skis. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. Carrying a waist width of 116 mm and high and long rocker in the tips and tails, this, K2s Carbon Spectral Braid sits at the heart of this nimble, The Mindbender 116C features a Powder Rocker profile. But we are saying that variable snow is not where the Mindbender 116C shines. I think the Mindbender 116C carves very well for its size. A preview of K2's ultimate powder ski, plus weight and full specs. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The camber still exists to ensure edgehold in firmer conditions. Ski: 2021-2022 K2 Mindbender 116C, 186 cm, Blisters Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 185.7 cm, Blisters Measured Weight per Ski: 2019 & 2051 grams, Blisters Measured Dimensions: 142.6-115.5-132.6 mm, Stated Sidecut Radius (186 cm): 22.9 meters, Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 74 mm / 33 mm, Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~3 mm, Core: Maple/Paulownia + Carbon Spectral Braid + Fiberglass Laminate, Factory Recommended Mount Point: -9.85 cm from center; 83.0 cm from tail, Boots: Head Raptor 140 RS; Nordica Strider 120, [Note: Our review was conducted on the 19/20 Mindbender 116C, which was not changed for 20/21 or 21/22, apart from graphics.]. A great option for those days spent West of the Divide, Designed to enhance stability and control in all snow types, TORSION CONTROL DESIGN combines a progressive torsional flex, with a balanced and even longitudinal profile. Luke: As long as I was driving the front of the ski, the Mindbender 116C was very easy to ski in tight terrain. But as long as I stayed over the front of the ski, the Mindbender 116C was still pretty easy to throw sideways in deep snow. Think lots of quick jump turns, picking your way down the mountain rather than blasting straight down it like you would on a much heavier ski. The Mindbender 116C is built for those epic powder days that everyone dreams of, but its also equipped to deal with the reality of getting to the stash and back again. This construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. 143 / 116 / 133 mm, Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news from Newschoolers and our partners. The Mindbender 116Cs rocker profile is similarly moderate. Release these light yet hefty powder players into their natural habitat to surf through deep snow, or find a sturdy edge hold and plow through chop and crud without missing a beat. Were working on our full review of the ski now, but in the meantime, lets take a look at how K2s new pow ski compares to the rest of the market. discussed the origin of the line with K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser, Jennifer Pharr Davis on Hiking vs Trail Running Culture (Ep.7). In soft chop, I could still ski quite fast on the Mindbender 116C, but it in no way encouraged me to straightline fields of chop like a much heavier, stiffer ski would. volkl confession chx armada tracer We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. All rights reserved. The Mindbender 116C features a Powder Rocker profile. I mainly ski in Quebec and Vermont. Developed with premium materials and thoughtful design comes a masterpiece tailored to women. Just stay over the front and youll have a ski thats easy to whip around and that wont punish you immediately if you get backseat. Weve also got full reviews coming soon for the Mindbender 106C Alliance and 115C Alliance. Carrying a waist width of 116 mm and high and long rocker in the tips and tails, this ski is designed to crush the biggest days in resort while remaining light enough to keep your legs from burning out on the tenth lap of the day. Maple / Paulownia Core Be nice if you added the length the testers skied. The Spectral Braid gets a further boost in power through carbon stringers than run for the full length of the ski. The Mindbender 116C isnt a spinny / flippy jib ski, but I think it encourages an active, playful, directional style. Its quite light for its size, has a fairly moderate, but more tapered and rockered design compared to the narrower Mindbenders, and seems like an interesting new direction for K2s pow skis. Longitudinal carbon stringers woven into the K2s patented Triaxial Braid for added pop and rebound, found on freeride and factory team skis. Teamed up with legends on a micro-collection of products to bring skate style to the snow. Hey Tom Im not concerned about K2 being made in China, Im more concerned about the core going dead in about 20 days like past k2 crap skis, I went tru 3 pairs of Seths one season before they refused to warranty anymore, not one pair lasted more then 15-20 days. The Mindbender 116C is not a super damp charger of a ski, but given its soft-snow orientation, that seems to make sense. Maple and Paulownia combine for the ideal blend of power, energy, and lightweight performance. It skis great at +1. But if the snow is soft, the Mindbender 116C can be a lot of fun in tight terrain. Consider changing the search query. Feature-forward design has it ranked as a perennial best seller. Written by Jackson Hogen, topics range from how to buy alpine ski gear to how it feels to step into the gravity stream. At this point, weve already talked a lot about K2s new Mindbender skis. Not afraid to mix it up in the steeps, park, or streets, and is the preferred binding of global K2 pros and ams alike. I dont tend to choose 116mm-wide skis if Im primarily going to be ripping groomers all day, but youll usually end up skiing at least some groomed snow throughout any day, so thats worth quickly touching on. I think it makes the most sense as a 50/50 ski, but Id also happily recommend it as a dedicated inbounds pow ski for people who dont need an ultra stable ski and instead want something thats easy to flick around and thats pretty forgiving. Paulownia has been chosen due to its lightweight, yet lively properties, while the dense Maple provides an energetic and damp ride for when youre looking to absorb impacts and smash through crud. A variable angle carbon fiber laminate allows the torsional and longitudinal stiffness to be adjusted independently. Like the other Mindbender skis, the Mindbender 116C initiates carved turns easily and predictably, and it holds an edge well for how wide it is. If its shitty pow then climb aboard your shitz skis and try to have fun if you remember wtf that is. It does not store any personal data. I spend 95% in the woods. I had a crush on the mindbender 108ti 186cm and I am now strongly considering these skis as a lightish powder touring ski. Why we chose the K2 Mindbender 116C: Agile, floaty, sick topsheets, Lengths (cm): 179, 186 & 193 And in the case of the Mindbender 116C, Id personally be very happy breaking it out in light, dry snow ranging from 8 inches deep to 2+ feet deep. Lightweight and resilient, great all-around material. Thats very light, and pretty much every ski Ive been on with similar specs (size and weight) requires a similarly conservative style when the conditions are nasty. In the case of the pow-oriented Mindbender 116C, that means a lighter Maple/Paulownia core and the use of K2s Carbon Spectral Braid, rather than their heavier Titanal Y-Beam. Given that powder is a very forgiving condition that doesnt require a lot of heft to blast through, that seems to make sense. Need to return an item? Jonathan: Put these skis in anything soft and I do not mean deep, but even just a couple inches of soft snow on a soft base (so Im not talking here about dust on crust) and this ski to me feels quite quick, intuitive, easy, forgiving, and fun. But without advertising revenue, we can't keep making this site awesome. High-tech skis that are built to carve hard and haul ass. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Luke Koppa (58, 155 lbs): I used the Mindbender 116C on a few of Crested Buttes deep days this season and I have zero complaints about how this ski handles fresh snow. K2 Men's Mindbender 130 Gripwalk Ski Boots, K2 Men's Mindbender 120 Gripwalk Ski Boots, ( This comment was made by a member you have blocked -. Hi guys! Plus, the Mindbender 116C offers a lot of energy coming out of a turn if you push it. In this case, all of us skied the 186 cm version. The Mindbender 116C takes the throne of K2s widest Mindbender. That's okay. COPYRIGHT A360 Media LLC 2022. Our premier aluminum pole, designed to handle all the abuse you can dish out. When you combine both the manoeuvrable rocker profile with the lightweight build, youve got a powder ski thats nimble underfoot and more than capable of slashing turns at will. If skiers keep pushing the envelope, this ski will lick the stamps.. If youre someone who likes to stay light and cantered over your skis and prefers the ability to quickly dump speed, over long carved turns, then the Mindbender 116C would be a great pair of powder boards for you. BORING, just another ski following the build me lite trend. Which work anywhere, and are definitely not powder optimized. As a result, the Mindbender 116C comes in a lot lighter for its size compared to the Ti Mindbender skis. Precisely the reason to not buy them with other options. Sorry, but already time to keep feeding China with technology, designs, and engineering. If youre looking for a 50/50 ski and your top priority is stability, Id look to a ski thats similarly light or a bit heavier but thats also stiffer (see the 50/50 section of our Winter Buyers Guide). This tip has the most elevation and longest rocker and offers skiers a surfy feel with enhanced soft-snow performance. Point and shoot. Jonathan Ellsworth (510, 175 lbs): The primary qualification that I want to add to Lukes comments here are that, as someone who skis a lot of more-or-less directional pow skis, the Mindbender 116C felt plenty loose to me, i.e., appropriately loose, as opposed to something like sloppy loose. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Mindbender 116C isnt quite as loose as some skis with more tail rocker, but I think most directional skiers will find the Mindbender 116C to feel very maneuverable. Manoeuvrability: 8/10. Skis in the powder category are wide and most often have some form of rocker or early rise plus a relatively soft flex. Mindbenders come in two flavors, with a Titanal yoke or a variable carbon weave as the principal structural component. Instead, the Mindbender 116C encouraged a more precise, active, and playful style. If If there is firm/frozen over stuff involved, this is the wrong ski in every aspect. For directional skiers who want excellent float and easy maneuverability out of their pow ski, the Mindbender 116C is worth a good look. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For reference, here are a whole bunch of our measured weights (per ski, in grams) for a number of notable skis. Overall, the Mindbender 116C has a pretty moderate flex pattern it starts quite soft in the tips, slowly ramps up through the shovels, is strong around the bindings, and finishes with a moderately stiff tail. Become a Blister MemberorDeep Dive subscriberto check out ourDeep Dive of the Mindbender 116C to see how it stacks up against the Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, Rossignol Super 7 RD, Rossignol Super 7 HD, Line Sick Day 114, Blizzard Rustler 11, Head Kore 117, Folsom Trophy Carbon, Faction Dictator 4.0, Blizzard Spur, Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, 4FRNT Inthayne, Icelantic Nomad 115, Nordica Enforcer Pro, and Faction Candide 4.0. But for directional skiers who value quickness, forgiveness, and float, the Mindbender 116C is an excellent option. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Mindbender 116C is very light for its size so light, in fact, that I could see myself using it as a dedicated touring ski. The complaints about lacking allround performance I do not understand. Think of smoothing out the topsheet after drilling, cleaning the hole, using epoxy etc.