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. It skis great at +1. Early releases, featured athlete stories and product giveaways. This braid features a weave of carbon that begins tight towards the tips and underfoot, then opens out a little towards the tails. 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). K2 has then added a 30 degree bevel to where the topsheet meets the sidewall. Compared to other similarly wide skis, the Mindbender 116C falls on the lighter end, and is comparable to a lot of 50/50 skis in terms of weight. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. In such cases I would look carefully into how are the bindings mounted. Mindful of the need to keep fat skis on a diet, the Mindbender 116C is of the metal-free variety. Rocker Profile: Rocker-Camber-Rocker This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Why we chose the K2 Mindbender 116C: Agile, floaty, sick topsheets, Lengths (cm): 179, 186 & 193 Best ski ever, dont even use in powder lol. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Is K2 still having their skis manufactured in China? The 186 cm are almost cherry! In these conditions, the Mindbender 116C felt best when skied pretty conservatively. In this case, all of us skied the 186 cm version. Be nice if you added the length the testers skied. Le Refuge - Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy - Click Here, Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy - Click Here, Free shipping across Canada for orders over $150, ** total_quantity ** | ** unit_price ** / ** unit_measure **. These look like very nice skis. Rocker/Camber/Rocker skis have the playfulness and float of a rockered ski as well as the added edge hold of a cambered ski. The Mindbender 116C is not a super damp charger of a ski, but given its soft-snow orientation, that seems to make sense. For directional skiers who want excellent float and easy maneuverability out of their pow ski, the Mindbender 116C is worth a good look. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". K2s Carbon Spectral Braid sits at the heart of this nimble powder ski. 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. 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. 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. The contact points on skis with this profile are closer towards the middle of the ski than a fully cambered ski, but still not underfoot. Check back soon! Powder: 9/10 The Mindbender 116C doesnt have a super deep tail rocker line, and it doesnt have a ton of tail splay, so its not all that surprising that the Mindbender 116C doesnt feel as loose as many of the less directional skis with more tail rocker. Need to return an item? Receive the Revelations from the Pontiff of Powder weekly in your inbox. Jonathan: Yep. 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. Consider changing the search query. 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. An extension of K2s Torsion Control Design, Carbon Spectral Braid is a first of its kind variable angle reinforcement (Patent Pending) that allows for precision tuned torsion and flex by altering the fiber orientation along the length of the ski. Manoeuvrability: 8/10. For directional skiers who want excellent float and easy maneuverability out of their pow ski, the Mindbender 116C is worth a good look. Thanks for the great reviews its always super informative and entertaining. Feature-forward design has it ranked as a perennial best seller. > 22 m radius is best forpowder and big-mountain. The Mindbender 116C features a Powder Rocker profile. 143 / 116 / 133 mm, Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news from Newschoolers and our partners. And for directional skiers interested in adding a ski for their deepest days, the Mindbender 116C should at least be on your radar especially if your deepest days tend to include lighter, drier snow. Obviously if your an expert you know the shorter length is more maneuverable in trees. 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). Designed for the backcountry and the resort, available in both carbon and aluminum. Soft snow is definitely where this ski shines, and that includes soft chop. If its shitty pow then climb aboard your shitz skis and try to have fun if you remember wtf that is. K2 says they designed each Mindbender ski with its specific target conditions in mind, and they correspondingly used different construction techniques to reflect that. Not being as stiff or heavy as a Ti-laden model, the Mindbender 116C is easier to manhandle when necessary and never refuses an invitation to drift around a turn. Plus, the Mindbender 116C is so light that, when I needed to make some quick adjustments, it was very easy to flick around. Adding a 30angle to the sidewall in K2s Hybritech construction, SlantWall increases a ski's agility and responsiveness while maintaining accuracy and power. My ikonic 85ti have a very likely core after 200+ days of very fast skiing. Its good to see K2 getting up to speed on good ski design. Longitudinal carbon stringers woven into the K2s patented Triaxial Braid for added pop and rebound, found on freeride and factory team skis. Because firm / mixed snow performance is crucial, one does buy a lot of solid skis first. 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. 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.]. Agility: 8/10 I think the Mindbender 116C is pretty stable for its weight, but remember that this is a 116mm-wide, 186cm-long ski that weighs a little over 2000 grams per ski. What Blister Gear Review says:We noted in our First Look of the Mindbender 116C that it seemed like a validation of K2s claim that they made each Mindbender ski with a specific purpose in mind. This construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. I had a crush on the mindbender 108ti 186cm and I am now strongly considering these skis as a lightish powder touring ski. When I analyze the specs, construction and shape they are very similar on paper to my 9 year old Wagner Custom 115s. The #K2Mindbender Ti Collection puts it's own spin on the traditional hard-charging freeride ski category. Though I still think that a lot of lighter skiers will be found ripping it up on the 116C even on days where there is far from perfect pow. Which work anywhere, and are definitely not powder optimized. The ideal blend of comfort and performance. These skis are for the deep days. 20-21 Clicker X HB Step-In Binding Safety Alert. I have read and accept the Privacy Policy, All Rights Reserved. Its tip rocker line is fairly deep, but there are plenty of skis in this class with deeper rocker lines (including the Pinnacle 118). discussed the origin of the line with K2 ski designer, Jed Yeiser, Jennifer Pharr Davis on Hiking vs Trail Running Culture (Ep.7). That's okay. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. 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. Its not a ski that feels like its designed to spin, flip, and slash everything, but the Mindbender 116Cs lower weight and energetic flex pattern do work well if you like to pop your way around the mountain in soft chop driving the ski hard in the good snow, throwing it sideways when conditions deteriorate, and trying to catch air between transitions. Many powder skis today are versatile enough to handle mixed conditions and harder snow. This is pretty brief, but the main thing seems to be the Mindbender 116Cs versatility. Adding a 30 angle to the sidewall in K2s Hybritech construction, SlantWall increases a ski's agility and responsiveness while maintaining accuracy and power. And if youre one of those people who loves high-speed stability and youre looking for a dedicated inbounds pow ski, then Id definitely look to heavier options (see the Powder Skis More Directional section of our Winter Buyers Guide). Mindbenders come in two flavors, with a Titanal yoke or a variable carbon weave as the principal structural component. Our premier aluminum pole, designed to handle all the abuse you can dish out. Powder Rocker is designed for unmatched flotation in deep snow. This topsheet then wraps over the top section of the sidewalls to create a semi cap construction. Some of us have gotten so accustomed to skiing fat skis when there is little or no fresh snow, its sometimes worth reminding folks that its cool to have skis that youll only break out after storms. Hi guys! No elements found. Who doesn't? Maple / Paulownia Core Lightweight and resilient, great all-around material. An extension of K2s Torsion Control Design, Spectral Braid is a first of its kind variable angle reinforcement (Patent Pending) that allows for precision tuned torsion and flex by altering the fiber orientation along the length of the ski. If you're an old friend of dreamy powder days but a stranger to fatty skis, allow us to introduce you to the K2 Mindbender 116 C Skis. Of the ~116mm-wide skis Ive used, Id say the Mindbender 116C is one of the best in terms of flotation. COPYRIGHT A360 Media LLC 2022. This construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. We are still loading in more Realskiers test centers to our FIND list. First, the Mindbender 116C has much mellower taper lines. The Spectral Braid gets a further boost in power through carbon stringers than run for the full length of the ski. There are many pow skis that stay more composed on groomers if those groomers have been cut up by skiers throughout the day. So neither Luke nor I are suggesting that you cant get along with the 116C in variable snow. At this point, weve already talked a lot about K2s new Mindbender skis. A variable angle carbon fiber laminate allows the torsional and longitudinal stiffness to be adjusted independently. If If there is firm/frozen over stuff involved, this is the wrong ski in every aspect. Please contact, K2 products can only be shipped within the United States and Canada, 2001-2022 evo - All rights reserved, all wrongs reversed |. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Its quick, easy, and feels at home in a wide variety of terrain. 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. 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. Carbon Boost Braid SlantWall Expert staff, service, events, galleries, demos & more! I mainly ski in Quebec and Vermont. Maple and Paulownia combine for the ideal blend of power, energy, and lightweight performance. Point and shoot. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. But for directional skiers who value quickness, forgiveness, and float, the Mindbender 116C is an excellent option. Weight (per ski): 2,000g Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. Weve also got full reviews coming soon for the Mindbender 106C Alliance and 115C Alliance. 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. The cambered midsection provides a longer effective edge on hardpack, increasing e. lity, while the rockered tip and tail provide floatation in deeper snow and allow the ski to initiate and release from turns easier. If skiers keep pushing the envelope, this ski will lick the stamps.. I definitely wouldnt pick the Mindbender 116C if I knew I was going to be skiing a lot of brutally firm moguls and trees, but Id say the same for almost all skis this wide. 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. Price: 550 / 615 / $700. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. This product is available for purchase in select store locations or by phone. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. All rights reserved. Supportive, customizable, and responsive as hell, this is the ultimate high-performance womens binding. Jonathan: While I certainly think this would be a fun 50/50 ski, I personally would recommend it first and foremost to those who are actually looking for a true pow ski, and have one or two other skis that they will break out for firm and very firm conditions. 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.