Well, theres definitely some Swagger Award potential here. The base peeled like an orange and the new generations K2 developed just didnt look interesting to me. These freaks were made to run. The Mindbender 108 Ti just feels like a very versatile platform, and it does surprisingly well in powder. 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. But then the Mindbender 108Ti ramps up in stiffness smoothly to a large section around the middle of the ski that is quite strong. So not exactly a direct replacement. But if the chop was soft and shallower than around a foot, I could still blast through just about anything on the Mindbender 108Ti. skis poacher And if youre skiing with an active style, you wont need a ski thats quite as damp, stable, and heavy. Love these skis. Im glad I took the leap of faith on a ski I never did a demo day on. Come from a racing backgorund but have been competing in a few FWQs. I do have additional ~88mm skis for east coast and 109 Volkl BMT for bigger days in the backcountry or ski mountaineering goals. Any thoughts are much appreciated. Hello, I am looking to upgrade from old 179cm volkl bridge twin tips that are rocker/flat/rocker, to the mindbender 108 ti. 
I ended up skiing the Mindbender 108Ti with the bindings mounted +1, +2, and +3 cm in front of the recommended line. And thats where I think a ski like this should excel when its not super deep, but everything is still soft and youre looking for stuff to jump off of and a soft runout to straight-line through. If Sam agrees of course :), One interesting observation is the 108 has a tip of 136 and the 99 has a tip of 138. 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. I think high intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers should have no problem with the 108Ti in tighter trees. K2s new Mindbender lineup has been getting a lot of buzz. It is difficult to have two in one, usually it does not go well. Its tail is not difficult to slide on firm, shallow snow, it doesnt feel very punishing, and I never felt like the ski was the one in the drivers seat, rather than me. 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 K2 Mindbender 108Ti combines a unique new construction with a more traditional shape, rocker profile, and weight. k2 skis 
I think Im still leaning 186 since itll 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. For decades I had K2 written off as a mass market consumer brand. This is probably the only thing on the Mindbender 108Ti that reminds us of K2s Pinnacle skis. I still want to be able to spin and flip with itnot sure about 186 or 193?! 
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. k2 skis reckoner Im going to see what K2 has to say, and will post back here. Thanks Luke, any word on the 193 108ti.? I totally want that as a wallpaper! mindbender evo 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. Its easy to ski and is fairly forgiving while still being pretty damp with a decent top end. skis reckoner Thanks guys! I wouldnt say Im an expert, but an advanced skier. First K2 Ive seen in a long while that makes me say hmmmm, interesting. So is this new ski a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108? So for technically proficient skiers that dont end up in the backseat super often, I think the Mindbender 108Tis recommended mount point will feel nice. k2 skis disruption 81ti bindings erc It was a GREAT ski while it lasted. Adding to DPS 112, DPS Alchemist and my old beat up Rossignol S3 quiver. Okay thanks Luke. Weve been spending a lot of time on the Mindbender 108Ti in a wide range of conditions from the deep storms Crested Buttes been getting recently, to firm, steep, technical terrain. Remounted next day at the recommended line and they were perfect. What skis would they be? skis 88ti mindbender 2022 Doesnt look like well be getting on it any time soon, unfortunately, but well update this post if / when that happens. 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. 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 in the case of K2, I dont see them talking about how it is simply the tech itself that has somehow changed the game here. 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. But in terms of being able to release the tails into slashes, the Mindbender 108Ti is notably more playful than most straight-up chargers. But still like to be able to pin it when I can/have too. When we talk about a dynamic or active style, were basically talking about skiing with more finesse than brute force. Sam: Agreed. 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. 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. WOuld the Bibby be one? Hopefully someone whos been on the 193 cm Mindbender 108 can chime in though. But given how fun and stable it is at speed, I think the Mindbender 108Ti strikes a really nice balance. And, obviously, it is much much better option in deep powder. skis The womens Mindbender lineup will include the Mindbender 85, 88 Ti, 90C, 98 Ti, 106C, and 115C. 
Jonathan: I totally agree. Im on 186cm ski. skis Ive been planning to order the 179 length as that was the closest size to my previous skis, but but Ive been used to a ski with more tail rocker than the K2 Mindbender 108. See our Deep Dive Comparisons to get a clearer sense of where wed 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. Luke: As weve mentioned before, playfulness is a complex concept skis can be playful in various ways. 
skis bindings fdt Ive 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. Back to Nordica, Head and Fischer for me, I guess. 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. If youve read just about any ski review on Blister, youll know that this is something were excited about. Become a Blister MemberorDeep Dive subscriberto check out ourDeep 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 Volkls Titanal Frame concept used on the Mantra M5 where you remove material where you dont want/need it and the Carbon Spectral Braid (what marketing BS) seems very much like the Carbon Tank Mesh (also marketing BS) from Atomics Vantage line which came out a couple of years ago and which Rossi also have on their Experience Line so its not exactly ground breaking innovation that we are seeing here. 
Then again, I would say that Luke typically prefers a slightly looser ski than I do, and I wouldnt read too much into the differences in our take on this ski: of the 108mm wide skis on the market, Im comfortable calling this one of the better skis for deep snow. 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. 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. 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). skis mindbender And throughout all of those turn shapes, the Mindbender 108Ti maintained its calm, damp feel. They did this with two techniques their Titanal Y-Beam and Carbon Spectral Braid.. 1) How will the Mindbender 108Ti perform in terms of jumping 1-3meters clifs, rocks, wind effected entrances? Thats not to say it doesnt work but its not this amazing new innovative technology which the K2 marketing machine is making it out to be, unlike Renouns HDT and Heads use of Graphene and Koroyd in the Kore skis which are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ski engineering. We discussed on our latest GEAR:30 podcast the origin of the line, the technology behind it, and how it came to be with K2s head ski designer, Jed Yeiser. skis mindbender 116c 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. Again, there are some skis that will let you smash and mash your way down the mountain with less regard for whats in front of you, but of the ~108mm-wide skis Ive been on the most, the Mindbender 108Ti sits near the top when it comes to stability. But if youre coming from more traditional skis with flat tails, Id be surprised if you found the Mindbender 108Ti difficult in these conditions. The same naming scheme (e.g., Ti and C) applies to the womens skis, and all the womens versions have Alliance at the end of their name (e.g., Mindbender 115C Alliance) to reference K2s team of female skiers that contributed to the design of the skis. 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 thats easy to release when you need it to. If youre only skiing soft snow, you probably dont need a super strong, damp, or heavy ski. Sam: Ill have to dito Jonathan here, fortunately. Still havent found anyone, but I think it really comes down to whether you place a higher priority on stability at speed or maneuverability / playfulness. As always, keep in mind the length differences to try to keep these comparisons apples-to-apples. Luke: All of the Mindbender skis have pretty traditional mount points. It has a pretty deep tip rocker line compared to other skis in its class, but the Mindbender 108Tis tip doesnt start rising that much until near the end of the ski. So is the Mindbender 108Ti a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108? Im 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 (whos bigger than me at 510 ~180 lbs) liked the 186. (supposedly have slightly more metal, 100g more weight, and a bit more tail rocker?). In super deep chop, the Mindbender 108Tis softer shovels did plow a bit, rather than punching right through.
I ended up skiing the Mindbender 108Ti with the bindings mounted +1, +2, and +3 cm in front of the recommended line. And thats where I think a ski like this should excel when its not super deep, but everything is still soft and youre looking for stuff to jump off of and a soft runout to straight-line through. If Sam agrees of course :), One interesting observation is the 108 has a tip of 136 and the 99 has a tip of 138. 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. I think high intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers should have no problem with the 108Ti in tighter trees. K2s new Mindbender lineup has been getting a lot of buzz. It is difficult to have two in one, usually it does not go well. Its tail is not difficult to slide on firm, shallow snow, it doesnt feel very punishing, and I never felt like the ski was the one in the drivers seat, rather than me. 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 K2 Mindbender 108Ti combines a unique new construction with a more traditional shape, rocker profile, and weight. k2 skis 
I think Im still leaning 186 since itll 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. For decades I had K2 written off as a mass market consumer brand. This is probably the only thing on the Mindbender 108Ti that reminds us of K2s Pinnacle skis. I still want to be able to spin and flip with itnot sure about 186 or 193?! 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. k2 skis reckoner Im going to see what K2 has to say, and will post back here. Thanks Luke, any word on the 193 108ti.? I totally want that as a wallpaper! mindbender evo 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. Its easy to ski and is fairly forgiving while still being pretty damp with a decent top end. skis reckoner Thanks guys! I wouldnt say Im an expert, but an advanced skier. First K2 Ive seen in a long while that makes me say hmmmm, interesting. So is this new ski a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108? So for technically proficient skiers that dont end up in the backseat super often, I think the Mindbender 108Tis recommended mount point will feel nice. k2 skis disruption 81ti bindings erc It was a GREAT ski while it lasted. Adding to DPS 112, DPS Alchemist and my old beat up Rossignol S3 quiver. Okay thanks Luke. Weve been spending a lot of time on the Mindbender 108Ti in a wide range of conditions from the deep storms Crested Buttes been getting recently, to firm, steep, technical terrain. Remounted next day at the recommended line and they were perfect. What skis would they be? skis 88ti mindbender 2022 Doesnt look like well be getting on it any time soon, unfortunately, but well update this post if / when that happens. 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. 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 in the case of K2, I dont see them talking about how it is simply the tech itself that has somehow changed the game here. 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. But in terms of being able to release the tails into slashes, the Mindbender 108Ti is notably more playful than most straight-up chargers. But still like to be able to pin it when I can/have too. When we talk about a dynamic or active style, were basically talking about skiing with more finesse than brute force. Sam: Agreed. 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. 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. WOuld the Bibby be one? Hopefully someone whos been on the 193 cm Mindbender 108 can chime in though. But given how fun and stable it is at speed, I think the Mindbender 108Ti strikes a really nice balance. And, obviously, it is much much better option in deep powder. skis The womens Mindbender lineup will include the Mindbender 85, 88 Ti, 90C, 98 Ti, 106C, and 115C. 
Jonathan: I totally agree. Im on 186cm ski. skis Ive been planning to order the 179 length as that was the closest size to my previous skis, but but Ive been used to a ski with more tail rocker than the K2 Mindbender 108. See our Deep Dive Comparisons to get a clearer sense of where wed 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. Luke: As weve mentioned before, playfulness is a complex concept skis can be playful in various ways. 
skis bindings fdt Ive 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. Back to Nordica, Head and Fischer for me, I guess. 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. If youve read just about any ski review on Blister, youll know that this is something were excited about. Become a Blister MemberorDeep Dive subscriberto check out ourDeep 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 Volkls Titanal Frame concept used on the Mantra M5 where you remove material where you dont want/need it and the Carbon Spectral Braid (what marketing BS) seems very much like the Carbon Tank Mesh (also marketing BS) from Atomics Vantage line which came out a couple of years ago and which Rossi also have on their Experience Line so its not exactly ground breaking innovation that we are seeing here. 
Then again, I would say that Luke typically prefers a slightly looser ski than I do, and I wouldnt read too much into the differences in our take on this ski: of the 108mm wide skis on the market, Im comfortable calling this one of the better skis for deep snow. 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. 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. 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). skis mindbender And throughout all of those turn shapes, the Mindbender 108Ti maintained its calm, damp feel. They did this with two techniques their Titanal Y-Beam and Carbon Spectral Braid.. 1) How will the Mindbender 108Ti perform in terms of jumping 1-3meters clifs, rocks, wind effected entrances? Thats not to say it doesnt work but its not this amazing new innovative technology which the K2 marketing machine is making it out to be, unlike Renouns HDT and Heads use of Graphene and Koroyd in the Kore skis which are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in ski engineering. We discussed on our latest GEAR:30 podcast the origin of the line, the technology behind it, and how it came to be with K2s head ski designer, Jed Yeiser. skis mindbender 116c 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. Again, there are some skis that will let you smash and mash your way down the mountain with less regard for whats in front of you, but of the ~108mm-wide skis Ive been on the most, the Mindbender 108Ti sits near the top when it comes to stability. But if youre coming from more traditional skis with flat tails, Id be surprised if you found the Mindbender 108Ti difficult in these conditions. The same naming scheme (e.g., Ti and C) applies to the womens skis, and all the womens versions have Alliance at the end of their name (e.g., Mindbender 115C Alliance) to reference K2s team of female skiers that contributed to the design of the skis. 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 thats easy to release when you need it to. If youre only skiing soft snow, you probably dont need a super strong, damp, or heavy ski. Sam: Ill have to dito Jonathan here, fortunately. Still havent found anyone, but I think it really comes down to whether you place a higher priority on stability at speed or maneuverability / playfulness. As always, keep in mind the length differences to try to keep these comparisons apples-to-apples. Luke: All of the Mindbender skis have pretty traditional mount points. It has a pretty deep tip rocker line compared to other skis in its class, but the Mindbender 108Tis tip doesnt start rising that much until near the end of the ski. So is the Mindbender 108Ti a replacement for the beloved Supernatural 108? Im 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 (whos bigger than me at 510 ~180 lbs) liked the 186. (supposedly have slightly more metal, 100g more weight, and a bit more tail rocker?). In super deep chop, the Mindbender 108Tis softer shovels did plow a bit, rather than punching right through.
