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). All bindings must be mounted, adjusted, and tested by an authorized retailer prior to use. 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. Plus, the Mindbender 116C is so light that, when I needed to make some quick adjustments, it was very easy to flick around. Precisely the reason to not buy them with other options. Powder Rocker is designed for unmatched flotation in deep snow. 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. Lightweight and resilient, great all-around material. These stringers provide longitudinal stiffness in an effort to keep the tips and tails tracking true, even when the snow turns choppy. K2 says they designed each Mindbender ski with its specific target conditions in mind, and they correspondingly used different construction techniques to reflect that. 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. Easy to reach expert advice. This doesnt contradict anything that Luke just wrote, I just wanted to clarify. I spend 95% in the woods. Yes, (well) made in China. Board idea cooked up by Team Rider Antti Jussila to be playful, snappy, and tough as nails. 143 / 116 / 133 mm, Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest news from Newschoolers and our partners. Adding a 30angle to the sidewall in K2s Hybritech construction, SlantWall increases a ski's agility and responsiveness while maintaining accuracy and power. These look like very nice skis. Why we chose the K2 Mindbender 116C: Agile, floaty, sick topsheets, Lengths (cm): 179, 186 & 193 Point and shoot. But without advertising revenue, we can't keep making this site awesome. Which work anywhere, and are definitely not powder optimized. Skis with All-Terrain rocker have a gradual rise to the tip for great versatility in all conditions, with a short, low rise in the tail for added control variable snow. 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. But lets get this out of the way the Mindbender 116C is not a charger. Need to return an item? I bought this as powder optimized touring ski. The Mindbender 116C features a Powder Rocker profile. Please sign-up today and experience all the Realskiers.com has to offer. Please contact, K2 products can only be shipped within the United States and Canada, 2001-2022 evo - All rights reserved, all wrongs reversed |. (c) Realskiers.com Contact Us | Reset Password | Login | Account/Subscription Status | Privacy Policy. Ready to help! Be nice if you added the length the testers skied. 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. Carbon Boost Braid Adding a 30 angle to the sidewall in K2s Hybritech construction, SlantWall increases a ski's agility and responsiveness while maintaining accuracy and power. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. So just another 116 waisted ski thats falls flat on its face once you get it out of perfect powder conditions. Do get the Mindbender 116C if you want a pow ski thats pretty easy to flick around and will cater better to a more active, light-on-your-feet style in crud and firm chop. High-tech skis that are built to carve hard and haul ass. 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. Hi guys! Despite its rearward mount point, the Mindbender 116C felt very nimble and quick (something that sets it apart from the Mindbender 99Ti and 108Ti). 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. 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 construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. This tip has the most elevation and longest rocker and offers skiers a surfy feel with enhanced soft-snow performance. This braid features a weave of carbon that begins tight towards the tips and underfoot, then opens out a little towards the tails. Best ski ever, dont even use in powder lol. 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. 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. As always, note the length differences to keep things apples to apples. SlantWall In such cases I would look carefully into how are the bindings mounted. The rocker travels deep into the ski, both in the tips and tails, while camber helps to keep up the lively soul of the ski. Freeride boots for women who need one boot to rule the resort and the backcountry. This is what K2 claims is high and long rise in the tip and tail to maximise float in softer snow. Although theres a good amount of rocker pressed into this ski (its a powder ski, after all), we wouldnt say that its anything drastic certainly not when compared to something like the Atomic Bent Chetler 120. Instead, the Mindbender 116C encouraged a more precise, active, and playful style. Click the link below for instructions on disabling adblock. I have full confidence the carbon k2 will last more than 20 days. K2 has then added a 30 degree bevel to where the topsheet meets the sidewall. But we are saying that variable snow is not where the Mindbender 116C shines. ski manufacturing is going backwards instead of foreword. Bummer theyre made in China and Drumf will tax them so theyll cost more than my Wagners. We are still loading in more Realskiers test centers to our FIND list. 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. Plus, the Mindbender 116C offers a lot of energy coming out of a turn if you push it. Weve also got full reviews coming soon for the Mindbender 106C Alliance and 115C Alliance. 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. 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. 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). In this case, all of us skied the 186 cm version. Jonathan: Yep. | View Privacy Policy | View Terms of Use. A variable angle carbon fiber laminate allows the torsional and longitudinal stiffness to be adjusted independently. Maple and Paulownia combine for the ideal blend of power, energy, and lightweight performance. 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. It looks like you are using an ad blocker. 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. 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. So would you recommend the 186cm or the 193cm? K2s Carbon Spectral Braid sits at the heart of this nimble powder ski. The Mindbender 116Cs rocker profile is similarly moderate. 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. Check back soon! 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. 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. This lightweight and zippy construction has been wrapped up in a sick looking topsheet a trademark design of the Mindbender range. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy. Soft snow is definitely where this ski shines, and that includes soft chop. 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. Luke: I think the most obvious use for the Mindbender 116C is as a 50/50 ski that youd use inside and outside of the resort. 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. But for use in actual pow I really liked how this ski handled: its quick enough, precise enough, loose enough, playful enough, and in sum fun enough to make a whole lot of skiers quite happy, I think. First, the Mindbender 116C has much mellower taper lines. Stay up to date with everything K2. Price: 550 / 615 / $700. In seriously dense, heavy, wet snow, strong arguments can be made for going with a heavier ski that has more tip and tail rocker. 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. Which we know in advance. This construct keeps skis lighter and more playful for conditions when power and damping are less important. 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.].