Expert Review: K2 Reckoner 112 Skis · 2023

The K2 Reckoner 112 is an all-mountain, twin-tipped, hard-charging big mountain ski ready to shred pow to park. This is a ski for a skier looking to be more freeride oriented and able to shred all over easily. Made for an intermediate skier to an advanced who likes to ski in both directions.

About the ski I own

Model: 2023 K2 Reckoner 112
Size: 184cm

About me

Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175lbs
Experience: 26 years skiing

Test conditions

When I bought the ski: September 2022
Days tested: 10
Mount position: Factory Recommended
Boots: 2021 Rossignol All Track Elite 130 LV
Boot Size: 26.5
Bindings: 2022 LOOK Pivot 14
Where I’ve used it: Mt. Bachelor and surrounding backcountry
Terrain: New pow, mixed snow

How it performs

Carving

4/5

Durability

4/5

Flotation

5/5

High Speed Stability

4/5

Turn Ease

4/5

Versatility

3/5

What I was looking for

I was looking for a ski that was big enough to charge everything and was twin tipped for some more freestyle-style riding. I was hoping it would crush it in the park performance and allow me to shred the entire mountain easily.

Why I chose this gear

K2 has always had a special place in my heart, as their skis have always been fun and playful. I chose the Reckoner 112 because it is not only a big, hard-charging all-mountain ski, but it focuses on freeriding and tricks. These skis are twin tipped and 102 underfoot, allowing a skier to ride the park and the powder on the same day without switching skis. I also considered the ON3P Mangos and the Armada ARV, both twin-tip all-mountain skis.

What I love about them

Speed: The Reckoner 112 skis are pretty quick, even for a twin-tip ski. Even being a 112 underfoot, the big all-mountain ski can move pretty well in both directions.
Edge hold: I was happily surprised to see these free-ride skis that are 112mm underfoot carve so well. Good shape and sidewall cut on the skis to carve well.
Turns: The turn shape is great for such a mid-sized all-mountain twin-tip ski. Nimble enough to make quick short turns and can hold edge nicely in big long turns. The added carbon spectral braid helps reinforce some stiffness and dampens impact in the choppy snow.
Groomers: Decent on the groomer and carves decently for a big all-mountain ski. Overall, they have a pretty good medium turn radius. The Reckoner 112s are not built for all-day groomer skiing, as they kind of give out mid-turn. They don't hold a lot of power throughout the whole turn. That said, they are epic skis for powder and big mountain.
Durability: Very good quality because K2 developed Twintech sidewalls to keep some structure to the topsheet to keep durability from ski-to-ski contact.
Powder: Crushes the powder. These skis can float really well and are nimble and playful enough to rip in the powder and the trees. Being 112mm underfoot, it can float in most powder conditions. This ski thrives in powder skiing.
Trees: In the trees, the Reckoner 112 does really well as it is quick enough to move around and isn’t too heavy.
Park: Being a twin-tip ski, they are made for the park and free riding. They are damp enough to send big jumps, and I feel comfortable that the skis will pop back.
Backcountry: It could be a good backcountry ski, but probably a bigger mountain resort as they aren’t as light as other options for touring. But it could be super playful, with a wood core and little metal backbone that could make twin-tip skiing fun too.
Switch riding: Really great. These are true twin-tip skis, with rocker/camber/rocker build, so riding backward is the same as riding down the hill forwards.
Stability: K2’s carbon spectral braid built into the laminate helps dampen the ski and creates less chatter and shaking on the ski. They are overall stiffer than a traditional park ski and can be playful and freestyle oriented if I try.

Issues I’ve encountered

Weight: Without the bindings, the skis are a little heavier than some other skis in its ski category family.
Any workarounds? As a classic twin-tip ski, I mounted two back, as that is my preferred riding style, so the ski is different than skiing it traditionally center mounted.
Versatility: Not a really versatile ski, as it was primarily produced for powder skiing. Sure, these can turn well, but these are made for floating in a lot of soft snow and light powder.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this gear was taking them out for the first time. It was my first day back skiing on a twin-tip ski, but a twin-tip ski that had some backbone to it. As a general statement, most of the twin-tip skis I have skied were built for the park rider, are very soft skis, and do not carve well. The K2 Reckoner 112 did everything opposite of the “park ski.” These skis carved well. They were still playful while being a little stiff but could dominate the entire mountain in all conditions. I could ski in the park, go ski groomer, and charge some mixed snow and powder. It was a freerider and a big mountain skier's dream ski.

Value for the money vs. other options

Not many other companies make a true twin tip anymore, let alone a 110mm+ underfoot or larger. The K2 Reckoner 112 sits in class on its own, but other skis to consider would be the K2 Mindbender 116, which is bigger underfoot and a full-directional ski, and the LINE Sick Day 110. The Reckoner 112 is worth the money as it is wonderfully priced and can ski all-mountain.

Final verdict

The K2 Reckoner 112 can do it all. These skis deliver the same versatility from their DNA in freestyle influence for the best powder skiing to the park, freeriding, and everywhere in between. It’s a true big mountain powder twin-tip charger.