Review: K2 Mindbender 85 Skis · 2024
By Ski Expert
Ian Hamilton
K2 Mindbender 85 Skis · 2024
$269.97
$449.95
40% off
The Curated Take
2.9/5
The Mindbender 85 skis are an affordable and user-friendly option for beginners to intermediates, providing intuitive turning and easy transitioning due to their soft flex and lightness. These skis are great for all-mountain carving at low to moderate speeds, while also being somewhat playful thanks to their wooden core. They aren't ideal for fresh snow above 6" or high-speed aggressive skiing due to their width and softness. Although not built for long-term hard skiing, these skis are a great value for those learning the basics or perfecting their technique.
Ideal for
- Easy to maneuver
- Good edge hold
- Solid construction
Not ideal for
- Not stable at top speed
- Not for aggressive skiers
- Not versatile in fresh snow
Flotation
At 85mm wide, these skis simply aren't built for fresh snow. In up to 6" of fresh snow, when you're mostly skiing the bottom layer of the snow, these will...Read more
Carving
These are a great ski to learn how to carve on. Initiating and transitioning from turn to turn is very intuitive and easy. They hold an edge well and feel...Read more
High Speed Stability
These skis simply aren't marketed or built for high speed, aggressive skiing. They are very approachable and easy to ski, great for perfecting your technique or learning the basics, but...Read more
Playfulness
These aren't built to be a super playful ski---they're pretty directional and meant for learning solid technique. That being said, a purely wooden core keeps them soft and pliable, so...Read more
Durability
Because of the budget friendly price tag and basic construction, these probably won't stand up to hard skiing for many years. The lack of carbon or metal means the wood...Read more
Turn Ease
The Mindbender 85 is the narrowest model of the Mindbender line and the most beginner friendly. These are the most approachable and forgiving model in the line. They have no...Read more
Versatility
These are just a bit too narrow for true versatility with snow conditions. Any fresh snow above 6" and these will flounder. That being said, they have decent versatility terrain...Read more
Expert Reviews of the K2 Mindbender 85 Skis
Ian Hamilton These are a great ski for the beginner to intermediate skier who doesn't want to break the bank but wants a solid, easy turning, maneuverable ski. I took a couple runs on them and was impressed with their edge hold and easy carving, but I didn't feel comfortable at higher speeds or in fresh snow. This ski can handle off piste; they were ok in the moguls and trees but didn't have enough flotation to navigate fresh snow easily. This isn't an aggressive ski---the Mindbenders with metal in the TI versions are better for more advanced skiers. I think these a great ski for the money and can really help skiers get comfortable on snow and progress in their skiing!
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Ski type | Freeride, All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Flotation
1/5
Ian Hamilton gave 1 of 5 stars. At 85mm wide, these skis simply aren't built for fresh snow. In up to 6" of fresh snow, when you're mostly skiing the bottom layer of the snow, these will do fine. But if there's heavy snow, or more than 8", these will not float enough and will be tiresome to maneuver. The 90C or wider Mindbenders are a better option in those circumstances.
Carving
4/5
Ian Hamilton gave 4 of 5 stars. These are a great ski to learn how to carve on. Initiating and transitioning from turn to turn is very intuitive and easy. They hold an edge well and feel very solid and stable at low to moderate speeds. The short turn radius makes it really easy to do short and medium turns with confidence. I felt nimble and quick on these, both on piste and off.
High Speed Stability
3/5
Ian Hamilton gave 3 of 5 stars. These skis simply aren't marketed or built for high speed, aggressive skiing. They are very approachable and easy to ski, great for perfecting your technique or learning the basics, but aren't stiff enough for top speed stability. They hold an edge well and turn easily, but they chatter and lose stability when you go too fast.
Playfulness
3/5
Ian Hamilton gave 3 of 5 stars. These aren't built to be a super playful ski---they're pretty directional and meant for learning solid technique. That being said, a purely wooden core keeps them soft and pliable, so they are much more playful than their metal and carbon imbued brethren. Overall a slightly playful ski, pretty middle of the road.
Durability
3/5
Ian Hamilton gave 3 of 5 stars. Because of the budget friendly price tag and basic construction, these probably won't stand up to hard skiing for many years. The lack of carbon or metal means the wood core will be flexed a lot, especially at high speeds, and will wear out faster than other stiffer skis with more complicated construction.
Turn Ease
4/5
Ian Hamilton gave 4 of 5 stars. The Mindbender 85 is the narrowest model of the Mindbender line and the most beginner friendly. These are the most approachable and forgiving model in the line. They have no carbon or metal to stiffen them, so they have a soft flex and are very light. This makes them very maneuverable and intuitive for beginner and intermediate skiers looking to turn easily both off and on piste.
Versatility
2/5
Ian Hamilton gave 2 of 5 stars. These are just a bit too narrow for true versatility with snow conditions. Any fresh snow above 6" and these will flounder. That being said, they have decent versatility terrain wise. They can handle off-piste moguls, steeps, and trees. The ski is easy to maneuver, so it's a good option for beginners and intermediates to use to explore the whole mountain.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Ian Hamilton I had a great run on these where I linked short carves all the way down a groomer at Snowbasin. I let the skis do the work and just left, right repeated all the way to the bottom. Felt like what a ski should do.
Why did you choose this product?
Ian Hamilton I wanted to see how well this ski performed because it's a great value ski, and I had recommended it to a lot of customers who wanted to get into skiing but didn't want a super expensive ski. I have friends who love the Mindbender line, and K2 makes great stuff, but I hadn't tried the beginner intermediate option. I was impressed and it reinforced my opinion that the Mindbender 85 is a great option for a first ski coming from rentals.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Ian Hamilton This ski has great value, it's very affordable but a solidly built ski. It's easy to ski and will make skiing fun for beginners and intermediates. It's a big step up from most rentals and only needs to be replaced once the skier has progressed beyond intermediate level.
What do you love about this product?
Ian Hamilton I love how easy these are to ski. The Mindbender line has something for everyone, and this is a great ski for people to learn how to ski or perfect their technique on. Intuitive, maneuverable, and simply fun skiing.
