Video Transcript

Hi there. I'm Lauren, a ski expert here at curated.com, based in the beautiful state of Colorado. Today, I'm going to give you a quick comparison of the K2 Mindbender 85 Women's and the Line Pandora 84.

K2 Mindbender 85 Skis

Let's jump in first with the K2 Mindbender. Keep in mind, the K2 Mindbender has a line for men and for women. This one says women's at the end of it, so we know it's the women's specific K2 Mindbender. The K2 Mindbender 85 is a really unique ski in that it covers a special category that not many companies do. It is great for an upper beginner looking to become an intermediate or a low intermediate looking to advance.

The reason I say that is most beginner skis are narrower and really focused on just that groomer performance and that true, entry-level type of skiing. The K2 Mindbender 85 is going to be able to give a beginner the capability to learn, but is also going to be wide enough to help them advance into different types of skiing conditions. The ski is very lightweight. 85 is still traditionally a narrow ski, so it's going to be easy to turn and easy to move, but it's going to be just wide enough to be able to go into moguls and trees and be a great learning experience for someone who is a beginner now, but is really dedicated to learning and knows that skiing is going to be a lifelong sport for them and has dreams someday of becoming an advanced skier. This is a great ski for them.

So, who it's for? That advanced beginner. Like I said, it also is for a lower intermediate looking to develop those skills, even through an advanced intermediate who just wants to spend more time in trees and moguls, ready to get off piste.

Who it's not for? As someone becomes more advanced, they're going to find a lack of support due to a lack of metal in this ski. They're going to find it to be a little too floppy where they're going to need support. So really, it's for that lower level of skier who does not want to stay on groomers anymore.

Line Pandora 84 Skis

So let's compare that to the Line Pandora 84. There's a lot of overlap here. So 84 is going to be just slightly narrower than 85. That refers to how wide the ski is underfoot, 84 being 1 millimeter less than 85. So it's very front side friendly. This ski does have carbon stringers throughout it, so it's going to be more supportive on groomers. This is a great East Coast ski. It's recommended for East Coasters all the time because it really excels on groomers.

So who it's for? An intermediate to advanced skier will enjoy this ski. An upper beginner might still be able to enjoy their time on this ski, but it's going to be a little more difficult compared to the K2 Mindbender. The carbon stringers in the ski are going to make it more accessible through that advanced level. It's going to be for someone who is spending most of their time on groomers but still wants to go into trees and moguls. At 84 underfoot, it's going to be less fresh snow-friendly. So on a true powder day, these skis are unfortunately not going to perform up to snuff there, but overall, it's a great all-mountain option, especially for the East Coaster.

Similarities and Differences

So how are these two skis similar? They're both exceptionally lightweight, both pretty narrow at 84 and 85. They're going to have a nice aspen core. They're going to be very accessible for an intermediate. Where they are different is that the Line has carbon stringers, making it more supportive for a more advancing skier. So if you're intermediate to advanced, Line Pandora is going to be a better option. Whereas the K2 Mindbender is more suited for an upper beginner or a true intermediate is going to be happy on them.

Still, don't know which one is right for you? Not a problem. Reach out to me or another expert here at curated.com and we'll help you find just what you need.

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