Review: K2 Mindbender 106C Skis · Women's · 2023
By Ski Expert
Lucia L
K2 Mindbender 106C Skis · Women's · 2023
$324.98
$649.95
50% off
8 photos
The Curated Take
4.3/5
The K2 Mindbender 106C Skis are a versatile and playful choice for skiers seeking an all-mountain ski that excels in various conditions. With a 106mm waist, they provide excellent float in deeper snow while handling groomers well. These skis feature a flexible construction, making them agile and playful, suitable for quick turns in trees and moguls. Despite their lighter build, they maintain high-speed stability and dampness, effortlessly tackling choppy terrain. These skis offer exceptional value for their price, making them a great choice for skiers looking for a more playful, all-mountain experience.
Ideal for
- Light for its size
- Great all around the mountain
- Fun and playful
Not ideal for
- Not the most durable topsheets
- Less aggressive than other Mindbenders
- Might be too flexible for some
Turn Ease
Although the K2 Mindbender 106C has a wider waist, the steeper sidecut of the ski allows for easy transitions from edge to edge. The flexibleness of the ski, mixed with...Read more
Playfulness
One of my favorite features of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs was how playful they were compared to their Mindbender siblings. Because of the spectral braiding, this ski is poppy and...Read more
Durability
Speaking from personal experience, the bases of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs are pretty durable. I have run over a fair number of rocks, stumps, and various sizes of trees with...Read more
High Speed Stability
What I love about the K2 Mindbender 106Cs is their ability to travel at high speeds while maintaining a damp and stable feeling underfoot. I was comfortable laying into turns...Read more
Carving
Regardless of their wider waist at 106mm, the K2 Mindbender 106Cs carve super well for their size. Because of their flexier construction and wider nose and tail, these skis are...Read more
Versatility
The K2 Mindbender 106Cs are some of the most versatile. I consider this ski to be a true one-ski quiver killer. The wider waist allows for great performance off-piste, while...Read more
Flotation
While some might prefer a wider ski for the deep days, the 106mm waist of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs provides the ideal amount of float for an all-mountain ski. I...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Lucia L
About the ski gear
- Model: K2 Mindbender 106C Skis · Women's · 2023
Test conditions
- When I tested these: January 2023
- Where I’ve used them: Crystal Mountain, WA, through pretty much all conditions imaginable
- How many times I've used it: 20
Expert Reviews of the K2 Mindbender 106C Skis
Lucia L The K2 Mindbender 106C was one of my favorite skis to demo last season. I regularly rode these guys around Crystal Mountain, finding them to handle all conditions well. With a 106mm waist, they were my go-to option for a deeper or fresh day. Once the snow got chopped up, these skis pushed through any crud and choppy conditions, allowing me to enjoy a full day of riding. And on the groomers, they were so damp and carvy. Because of their wider nose, these skis can lay some sharp turns. I recommend these skis for someone looking for an all-mountain ski that will rip on the groomers but still hold up in a good amount of fresh snow.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Women's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2023 |
| Ski type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Turn Ease
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. Although the K2 Mindbender 106C has a wider waist, the steeper sidecut of the ski allows for easy transitions from edge to edge. The flexibleness of the ski, mixed with the sidecut, allows for quick and effortless turns on groomers. In the trees or moguls, the light weight of the K2 Mindbender 106C provides for quick and effortless movement underfoot.
Playfulness
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. One of my favorite features of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs was how playful they were compared to their Mindbender siblings. Because of the spectral braiding, this ski is poppy and light underfoot. The ski's flexibility, mixed with the lighter core, produces a super fun and playful ski that performs nicely in all conditions.
Durability
3/5
Lucia L gave 3 of 5 stars. Speaking from personal experience, the bases of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs are pretty durable. I have run over a fair number of rocks, stumps, and various sizes of trees with these skis with no damage to the bases. The topsheets are also durable, but the spectral braiding can chip easily. I rate them above average durability in the bases and edges and average regarding topsheets.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. What I love about the K2 Mindbender 106Cs is their ability to travel at high speeds while maintaining a damp and stable feeling underfoot. I was comfortable laying into turns at high speeds with these skis, regardless of their wider waist. They eat up any crud on the trail and shift quickly into turns.
Carving
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. Regardless of their wider waist at 106mm, the K2 Mindbender 106Cs carve super well for their size. Because of their flexier construction and wider nose and tail, these skis are easy to lay into at high speeds. I found it effortless to shift from edge to edge, making quick and deep turns on groomers in any condition.
Versatility
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. The K2 Mindbender 106Cs are some of the most versatile. I consider this ski to be a true one-ski quiver killer. The wider waist allows for great performance off-piste, while the steeper sidecut of the ski drives its 14-16m turn radius. This ski will surf through freshies, carve on groomers, and make tight turns through trees and moguls.
Flotation
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. While some might prefer a wider ski for the deep days, the 106mm waist of the K2 Mindbender 106Cs provides the ideal amount of float for an all-mountain ski. I rode these skis on some deeper days at Crystal Mountain (1-2ft), and they handled the fresh snow well. What I like about these skis is their ability to stay afloat even when the snow is heavier and chopped up, rather than diving into the snow.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Lucia L I had plenty of memorable moments on the K2 Mindbender 106Cs, but the moment I realized these skis were the right ones for me had to be my favorite. I took these out on a deep freshies day, but it was already afternoon, and the classic cascade concrete had already formed. The areas with fresh snow were cut up and choppy from other riders. I decided to test the Mindbenders' skills and was super surprised. Although light and flexible, these skis charged through the chop and were easy to stay atop. They floated where they could and pushed through everywhere else. I also took them to some groomer runs I thought would be fun, and I loved that they handled that just as well. Due to their larger nose and carbon stringer construction, this ski carved tight turns and was very damp. As someone who likes a playful ski but values charge and aggressiveness, I knew this ski was the right one for me.
Why did you choose this product?
Lucia L I chose to ride the K2 Mindbender 106Cs as I was already a big fan of how hard-charging the Mindbender series was, but I wanted to try a lighter and more playful option. This ski was the right choice for that. Unlike other Mindbenders, this ski has a wood construction with carbon stringers. The ski is significantly lighter and more flexy and playful than its titanal-built siblings. When testing it out the first time, I loved how it could push through any crud or chop on the mountain, maintaining a damp and stable composure. When riding groomers, it instantly fell into a rhythm of quick and deep turns, something I really value in a ski. The K2 Mindbender 106C was the ski that brought it all.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Lucia L The K2 Mindbender 106Cs offer an excellent value for price, in my opinion. Most all-mountain skis that are this versatile are often priced around $800-$900. The Mindbender 106Cs start around $650, which is a great price for what they have to offer. To get a ski that floats in powder, charges through chop, stays stable and damp at high speeds, and can carve at a 106 waist for this price is a great deal.
What do you love about this product?
Lucia L The key features I love about the K2 Mindbender 106C Skis are their versatility and playfulness around the mountain. Although they have a wider waist, these skis do not hold back on the groomers. These skis will push through any crud or chopped snow on the mountain, laying down smooth, effortless turns in all terrain. I found them to be a lot of fun on days when there was fresh snow in the morning, which later turned hardpack on groomers. I also enjoy the amount of flex these skis have. Without the titanal framing in the ski's core, these skis are much lighter and more playful than other Mindbenders in the series. I recommend them for a skier looking for a flexier, more playful all-mountain ski.
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