Video Transcript

My name is Leo, and I'm a Ski Expert at curated.com. Today, we're discussing the Armada Declivity 102Ti versus the K2 Mindbender 99Ti.

Armada Declivity 102Ti Skis

Let's start with the Declivity from Armada, a brand known for their freestyle skis. But this is one of their more directional and hard-charging skis. This ski is 102 underfoot, and we discuss this waist width to understand how quickly it transitions from edge to edge and how well it floats through soft snow. 102 underfoot places it squarely in the all-mountain freeride category, meaning it's capable of handling all terrains on the mountain, both groomed and ungroomed. It also performs exceptionally well in powder. This 102 underfoot makes it an ideal daily driver for an advanced to expert skier, especially out in the West, but ski is also approachable for an intermediate as well.

The Ti in it, the metal that runs through the core of the ski is done in a unique way. You can almost see it when you zoom into the tip here, and they have these little lines, what they have is this braid of titanal rods that run through the core of the ski. That give it stiffness without adding too much weight and makes it perfectly damp and stable while still being fun and poppy. It has a great overall shape with plenty of rocker in the tip and just enough taper and rocker in the tail, making it easy to get in and out of turns and float through powder.

So, if you're an advanced and expert skier or a high-level intermediate looking for an all-mountain ski in the West that can handle all conditions, as well as powder, this could be a great option for you.

K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis

But if we jump over here to the K2 Mindbender 99Ti. We're looking for something really similar, but has enough differences to set them apart. Rather than titanal braiding, the Mindbender has a Y-shaped sheet of metal in the core. And it feels awesome when you transfer your power from edge to edge, as you can really feel the metal flexing and responding. But because it has more metal in it than the Declivity, it does come off a little burlier.

I've skied this a lot myself. It's something I take out on days when I'm looking to bust crud. It has a very traditional cut with a pretty square tip and tail. From the side, you can see it has just enough rocker in the tail that you can ski a little bit of switch if you want to. But, when you roll it up on edge, you have a lot of nice tail contact to get you through the turn. Because of the slight differences in shape, I find the Declivity performs better in powder than the Mindbender but that's just a very small difference to the point where if you want I would say if you want that one-ski quiver for advanced to expert skiers that can handle powder but is mostly focused on charging, the Mindbender is a great option as well.

If you're an intermediate, this ski is going to feel a bit advanced for you if you're on the East Coast, it might be a little bit more than you need. But that being said, it's still a perfectly good East Coast ski, especially if you're taller, heavier, or want a ski that can perform in the East as well as in the West.

Similarities and Differences

Which one is right for you? That's a great question. Come chat with your expert here on curated.com if you have any questions, and we will help you find the perfect pair. Thanks!

Comparison Table