Review: K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis · 2023
By Curated Experts
Lucia L and Bryant Leech
K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis · 2023
$374.98
$749.95
50% off
12 photos
The Curated Take
4.3/5
The K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis are designed for hard-charging and aggressive riders seeking a versatile all-mountain ski. With a titanal construction, they excel at laying solid carves and confidently pushing through ice and crud. While they may be stiffer and lack liveliness, these skis are built for stability and high-speed performance. They offer excellent turn ease, high-speed stability, and durability, making them suitable for experienced skiers prioritizing power and precision over playfulness. They also provide good flotation in off-piste conditions, although there may be better choices for deep powder days.
Ideal for
- A hard-charging all-mountain ski
- Lays solid carves
- Pushes smoothly through ice and crud
- Playful and stable for everyday use
Not ideal for
- Can feel very locked into a turn
- Pretty stiff ski
- Not a very lively ski
- Designed for more aggressive riders
Turn Ease
I thought the K2 Mindbender 99Ti turned easily and shifted smoothly from edge to edge, but skiers will need to have a good amount of control and foreword pressure to...Read more
This ski likes to turn, and with a confident forward-leaning driver, it will carve really well. Its Y-shaped metal, with more in the front than in the back, allows for...Read more
Playfulness
The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a hard-charging all-mountain ski that loves to eat up a groomer and crud. While the ski can be a little playful, it's really not meant...Read more
Many skis fall into the "playful" or "charging" realms. This ski gives skiers a nice balance with its playfulness in the rocker and less metal in the tips and tails....Read more
Durability
I have skied the K2 Mindbender family a lot and noticed that the titanal skis' bases are pretty durable. However, the topsheet on the 99Ti could be a little stronger....Read more
High Speed Stability
I found the K2 Mindbender 99Ti to be a very stable and damp ski all around the mountain. When off-piste, they cut right through the cascade concrete and were stable...Read more
This ski has a great upper limit for carving down the slopes at breakneck speed. Some skis might have a bit more upper-end limit with full sheets of metal, but...Read more
Carving
I really liked how smoothly the K2 Mindbender 99Ti would get on edge and lock into a carve. I had to put some work into the ski and apply some...Read more
This ski does an excellent job of holding an edge on terrain when the groomers are soft. This is a great choice for a daily driver out West in the...Read more
Versatility
I would describe the K2 Mindbender 99Ti as an all-mountain ski that likes to focus on hard-charging. Skiers can take this ski anywhere on the mountain and have a solid...Read more
This ski can hang with the best of them in terms of versatility. With metal but not too much metal, rocker but not too much rocker, and width but not...Read more
Flotation
I found the K2 Mindbender 99Ti to do pretty well in off-piste conditions with fresh snow. Obviously, the PNW is not known for its bottomless powder, so most turns were...Read more
The rocker does not scream powder ski. Other skis like the Enforcer or the Rustler are likely better options in this width if someone wants to do powder all the...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Lucia L
Bryant Leech
About the ski gear
- Model: K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis · 2023
Test conditions
- When I tested these: Throughout the 2023 season
- Where I’ve used them: Crystal Mountain, WA
- How many times I've used it: 10
Expert Reviews of the K2 Mindbender 99Ti Skis
Lucia L The 99Ti Mindbender is a big favorite in the Mindbender series, and I can see why. I rode this ski a lot throughout the 2023 season all around the mountain and always had a good time on it. It's a pretty hard-charging, hard-to-the-ground kind of ride. The titanal in the ski makes it pretty aggressive and heavy but leads it to push through any crud or chop on the mountain. I could count on this ski to hold an edge on icier days, cut through heavy and fresh snow, and stay afloat on a powder day. The only limitation for me was the traditional camber shape and lack of play in the ski.
Bryant Leech The Mindbender series has been a huge hit for K2 over the years, with a cult-like following among skiers from coast to coast. The 99Ti can be skied by a less experienced skier but enjoyed most by a more seasoned pilot. Its Y-shaped metal frame stiffens up the tip of the ski while keeping the tail pretty maneuverable and softer. This creates a unique set of characteristics that might be a good combo for many folks, especially if they don't like the feeling of having their ski be so stiff in the tail that it "pushes" them forward. Overall, this is a versatile weapon for use every day.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2023 |
| Ski type | Freeride, All Mountain |
| Skill level | Advanced, Expert |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Turn Ease
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. I thought the K2 Mindbender 99Ti turned easily and shifted smoothly from edge to edge, but skiers will need to have a good amount of control and foreword pressure to get the most out of this ski. They constantly need to be there and guide it around. If skiers can do that, the ski will give a lot in return. They will notice it in their turns when they let off a little bit.
Bryant Leech gave 4 of 5 stars. This ski likes to turn, and with a confident forward-leaning driver, it will carve really well. Its Y-shaped metal, with more in the front than in the back, allows for easy turning in a lot of conditions. It's not an overpowering ski that will punish skiers, but it requires some effort to perform.
Playfulness
4/5
Lucia L gave 3 of 5 stars. The K2 Mindbender 99Ti is a hard-charging all-mountain ski that loves to eat up a groomer and crud. While the ski can be a little playful, it's really not meant for that. Skiers who look for a lot of play in a ski will notice it right away. These skis are more geared towards making fast turns on choppy or cruddy terrain. They also follow a very traditional ski shape, with a slight rocker tip, slight camber underfoot, and flat-out tail so that skiers won't get a lot of support out of them in and off of jumps.
Bryant Leech gave 4 of 5 stars. Many skis fall into the "playful" or "charging" realms. This ski gives skiers a nice balance with its playfulness in the rocker and less metal in the tips and tails. However, it's all business underfoot, with a full sheet of metal to allow for high-level carving.
Durability
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. I have skied the K2 Mindbender family a lot and noticed that the titanal skis' bases are pretty durable. However, the topsheet on the 99Ti could be a little stronger. Lots of K2 skis have come back with chipped topsheets that expose the carbon stringers within. While it's not a huge issue, if someone is into cosmetics, they might be a little disappointed by the durability of these skis.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. I found the K2 Mindbender 99Ti to be a very stable and damp ski all around the mountain. When off-piste, they cut right through the cascade concrete and were stable and supportive through the chop. On groomers, they ate up the ice and plowed through any crud or chop on the trail. I felt pretty confident taking these through any sketchy conditions.
Bryant Leech gave 4 of 5 stars. This ski has a great upper limit for carving down the slopes at breakneck speed. Some skis might have a bit more upper-end limit with full sheets of metal, but this ski performs very well at higher speeds.
Carving
4/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. I really liked how smoothly the K2 Mindbender 99Ti would get on edge and lock into a carve. I had to put some work into the ski and apply some pressure to keep them in control, but this should feel natural to aggressive riders. I liked that they were very stable and could charge through any conditions like crud, chop, and ice without a problem.
Bryant Leech gave 3 of 5 stars. This ski does an excellent job of holding an edge on terrain when the groomers are soft. This is a great choice for a daily driver out West in the Rockies or anywhere that gets a bit more snow.
Versatility
5/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. I would describe the K2 Mindbender 99Ti as an all-mountain ski that likes to focus on hard-charging. Skiers can take this ski anywhere on the mountain and have a solid time. The ski is on the stiffer side, so it will be stable underfoot and support skiers through all conditions. It is a bit on the heavier side, so if someone is looking for something to float through pow, keep in mind that this ski does sink a little. Additionally, it's not the most playful ski out there, which I found to be one of its only limitations.
Bryant Leech gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski can hang with the best of them in terms of versatility. With metal but not too much metal, rocker but not too much rocker, and width but not too much width, this is a great do-it-all ski. It provides the rider a really stable platform to get out and enjoy everything the mountain has to offer.
Flotation
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. I found the K2 Mindbender 99Ti to do pretty well in off-piste conditions with fresh snow. Obviously, the PNW is not known for its bottomless powder, so most turns were made in heavier, fresh snow. However, the Mindbender 99Ti stayed afloat pretty well and would push through any harder chop on the trail. Given the weight and narrower waist of the ski, I would expect it to sink a little in deeper stuff, but if someone is riding just a little off-piste (or cascade concrete), then this ski will do the job.
Bryant Leech gave 3 of 5 stars. The rocker does not scream powder ski. Other skis like the Enforcer or the Rustler are likely better options in this width if someone wants to do powder all the time, but this can handle it. However, powder should be the rarity rather than the norm to really enjoy the Mindbender.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Lucia L My favorite feature about the K2 Mindbender 99Ti was how hard-charging it was. The ski felt like it could break through anything in the hardpack snow.
Bryant Leech This ski is a versatile machine. It can ski a lot of different terrain well and comes in a great width for most (99mm underfoot). This ski is geared toward firmer conditions within the ~100mm underfoot profile, as it doesn't have a dramatic tip rocker.
Why did you choose this product?
Lucia L I chose to try the K2 Mindbender 99Ti as I had heard a lot about how hard-charging and more aggressive this ski was and wanted to try it out.
Bryant Leech The Mindbender has been one of the most popular skis for almost a decade. I have always been interested in K2 skis, but I was really excited when they came out with one that wasn't super soft. Additionally, as a guy around 185lbs, I find skis with a full sheet of metal to be too stiff, while skis without any metal are typically too soft. The Mindbender fits in the nice category of skis with some metal but not all metal. To me, it seemed like a good option for a medium-sized guy.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Bryant Leech The two major skis that also employ partial metal in their construction are the Blizzard Rustler 9 and the Line Blade Optic. While I think the Blizzard offers better soft snow performance, it doesn't have the groomer performance of the K2. The Line may provide a tad more on-trail performance but loses some flexibility to go everywhere the K2 can go. Both the Line and the Blizzard have a more symmetrical amount of metal in the tip and tail. The Mindbender has more metal in the tip than the tail, which can be nice and supportive if someone is driving the tips.
Lucia L
Ski ExpertBryant Leech
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