Expert Comparison: K2 Reckoner 102 Skis · 2023 vs Faction Mana 2 Skis · 2023
VS
Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | from:$324.98 50% off | $399.99 50% off |
User rating | 4.25(16) | 5(16) |
The Curated Take | Best for skiers who enjoy a playful, poppy, and versatile ski that can handle park, groomers, and powder. | Best for intermediate and advanced skiers who enjoy off-piste terrain and want a playful ski. |
Ski type | All Mountain | All Mountain, Big Mountain |
Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
In the world of skiing, the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis and the Faction Mana 2 Skis are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed with a freestyle-oriented approach, making them perfect for those who love to play around on the mountain. The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are praised for their poppy, fun, and snappy performance, making them a great choice for those who love to hit the park and freestyle all over the mountain. On the other hand, the Faction Mana 2 Skis are known for their versatility, with a 102mm waist that transitions well from all-mountain to backside to park. Both skis are designed to be responsive and playful, with lightweight construction that allows for easy turning and popping off booters. However, the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are noted for their superior carving abilities, while the Faction Mana 2 Skis are praised for their flotation in powder. In the end, the choice between these two skis comes down to personal preference and the specific conditions you plan to ski in.
K2 Reckoner 102 Skis · 2023 summary
The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are designed to be a fun, all-mountain ski that can handle a variety of conditions. They are marketed as an all-mountain park ski, with a 102 waist width that provides a nice balance between carving and powder performance. The skis are very soft and poppy, rewarding skiers who maintain a loose, centered stance. They are designed to ski better forward mounted or true center, making them a great choice for freestyle-oriented skiers.
The construction of the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis is fairly standard, with a classic wood core, spectral braiding, and a bit of carbon. Despite this, they offer a unique ride that sets them apart from other park/freestyle options. They are super fun skis that are balanced in the air and quick edge to edge. They are also very versatile, able to handle everything from groomers to powder.
The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are also noted for their carving abilities. They are quick and snappy, able to handle short radius turns with ease. They also offer decent stability in turns, although they may get a bit chatty at high speeds or on ice. Despite this, they are a great choice for skiers who want a playful, freestyle-oriented ski that can handle a variety of conditions.
These are super fun skis. This is something that I would definitely ski all over as a daily driver out here in Utah, where I live. It’s very fun in the air, very balanced. I didn't feel like I was going to get over my tips too much or on my tails at any point. These would be great spring skis. They're wicked snappy and pretty soft but I had a great time on them. I like how quick they are edge to edge and turn to turn.
These are super fun skis. This is something that I would definitely ski all over as a daily driver out here in Utah, where I live. It’s very fun in the air, very balanced. I didn't feel like I was going to get over my tips too much or on my tails at any point. These would be great spring skis. They're wicked snappy and pretty soft but I had a great time on them. I like how quick they are edge to edge and turn to turn.
K2 Reckoner 102 Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
Faction Mana 2 Skis · 2023 summary
The Faction Mana 2 Skis are a versatile mid-fat twin tip ski that's perfect for freestyle-minded skiers. With a 102mm waist, they are great for playing in the park and all over the mountain. The TwinTech sidewall design and Carbon Boost Stringers add extra pop and responsiveness, while the All-Terrain Rocker provides control in varying snow conditions. From powder to park, this ski is a blast to ride and has a lively performance thanks to its full sidewall and double-barrel construction.
The Faction Mana 2 Skis are designed to make off-piste exploration in deeper and softer snow as fun as possible. They are ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers who are going to be moving through variable conditions from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder. The versatility of the 102 waist width makes it a really good option to be a daily driver specifically out in the west.
The Faction Mana 2 Skis are also noted for their playful personality. They are easy to initiate and release turns, and the lightweight Poplar Core construction helps the ski to pop off booters, butter over rollers, and whip effortlessly between turns. Yet the Rubber/Carbon stomp pad keeps it strong enough to take hit after hit.
The monastery is by faction is a Freeride ski series that is also inspired with a little freestyle twist. It's designed to make off piece exploration in deeper and softer snow as fun as possible. So starting with the Mana 2 this is at 102 underfoot. And this is going to be awesome for your intermediate to Advanced in even expert skiers who are going to be moving through variable conditions from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder, but that versatility of the 102 waist width.
The monastery is by faction is a Freeride ski series that is also inspired with a little freestyle twist. It's designed to make off piece exploration in deeper and softer snow as fun as possible. So starting with the Mana 2 this is at 102 underfoot. And this is going to be awesome for your intermediate to Advanced in even expert skiers who are going to be moving through variable conditions from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder, but that versatility of the 102 waist width.
Faction Mana 2 Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis and the Faction Mana 2 Skis are designed with a freestyle-oriented approach, making them perfect for those who love to play around on the mountain. They both have a 102mm waist width, which provides a nice balance between carving and powder performance. This makes them versatile enough to handle a variety of conditions, from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder.
Both skis are also designed to be responsive and playful, with lightweight construction that allows for easy turning and popping off booters. They both have a poppy and fun performance, with the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis being described as "super fun" and the Faction Mana 2 Skis being described as having a "playful personality".
In terms of construction, both skis feature a wood core and some form of carbon reinforcement. The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis feature a classic wood core with spectral braiding and a bit of carbon, while the Faction Mana 2 Skis feature a lightweight Poplar Core construction with Carbon Boost Stringers.
Finally, both skis are designed to be versatile all-mountain skis that can handle a variety of conditions. They are both great for playing in the park and all over the mountain, and they both offer decent stability in turns.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis and the Faction Mana 2 Skis are versatile all-mountain skis with a freestyle-oriented approach, they do have some key differences that make them better suited to different types of skiers.
The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are noted for their superior carving abilities. They are quick and snappy, able to handle short radius turns with ease. They also offer decent stability in turns, although they may get a bit chatty at high speeds or on ice. These skis are a great choice for skiers who love to hit the park and freestyle all over the mountain, but also want a ski that can carve well and handle a variety of conditions.
On the other hand, the Faction Mana 2 Skis are praised for their flotation in powder. They have a lightweight Poplar Core construction that helps the ski to pop off booters, butter over rollers, and whip effortlessly between turns. However, they are not ideal for carving or high speeds. These skis are a great choice for skiers who want a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in off-piste terrain like moguls, trees, and back bowls, with plenty of groomer confidence and a freestyle attitude.
In terms of persona, the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are perfect for the playful, freestyle-oriented skier who loves to hit the park and freestyle all over the mountain, but also wants a ski that can carve well and handle a variety of conditions. The Faction Mana 2 Skis, on the other hand, are ideal for the adventurous skier who loves to explore off-piste terrain and wants a ski that can handle deeper and softer snow with ease, while still being able to play around in the park.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
Versatility: Both skis are highly versatile, but the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis take the edge here due to their superior carving abilities. They can handle a variety of conditions, from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder, and are great for playing in the park and all over the mountain.
Playfulness: Both skis are designed to be playful and fun, but the Faction Mana 2 Skis are noted for their playful personality and easy turn initiation. They are easy to whip between turns and pop off booters, making them a blast to ride.
Performance in Powder: The Faction Mana 2 Skis win in this category. They are praised for their flotation in powder and their lightweight Poplar Core construction helps the ski to pop off booters and butter over rollers in deeper snow.
Carving Abilities: The K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are the clear winner in this category. They are quick and snappy, able to handle short radius turns with ease. They also offer decent stability in turns, making them a great choice for skiers who love to carve.
In conclusion, the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are the winner in terms of versatility and carving abilities, while the Faction Mana 2 Skis are the winner in terms of playfulness and performance in powder. The choice between these two skis ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific conditions you plan to ski in.
Conclusions
In the end, both the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis and the Faction Mana 2 Skis are top contenders for the 2023 season. They are both designed with a freestyle-oriented approach, making them perfect for those who love to play around on the mountain. They both offer a versatile performance that can handle a variety of conditions, from hard pack snow to deeper softer powder. However, the K2 Reckoner 102 Skis are noted for their superior carving abilities, while the Faction Mana 2 Skis are praised for their flotation in powder. The choice between these two skis ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific conditions you plan to ski in. So, whether you're a playful, freestyle-oriented skier who loves to hit the park, or an adventurous skier who loves to explore off-piste terrain, there's a ski out there for you. Happy shredding!
