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Expert Comparison: Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024 vs K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis · Women's · 2024

Published on 02/09/2024 · 6 min readCompare Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024 and K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis · Women's · 2024. Get expert insight below!
Charlotte H, Ski Expert
Peter Locke, Ski Expert
Sara Beeken, Ski Expert
Contributed By Ski Expert Charlotte H, Peter Locke, Sara Beeken, Lindsay Pittard, Adisyn Moorhead and others

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Side by side comparison

Out of stock
Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings · Women's · 2024
Out of stock
K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis · Women's · 2024
Price
$215.98
55% off
$179.98
60% off
User rating
5(6)
5(3)
The Curated Take

Ideal for beginners and intermediate skiers looking for easy turning and controlled speed while exploring diverse terrains

Best for intermediate female skiers seeking adventurous terrain and versatility.

Ski type
Freeride
Freeride, All Mountain
Skill level
Intermediate
Intermediate, Advanced
Rocker profile
Rocker/Camber
Rocker/Camber/Rocker

In the world of women's skis, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis are two standout options for the 2024 season. Both skis are designed for intermediate skiers, offering a blend of performance, versatility, and value. The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is a lively, playful ski that excels in a variety of conditions, from groomers to off-piste terrain. It's a great option for advancing intermediate skiers or those transitioning from kids' skis to adult skis. On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 85 W is a stable, poppy ski that's easy to maneuver and forgiving, making it ideal for skiers looking to explore more challenging terrain. Both skis are great choices, but the best one for you will depend on your specific needs, preferences, and skiing style.

The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings are an all-mountain, intermediate to advanced ski with tip and tail rocker. They are marketed towards the advancing intermediate skier, offering a nice option for those looking to progress from their first pair of skis or rentals. Despite being marketed towards the beginner to intermediate level, these skis hold their own when cruising down the mountain. They are particularly good at ripping through trees and riding bumps well, thanks to their intuitive design and 90 waist width.

The Rallybirds have a good amount of rocker in their tips, which allows for quick turn initiation. They also have rocker in their tails, making them ideal for freestyle skiing. Underfoot, they pack a good amount of camber which adds to the springiness of the already light wood core. These skis are pretty soft, making them easy to rail into, but they can also hold up for someone who's powering into their ski.

In terms of carving, this ski turns on a dime, making short radius turns and quick edge to edge turns a breeze. They can handle medium or longer radius turns, but may struggle a bit with straight lining at high speeds. The edge hold on these Rallybirds is pretty good for a softer snow type of skiing day, but they might not be the best choice for hard pack icy days.

Overall, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings are a versatile, playful, and energetic ski that's perfect for the advancing intermediate skier.

These skis are super playful, poppy, energetic, and lively. You don't really feel them underfoot- they just feel like feathers that are floating down the mountain. I was hitting little jumps off the sides of the trails and they sent me soaring, which is really nice for someone who's looking to grow in that area.

Charlotte H
Ski Expert

The K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis are a great fit for intermediate female skiers who want to explore more adventurous terrain. These skis provide an agile and forgiving platform that excels in a variety of conditions. With a lightweight Aspen Veneer core and All-Terrain Rocker profile, they offer stability and versatility. They are also available in shorter lengths for smaller skiers.

The Mindbender 85 is stable enough for choppy or hardpack snow, but still a fun and poppy platform to jib around the mountain and play with. It's an intermediate ski that knows very few limits around the mountain. It's wonderful as a cruising ski out west, or a tree/all mountain ski almost everywhere else.

Unlike the rest of the Mindbender range, K2 doesn't use their Titanal Y-beam or wrap the core of the ski in a sleeve of carbon fiber. That makes it easier to flex, especially for lighter skiers at lower speeds. This makes it a great ski for folks who spend a lot of time skiing with younger kids, as they're easy to pivot around quickly.

Overall, the K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis are a versatile, stable, and fun ski that's perfect for intermediate skiers looking to explore more challenging terrain.

Unlike the rest of the Mindbender range, K2 doesn't use their Titanal Y-beam or wrap the core of the ski in a sleeve of carbon fiber. That makes it easier to flex, especially for lighter skiers at lower speeds. I find that folks who spend a lot of time skiing with younger kids really like skis like this, because they're easy to pivot around quickly like your kids do.

Peter Locke
Ski Expert

Similarities

Both the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis are designed for intermediate skiers, offering a blend of performance, versatility, and value. They both have a rocker profile, which makes them playful and easy to maneuver. Both skis are also lightweight, making them easy to handle and ideal for lighter skiers or those at lower speeds.

Both skis are designed to perform well in a variety of conditions, from groomers to off-piste terrain. They both offer stability and versatility, making them great options for skiers looking to explore more challenging terrain. Additionally, both skis are available in shorter lengths, making them suitable for smaller skiers.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for intermediate skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is a great option for advancing intermediate skiers or those transitioning from kids' skis to adult skis. It's a lively, playful ski that excels in a variety of conditions, from groomers to off-piste terrain. It's also a great option for skiers who enjoy freestyle skiing, thanks to its rocker in the tails.

On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 85 W is a stable, poppy ski that's easy to maneuver and forgiving, making it ideal for skiers looking to explore more challenging terrain. It's a great ski for folks who spend a lot of time skiing with younger kids, as they're easy to pivot around quickly. It's also a great option for skiers who are looking for a ski that's easy to flex, especially for lighter skiers at lower speeds.

In terms of differences, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro has a wider waist width (90mm) compared to the K2 Mindbender 85 W (85mm), which makes it better suited for softer snow conditions. The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro also comes with bindings, offering better value for money.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

  1. Performance: Both skis perform well in a variety of conditions, but the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro has a slight edge due to its wider waist width and rocker in the tails, which makes it more versatile and better suited for softer snow conditions and freestyle skiing.

  2. Value: The Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro comes with bindings, offering better value for money compared to the K2 Mindbender 85 W.

  3. Versatility: Both skis are versatile, but the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro is more versatile due to its wider waist width and rocker in the tails, which makes it better suited for a wider range of conditions and styles of skiing.

  4. Ease of Use: Both skis are easy to handle and ideal for lighter skiers or those at lower speeds. However, the K2 Mindbender 85 W is easier to flex, making it a better option for skiers who spend a lot of time skiing with younger kids or those who prefer a ski that's easy to pivot around quickly.

Overall, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings is the winner due to its superior performance, value, and versatility.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro Skis + Xpress W 10 GW Bindings and the K2 Mindbender 85 W Skis are excellent options for intermediate skiers. They both offer a blend of performance, versatility, and value, making them great choices for skiers looking to explore more challenging terrain. However, the Rossignol Rallybird 90 Pro has a slight edge due to its wider waist width, rocker in the tails, and inclusion of bindings, making it a more versatile and better value option. On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 85 W is a great option for skiers who spend a lot of time skiing with younger kids or those who prefer a ski that's easy to pivot around quickly. Ultimately, the best ski for you will depend on your specific needs, preferences, and skiing style.

Curated experts can help

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