Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 vs K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2024
VS
Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | $419.99 40% off | from:$274.98 50% off |
User rating | 5(1) | 5(2) |
The Curated Take | Best for experienced skiers looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in various conditions. | Best for beginner to intermediate skiers looking to advance their skills with easy turning and maneuverability. |
Ski type | Freeride, Carving, All Mountain | All Mountain |
Skill level | Expert, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
In the world of skiing, the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 90C are two skis that have made a name for themselves. Both are designed for all-mountain skiing, but each has its own unique features and strengths. The Völkl Kendo 88 is a stiff all-mountain charger that excels in carving on groomers and is ideal for advanced or expert skiers. On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 90C is a versatile ski that is easy to turn in all conditions and is perfect for beginners looking to advance their skills or intermediate riders wanting to explore the whole mountain. While both skis are great in their own right, the choice between the two ultimately depends on the skier's skill level and preferred skiing style.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 is a narrow all-mountain ski that is designed to be a stiff all-mountain charger. It features Titanal throughout, providing it with a stiff and stable construction that can handle a range of conditions. This ski is particularly well-suited for carving on groomers, thanks to its 88-millimeter waist and a fairly mellow side cut. It also has a little bit of tip rocker to help with turn initiation and float in softer snow.
The Kendo 88 is a solid carving ski with a medium 16-meter turn radius, making it perfect for short to medium turns. It has a fairly stiff tip, making it ideal for expert skiers in the bumps and great for advanced-to-expert skiers who enjoy skiing on groomers. The ski is very stable in the turn and is a very damp ski that can handle a range of conditions. It's great in hard snow, good in soft snow, and a little bit too stiff for super manky snow.
This ski is recommended for advanced or expert skiers, particularly those on the east coast. It's not the best choice for deep powder, as its composition that makes it so good on firmer snow will cause it to sink a bit in heavier snow. It's also not a good ski for beginners, as it's a fairly stiff and demanding ski.
The best ski for everything on the mountain. This ski delivers ultimate versatility, carves with ease, rips up the moguls, and handles crud and chunk like no other. At just 88 mm underfoot, this ski really engages with the snow, having a daily high engagement edge. It also floats in the pow and loves to dolphin dive from the deep pow to the surface with a sense of playfulness that leaves me wanting endless runs. Having just bought the ski last year, I would happily buy another pair if I need to. If I had to choose only one ski for the rest of my life, this would be it.
The best ski for everything on the mountain. This ski delivers ultimate versatility, carves with ease, rips up the moguls, and handles crud and chunk like no other. At just 88 mm underfoot, this ski really engages with the snow, having a daily high engagement edge. It also floats in the pow and loves to dolphin dive from the deep pow to the surface with a sense of playfulness that leaves me wanting endless runs. Having just bought the ski last year, I would happily buy another pair if I need to. If I had to choose only one ski for the rest of my life, this would be it.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2024 summary
The K2 Mindbender 90C is a versatile all-mountain ski that is designed for intermediate skiers. It's light, good on groomers, and easy to ski. It's wide enough to get off trail a little bit, too. The ski uses carbon instead of metal, which makes it lighter and easier on the legs while still providing stiffness and solid edge grip.
The Mindbender 90C is a fun, cool-looking ski that offers a high-quality ride. It's not a super aggressive ski, but it's very confidence-inspiring. It's great on groomers and is quick edge to edge. It's also decent in the trees and fresh snow, but any more snow than a couple of inches and they would sink.
This ski is recommended for anyone from an ambitious lower intermediate up to an advanced skier. If you want a stable, confident yet forgiving, intermediate to advanced ski that’s lighter and not as stiff, this is a great option at a really affordable price. However, it's not suitable for true beginner skiers or expert skiers who could overpower the ski.
This is a really popular ski so I was excited to put them to the test. I got a couple good runs at Snowbasin Utah in March and got to try them in some different snow conditions. On piste they did really well, solid edge hold, quick and easy to turn. In the moguls they fared alright, not the best but not a problem either. They also did decently in the trees and fresh snow, but any more snow than the couple inches that I was skiing and they would sink. Not a powder ski, but solid versatility for a 90mm wide ski. Overall I loved how forgiving they were, I felt confident and at ease in turns and transitioning from turn to turn. I only got nervous when I got going a bit fast and put a lot of pressure into the skis, they weren't quite stiff enough for super aggressive skiing or larger skiers. A beginner to intermediate skier looking to adventure all over the mountain would have a great time on these.
This is a really popular ski so I was excited to put them to the test. I got a couple good runs at Snowbasin Utah in March and got to try them in some different snow conditions. On piste they did really well, solid edge hold, quick and easy to turn. In the moguls they fared alright, not the best but not a problem either. They also did decently in the trees and fresh snow, but any more snow than the couple inches that I was skiing and they would sink. Not a powder ski, but solid versatility for a 90mm wide ski. Overall I loved how forgiving they were, I felt confident and at ease in turns and transitioning from turn to turn. I only got nervous when I got going a bit fast and put a lot of pressure into the skis, they weren't quite stiff enough for super aggressive skiing or larger skiers. A beginner to intermediate skier looking to adventure all over the mountain would have a great time on these.
K2 Mindbender 90C Skis · 2024
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 90C are all-mountain skis designed to handle a variety of conditions. They both have a similar waist width, with the Kendo 88 at 88mm and the Mindbender 90C at 90mm, making them both suitable for carving on groomers. Both skis also feature some form of rocker in the tip to aid in turn initiation and float in softer snow.
In terms of performance, both skis are praised for their stability and edge hold, making them great for carving turns on groomed runs. They are also both described as being easy to turn and maneuverable, making them good choices for navigating through moguls or trees.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 90C have some similarities, they also have key differences that make them suitable for different types of skiers. The Kendo 88 is a stiff all-mountain charger that is ideal for advanced or expert skiers who spend a lot of their time carving on groomers. It's a fairly stiff and demanding ski, making it not the best choice for beginners.
On the other hand, the Mindbender 90C is a versatile ski that is easy to turn in all conditions and is perfect for beginners looking to advance their skills or intermediate riders wanting to explore the whole mountain. It's a more forgiving ski that is not as stiff as the Kendo 88, making it a great option for lighter skiers or those who don't need the stability and stiffness of a metal laminate ski.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When it comes to carving performance, the Völkl Kendo 88 takes the lead with its stiff construction and excellent edge hold. It's a solid carving ski that is perfect for advanced-to-expert skiers who love making short to medium turns on groomed runs.
In terms of versatility, the K2 Mindbender 90C comes out on top. It's a versatile all-mountain ski that is easy to turn in all conditions, making it ideal for beginners looking to advance their skills or intermediate riders wanting to explore the whole mountain.
For forgiveness and ease of use, the Mindbender 90C wins again. It's a more forgiving ski that is not as stiff as the Kendo 88, making it a great option for lighter skiers or those who don't need the stability and stiffness of a metal laminate ski.
Finally, when it comes to value for money, the Mindbender 90C is the winner. It offers a great combination of performance and versatility at a really affordable price, making it a great option for skiers on a budget.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 90C are excellent all-mountain skis that offer great performance in a variety of conditions. The Kendo 88 is a stiff all-mountain charger that excels in carving on groomers and is ideal for advanced or expert skiers. The Mindbender 90C, on the other hand, is a versatile ski that is easy to turn in all conditions and is perfect for beginners looking to advance their skills or intermediate riders wanting to explore the whole mountain. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the skier's skill level and preferred skiing style. So, whether you're an advanced skier looking for a stiff all-mountain charger or a beginner looking for a versatile and forgiving ski, both the Kendo 88 and the Mindbender 90C have something to offer.
