Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 vs K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis · 2023
VS
Side by side comparison | Out of stock | Out of stock |
|---|---|---|
Price | $419.99 40% off | $388.93 48% off |
User rating | 5(1) | -- |
Ski type | Carving, All Mountain, Freeride | All Mountain |
Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced | Advanced, Expert |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
Tail profile | Partial twin tip | Partial twin tip |
In the world of all-mountain skis, the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed to handle a variety of conditions, from groomed runs to variable terrain, with a focus on carving and speed. The Kendo 88, with its wood core and titanal metal layers, offers stability and power, excelling on groomers and hardpacked snow. The Mindbender 89Ti, on the other hand, is known for its versatility and agility, with a titanal Y-beam design that provides a strong and stable platform. Both skis are praised for their edge hold, responsiveness, and high-speed stability. However, they differ in their ideal conditions and user profiles. The Kendo 88 is best suited for advanced to expert skiers who spend most of their time on groomers, while the Mindbender 89Ti is a more balanced all-around ski that can handle a variety of conditions and skier levels. In the end, the choice between the two will depend on your skiing style, preferred terrain, and skill level.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 skis are a versatile all-mountain option that offers a combination of performance and agility on a variety of terrain. With an 88mm waist width, these skis strike a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions.
The construction of the Kendo 88 skis incorporates high-quality materials to optimize performance. They feature a wood core combined with layers of titanal metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission. This construction enhances the ski's responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance.
In terms of on-snow performance, the Kendo 88 skis excel in a variety of conditions with more of an emphasis on groomers and hardpacked snow. Their light amount of camber underfoot provides reliable edge grip and precise carving on firm snow, while the slight rocker in the tip and tail adds maneuverability and helps with turn initiation. This combination makes them effective on groomed runs, moguls, and even lighter amounts of soft snow.
The Kendo 88 skis are known for their stability at higher speeds, offering a smooth and confident ride. Their construction and shape contribute to excellent energy transfer and edge control, allowing for powerful turns and a solid connection with the snow.
These are going to carve like crazy, and still let you hit the fresh snow, Groomers to trees lets do it with these. But these still have a wider shovel up front with a bit of rocker to handle some boot top powder if there's an unexpected storm. They are agile and quick edge-to-edge, but if you want to arc them fast down wide open groomers, they'll stay stable and confident. These have Volkl's '3D turn radii', meaning that you have 3 different turn radii packed into one ski. So you can make short quick turns, or long GS style turns.
These are going to carve like crazy, and still let you hit the fresh snow, Groomers to trees lets do it with these. But these still have a wider shovel up front with a bit of rocker to handle some boot top powder if there's an unexpected storm. They are agile and quick edge-to-edge, but if you want to arc them fast down wide open groomers, they'll stay stable and confident. These have Volkl's '3D turn radii', meaning that you have 3 different turn radii packed into one ski. So you can make short quick turns, or long GS style turns.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis · 2023 summary
The K2 Mindbender 89Ti skis are a versatile all-mountain option that offers a combination of performance and agility on a variety of terrain. With an 89mm waist width, these skis strike a balance between carving on groomed runs and maneuverability in variable conditions.
The construction of the Mindbender 89Ti skis incorporates high-quality materials to optimize performance. They feature a wood core combined with layers of titanal metal, which provides stability, dampness, and power transmission. This construction enhances the ski's responsiveness, edge hold, and overall performance.
In terms of on-snow performance, the Mindbender 89Ti skis excel in a variety of conditions with more of an emphasis on groomers and hardpacked snow. Their light amount of camber underfoot provides reliable edge grip and precise carving on firm snow, while the slight rocker in the tip and tail adds maneuverability and helps with turn initiation. This combination makes them effective on groomed runs, moguls, and even lighter amounts of soft snow.
The Mindbender 89Ti skis are known for their stability at higher speeds, offering a smooth and confident ride. Their construction and shape contribute to excellent energy transfer and edge control, allowing for powerful turns and a solid connection with the snow.
The Mindbender from K2 is a highly versatile ski. It sports a strong and stiffer front edge and midsection due to K2's patented Titanal Y-beam design, which lays two prongs of metal over the front edges of the ski, and then has the prongs meet underfoot to provide a stable and strong platform from which to direct the ski. But the metal then tapers into the tail, making for a more versatile ski on the backend. The result is a ski that you can drive hard when you are centered, but one you can also release easily out of any manner of turn. It can go fast if you want, but can also shut it down and get playful due to the rocker in the tip and tail.
The Mindbender from K2 is a highly versatile ski. It sports a strong and stiffer front edge and midsection due to K2's patented Titanal Y-beam design, which lays two prongs of metal over the front edges of the ski, and then has the prongs meet underfoot to provide a stable and strong platform from which to direct the ski. But the metal then tapers into the tail, making for a more versatile ski on the backend. The result is a ski that you can drive hard when you are centered, but one you can also release easily out of any manner of turn. It can go fast if you want, but can also shut it down and get playful due to the rocker in the tip and tail.
K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
Both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti are all-mountain skis designed for a variety of conditions. They both have a similar waist width (88mm for the Kendo 88 and 89mm for the Mindbender 89Ti), which allows for quick edge-to-edge transitions and good maneuverability in variable conditions. Both skis feature a wood core combined with layers of titanal metal for stability, dampness, and power transmission. They both excel on groomers and hardpacked snow, with a light amount of camber underfoot for reliable edge grip and precise carving. Both skis also have a slight rocker in the tip and tail for added maneuverability and turn initiation. They are known for their stability at higher speeds and offer a smooth and confident ride.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While both skis are designed for all-mountain use, they cater to slightly different skier profiles. The Völkl Kendo 88 is best suited for advanced to expert skiers who spend most of their time on groomers. It's a powerful ski that offers excellent edge hold and stability, especially at higher speeds. It's also known for its "3D turn radii", which allows for a variety of turn styles, from short quick turns to long GS style turns.
On the other hand, the K2 Mindbender 89Ti is a more balanced all-around ski that can handle a variety of conditions and skier levels. It's a versatile ski that can be driven hard when centered, but can also be playful due to the rocker in the tip and tail. It's a great choice for skiers who want a ski that can handle groomers, moguls, and occasional off-piste adventures.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
- Performance on Groomers: Both skis perform well on groomers, but the Völkl Kendo 88 has a slight edge due to its "3D turn radii" which allows for a variety of turn styles.
- Versatility: The K2 Mindbender 89Ti wins in this category due to its balanced design that can handle a variety of conditions and skier levels.
- Stability at High Speeds: Both skis offer excellent stability at high speeds, but the Völkl Kendo 88 is known for its exceptional stability and power, making it the winner in this category.
- Playfulness: The K2 Mindbender 89Ti takes the win in this category due to its ability to be playful and easy to release out of turns, thanks to the rocker in the tip and tail.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti are excellent all-mountain skis that offer a combination of performance, agility, and versatility. The choice between the two will largely depend on your skiing style, preferred terrain, and skill level. If you're an advanced to expert skier who spends most of your time on groomers and values stability and power, the Völkl Kendo 88 would be a great choice. If you're looking for a more balanced all-around ski that can handle a variety of conditions and skier levels, the K2 Mindbender 89Ti would be a solid option. Either way, you're sure to have a blast on the slopes with either of these skis!
