Expert Comparison: Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 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) | -- |
The Curated Take | Best for experienced skiers looking for a versatile all-mountain ski that excels in various conditions. | -- |
Ski type | Freeride, Carving, All Mountain | All Mountain |
Skill level | Expert, Advanced | Advanced, Expert |
Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | Rocker/Camber/Rocker |
In the world of skiing, the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis are two top contenders. Both are all-mountain skis, designed to handle a variety of terrains and conditions. The Kendo 88, a 2024 model, is a fast, edge-to-edge ski that thrives in carving and offers a unique 3D turn radius. The Mindbender 89Ti, a 2023 model, is a stiff all-mountain charger with a Titanal Y-beam design for added control and edge grip. Both skis are agile, quick edge-to-edge, and stable at high speeds. However, they cater to different types of skiers and excel in different areas. The Kendo 88 is recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails, while the Mindbender 89Ti is a great fit for experienced skiers who enjoy powerful turns on any terrain.
Völkl Kendo 88 Skis · 2024 summary
The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis are a directional, frontside, on-piste, freeride ski that delivers a fast edge-to-edge experience. Tested at Copper Mountain in mid-April, the Kendo 88 lived up to its brand claims. It's a very fast edge-to-edge ski, with a 3D turn radius that allows for a variety of turn styles. Whether you're looking to open up the throttle for long, GS, fall line, arc style turns, or make tighter turns in bumps or on groomed runs, the Kendo 88 has you covered.
The Kendo 88 features a 3D radius sidecut, which in the 184 length, has a 31m turn radius up front, a 17m turn radius underfoot, and a 26m turn radius in the back. This unique design creates an easy turning ski. The ski also boasts a multilayer wood core, a bit of carbon fiber weave in the tip, and a tailored titanal frame. This combination results in a very stable, damp, and responsive ski with zero chatter.
While the Kendo 88 is not the most playful ski, it does have a good amount of pop. It's not a freestyle designed ski, but it does have a little early rise in the tail, allowing for some skiing switch on groomed runs. However, it's not recommended for ungroomed runs or powder.
The Kendo 88 is recommended for intermediate to advanced level skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. It's not the best choice for beginners or those looking for a ski that's good on and off trail.
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 89Ti Skis · 2023 summary
The K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis are a narrow all-mountain ski with Titanal throughout, making it a stiff all-mountain charger. The ski has a little bit of tip rocker to help with turn initiation and float in softer snow, an 88-millimeter waist, and a fairly mellow side cut. It has a 16-meter turn radius, which is great for short to medium turns, making it perfect for groomed Eastern terrain.
The Mindbender 89Ti 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. The ski has a very damp construction, with the Titanal layer on foot absorbing the vibration, resulting in no chatter while skiing.
These skis are ideal for groomed terrain in the east or anything firmer in the west. They are a solid mogul ski for an expert mogul skier. However, they would not be the first choice in deep powder. The same thing that makes them so composed and so good on firmer snow is going to make them heavy and sink a little bit in heavier snow.
The Mindbender 89Ti is recommended for advanced or expert skiers in the east. For expert skiers, it'll make a really great all-mountain ski. For advanced skiers, it's a great front side-oriented ski. This is probably not going to be your daily driver if you're west of the continental divide.
All mountain skis are tough cookies... I mean, they gotta be best somewhere...and how do you know without trying them out, right?! Well, that's why I'm here. This all mountain ski is best in the moguls, touring, and they even make for fine park and groomer skis. Sure, without the twin tips, it's more of an intermediate park ski, but the K2 reckoner is a similar option with a twin tip if that's important to you.
All mountain skis are tough cookies... I mean, they gotta be best somewhere...and how do you know without trying them out, right?! Well, that's why I'm here. This all mountain ski is best in the moguls, touring, and they even make for fine park and groomer skis. Sure, without the twin tips, it's more of an intermediate park ski, but the K2 reckoner is a similar option with a twin tip if that's important to you.
K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis · 2023
- We price match
- Returnable
Similarities
The Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis share several similarities. Both are all-mountain skis, designed to handle a variety of terrains and conditions. They are both agile, quick edge-to-edge, and stable at high speeds. Both skis have a stiff and stable ride due to the titanal metal in their core. They are both designed to be exceptionally quick edge-to-edge and are great for carving up groomers. Both skis also have a slight rocker in the tip, which gives them off-piste chops and float in softer snow.
Differences and Who They're Good For
While the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis share similarities, they also have key differences that make them suitable for different types of skiers. The Kendo 88 is recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. It's not the best choice for beginners or those looking for a ski that's good on and off trail. The Kendo 88 is also not the most playful ski and is not recommended for freestyle skiing or deep powder.
On the other hand, the Mindbender 89Ti is recommended for advanced or expert skiers in the east. It's a great all-mountain ski for expert skiers and a great front side-oriented ski for advanced skiers. However, it's not the best choice for deep powder or super manky snow. The Mindbender 89Ti is also not a good ski for a beginner skier as it's a fairly stiff demanding ski.
Analysis on Who’s the Winner
When comparing the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis, the winner depends on the specific dimension being considered:
- Versatility: The Kendo 88 takes the win here. Its unique 3D turn radius allows for a variety of turn styles, making it a more versatile ski.
- Carving: Both skis excel in carving, but the Mindbender 89Ti's Titanal Y-beam design gives it an edge in control and edge grip, making it the winner in this category.
- Stability: Both skis offer high stability at high speeds, but the Kendo 88's multilayer wood core, carbon fiber weave, and tailored titanal frame make it exceptionally stable, damp, and responsive, giving it the win in this category.
- Off-Piste Performance: Neither ski is designed for deep powder, but the Mindbender 89Ti's slight rocker in the tip gives it off-piste chops and float in softer snow, making it the winner in this category.
Conclusions
In conclusion, both the Völkl Kendo 88 Skis and the K2 Mindbender 89Ti Skis are top-notch all-mountain skis that offer high performance in a variety of conditions. The Kendo 88 shines with its unique 3D turn radius and exceptional stability, making it a great choice for intermediate to advanced skiers who mainly stay on groomed trails. The Mindbender 89Ti, on the other hand, stands out with its Titanal Y-beam design and off-piste chops, making it a great choice for advanced or expert skiers in the east. Ultimately, the best ski for you will depend on your specific needs, preferences, and skiing style. So whether you're a mogul master, a groomer guru, or somewhere in between, there's a ski out there that's perfect for you. Happy skiing!
