@@TheGrossOne I think as an intermediate if you are still learning how to lay over edges I would stick with the 170's. However, I do really like my 177's. They plow through crud and I can sweep nice arcs with them. I don't really use them for short turns though. I'm 170lbs @ 5'10
Hi There! Great and helpful reviews! May I ask for a couple of clarifications as I'm a bit undecided between the TI or the Carbon C's...? On another "90mm review" you pointed that the C's are effectively a bit soft as flex, particularly on the nose-front area... being 54, 178cm, in weight 69-70Kg, quite expert and true all mountain skier, from piste to woods and back mountain... what do you think would fit best as a one-quiver ski? Considering (I assume) for sure the 177cm length, should I go for the TI? Also, as far as you know, apart from the graphics, are the 20-21 models exactly like the 21-22 in terms of lamination, stiffness, etc? Thank you so much if you can add these infos. Francesco_
Hi Francesco! In general, most expert skiers we've had test both models prefer the Ti version. You just get a little more power and vibration damping, and generally expert skiers don't mind the extra weight in bumps, trees, etc. As long as carving is a relatively important factor for you, I think Ti is the way to go. Yes, 2021 and 2022 Mindbenders are the same! The Ti versions do change for the upcoming 22/23 season.
Bought the 90ti mind benders. Same year and artwork as in this video. Love them, really appreciate the videos. Really helped me decide on a ski. Wish I could find the 2021 99ti. Really dig that artwork. Would be a nice back set for sloppier days
Hey Mitchell @mitchthegreat, I have the 2021 99ti in a 177 and would part with it if you're interested. Bought it new last year and only have 4 days on it on a trip to ID last March. Like you, I have the 90s and am looking to compliment the 90s with the 108.
@@mitchthegreat Hey Mitchell @mitchthegreat, I live in Illinois. I have shipped items to Canada before, so if you're interested in working somehting out, let me now and I can send you contact info. Thanks!
I'm on the 170cm and they're so much fun. You can lock in and carve when you want or at your will you can slide the tail. It's like the best ski for every speed. I found in other skis either your going or your not and that's not the case with this ski.
@@reesmorley1329 I'm 172cm or 5'8". I have a blast with them they're nearly as tall as me. Shorter ones around chin height would be a blast for quick turns but for big sweepers head height is perfect. I almost went with the 177's I'm not a professional by any means but the head height ones are super easy to control and stay in control at any speed
Currently riding a pair of K2 shreditor 102’s and they are fantastic and I love the flexible playful feel. The only problem with the sherditors is that on icy days or crusted over days they lack grip, how do these perform on that first run of the day on an icy/icier day? Would the feel of these skis be similarly playful feeling to the shreditors?
Hey Ron! The Mindbender 90Ti would be a good ski if you're going to keep your Shreditor and want something to complement its performance. You don't get the same level of playfulness, but you get far more edge grip. If you have a firm snow day and you want to ski groomers fast and aggressively, you could take the MB 90Ti, then on soft snow days or when you're feeling more playful, you could ski your Shreditor. Does that make sense to you?
@@SkiEssentials Yep! makes sense 100% thank you for the advice. I would definitely like to keep the shreditors around for those soft snow days/ playful side hit and tree run days. The edge grip is exactly what I'm looking for so that way I don't find myself skidding around and feel comfortable at speeds. In your opinion, how do the Nordica Enforcers 88-94 compare to the mindbender 90-99 ti in terms of edge hold at speeds with respect to having a playful side for piste oriented skis ( love to free ride the whole mountain)? Those are the two skis I'm trying to decide between ( skiing in Tahoe) while also giving myself enough mobility and freedom to freeride off piste a little bit here and there if the conditions permit.
@@rontacla3691 To be honest, I think the Enforcers and Mindbenders are pretty close in how they combine stability and edge grip with playfulness and versatility. They do feel a little different, as the Enforcers achieve that through their shape (rocker profile) and the Mindbenders achieve it through their construction more than the shape, so if anything that gives the Enforcers a more surfy feel or easier edge release, but overall I do think they're pretty similar in what they achieve.
Hi guys, I currently ski on 2006 Rossignol Bandit B2 174cm and I'm thinking of the Mindbender 90ti as a replacement. I ski for fun and not trying to beat speed records. I'm more interested in having the skis very close together and skiing the "old" way rather than carving. I ski mostly on piste but when there is fresh snow I love off piste and it is where I have the most fun. Do you think this ski would be a good replacement for the Bandits? Also, I'm 5'11" but fairly light at 135lbs. Would you recommend the 177cm or 170? Thanks in advance
Sounds like the Mindbender will be a really good ski for you! For length, I'd go 177 cm. That should be plenty manageable at your size and the rocker/taper profile of the Mindbender makes it ski a little shorter than your Bandits. Hope that helps!
hey struggling to decide between 177 and 184. im and 6ft1 (187cm) and weight 154lb (70kg). i'm a strong skier and like skiing fast doing most of my skiing in Scotland so short runs and all conditions happening at once (Sheet Ice, crud, soft snow, powder, rain) . I do also go to other places in europe. any thoughts on size currently skin Blizzard bonifide in 187cm do find them a bit hard work on the shorter runs and think i am maybe a bit on the light side for them. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks Ruaridh
Hello! I'm leaning towards 184. Even though you find the 187 in the Bonafide a bit much, and 184 isn't that much shorter, the Mindbender is a more forgiving ski than the Bones. I just worry that 177 would feel really small to you considering what you're coming off. If you're a skilled skier and like skiing fast, 184 makes a lot more sense to me.
There are a few companies that make a product designed for that specific application. A company called "Snow Shed" sent us some samples last year. I didn't use it much, but it seemed to work. You can also just take a block of iron-on base wax and lightly rub it against your top sheet. That'll help a little bit.
Hi, thanks for the reall good reviews! I am 182 cm and jojo between 76 and 81 kg 😅... I ski 185 enforcers 110's and was eyeballing the enforcer 94. Seeing this now looks like a lot of fun as well to ad to the quiver for more groomer days and fun all around! Should I go for the 184cm? The rocker profile looks a lot les big as with the enforcers but I am not sure... Cheers for the advice!
Yes I'd go 184 in the K2. It's a different shape for sure, especially in the tail. This makes it more useful on-trail, but the 94 is a pretty solid carver, just not quite as quick as the K2.
If I am an advanced skier who likes to go fast on groomers and also make tight turns on groomed runs, while quickly traversing into tight and agile moguls, will this ski be versatile enough for this?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, I think that's a perfect way to describe the Mindbender 90 and what makes it such a good ski. It's stable at speed, but also quick and agile. Should be perfect for you.
Hi guys. I am currently looking to get new skis and am currently deciding between this one and the black crows captis. I am 179cm and about 84kg. How would you say these skies compare to each other? I seem to not really being able to grasp the differences between these models. Thanks!
The Mindbender is a 100% directional ski. It's also heavier, more powerful, and more stable at speed. The Captis has more freestyle influence in its design. Lighter, more energetic, but not as much power or edge grip on firm snow. Captis, for example, is a ton of fun in moguls and feels more forgiving than the MB, but the MB is the superior ski on firm snow.
Hello, I am buying the 2022 version of this ski for my brother. I'm not sure whether to get him the 177 or 184. He raced GS and Slalom USSA growing up and now he wants an all-mountain ski. I don't think he's skied in years. He just started college and is joining the ski club. He lives in Michigan and will pretty much only be skiing in Michigan (maybe one out west trip in his future). He's 6'1" and 175 lbs. SKi runs in Michigan are a couple hundred feet long and all icy man-made snow. I want to make sure the length I get him is stable for his height and weight and also will allow him to make agile turns.
I think I would probably go 184 cm. If he has a racing background, he's probably a very strong skier. 184 cm is going to provide more stability at speed and stuff like that. He might not necessarily need that for Michigan terrain, but I don't think that length would be hard for him to ski, and would come in handy if he goes out west or skis a bigger mountain. Hope that helps!
Hi. 183cm 210lb intermediate/ advanced skier be best on the 90ti 177 or 184? I have the 108ti in 186 but a fair bit more rocker in that one. Cheers nick
I'd generally recommend the 184 cm length to a skier that size, unless you specifically want the 90 to be a more nimble, quicker ski to complement your 108Ti. 177 would certainly be quicker and more agile, so if you're thinking like bumps only and not worried about stability at speed, that could be a reason to go shorter.
@@SkiEssentials awesome. Thanks for that. Just something a bit easier to shuffle round on while our youngest learns to ski..but horses under the hood when a couple of solo runs are available! Love that 108, can’t beat the Mindbender feel on firm and soft snow. Perfect balance of power and play that I haven’t found in any of the other “heavy hitters” out there.
If you're a beginner, I'd look more to the Mindbender 90C for a friendlier yet high-quality ski that will offer more confidence for just starting out. Even if you're moving into the intermediate and advanced range, the 90C has a lot to offer in terms of overall performance. I'd think 99 is too wide for your stats and application. have fun! SE
I think 163 cm would be the way to go, mostly based on your weight. 170 cm would be a lot of ski to flex for you, and I don't think there's any way the 163 cm will feel unstable or lack any performance for your size.
@@ehthrough Forgot all about turn radius, sorry! K2 doesn't list all their radii for each length, but the Mindbender 90Ti uses essentially the same exact mold as the 90C, and K2 lists the 163 cm length in that ski as having a 14.5 m turn radius. If it's not identical on the 90Ti, it's extremely close to 14.5.
Not necessarily too short, no! There's not a tremendous amount of rocker in the Mindbender 90, so doesn't ski short. Certainly no reason a skier your height can't use the 184 cm length. That's probably what I would choose if I were your height.
Hey Andy! The Mindbender 90Ti does feel a little bit lighter than the iKonic, at least in my opinion they do. It might just be the swing weight is lighter. I don't have an iKonic to weigh unfortunately so can't double check that, but I've skied both quite a bit. Also, in general, the Mindbenders feel more versatile. The shape allows for easier edge release, which makes them more fun in bumps, trees, etc without sacrificing edge grip or stability. Just a better overall ski design than the iKonic.
Both could work, but I think there are probably more benefits to the 90. It's a little quicker edge to edge, which is a valuable characteristic here on the east coast (we're not far from you in Stowe, VT). The 99 is great when you want to ski really fast through choppy snow, but that doesn't feel like it happens that often around here. I'm leaning towards the 90, 180 cm.
The factory recommended midsole mark is the best place to mount bindings on the Mindbender 90. We've skied it a lot and haven't found any reason to go forward or back from that.
Definitely on the heavy side, and of course it's a directional ski, so not great for skiing switch or anything like that, but they're not too heavy for some tricks here and there.
@@SkiEssentials would the Atomic Bent Chetler 100 be a better fit for someone who wants to do 20% powder 50% slopes/speed 30% freestyle in your opinion?
@@victorbuzzegoli4747 Yes, definitely. K2 equivalent would either be the Poacher or the Reckoner 102, which would both also be good for that application!
Bought these, my first ski purchase in 20 years. I could not be happier. I am 6'3'' and the 184 is awesome. I love them.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience and I'm glad you found a ski you love!
Just bought a pair off your site. Stoked to ride them.
Awesome ski, have the 90ti 177, smooth, damp and playful just like you said. It really can do it all.
Extremely versatile, very well-rounded, K2 did a great job with the Mindbender line in general in my opinion.
As am intermediate do you think I should get the 170 or 177
@@TheGrossOne I think as an intermediate if you are still learning how to lay over edges I would stick with the 170's. However, I do really like my 177's. They plow through crud and I can sweep nice arcs with them. I don't really use them for short turns though. I'm 170lbs @ 5'10
Hi There! Great and helpful reviews! May I ask for a couple of clarifications as I'm a bit undecided between the TI or the Carbon C's...? On another "90mm review" you pointed that the C's are effectively a bit soft as flex, particularly on the nose-front area... being 54, 178cm, in weight 69-70Kg, quite expert and true all mountain skier, from piste to woods and back mountain... what do you think would fit best as a one-quiver ski? Considering (I assume) for sure the 177cm length, should I go for the TI? Also, as far as you know, apart from the graphics, are the 20-21 models exactly like the 21-22 in terms of lamination, stiffness, etc? Thank you so much if you can add these infos.
Francesco_
Hi Francesco! In general, most expert skiers we've had test both models prefer the Ti version. You just get a little more power and vibration damping, and generally expert skiers don't mind the extra weight in bumps, trees, etc. As long as carving is a relatively important factor for you, I think Ti is the way to go. Yes, 2021 and 2022 Mindbenders are the same! The Ti versions do change for the upcoming 22/23 season.
Bought the 90ti mind benders. Same year and artwork as in this video. Love them, really appreciate the videos. Really helped me decide on a ski. Wish I could find the 2021 99ti. Really dig that artwork. Would be a nice back set for sloppier days
Great skis!
Hey Mitchell @mitchthegreat, I have the 2021 99ti in a 177 and would part with it if you're interested. Bought it new last year and only have 4 days on it on a trip to ID last March. Like you, I have the 90s and am looking to compliment the 90s with the 108.
@@1LaneMeyer where do you live. East coast Canada here
@@mitchthegreat Hey Mitchell @mitchthegreat, I live in Illinois. I have shipped items to Canada before, so if you're interested in working somehting out, let me now and I can send you contact info. Thanks!
I'm on the 170cm and they're so much fun.
You can lock in and carve when you want or at your will you can slide the tail. It's like the best ski for every speed. I found in other skis either your going or your not and that's not the case with this ski.
Hey mark how tall are you? I’m looking at getting these and was thinking 177cm to match my height but keen to hear if going smaller might be fun?
@@reesmorley1329 I'm 172cm or 5'8". I have a blast with them they're nearly as tall as me. Shorter ones around chin height would be a blast for quick turns but for big sweepers head height is perfect. I almost went with the 177's I'm not a professional by any means but the head height ones are super easy to control and stay in control at any speed
@@FirearmOutfitters Awesome thanks bro. I'm 177cm but think these 170cm will be great, thanks for you feedback
Currently riding a pair of K2 shreditor 102’s and they are fantastic and I love the flexible playful feel. The only problem with the sherditors is that on icy days or crusted over days they lack grip, how do these perform on that first run of the day on an icy/icier day? Would the feel of these skis be similarly playful feeling to the shreditors?
Hey Ron! The Mindbender 90Ti would be a good ski if you're going to keep your Shreditor and want something to complement its performance. You don't get the same level of playfulness, but you get far more edge grip. If you have a firm snow day and you want to ski groomers fast and aggressively, you could take the MB 90Ti, then on soft snow days or when you're feeling more playful, you could ski your Shreditor. Does that make sense to you?
@@SkiEssentials Yep! makes sense 100% thank you for the advice. I would definitely like to keep the shreditors around for those soft snow days/ playful side hit and tree run days. The edge grip is exactly what I'm looking for so that way I don't find myself skidding around and feel comfortable at speeds. In your opinion, how do the Nordica Enforcers 88-94 compare to the mindbender 90-99 ti in terms of edge hold at speeds with respect to having a playful side for piste oriented skis ( love to free ride the whole mountain)? Those are the two skis I'm trying to decide between ( skiing in Tahoe) while also giving myself enough mobility and freedom to freeride off piste a little bit here and there if the conditions permit.
@@rontacla3691 To be honest, I think the Enforcers and Mindbenders are pretty close in how they combine stability and edge grip with playfulness and versatility. They do feel a little different, as the Enforcers achieve that through their shape (rocker profile) and the Mindbenders achieve it through their construction more than the shape, so if anything that gives the Enforcers a more surfy feel or easier edge release, but overall I do think they're pretty similar in what they achieve.
Hi guys, I currently ski on 2006 Rossignol Bandit B2 174cm and I'm thinking of the Mindbender 90ti as a replacement. I ski for fun and not trying to beat speed records. I'm more interested in having the skis very close together and skiing the "old" way rather than carving. I ski mostly on piste but when there is fresh snow I love off piste and it is where I have the most fun. Do you think this ski would be a good replacement for the Bandits? Also, I'm 5'11" but fairly light at 135lbs. Would you recommend the 177cm or 170?
Thanks in advance
Sounds like the Mindbender will be a really good ski for you! For length, I'd go 177 cm. That should be plenty manageable at your size and the rocker/taper profile of the Mindbender makes it ski a little shorter than your Bandits. Hope that helps!
hey struggling to decide between 177 and 184. im and 6ft1 (187cm) and weight 154lb (70kg). i'm a strong skier and like skiing fast doing most of my skiing in Scotland so short runs and all conditions happening at once (Sheet Ice, crud, soft snow, powder, rain) . I do also go to other places in europe. any thoughts on size currently skin Blizzard bonifide in 187cm do find them a bit hard work on the shorter runs and think i am maybe a bit on the light side for them. Any thoughts would be great.
Thanks
Ruaridh
Hello! I'm leaning towards 184. Even though you find the 187 in the Bonafide a bit much, and 184 isn't that much shorter, the Mindbender is a more forgiving ski than the Bones. I just worry that 177 would feel really small to you considering what you're coming off. If you're a skilled skier and like skiing fast, 184 makes a lot more sense to me.
Is there a product you recommend that I can apply to the top of my skis to reduce the amount of snow accumulation? Armor All? Car wax?
There are a few companies that make a product designed for that specific application. A company called "Snow Shed" sent us some samples last year. I didn't use it much, but it seemed to work. You can also just take a block of iron-on base wax and lightly rub it against your top sheet. That'll help a little bit.
Does the snow shed company have a website for that product? Google search didn't turn up anything.
Hi, thanks for the reall good reviews! I am 182 cm and jojo between 76 and 81 kg 😅... I ski 185 enforcers 110's and was eyeballing the enforcer 94. Seeing this now looks like a lot of fun as well to ad to the quiver for more groomer days and fun all around! Should I go for the 184cm? The rocker profile looks a lot les big as with the enforcers but I am not sure... Cheers for the advice!
Yes I'd go 184 in the K2. It's a different shape for sure, especially in the tail. This makes it more useful on-trail, but the 94 is a pretty solid carver, just not quite as quick as the K2.
If I am an advanced skier who likes to go fast on groomers and also make tight turns on groomed runs, while quickly traversing into tight and agile moguls, will this ski be versatile enough for this?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, I think that's a perfect way to describe the Mindbender 90 and what makes it such a good ski. It's stable at speed, but also quick and agile. Should be perfect for you.
I am 175cm tall and my weight is 57 kg, I am a very good skier and love skiing in fresh powder!! what size would you recommend for me ?
Something in the range of 169-174 CM would work well for you.
Hi guys. I am currently looking to get new skis and am currently deciding between this one and the black crows captis. I am 179cm and about 84kg. How would you say these skies compare to each other? I seem to not really being able to grasp the differences between these models. Thanks!
The Mindbender is a 100% directional ski. It's also heavier, more powerful, and more stable at speed. The Captis has more freestyle influence in its design. Lighter, more energetic, but not as much power or edge grip on firm snow. Captis, for example, is a ton of fun in moguls and feels more forgiving than the MB, but the MB is the superior ski on firm snow.
What size would you recommend for an intermediate skier at 5'11 and 180 lbs?
I'd go with the 177 cm length. That should have plenty of stability for you and will be a little more user friendly/forgiving than the 184.
Hello, I am buying the 2022 version of this ski for my brother. I'm not sure whether to get him the 177 or 184. He raced GS and Slalom USSA growing up and now he wants an all-mountain ski. I don't think he's skied in years. He just started college and is joining the ski club. He lives in Michigan and will pretty much only be skiing in Michigan (maybe one out west trip in his future). He's 6'1" and 175 lbs. SKi runs in Michigan are a couple hundred feet long and all icy man-made snow. I want to make sure the length I get him is stable for his height and weight and also will allow him to make agile turns.
I think I would probably go 184 cm. If he has a racing background, he's probably a very strong skier. 184 cm is going to provide more stability at speed and stuff like that. He might not necessarily need that for Michigan terrain, but I don't think that length would be hard for him to ski, and would come in handy if he goes out west or skis a bigger mountain. Hope that helps!
Hi. 183cm 210lb intermediate/ advanced skier be best on the 90ti 177 or 184? I have the 108ti in 186 but a fair bit more rocker in that one. Cheers nick
I'd generally recommend the 184 cm length to a skier that size, unless you specifically want the 90 to be a more nimble, quicker ski to complement your 108Ti. 177 would certainly be quicker and more agile, so if you're thinking like bumps only and not worried about stability at speed, that could be a reason to go shorter.
@@SkiEssentials awesome. Thanks for that. Just something a bit easier to shuffle round on while our youngest learns to ski..but horses under the hood when a couple of solo runs are available!
Love that 108, can’t beat the Mindbender feel on firm and soft snow. Perfect balance of power and play that I haven’t found in any of the other “heavy hitters” out there.
How do these compare to the 99ti? I'm a beginner and looking for a quality ski I can feel confident on sking in the east coast region.
If you're a beginner, I'd look more to the Mindbender 90C for a friendlier yet high-quality ski that will offer more confidence for just starting out. Even if you're moving into the intermediate and advanced range, the 90C has a lot to offer in terms of overall performance. I'd think 99 is too wide for your stats and application. have fun!
SE
I'm a featherweight at 5'6/115lbs. Would you suggest the 170 or 163? Do you know the turn radius at each size?
I think 163 cm would be the way to go, mostly based on your weight. 170 cm would be a lot of ski to flex for you, and I don't think there's any way the 163 cm will feel unstable or lack any performance for your size.
@@SkiEssentials Awesome, thanks! Do you know the turn radius of the 163?
@@ehthrough Forgot all about turn radius, sorry! K2 doesn't list all their radii for each length, but the Mindbender 90Ti uses essentially the same exact mold as the 90C, and K2 lists the 163 cm length in that ski as having a 14.5 m turn radius. If it's not identical on the 90Ti, it's extremely close to 14.5.
@@SkiEssentials Thank you so much!
@@SkiEssentials After I order my new boots I will buy a pair of ski's from you guys. I want to get the boots first for proper binding placement.
Would the 184 be a good size or would it be to short since i am 190 cm?
Not necessarily too short, no! There's not a tremendous amount of rocker in the Mindbender 90, so doesn't ski short. Certainly no reason a skier your height can't use the 184 cm length. That's probably what I would choose if I were your height.
Can it be good to be used for telemarking in 184 length?
Sure can! I think it would be a fun tele ski actually.
Hi are these lighter than the K2 ikonic? How do they compare to the ikonic?
Hey Andy! The Mindbender 90Ti does feel a little bit lighter than the iKonic, at least in my opinion they do. It might just be the swing weight is lighter. I don't have an iKonic to weigh unfortunately so can't double check that, but I've skied both quite a bit. Also, in general, the Mindbenders feel more versatile. The shape allows for easier edge release, which makes them more fun in bumps, trees, etc without sacrificing edge grip or stability. Just a better overall ski design than the iKonic.
Would you recommend the 90ti or the 99ti for someone who loves to ski trees and lives on the east coast in Quebec, Canada. i'm 6 foot 175 pounds.
Both could work, but I think there are probably more benefits to the 90. It's a little quicker edge to edge, which is a valuable characteristic here on the east coast (we're not far from you in Stowe, VT). The 99 is great when you want to ski really fast through choppy snow, but that doesn't feel like it happens that often around here. I'm leaning towards the 90, 180 cm.
@@SkiEssentials thank you!!!
How is the binding supposed to be mounted?
The factory recommended midsole mark is the best place to mount bindings on the Mindbender 90. We've skied it a lot and haven't found any reason to go forward or back from that.
Are they too heavy for some medium level freestyle?
Definitely on the heavy side, and of course it's a directional ski, so not great for skiing switch or anything like that, but they're not too heavy for some tricks here and there.
@@SkiEssentials would the Atomic Bent Chetler 100 be a better fit for someone who wants to do 20% powder 50% slopes/speed 30% freestyle in your opinion?
@@victorbuzzegoli4747 Yes, definitely. K2 equivalent would either be the Poacher or the Reckoner 102, which would both also be good for that application!