For a lot of skiers in a lot of different areas, 88 mm underfoot is a great width. Not every day is a snow day, so it’s important to find a ski that can handle a multitude of conditions. At this width, the Alluvit makes a strong case as a one-ski quiver. The Alluvit 88 has all of the ingredients of an ideal all-mountain ski. It’s mid-width, has a rocker/camber/rocker profile, a short to medium (13.5 meter) turn radius, and has a great combination of composite, wood, and metal in its core. Our testers seemed somewhat surprised with the capabilities and composed nature of the Alluvit 88. They shouldn’t be, K2 has been making some amazing skis over the past few years.
Jenny Lawson tried out the 163 cm length and said that it felt a bit shorter than she expected. As such, quickness and maneuverability scored 5 out of 5. She noted that it was an “easy ski to start the day! They’re fun, playful, and great edge to edge. Overall, this is a great ski!” Jenny sounds a bit shocked regarding the greatness of the Alluvit 88. We’ve found that overall, K2 tests really well.
Katrine Wolfgang remarked that the 163 “plows through whatever snow conditions there are. It held well on harder snow and performed great at high speed.” She also goes on to note that despite the gentle appearance of the skis, they are “demanding—you need to stay on top of them.” Her overall impression score of 5 out of 5 tells us that Katrine knew just how to handle the Alluvit 88.
Also skiing the 163 Alluvit 88, Ariel Aidala had a lot of good things to say. “The Alluvit 88 really does give you everything you are looking for in a ski. This ski performed well with quick, carve-style turns while still being able to get through the crud. The slimmer waist and wide shovel made this ski very versatile and gives it the ability to be a single ski quiver. I could really feel the playfulness of the ski as well. I could get the transfer of energy and made some really great, hoppy and poppy turns.” Thanks for the input, Ariel, it sounds like you had a blast!
Ali Berlin had a similar take as Ariel. On the 163 cm length too, Ali calls them “a great pair of skis for an all-around the mountain type of day. If you had to pick one ski, this one could probably do it all. Very forgiving when weight is unbalanced and terrain conditions change rapidly. They held an edge in the shaping-phase of the turn.” This overall impression of versatility and fun is a great way to describe the Alluvit 88.
Susan Dorn loved the quickness and maneuverability of the 163 cm Alluvit 88. Her comments are similar to our other testers insofar as she really had a favorable overall impression of the skis. “It’s a great crud-buster. The skis are light and have a lot of energy. Advanced to expert skiers will appreciate them. They could use a little more damping, however they were fun, powerful, and could handle anything you put in front of them.” Sounds like we have another Alluvit 88 fan in Susan!
We have a huge appreciation for a company like K2 which is able to produce skis that can easily and enjoyably handle a lot of different conditions and terrain. While they do not get the same press or have the same recent reputation as some of the other companies we deal with, they certainly have a lot going for them, and the Alluvit 88 is a prime example.
