2021 K2 Mindbender 88Ti Alliance

We're just loving the 88's these days. This 2021 K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance is no exception. They can just do a bit of everything that the vast majority of skiers like to do the vast majority of the time. While we all dream of endless and bottomless powder fields, the reality of skiing is actually quite different. Most of us spend most of our time on somewhat smooth terrain in the resort. The 88's are quite best at this. They offer the best edge grip and the most versatility in the least amount of width. There's not a whole lot of need for a 105 to be your everyday ski when an 88 does so much more so much better. Starting with their Aspen wood core, K2 adds the titanal Y-beam that puts all the right strength in all the right places. Stable and precise in the forebody of the ski and underfoot, the ski's metal tapers to the central chord to the tail, allowing for a more playful and fun release from the turn. There's still a lot of power and strength back there as well, so don't worry about holding an edge on firm snow. In addition to that high-performance ceiling, there's also a nice slow-speed compliance that you won't find in all 88's. This makes it so you don't have to be on it 100% of the time-relaxing can be fun on skis as well. Our testers are pretty jazzed on the MB 88 Ti, and they all seem to see the merits in the shape as a great all-around choice.

Katrine Wolfgang skied the 163 and had a lot of high scores on her card. 5 out of 5 for stability, quickness, playfulness, forgiveness, edge hold, and overall impression tell a pretty nice story. Not surprisingly, Katrine states that she "loved this ski. Stable, fast (or not), easy to maneuver, and really fun. Great for pure all-mountain skiing." I like how she included that you don't have to go fast on these-shows the big range that the ski has in terms of performance. Ariel Aidala is on the same page as Katrine, especially in terms of stability and edge hold. Ariel skied the 163 as well and scored those two categories 5's out of 5. She notes that the 88 is "stable on quick and long hard turns, but you have to commit to the turn or the ski will want to accelerate. Great in bumps and transitioning from hard to soft snow. I'd call it a good to great all-mountain women's ski for the feisty lover of turns lady."

On the longer 171, Mar Kuhnel also loved the stability, quickness, and maneuverability of the ski, with those traits receiving 4.5's out of 5. All other scores of 4 show the all-around and strong, versatile nature of the ski. She states that she "enjoyed the ski and found that it does want to go fast. Stiffer in the tip, so is better for that skier who likes to put some forward pressure on the boot." Ali Berlin also noted that the tail was the more accommodating part of the ski versus the tip. She skied the 163 and notes that it is "great for an advanced skier looking for a fun all-around ski. Stable underfoot and not too grabby. Easy to release out of the turn and easy to steer."

If you're looking for a stronger ski that has a ton of upside, the K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance is a great choice. It has a huge performance range and will satisfy a lot of skier's needs. Most of us spend most of our time on manicured trails, so it's important to have your skis match that aspect of skiing; which is a big one.