2022 K2 Mindbender 85

The 2022 K2 Mindbender 85 is a fantastic ski for intermediate to advanced skiers who are looking for something simple, yet with a surprising amount of energy and pop. Most skiers who have been on this ski are quite surprised with the agility and energy that you get out of something that seemingly doesn’t have a place in the expert ski world. The reality is quite different, but that doesn’t mean that the skis are only for better skiers, in fact, they are more designed for intermediates, but the range of the ski is very impressive. Built with a wood core and fiberglass laminate, the Mindbender 85 relies mostly on the camber that’s found underfoot to deliver the energy. With an incredible amount of pop in the ski, it’s easy to see why so many skiers are pleasantly surprised with the MB 85. In addition to the profile, the shape is well-suited to all-mountain skiing, allowing intermediate and advanced skiers the opportunity to choose their own line down the mountain and tackle any type of terrain and snow conditions that they can find. Equally at home on the groomers as it is in the bumps and trees, this all-mountain crusher is flexible enough to be driven through the troughs, but is stable and damp enough to handle some higher speeds.

John McIntosh was on the 170, and while he noted that it skis true to size, it was also too short for him. On a personal note, I did get to follow John with the camera during test time on these skis, and it looked on my end like he was able to turn them very well and put them wherever he wanted. As a skier on the more advanced side of the spectrum, this was great to see. He gave his top scores of 4 out of 5 for flotation, quickness, maneuverability, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression. The rest of his scores were 3’s, highlighting a top-level of well-roundedness when it comes to these skis. John states that the 85 is a “Great entry into the Mindbender family. Easy initiation. Good ski for advanced beginners to intermediate looking to progress to a more forgiving free ride ski.” This is a great reason why ski companies have brands within brands, much like the Mindbender line. If a skier likes one ski in a series, chances are that they’ll enjoy another one as well—keeps them coming back for sure.

Jeffrey Siegel was also on the 170 and states it’s true to size. He’d likely be on the longer length as well, much like John, but we ski what we’re given. Jeffrey gave scores of 4 for two categories: forgiveness and overall impression, while the rest of his scores hovered in the 3-range. A few 2’s given for flotation and versatility, but overall, it���s safe to say that Jeffrey is a big fan of these skis. “The Mindbender 85 may be an intermediate ski, but it doesn’t know it. It’s a much better ski than is should be. It’s super easy to initiate and makes nice, solid carved turns. I found it’s stability surprising when locking into a carve. It’s a champ at quick turns and it does okay at long and medium radius turns. It’s not a ski that’s going to wow you, but I think it’s a great choice for an intermediate skier who’s looking to get better. It’s a ski that you can improve on and not worry about out-growing right away.”

Whether you’re a first-time ski buyer or someone who knows what they want, the K2 Mindbender 85 is a fantastic choice. If you spend most of your time on groomed slopes in the search of the perfectly carved turn, these will do the trick. If you are a bump and tree skier who values quickness and forgiveness, these skis have the energy and pop to take you where you want to go.