2027 K2 Mindbender 96 On Snow Ski Review

For 2027, K2 has simplified and refined the Mindbender collection of all-mountain and freeride skis. The all-new Mindbender 96 could easily be considered the flagship model of this group, with strong on-piste carving capacity mixed with entertaining and capable versatility. We talk a lot about skis in the mid-90's as being highly polyvalent, and these new Mindbenders squarely fit in that realm. With a new build, shape, and profile, the K2 Mindbender 96 is a strong option for advanced and expert skiers who want as few limitations as possible in their daily driver skis.

Built with a blend of aspen and paulownia in the wood core, the skis use an I-Beam metal laminate to boost the power and damping of the ski. We’re no longer getting the Y-Beam like in previous Mindbenders. I-Beam has historically been found in Disruption skis, so it’s interesting to see that type of methodology used in their all-mountain/freeride skis rather than frontside. Since it’s paired with the lighter aspen and paulownia wood, it does make sense, and in no way does it prohibit or interfere with tip engagement and initiation phases. The skis are smooth and deliberate when approaching the start of the turn. Due to K2’s extensive research, they’ve determined that their Dark Matter Damping polymer material (basically thick rubber) belongs in strategic locations in the forebody and along the tail of the skis along the sides. These zones, in addition to the metal, combine to create an incredibly silent and smooth skiing experience with minimal chatter and vibrations. It’s pretty clear that someone in the engineering department took the time to measure where the vibrations occurred and then placed the polymer in those zones to combat the noise. We don’t have weights on this ski at this time, but they feel to be right around the 2000-gram mark in the 183 cm length.

At a Glance:

2027 K2 Mindbender 96 Skis

In terms of shape, we do see some similarities here between this and the outgoing Mindbender 96 C. The new ski has wider shovels and tails yet features a longer turn radius due to the tapered shape. With measurements of 135/96/123 mm in the 183, the ski creates a 20-meter arc but feels capable of making all sorts of turn shapes and styles. Like a lot of K2 skis, we do get a long and low rocker profile which increases pivoting and smearing while also creating a longer effective edge for boosted carving performance. From a shaping perspective, this new ski certainly seems like a more versatile product than either the 96 C or the 99 Ti from past seasons.

Starting on-trail, it’s pretty clear that the technology works. Initiation is clean and efficient, and you’re able to get this ski up on a high edge angle relatively quickly for the amount of rocker and taper involved. What I found most telling was the strength and silence of the ski at those high edge angles. You can push this ski hard, and it continues to respond. The carves are clean and precise, and you can use the flex of the ski to shorten that arc to below the stated 20-meters, which I personally find to be quite fun. While the Dark Matter Technology may sound gimmicky, there’s definitely something there, as not many skis possess this type of silence and smoothness at this width in a carved turn on firm snow. I also found it capable of making all sorts of skidded turns, sliding turns, and smeary turns to go along with the full double-edge carves. For skiers who are not locked into one turn shape or style, this is a huge advantage.

Not surprisingly, this ski excels off-trail as well. We had some crud, some chop, and some windblown snow to deal with, and this ski couldn’t care less. It continued on its intended course and trajectory with nary a blip. The metal smoothed out uneven terrain and adverse conditions with ease while the width of the ski combined with the rocker and taper kept the ski up and out of the snow. It doesn’t seem to want to find the bottom in softer snow, which is great, and then if you’re getting back into the firm stuff, it’s very consistent in the transitions. The smoothness and predictability are very helpful in moguls, bumps, and trees. There are very few surprises here, and that’s a good thing. While skis like the Mindbender 101 will be a better floater, there’s nothing wrong with the 96’s approach and execution in deeper and softer snow.

This is a true all-mountain high-performance ski in every sense of the terms. It’s capable of excelling in a variety of conditions and terrain. Fantastic on the groomers in a carved turn, the Mindbender 96 also goes just fine in an off-piste setting as well. Skis in the mid-90's with metal and a modern shape should be able to do all these things, and K2 has really nailed it with this new ski. Now that the Mindbender series is better aligned and more cohesive, it makes a lot of sense that advanced and expert skiers will find a great option here.