K2 Mindbender 90C review 2020
PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments
The Mindbender series replaces the excellent Pinnacle series from K2, well known to the Proskilab reviewers.
We have tested the red "C" (carbon) version, which has "Carbon Spectral Braid" technology, a carbon weaving with a variable density and orientation depending on the desired characteristics. There is a higher-end "Ti" version (sold for an extra $100 in the USA) that incorporates a Y-shaped Titanal plate along the length of the ski. More rigid, this second version is also heavier by 200 g per ski.
The reviewers found the "C" version very flexible for this category, especially in the tail. The ski is light underfoot, homogeneous, easily deformed, easy to handle and docile as long as it is not pushed to its limits. It only takes a little angle to make it carve and it's a treat on soft snow. The Mindbender 90C is a smooth and pleasant ski up to intermediate speeds.
Off-piste behaviour was good and the reviewers particularly appreciated its good buoyancy in powder.
A flexible and accessible ski, the Mindbender 90C shows its limits at high speeds on hard snow. In large, fast turns, the handling becomes more imprecise, the supports are less reliable and the ski tends to give out. In choppy snow, it can be deformed by large lumps of compacted snow.
The K2 Mindbender 90C is a good ski that has the advantages and disadvantages of a flexible ski. In this "carbon" version, it will be perfect for light to medium sizes for "cool" handling. Others will turn to the more rigid Ti version that we want to review next season.
Review: Pros
- Light ski
- Accessibility, undemanding ski
- Homogeneous ski
- Manoeuvrable, comfortable ski, pleasant up to intermediate speeds
- Good behaviour in powder
Review: Cons
- Flexible ski
- Lack of precision and grip at high speed
- Transition into choppy snow
The ski review scores
| Turn initiation | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.5 |
| Stability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Stability/turning performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.8 |
| Grip | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.5 |
| Short turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.2 |
| Long turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Skid turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.2 |
| Handleability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.8 |
| Comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.7 |
| Snow contact | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.3 |
| Soft snow fluidity | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.3 |
| Freeride - Flotation quality | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.7 |
| Handling in powder | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 14.2 |
| Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| Freeride - Performance on hard snow | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
| All-terrain comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
Who's it for?
Manufacturer's remarks
Dynamic and fast, lighter and more flexible than the Titanal-boosted version, it has exceptional reactivity and dynamism for fun on and off the nearby pistes.
Features of the Mindbender 90C
| Brand : | K2 |
| Model : | Mindbender 90C |
| Year : | 2020 |
| Family : | All-Mountain |
| Size tested : | 177 cm |
| Tip size : | 127 mm |
| Waist size : | 90 mm |
| Tail size : | 113 mm |
| Radius for the size reviewed : | 17 m |
Your review
Reviewed by PROSKILAB™
in La Clusaz, France, March 2019