2023 K2 Poacher

If you’ve followed along here at SkiEssentails.com for any amount of time, you’ll know that we’re big fans of these mid-90's twin tips for both freestyle and all-mountain skiing. The Poacher from K2 is one of the best of the bunch, allowing for Olympic and X-Games caliber park skiing as well as general all-mountain use by intermediates all the way through expert skiers. The mid-90's is a great place to be for true all-mountain versatility, and if you gave this ski to a bunch of advanced and expert skiers and told them that this was going to be their daily driver, you probably wouldn’t get a whole lot of complaints. Built with a fir and aspen wood core, the skis have a great blend of agility and strength. As one of the heavier twin tips out there, the ski also gets K2’s triaxial fiberglass laminate and carbon boost stringers. Adding carbon to the fiberglass makes a lot of sense from a stiffness and energy standpoint, as these skis have a ton of pop and snap to them. The rocker is on the lower and more gradual side of the spectrum for a freestyle twin tip, and that’s okay, as it lends more to the all-mountain prowess of the ski. With a lower splay than most true twins, the Poacher sets itself apart once again, providing smoothness and predictability in softer snow. The 184 produces a 19-meter turn radius, and this is right in the sweet spot for true versatile skiing.

Bob St.Pierre skied the 177, and noted that was too short for him, but felt true to its own size. Interestingly, Bob is the largest tester to ski the Poacher, and was the only one on the 177. He gave the ski top scores of 5 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness. Overall impression, versatility, forgiveness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and flotation all got 4’s, while a lowly 3 was doled out for stability. Given the shorter length, this is not terribly surprising to see. “What a great ski! At 96 mm underfoot, this is a fantastic choice for all-mountain skiers that want to incorporate some freestyle into their day. It's pretty sharp and responsive, but also fun and playful, and those qualities don't always go together quite so well. You can make very clean and round turns on this ski, as the heft makes it stable and stout even at speed.” Quenten Jones notes that his 184 felt a bit short, and said that it’s “Definitely a park-oriented ski. Could be an all-mountain ski for the park style skier. Carves pretty well and is stable on edge if skied from a centered stance.” He gave it mostly 4’s with 3’s for versatility and flotation.

Matt McGinnis skied the 184, and like Quenten, was all 4’s save for a 3 in flotation. He notes that “The K2 Poacher performed for me exactly as advertised: a slightly stiffer, more serious version of the Reckoner 102 with a 96mm waist. As someone who skis the 102 regularly, my one complaint is that at times the tail can wash out. As such, I was hoping the Poacher would remedy that. Turns out, it did, and then some. Overall, the poacher offers a strong, reliable twin tip option that’s capable of charging hard and holding an edge. My biggest takeaway from this ski though is that it’s just simply fun. It’s intuitive, easy to ski, and never felt like it was lacking. I would highly recommend the poacher for anyone looking for a strong, capable all-mountain twin tip.” Jeff Neagle states that “This ski works way better for me in the 177 but I wanted to feel the 184. Kind of a beast for a twin tip to be honest. Good reminder that you should stay shorter in the Poacher. Such a strong, durable ski. Great for a park skier who’s really hard on his equipment. Can rip around the mountain too.”

Our testers are pretty consistent about highlighting the all-mountain capabilities of the Poacher, and rightfully so. The shape, combined with the build and the profile make it seem like a no-brainer for a lot of skiers looking for that playful twin that can rip all over the hill. Whether you ski park exclusively or not at all, the Poacher has a lot to offer a wide variety of skiers.