2027 K2 Mindbender 96

The 2027 K2 MIndbender 96 is a sharp and crisp all-mountain ski that is incredibly good at carving, especially for how versatile it is. We enjoyed all of our time on the 96, as it stiff flex and fun turning style. There’s no real direct replacement here, as the new 96 could be considered more of a beefed-up 96 C from last year, but they feel quite a bit different. This ski works great for advanced and expert skiers who want to feel the pull of a carved turn and the versatility of a true all-mountain ski.

Built with a blend of paulownia and aspen, these skis have a nice blend of quickness, smoothness, and stiffness. K2 uses two sheets of titanal I-Beams and Dark Matter Damping to keep the ski powerful and smooth. The core thickness is important here, too, as this ski uses a thicker core profile to deliver a strong and grippy feel. Tester Colin Wiedersheim notes that “K2 and their Mindbender line continue to provide accessible performance for so many different skier types, and this 96 would be right in the sweet spot for many. Groomers, bumps, trees, all over the mountain. The 96 is the definition of a versatile all mountain ski. One of the most versatile options in this category. Solid performance ceiling, yet not entirely demanding or harsh. A great option for when you want a mid-nineties all mountain ski but don’t know which to get. Another winner from K2.”

With a shorter radius and a fun shape, these skis have less taper and rocker than their wider counterparts and really feel like they want to pull across the fall line and create round, clean, and confident turns. While it feels like a shorter arc, it’s actually measuring 20-meters in the 183, but it doesn’t feel like it. We get some nice feedback from Jeff Neagle who notes that “It was fun getting to ski the new Mindbender 96 at Waterville. Shorter length than I skied at Alta earlier in the season and definitely more focused on just ripping groomers. This thing is just so much fun to ski! Love how easily it comes across the fall line in a carve while also feeling quite strong and capable. It's a nice blend of performance and forgiveness. Not the easiest to ski, but it's definitely not too demanding and results in a confidence-inspiring feel. I feel comfortable on it right away yet still feel like I can push it at speed, even in this shorter length. I think it's a really strong contender in the mid-90 mm all-mountain range.”

We think this will be a successful ski in its debut year because it’s easy to turn, fun to ski, and has a high-performance ceiling. With a strong on-trail character and a versatile shape, these skis make a lot of sense for a one-ski choice or it can work well as a wider all-mountain ski. Now that they are made in Germany, it’ll be interesting to see if we get any sort of feedback as to any potential increase in quality or performance.