Compare skis
K2 Mindbender 90 vs K2 Mindbender 96 Men's
Mindbender 90 carves tighter on groomers and grips harder snow; Mindbender 96 Men's floats.
Worked out for a 90 kg skier.
Side by side
TAIL 117 mmWAIST 90 mmTIP 132 mm
Solid line: K2 Mindbender 90, 172 cm
Dashed line: K2 Mindbender 96 Men's, 178 cm
Calculated for 90 kg on groomedsnow. Shaded rows are the model; “est.” marks numbers the maker does not publish.
- K2 Mindbender 90all-mountain
image © K2 - K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sfreeride
image © K2
- Length compared
- K2 Mindbender 90172 cm
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's178 cm
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Tip / waist / tail
- K2 Mindbender 90132 / 90 / 117 mm
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's135 / 96 / 123 mm
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Sidecut radius
- K2 Mindbender 9014.3 mest.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's18.9 mest.
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Carve radius at 30° edge
- K2 Mindbender 9012.4 m
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's16.4 m
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Carve radius at 45° edge
- K2 Mindbender 9010.1 m
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's13.4 m
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Edge hold on firm snow
- K2 Mindbender 90Holds well (100%)tail holds, under holds, tip holds
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sHolds well (94%)tail marginal, under holds, tip holds
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Edge hold by ability
- K2 Mindbender 90
- First-timer: slides (19%)
- Beginner: slides (41%)
- Intermediate: on the limit (70%), assumed level
- Advanced: holds well (95%)
- Expert: holds well (100%)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's
- First-timer: slides (18%)
- Beginner: slides (38%)
- Intermediate: on the limit (66%), assumed level
- Advanced: holds well (89%)
- Expert: holds well (94%)
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Float in soft snow
- K2 Mindbender 90Some float (46%)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sSome float (61%)
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Construction
- K2 Mindbender 90Aspen Microblock · no metal
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sAspen Paulownia
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Notes
- K2 Mindbender 90Built from published geometry; flex and camber are our estimates.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sBuilt from published geometry; flex and camber are our estimates.
- K2 Mindbender 90
- Sources
- K2 Mindbender 90K2 Mindbender 90 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (read 13 Oct 2026); K2 Mindbender 90 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (derived from the 178 cm published radius) (read 13 Oct 2026)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sK2 Mindbender 96 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (read 13 Oct 2026); K2 Mindbender 96 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (derived from the 183 cm published radius) (read 9 Oct 2026)
| Measure | K2 Mindbender 90all-mountain | K2 Mindbender 96 Men'sfreeride |
|---|---|---|
| Length compared | 172 cm | 178 cm |
| Tip / waist / tail | 132 / 90 / 117 mm | 135 / 96 / 123 mm |
| Sidecut radius | 14.3 mest. | 18.9 mest. |
| Carve radius at 30° edge | 12.4 m | 16.4 m |
| Carve radius at 45° edge | 10.1 m | 13.4 m |
| Edge hold on firm snow | Holds well (100%)tail holds, under holds, tip holds | Holds well (94%)tail marginal, under holds, tip holds |
| Edge hold by ability |
|
|
| Float in soft snow | Some float (46%) | Some float (61%) |
| Construction | Aspen Microblock · no metal | Aspen Paulownia |
| Notes | Built from published geometry; flex and camber are our estimates. | Built from published geometry; flex and camber are our estimates. |
| Sources | K2 Mindbender 90 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (read 13 Oct 2026); K2 Mindbender 90 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (derived from the 178 cm published radius) (read 13 Oct 2026) | K2 Mindbender 96 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (read 13 Oct 2026); K2 Mindbender 96 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (derived from the 183 cm published radius) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
How they differ
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's turns 4 m wider than K2 Mindbender 90.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's holds 6 points less than K2 Mindbender 90.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's floats 15 points more than K2 Mindbender 90.
Turn shape and pressure
Turn shape from above
Pressure along the ski
| Ski | Tail | Underfoot | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid line: K2 Mindbender 90 | 6% | 82% | 12% |
| Dashed line: K2 Mindbender 96 Men's | 3% | 86% | 11% |
Which one for which skier
- 70 kg, intermediate, on groomers
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's fits better than K2 Mindbender 90.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: Carve radius about 15.5 m at 30° edge and 12.6 m at 45° (173 cm)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: Built from 2 reviews, 0 by testers within 10 kg of you
- 90 kg, advanced, all over the mountain
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's fits better than K2 Mindbender 90.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: Carve radius about 16.4 m at 30° edge and 13.4 m at 45° (178 cm)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: 1 tester within 10 kg of you rated its edge grip well
- 110 kg, expert, off-piste in soft snow
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's fits better than K2 Mindbender 90.
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: Carve radius about 17.3 m at 30° edge and 14.1 m at 45° (183 cm)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's: Built from 2 reviews, 0 by testers within 10 kg of you
What reviewers say
K2 Mindbender 90
From video
2026 K2 Mindbender 90 C - SkiEssentials Ski Test Review
SkiEssentials · 8 Aug 2025 · 178 cm tested
Reviewed as the 2026 model.
The reviewer evaluates the K2 Mindbender 90 C, noting its carbon spectral braiding and poplar-free aspen core. It caters well to intermediates up through advanced skiers looking for an approachable, agile all-mountain ski. It initiates easily into turns and releases smoothly from tails, shining in bumps and trees within moderate radius arcs. However, it lacks high-end shovel stiffness and stability when driven at aggressive speeds in wide GS carves.
Why this one: Tester weight not stated.
Watch on YouTube from 3:23 (opens in a new tab)From video
2025 K2 Mindbender 90 C - SkiEssentials.com Ski Test Review
SkiEssentials · 17 Sept 2024 · 178 cm tested
Reviewed as the 2025 model.
The presenter examines the K2 Mindbender 90C, highlighting its updated topsheet while maintaining the same versatile carbon braid construction. It features an aspen micro block core, semi-cap build, and generous tip and tail rocker with traditional camber underfoot. Aimed at intermediate to advanced skiers, it serves as a lightweight, nimble all-mountain ski that handles variable snow, bumps, and trees easily, providing dependable edge hold without being overly demanding.
Why this one: Tester weight not stated.
Watch on YouTube from 4:20 (opens in a new tab)
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's
Reviews from SkiEssentials (opens in a new tab)
From video
K2 Mindbender 96 Review | 2027 Forecast Ski Test @ Red Mountain Resort
Forecast Ski · 25 Sept 2026 · 183 cm tested
Reviewed as the 2027 model.
The reviewer evaluates the ski as a dependable and versatile daily driver suited for intermediate to expert skiers. He highlights its stable feel underfoot balanced by agile tips and tails, providing dependable edge hold on firm snow, easy maneuverability through trees and tight areas, and solid dampening across variable snow and chopped terrain.
Why this one: Tester weighs 81.6 kg, within 10 kg of you.
Watch on YouTube from 2:20 (opens in a new tab)2027 K2 Mindbender 96 On Snow Ski Review
Bob St.Pierre · 17 Feb 2026 · 183 cm tested
The redesigned K2 Mindbender 96 shifts to an I-Beam build with damping polymers, yielding exceptional vibration absorption and stability. Testers found it precise and composed when carving on groomers, smoothly engaging into turns while remaining adaptable to skidded shapes. Off-piste, it blasts predictably through crud, bumps, and windblown snow, offering solid flotation for a mid-90s all-mountain model aimed at experienced skiers.
Why this one: Tester weight not stated.
Read the full review (opens in a new tab)
Where to buy
K2 Mindbender 90
No shops to show for this ski yet. When we list one, it appears here with the reason it was picked.
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's
No shops to show for this ski yet. When we list one, it appears here with the reason it was picked.
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