Freeride · Tip rocker
K2 Mindbender 96 Men's 2027
- Category
- Freeride
- Profile
- Tip rocker
- Lengths
- 168 · 173 · 178 · 183 cm
- Tip / waist / tail
- 135 / 96 / 123 mm
- Radius
- 17.9 mest. at 173 cm
- Weight
- not stated
- Core
- Aspen Paulownia
- Metal
- not stated
- Carbon
- not stated
- Sidewall
- not stated
- Base
- not stated
- Intended ability
- not stated
Lengths and published dimensions
168 cm
- Tip (mm)
- 135.0
- Waist (mm)
- 96.0
- Tail (mm)
- 123.0
- Radius (m)
- 16.9est.
- Weight (g, per ski)
- not published
173 cm
- Tip (mm)
- 135.0
- Waist (mm)
- 96.0
- Tail (mm)
- 123.0
- Radius (m)
- 17.9est.
- Weight (g, per ski)
- not published
178 cm
- Tip (mm)
- 135.0
- Waist (mm)
- 96.0
- Tail (mm)
- 123.0
- Radius (m)
- 18.9est.
- Weight (g, per ski)
- not published
183 cm
- Tip (mm)
- 135.0
- Waist (mm)
- 96.0
- Tail (mm)
- 123.0
- Radius (m)
- 20.0
- Weight (g, per ski)
- 1,900
| Length | Tip (mm) | Waist (mm) | Tail (mm) | Radius (m) | Weight (g, per ski) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168 cm | 135.0 | 96.0 | 123.0 | 16.9est. | not published |
| 173 cm | 135.0 | 96.0 | 123.0 | 17.9est. | not published |
| 178 cm | 135.0 | 96.0 | 123.0 | 18.9est. | not published |
| 183 cm | 135.0 | 96.0 | 123.0 | 20.0 | 1,900 |
“est.” marks a number the maker does not publish: ours. Where each number was read is under “Where these numbers come from” at the bottom.
What the model says
Carve radius, to scale
- Sidecut radius: 17.873928752724776 m (est.)
- Carve radius at 30° edge: 15.5 m
- Carve radius at 45° edge: 12.6 m
Edge hold and float
- Edge hold: 97%, Holds well
- Float: 61%, Some float
The K2 Mindbender 96 Men's at 173 cm, worked out by the Edge Lab model for three skier weights.
70 kg skier
- Carve radius at 30° / 45° / 60°
- 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m
- Edge hold, groomed
- Holds well (100%)
- Edge hold, ice
- On the limit (67%)
- Float, powder
- Floats well (70%)
90 kg skier
- Carve radius at 30° / 45° / 60°
- 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m
- Edge hold, groomed
- Holds well (97%)
- Edge hold, ice
- On the limit (63%)
- Float, powder
- Some float (61%)
110 kg skier
- Carve radius at 30° / 45° / 60°
- 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m
- Edge hold, groomed
- Holds well (94%)
- Edge hold, ice
- On the limit (60%)
- Float, powder
- Some float (55%)
| Skier | Carve radius at 30° / 45° / 60° edge | Edge hold, groomed | Edge hold, ice | Float, powder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 kg | 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m | Holds well (100%) | On the limit (67%) | Floats well (70%) |
| 90 kg | 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m | Holds well (97%) | On the limit (63%) | Some float (61%) |
| 110 kg | 15.5 / 12.6 / 8.9 m | Holds well (94%) | On the limit (60%) | Some float (55%) |
These are the model’s numbers, not measurements. Carve radius comes from the sidecut, so it does not change with weight; edge hold and float do. Flex and camber are our estimates (see “What the model uses” below).
By ability
The K2 Mindbender 96 Men's at 173 cm for a 90 kg skier on groomed snow. Reviewers are mostly experts, so read the left of each band for what most skiers get.
Edge hold
On firm snow, 173 cm- First-timer: slides (18%)
- Beginner: slides (39%)
- Intermediate: on the limit (68%), assumed level
- Advanced: holds well (92%)
- Expert: holds well (97%)
Float
In soft snow- First-timer: some float (47%)
- Beginner: some float (50%)
- Intermediate: some float (53%), assumed level
- Advanced: some float (57%)
- Expert: some float (61%)
Ease
How forgiving it is- First-timer: hard (0%)
- Beginner: manageable (66%)
- Intermediate: easy (100%), assumed level
- Advanced: easy (100%)
- Expert: easy (89%)
Our model, run with working assumptions about how each level skis (edge angle, speed, how much weight reaches the edge). Not measurements. The marked cell assumes an intermediate skier; compare with your own details to see your own level.
Who it suits
It suits
- 90 kg, advanced, all over the mountain194 of 547 skis in the catalogue for this skier.
- Carve radius about 15.5 m at 30° edge and 12.6 m at 45° (173 cm)
- Built from 1 review, 0 by testers within 10 kg of you
- Strongest here: turn shape. Even its weakest part, float, is solid.
- 110 kg, expert, off-piste in soft snow179 of 547 skis in the catalogue for this skier.
- Strongest here: edge hold. Weakest: float.
It doesn’t suit
- 70 kg, intermediate, on groomers434 of 547 skis in the catalogue for this skier.
- Carve radius about 15.5 m at 30° edge and 12.6 m at 45° (173 cm)
- Built from 1 review, 0 by testers within 10 kg of you
- Strongest here: edge hold. Even its weakest part, float, is solid.
What the model uses
| Flex underfoot | 171 N·m²est. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Camber height | 3.8 mmest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
| Tip rocker | 22.8 % of lengthest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
| Tail rocker | 10.7 % of lengthest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
| Tip rocker height | 15.7 mmest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
| Tail rocker height | 6.3 mmest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
| Mount point offset | -7.1 cmest. | Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026) |
Made of
| Core | Aspen Paulownia |
|---|---|
| Maker's description | Titanal I-Beam, Aspen Paulownia |
Only what the maker prints. A field left out is one the maker does not state.
What reviewers say
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.
Read the full review (opens in a new tab)
Compare with…
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's vs Armada Locator 96 (side by side for your setup)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's vs Blizzard Rustler 9 (side by side for your setup)
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's vs Blizzard Sheeva 9 (side by side for your setup)
Where to buy
No shops to show for this ski yet. When we list one, it appears here with the reason it was picked.
Where these numbers come fromk2snow.com, edgelab.ski, read 9 Oct 2026· “est.” marks ours
- K2 Mindbender 96 Men's Skis 2027 | K2 Skis and K2 Snowboarding (read 9 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)
- Edge Lab archetype default (interpolated by waist) (read 9 Oct 2026)
Numbers come from the maker’s own pages, with the date we read them. “est.” marks a number the maker does not publish: ours.