![]() Not only does it have a classic kangaroo pouch but it also has side hand pockets, perfect for snacks, extra hand warmers or anything you might need. I also appreciated the variety of pockets. It really popped on camera and the mountain. The coat is from this season, and I loved the bright lavender color. Speaking of clothes, I wore the Lynx Pullover Anorak from Strafe. He said they were very durable and appreciated their weather resistance when the snow started coming down later in the afternoon. The same Baker Bib and Knight jacket you know and love just with an updated colorway. He was also decked out in a new Flylow kit for the 23/24 season. “You can tell they are soft underfoot, but there’s enough material there so you can feel the different layers.” “I like how they are lively and stable feeling at the same time,” he said. Donald Little, from our softgoods sales team, called the Playmaker 101 his top ski of the day. Read more about that test day here.Īnother new big player in the game is the Elan Playmaker. We tested the new K2 lineup on its own a little later in the season, where we got to really focus on the Mindbenders alone. That being said, when he did get the Mindbender 96Cs up on edge, they did hold it well. Testing them back to back with the Elan Ripstick 96, he felt the Ripstick could initiate a turn smoother, and they were a bit easier to get up on edge. His initial thoughts were that they are a fun new addition to the lightweight all-mountain ski category. Skiing in them, our feet felt locked in, and they could handle the variety of skis we tested with power and ease.Īs far as the Mindbenders go, Tyler Fuller, a member of our customer service team, tested the 96C - the new counterpart to the well-known Mindbender Ti series. It offers a more even wrap and a sense of pressure in that area of your boot. K2 has replaced the bottom two buckles with a BOA system to provide a more fine-tuned fit and feel on the sides and top of your foot. For the 23/24 season, the biggest change in boot technology is the addition of BOA closures. Our first stop was the K2 tent to test the new Mindbender C skis and Recon BOA boots. The Northeast saw a lackluster start to the season, but things were looking up, and the snow-covered trees at the summit made an excellent backdrop for our test day. With a storm on the horizon and snow starting to fall in the early afternoon, we were stoked that it was finally starting to look and feel like winter. This year, we brought 5 testers to Pico Mountain in VT for their annual early-season industry demo. I take mine to Whistler and as my wider travel ski, but I’m typically on something looser (typically Billy Goats) on a local, PNW Pow day.Some of our favorite days are the bigger demos where we can test a variety of gear back to back. ![]() I also agree 100% with your comments regarding the Rustler 11. I think they might be fun for me, but even better for my 17-yo. I’ve yet to mount up my 186’s, but your comments about the MB116’s make me excited to try them. Thanks for sharing your initial impressions and for the relevant comparison. But they are both great, it’s more pow with mindbender and more all mountain with rustler If you have a lots of trees, deeper and short run outs take the mindbender. So if you have a mountain with a lot of very like whistler, or revy I would take the rustler. Better float but not quite as good on groomers. Forgot to wax them and it did not affect performance. Did I mention they just rail groomers at high speed and carveįirst day on mindbender 116c. Not quite as floaty but I’m spoiled with pow skis. They rip groomers and are a blast in the fall line and light powder. Skied rustler 15 or so days in a lot of conditions So both measure 186 and dimensions are nearly identical and radius is also very close.
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