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New touring skis, boots and binding from Head. Interesting that the skis seem to be based on the Kore line, already a really competitive touring weight on those skis and some people love them for all skiing including inbounds.
Bindings are priced super competitively - $575 for the 12 PT vs. $699 for a Voyager 13 at a similar weight. That Voyager is best in class, but really solid pricing out the gate
Tried the SEA 108 yesterday, wasn't super impressed as it felt quite hooky overall but I'm sure a bit of that is the tune. Basically it was a decent ski but I had way more fun on the nightstick 104, those are damn good, almost like a jibbier ranger.
Glad the ARV 106/112 got rid of smeartech, as the ride is much more composed/precise now. The 112 is the standout model in my mind, just a seriously stable/smooth ride that retains all of the playful qualities you'd expect in the ARV line.
Also seriously impressed by the new M-Free 108, that ski blew me away. One of the most automatically comfortable skiing skis I've ever tried, but it is quite heavy/damp (which is my preference anyway) so keep that in mind. Basically a perfect "point and shoot" kind of ski that wants to just direct you fast down anything.
.nastyTried the SEA 108 yesterday, wasn't super impressed as it felt quite hooky overall but I'm sure a bit of that is the tune. Basically it was a decent ski but I had way more fun on the nightstick 104, those are damn good, almost like a jibbier ranger.
Glad the ARV 106/112 got rid of smeartech, as the ride is much more composed/precise now. The 112 is the standout model in my mind, just a seriously stable/smooth ride that retains all of the playful qualities you'd expect in the ARV line.
Also seriously impressed by the new M-Free 108, that ski blew me away. One of the most automatically comfortable skiing skis I've ever tried, but it is quite heavy/damp (which is my preference anyway) so keep that in mind. Basically a perfect "point and shoot" kind of ski that wants to just direct you fast down anything.
Whats changed on the M-Free? Thats the same way I would describe previous years
Rob.comFound Dalbello for anyone who’s intereste **This post was edited on Jan 31st 2024 at 4:14:09pm
yeah - those pics are from Evo's 2025 preview. They uploaded the K2 previews today too - lots of pics of various reckoners, mindbenders and their multitude of boots. Things are looking pretty good I must add,
I am not sure if they've changed the design of the M-Free 108s (as the dimensions are identical), but the big thing is the introduction of Hybrid 2.0 core and a new graphic.
jaxfulWhats changed on the M-Free? Thats the same way I would describe previous years
I also thought the same about the old one and was almost surprised they redesigned it, but literally everyone that tried it loved it. I’m actually not sure of the exact changes but it felt a little heavier/damper for sure.
.nastyTried the SEA 108 yesterday, wasn't super impressed as it felt quite hooky overall but I'm sure a bit of that is the tune. Basically it was a decent ski but I had way more fun on the nightstick 104, those are damn good, almost like a jibbier ranger.
Glad the ARV 106/112 got rid of smeartech, as the ride is much more composed/precise now. The 112 is the standout model in my mind, just a seriously stable/smooth ride that retains all of the playful qualities you'd expect in the ARV line.
Also seriously impressed by the new M-Free 108, that ski blew me away. One of the most automatically comfortable skiing skis I've ever tried, but it is quite heavy/damp (which is my preference anyway) so keep that in mind. Basically a perfect "point and shoot" kind of ski that wants to just direct you fast down anything.
Full new collection that takes notes from the previous skis. The dimensions on the Omen Team (left) match that of the Poacher but the rest have been completely re-designed.
I don't want to speak out of turn since I am not an engineer but here's a few notes...the engineering team took most the queues from what everyone loved about the Poachers and completely re-engineering the 90s to add durability and to drastically improve those skis.
To go hand in hand, the decisions that I am allowed to make in my position were geared towards supporting the engineers in lockstep towards better durability on all of the skis moving forward. They focused on all the guts but I was allowed to update a few things to help. Tough top was added to all of the skis to help with chipping as well as solid, 1 piece bases on the entire freeride and freestyle collections to help with diecut pieces popping out. With making the bases solid and "sublimating" the graphics on the bases we're allowed to be more expressive with the art without being limited to what what a diecut base can achieve. I'm sure some of you caught the bases on the Omen Teams that Colby was skiing on at X games but the goal was to make something that was completely new for K2. Excited to see more of you on them and the shots that will come!
chills__I guess the Poacher/Sight are now the Omens. Colby was riding the ones on the left at Xgames
Had these pics for a while should have posted em before but side to side comparison of my old clapped out kartel 96 and the new kf 114 if anyone wanted to see.
plugsHad these pics for a while should have posted em before but side to side comparison of my old clapped out kartel 96 and the new kf 114 if anyone wanted to see.
RiplineThat is actually a really nice rockerprofile.
How is the flex?
Pretty middle of the road flex. Softer than my kartel I’d say by a bit. Didn’t get a chance to ski them but the guy who did said they’re one of his favourite skis he’s ever used and he’s skiied a lot of skis.
RiplineThat is actually a really nice rockerprofile.
How is the flex?
plugsPretty middle of the road flex. Softer than my kartel I’d say by a bit. Didn’t get a chance to ski them but the guy who did said they’re one of his favourite skis he’s ever used and he’s skiied a lot of skis.
They're defo soft, but they're not slouches either. Ive got, maybe 8 or 9 other pair of skis with bindings but I'll be grabbing my KFs quite a bit.
Kinda feels like a shredditor style sweet spot of stiffness. Has enough to do some killer shit, while soft enough to do some chiller shit
bradwaltersFull new collection that takes notes from the previous skis. The dimensions on the Omen Team (left) match that of the Poacher but the rest have been completely re-designed.
I don't want to speak out of turn since I am not an engineer but here's a few notes...the engineering team took most the queues from what everyone loved about the Poachers and completely re-engineering the 90s to add durability and to drastically improve those skis.
To go hand in hand, the decisions that I am allowed to make in my position were geared towards supporting the engineers in lockstep towards better durability on all of the skis moving forward. They focused on all the guts but I was allowed to update a few things to help. Tough top was added to all of the skis to help with chipping as well as solid, 1 piece bases on the entire freeride and freestyle collections to help with diecut pieces popping out. With making the bases solid and "sublimating" the graphics on the bases we're allowed to be more expressive with the art without being limited to what what a diecut base can achieve. I'm sure some of you caught the bases on the Omen Teams that Colby was skiing on at X games but the goal was to make something that was completely new for K2. Excited to see more of you on them and the shots that will come!
Sweet thanks for the info! I think I can get another 5 years out of my 2019 Poachers lol but good to hear the rest of the lineup is getting beefed up
I'm conflicted on the new 108, since I've skied the current one a ton. It skied longer feeling now due to a less dramatic tip rocker than the current one. It definitely wasn't as damp but I'm not surprised due to them removing the titanal, but I didn't feel like it wasn't damp enough (and the snow at loveland both days was pretty garbage/firm). I'll have to spend more time on it, but I did always like the big abrupt tip rocker on the current one if you did take it out on a deeper snow day as it had some seriously good float for a 108.
I also skied the Omen Team and it basically skis exactly like a poacher did, which is good because I know no one wanted that ski to change, and it's a seriously fun ski. It does have that new construction that the reckoners are also using which is a huge plus. I did enjoy the new reckoners as well, but I can tell ya those things are not fans of firmer snow that's for sure.
The salomon rep came by the shop yesterday to let me try his 192 QST X for the day. It was nice to try it on my home turf in the high alpine in Breck. I did all the hike to terrain and found everything from a few recycled pow turns to crust to chalk. It really did handle way better than I would have expected on the firmer snow, given that it's a softer/turnier version of the blank essentially. Even for being a ski that pivots real quick (at least for a 116 underfoot ski), it could lay down some seriously smooth long turns when you wanted to open it up. Sometimes skis like this can feel twitchy, but it didn't at all, very composed and smooth. I'm a fan overall.
Even cooler that with the rep, some ski designers/engineers from France were there to pick our brains about some future salomon projects and it was a pretty awesome conversation. They're really trying to keep it real and be a rad fun company again after the parent companies had em by the balls a bit (not Amer, think even higher than that).
**This post was edited on Feb 2nd 2024 at 9:08:37am
.nastyI'm conflicted on the new 108, since I've skied the current one a ton. It skied longer feeling now due to a less dramatic tip rocker than the current one. It definitely wasn't as damp but I'm not surprised due to them removing the titanal, but I didn't feel like it wasn't damp enough (and the snow at loveland both days was pretty garbage/firm). I'll have to spend more time on it, but I did always like the big abrupt tip rocker on the current one if you did take it out on a deeper snow day as it had some seriously good float for a 108.
I also skied the Omen Team and it basically skis exactly like a poacher did, which is good because I know no one wanted that ski to change, and it's a seriously fun ski. It does have that new construction that the reckoners are also using which is a huge plus. I did enjoy the new reckoners as well, but I can tell ya those things are not fans of firmer snow that's for sure.
The salomon rep came by the shop yesterday to let me try his 192 QST X for the day. It was nice to try it on my home turf in the high alpine in Breck. I did all the hike to terrain and found everything from a few recycled pow turns to crust to chalk. It really did handle way better than I would have expected on the firmer snow, given that it's a softer/turnier version of the blank essentially. Even for being a ski that pivots real quick (at least for a 116 underfoot ski), it could lay down some seriously smooth long turns when you wanted to open it up. Sometimes skis like this can feel twitchy, but it didn't at all, very composed and smooth. I'm a fan overall.
Even cooler that with the rep, some ski designers/engineers from France were there to pick our brains about some future salomon projects and it was a pretty awesome conversation. They're really trying to keep it real and be a rad fun company again after the parent companies had em by the balls a bit (not Amer, think even higher than that).
**This post was edited on Feb 2nd 2024 at 9:08:37am
i have the current one too, the 190 already skis long LOL... i was hoping for a design that didn't have to skied so far back from center and released from the tail more. I really like the current caruba/Ti blend because it has more feel compared to like a nordica. So next years is just caruba and carbon stringers?
scratchskier321i have the current one too, the 190 already skis long LOL... i was hoping for a design that didn't have to skied so far back from center and released from the tail more. I really like the current caruba/Ti blend because it has more feel compared to like a nordica. So next years is just caruba and carbon stringers?
skied longer, but not necessarily less manageable. poplar core now, which I'm all for as I'm not a huge fan of caruba, like many others it seems. Still Ti underfoot but gone is the banding throughout the ski like the current one.
Still, I'm conflicted. I'll need more time on the new one haha
hi_vis360I want a boot that is completely covered in branded plastic knobs from cuff to toe
switching from a boot covered in buckles to a boot covered in knobs. seems like you are making a bigger deal out of this than it is. You can always feel free to keep using a buckle boot tho
