It looks like K2 has also brought the tech inserts into the actual shell of the boot, rather than on the removable outsole blocks. This is a pretty neat feature as it means you’re going to be getting direct power transfer to the tech bindings, rather than any potential slop that may develop from removable outsoles.

And speaking of binding compatibility, you’ve got GripWalk soles; something which is now becoming the adopted norm for boot soles. This means the boots will fit into a huge range of alpine, alpine touring and, of course, tech bindings thanks to those tech inserts.

We’d say the flex felt a touch softer than the advertised 130, particularly after A/B-ing them with similar boots claiming to be 130. This isn’t anything against the boot whatsoever. It says a lot about the fantastic progressive flex in the boots, where the boot begins quite soft before ultimately providing you with a stronger flex the deeper you press into the cuff.

This provides an extremely snappy and powerful boot, while that softer flex at the top end works to smooth out any bumps. The Mindbender range comes in eight different flex ratings, ranging from the 140 ‘Team’, via this 130 flex version and going all the way down to 95. The range includes options for men, women and juniors. 

K2 Mindbender 130 Fit

We were testing the 98mm ‘LV’, or low volume, version of this boot and found them to provide a fantastic wrap around the foot. The powerlite liner paired with the toughened powerlite shell provided fantastic heel hold, without any of us having to ratchet down the instep buckle in an effort to keep our heels locked in.

Who Is The K2 Mindbender 130 For?

We’ve been stoked with how the whole Mindbender range has performed while out testing them in Flachau. The boots provide a really smooth flex – one of the best in the freeride touring boot market, in fact – while also offering a fantastic performance-focused fit.

What Is The K2 Mindbender 130 Good At?

Performance: 9/10
Fit: 9/10
Walk mode: 8/10