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May, 2025

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K2 Skis...IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG?

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Cab3
Posts: 767 - Karma: 50

All I've heard is good things about the K2 park skis like the domain and recoil. I'm starting to really think I should get some.

Has anyone had anything wrong with them???

14 years ago
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adamwhit8
Posts: 444 - Karma: 11
topsheet, softness
14 years ago
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Cab3
Posts: 767 - Karma: 50
Softness? What about it?
14 years ago
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
the ski, it is soft.
14 years ago
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Cab3
Posts: 767 - Karma: 50
How is that an issue
14 years ago
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DADDYlongLEGS
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 48
some ppl prefer stiffer skis
14 years ago
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
well some people don't want a soft flexing ski when they're charging big lines or stomping huge jumps. k2 has been known to be soft, so if you want a stiffer ski then don't buy k2.
14 years ago
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,126

wrong?

What could be wrong with unemployed AMERICANS and cheap chinese, no worker rights or enviormental oversite labor makin cheap chinese skis?

14 years ago
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
Those are not the type of accusations I would make without backing them up with any evidence. Not every factory in China treats its employees and the nature badly. Some do, some don't. How do you know which category the K2 factory falls in? I bet you don't.

Cheap skis, yes. But isn't that what we want? Especially since the quality is good too. Of course some people want to pay more for skis that are made in the US or Europe, for example. Luckily there are companies that manufacture their skis in these places, so you can buy from them. No need to hate on the companies that choose to offer cheaper skis by saving on manufacturing costs, especially when the quality is still there.
14 years ago
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,185
if you want a stiffer ski for bigger jumps/all mountain, get the recoil. if you want a softer jib ski get the domain.

K2 doesn't necessarily make "cheap" skis. while yes, manufacturing costs in China are are less than North America, this allows companies like K2 to put higher end technology into their skis.
14 years ago
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mountainviper
Posts: 1931 - Karma: -3
Look I mean no ill will and honestly I don't have a grudge against K2. In fact I've been riding nothing but K2 and line for over 10 yrs now. The only issue I personally have with either company is the made in china thing. You can try to spin it however ya want to help ya sleep at night but there's a reason why our country is in the situation it is. I'm not going to debate policy or politics with ya. That's honestly irrelavent to me. What is relevant is that if you compare prices to other big name companies that build skis in their home country, K2 and line are about par. There's no real savings on the consumer end. Now you can talk about the free webisodes, etc and I get it. You can also argue capitalism and how it's their right to make the most profit and I get that too. But when things are as bad as they are and outsourcing is a part of the problem, yet some companies continue down that path I think it says alot. At the end of the day it's someone's personal greed. It's actually kind of heartbreaking to me. When I think of K2 I picture the red, white and blue logo. Then to look at those skis and see made in china is very disheartening. It's not because it's a gung ho patriotic thing in the way you may be thinking. But it definitely is a sense of pride thing. Think about some kid in Europe who buys a K2 ski thinking "these are American skis" then sees made in china on them and laughs. That's friggin embarrassing being an American and also supporting that company. Now I know some people are going to hate this next statement but I would almost be willing to pay a little more just for piece of mind that they're being made in America. It's not a dislike for china or politics or blah blah umpteen other reasons. It's for that sense of pride. It's whatever. Pretty sure it's too late to save the economy at this point anyway. These companies know we are going down in flames and their gonna ride it all the way to the ground. It's sad. Ok. End rant.
14 years ago
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
haha please just stfu. k2 skis have some of the best durability of any skis out. the quality is far higher than boutique brands catering to pompous american only skiers
14 years ago
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.nasty
Posts: 10598 - Karma: 11,396
now if only they didn't weigh the weight of a thousand suns
14 years ago
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Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
coming off an extremely light ski if find them a tad heavy for my likings. but id say their weight is slightly above that of an avrg. park ski. also you need to be clear if rocker is for you. after having tried them i came to the conclusion that i prefer camber, because the ski is livlier, pops more, skis more stable and can make harder turns.
14 years ago
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mountainviper
Posts: 1931 - Karma: -3
Hmmm. I don't know about that. Maybe things are better now but in all my years of skiing the worst quality skis I have ever owned were K2 public enemys. Now on the same token, the best quality I've experience so far were the line cryptos so I dunno. Maybe the K2s are holding up better these days.
14 years ago
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,886
The factory featured in Revolver (and in the trailer posted below) is the K2 factory in Seattle, Washington, USA....

They DO use a factory in China to manufacture materials and parts, but the final assembly takes place mostly in the K2 factory in Seattle.

Revolver - Poor Boyz Productions from Kicker Films on Vimeo.

14 years ago
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*valkyrie*
Posts: 229 - Karma: 51
I am not particularly a fan, my k2s are too soft (as an all mtn ski) for my liking. I bought them because I needed bigger skis underfoot and they were cheap, I don't 100% regret my decision, but I do wish I would have looked at other options first. The boyfriend on the other hand bought a new pair of pep fujas 2 years ago and after 8 days of riding broke one. They wouldn't warranty them, and frankly their customer service dept was a dick to him about the matter, even though how they were broke did not violate the warranty. It never got resolved and I know he will never buy a pair again.
14 years ago
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PappaG
Posts: 931 - Karma: 797
China-made.

While I'm no hippie and don't preach American-made all the time because it's hard to live that way without being a hypocrite at some point. But when I can make a difference, and you CAN make a difference with skis, go homegrown.
14 years ago
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
As a kid from Europe I can say that I don't really care where my skis are made, as long as they are well-made. I understand that it's a big deal for some Americans, but you have to understand that not everyone is from the US. From my point of view, China and USA are just as far away. Furthermore, for me "Made in USA" is not necessarily a badge of quality. Sure, some very good products are made in USA. Bad products too. But the same goes for China.
14 years ago
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mountainviper
Posts: 1931 - Karma: -3
Fairly certain you missed my point. It's not about quality. Me making the statement you quoted was simply a "shoottin from the hip" example. Don't read too far into that. The main point is that there's people here in states who need jobs. Yourself being from Europe I'm sure you can understand how dire things are. I mean, you guys are going to collapse first for sure. I'd give it two months max before the euro is no more.
14 years ago
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TOAST.
Posts: 7762 - Karma: 39,847
Well there is your problem, although I thought they were known to be rather bombproof.
14 years ago
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
My bad.

This thread is getting sidetracked but I'm sure OP got his answer already.

For me buying skis is more about supporting a cool company than supporting the country where the skis are being made. I do have to say, though, that some of the coolest companies are small and make their skis in the US. Moment for example. I would love to buy their skis, but they're just so damn expensive. I believe this is the situation for many, and for me it's the reason why I'm really glad that companies like K2/Line make quality skis at lower prices.

I definitely understand the issue with the lack of jobs and the incentive to support local manufacturing though. Economy's going to shit, as you pointed out. I'm glad to be living in one of the least fucked up European countries, so for me it's more interesting than scary to see what will happen. I'm sure the effects will be felt here too, though.
14 years ago
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StuckInOhio
Posts: 539 - Karma: 223
Yes there are people in the states who need jobs, but in order to be competitive with price in the US, especially during the recession, outsourcing is necessary for most companies, even Ford and GM do the exact same thing K2 does buy manufacturing parts in china and assembling them in the US.

Also don't start throwing out examples like "I'd give it two months max before the euro is no more." That statement is blatantly ignorant and inaccurate. Yes the situation in Europe is bad, but the Euro will outlast it. The EU has put too much into making a unified currency to let it fail. Maybe you should educate yourself before making stupid claims.
14 years ago
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mountainviper
Posts: 1931 - Karma: -3
Ignorant? Educate myself? That's cute. See I'm not one of these types who still believes everything I'm told on the news sport. I have the ability to pull information from a number of different sources and disseminate accordingly. I can see the writing on the wall and if you can't well....you'll get what ya deserve I guess. I mean you do realize that to those of us who understand what's happening that statements like the one you made sound quite naive right? I honestly hope I'm wrong. I hope it's all lollipops and butterflys but it won't be. I feel bad for those who are too blind to see it. Oh well. But to the OP, please don't take my opinions as that I'm trying to tell you not to buy K2 skis. I still ride Lines. They've been a stellar company and have helped me with any issue I've ever had. I love line. But I lose pride with the whole outsourcing issue. But I still buy em. I just voiced my opinion and tried to be semi cool about it. I knew that a few who still live in lala land would try to tell me I'm uneducated. Haha. Funny funny stuff.
14 years ago
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,608
lol at ford and gm assembling cars in america
14 years ago
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Twig
Posts: 6469 - Karma: 62,389
And yet the good ol' US of A is supposedly built on free market principles?
The theory is, if the US made skis were significantly better than those built in China then everyone would buy them because the increased cost would be justified. Maybe there is a lack of competitive advantage because the skis aren't that much better? Especially in terms of park skis which are just going to get fucked up on rails anyway.
There's nothing wrong with choosing to buy US made if that is worth the money to you, but by the same token, if someone doesn't feel like paying $200 more, that is their own decision. You could go and wave a placard saying protect US Jobs, impose higher import taxes etc. But then you might as well introduce universal healthcare properly and create a decent social support system and call yourself a communist ;)


14 years ago
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Chaka
Posts: 424 - Karma: 79
Ok back to the thread topic. I have been very happy with all of my K2 skis. The only problems were the old topsheets had a knack for being chipped, but it was just a cosmetic issue and the newer skis have improved on it. Also they are mass produced in China now but they keep their R and D factory in Seattle.
14 years ago
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Cab3
Posts: 767 - Karma: 50

On point reply, thank you. +K to all, I was looking for more info on the skis themselves, but it was still interesting to hear peoples opinions on other topics. Definitely picked up some useful information so far, would like to know a little more about the skis, specifically their park line.

14 years ago
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
Most of my friends who have had them (either model you talk about) have broken (Like you can see the core kind of break). Like 2 or 3 of each. But whatever that just may be a fluke go for it if you want
14 years ago
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TheClap.
Posts: 21685 - Karma: 4,249
LOL no
14 years ago
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OGHolliday
Posts: 2390 - Karma: 2,430
Coming from a shorter and lighter T Hall to my Domains last year was a little weird at first weight wise but I quickly grew to love my domains. Maybe a little soft for huge jumps but as far as my experience goes they were fine for inferno and Okemo's biggest jumps last year. They're pretty flexy and playful and I love the rocker. Sort of squirrly at really high speeds when you're trying to turn quickly, but it never really bothered me considering I got the ski to hit a lot of rails on the east coast. Plus through all of the pain I put them through they are still in almost perfect shape, base almost perfect (no core shots), edges perfect, and the top has nothing but scratches and a few tiny chips of the top, but it's all cosmetic.


Sparknotes: I highly recommend.
14 years ago
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Twig
Posts: 6469 - Karma: 62,389
I realise my last reply wasnt at all helpful (nor entirely serious, hopefully people might get that but you never know)...
K2 Skis have great durability, its definitely a selling point. There are downsides though, they are among the heaviest out there, some of them feel pretty lifeless and dead too. That said I've ridden recoils which were pretty poppy and domains were buttery fun but felt a little lifeless to me because of no camber. They are both good skis though and good value for the money.
14 years ago
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Newschooleri.
Posts: 396 - Karma: 554
They tend to be heavier then other skis
14 years ago
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