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K2’s entrance into the lightweight touring market certainly caught our attention (they previously made heavier touring skis). The Wayback 88 is a top contender for the title of Quiver-of-One. Factor in price, and it's a sure-fire winner. It’ll float in powder and pop while slashing corn laps, yet still flaunt relentless grip and stability on firm snow when laying ‘em down. Usually when skis present such an impressive level of downhill performance, the last thing you feel like doing is hauling them uphill for another lap. The Wayback weight is low enough that at first glance one might expect an uphill-focused touring ski with mediocre handling. If weight is out of the equation and downhill performance was the sole focus, the K2 Wayback 88 would still be impressive. As it is, the combination of superb weight, construction, and outstanding ski performance is enough to win us over. Go ahead, try it.
- “Snophobic” Top Sheet isn’t a real word, but it sheds snow quickly.
- Carbon Overdrive is a super-secret carbon fiber layup for increased performance.
- Ti Spyne dampens the ski while increasing system stiffness.
- All-Terrain Rocker is K2’s trademark profile for float and easy turn initiation.
- Paulownia Tour Lite core is energetic and lightweight, perfect for a touring ski.
- Skin Grommets are quick tip-attachments for matching precut skins.
- Surprisingly low price for such a good ski.
| Specifications | |
| Lengths (cm) | 160, 167, 174, 181 |
|
Weight |
1145g [160] 1220g [167] 1275g [174] 1360g [181] |
| Weight (pair) | 2290g [160] 2440g [167] 2550g [174] 2720g [181] |
| Dimensions | 121-88-109 |
| Turn Radius | 16m [160] 18m [167] 20m [174] 21.5m [181] |
| Skin Fix | Z-Clip tip and tail holes, flat notched tail |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
| Profile | Mild rocker, camber underfoot |
| Shape | Square-ish, tapered tip and friendly, medium radius. |
| Construction | Titanal Ti-Spyne laminate with abs sidewall construction, and full metal edges. |
| Core | Paulownia |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Going anywhere and skiing anything in all but the deepest conditions. |
| Notes | Very nice lengths available. |
| Bottom Line | Supreme ski at a great price. |
11/14/2019
Any concerns and recommendations for mounting tele bindings to these skis?
11/14/2019
JRH, as far as we know, it should be OK to mount Tele bindings. It does have a slight hourglass mounting plate but looks like it should fit most if not all of the 6 screws most tele bindings have.
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3/12/2019
I’m 5’9” and 160 lbs. looking for a spring ski that excels in steep conditions. What size would you guys recommend? Thanks, Ray
3/12/2019
Ray, If it is Steep and Tight, and you want it Light, you can do the 167 cm.
If it is Steep and Fast, I would lean towards the 174 cm.
If it is Steep and Fast, I would lean towards the 174 cm.
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1/23/2019
I ski the salomon mtn explore 88 alot in the pnw- i find they do most things well enough. Would you say this is a better all rounder, i am always on the quest for the best daily driver that is reliable in bad conditions, light enough, and easy to ski. Also saw your demo alp tracks 89. Saw your comment that this carves better and is stiffer. Does the rocker profile on this truly assist more in crud?
1/23/2019
Hi Anthony, the MTN Explore 88 is also a great ski, but it's pretty different from this ski so the comparison isn't apples to apples. Both skis are dependable on edge and very well versed in all around conditions. Where the MTN Explore 88 has a softer, round flex, the Wayback 88 has a medium to medium-stiff flex.
This ski is certainly good in crud. I can't say with certainty that it's only the rocker profile making up this skis performance as I believe the tip shape and balanced camber profile also contribute as importantly as the rocker. For my personal style of skiing, there isn't a better 85-90mm ski at this time.
This ski is certainly good in crud. I can't say with certainty that it's only the rocker profile making up this skis performance as I believe the tip shape and balanced camber profile also contribute as importantly as the rocker. For my personal style of skiing, there isn't a better 85-90mm ski at this time.
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10/2/2018
Will you be bringing in any of the other Waybacks? I was curious about the new 96... decent weight-width vs price. I haven't seen any reviews of it though...
10/2/2018
Hi Phil, we're sticking with just the star (88) this season. We skied the others and had mixed opinions. The 96 was in the "OK" category, but we really wanted to start K2 out on the right foot with a "wow" ski that everyone agreed on.
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9/13/2018
How different it is from last years wayback 88 and wayback 88 ECOre?
Can you compare it with the salomon mtn 88?
Can you compare it with the salomon mtn 88?
9/13/2018
Hey Greg! This is a new ski for us so unfortunately we haven't been able to ski any of the older models so I can't vouch for how they compare. That being said, it's an entirely new ski overall which dropped a ton of weight and we've been thrilled with how it performed at on-snow demos and in our personal quivers. We've enjoyed it so much that we started working with K2 just for this ski. It has a bit longer turn shape, better carving chops, and is a bit stiffer than the MTN 88.
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