Anyone have this weird issue with their K2 Mindbender boot walk mode?

jbeck69

New member
I recently bought a pair of Mindbender 130 boots. First two days the boot felt great, skiied and walked well.

On my third day of riding the boots, the left and right boots suddenly began popping out of ski mode into walk mode under forward flex. I checked for debris and ice in the mechanism, and finding none decided to fiddle around with mounding screws and the ski/walk mechanism itself to no avail. The boots continued to pop into walk mode under forward flex.

Has anyone experienced this issue with their Mindbender/similar boots, or does anyone have a potential solution?
 
topic:jbeck69 said:
I recently bought a pair of Mindbender 130 boots. First two days the boot felt great, skiied and walked well.

On my third day of riding the boots, the left and right boots suddenly began popping out of ski mode into walk mode under forward flex. I checked for debris and ice in the mechanism, and finding none decided to fiddle around with mounding screws and the ski/walk mechanism itself to no avail. The boots continued to pop into walk mode under forward flex.

Has anyone experienced this issue with their Mindbender/similar boots, or does anyone have a potential solution?

I had the exact same issue. Posted about it in the what’s wrong with my boots thread and was told to stop landing backseat.
 
It's so weird. They more consistently lock into ski mode when the boots are above 0C, but it seems like the slightest bit of ice is enough to allow the boots to pop into walk... pretty concerning for a boot that's supposed to be a do it all 50/50 toruing boot. I wouldn't trust these boots deeper in the backcountry.

14375058:JacksonA125 said:
I had the exact same issue. Posted about it in the what’s wrong with my boots thread and was told to stop landing backseat.
 
14375182:jbeck69 said:
It's so weird. They more consistently lock into ski mode when the boots are above 0C, but it seems like the slightest bit of ice is enough to allow the boots to pop into walk... pretty concerning for a boot that's supposed to be a do it all 50/50 toruing boot. I wouldn't trust these boots deeper in the backcountry.

Yeah, that’s when I've noticed popping into walk mode too, colder temps and snow gets in there, it pops into walk mode, and then it’s a pain to get back into ski mode. Ive got ~ 35 days on them and so far it only happens on pow days when it’s fairly cold.
 
I just had the same issue with my mindbender 120. When I was pressing forward into the boot they would pop into walk mode. I called k2 and they said it's a known issue and they would send me an improved part to replace the mechanism. I also stopped by Dizzy's shop at Big White and they confirmed that they had customers with the same issue. They said that the 130s don't have the issue and that k2 has a re-engineered part coming.
 
I just had the same issue with my mindbender 120. When I was pressing forward into the boot they would pop into walk mode. I called k2 and they said it's a known issue and they would send me an improved part to replace the mechanism. I also stopped by Dizzy's shop at Big White and they confirmed that they had customers with the same issue. They said that the 130s doesn't have the issue and that k2 has a re-engineered part.

**This post was edited on Feb 24th 2022 at 1:13:23am
 
Found this page after having the exact same issue today. Day number 5 on these boots and its popping like crazy. Everytime I lean forward it does it. Hope they really do have a fix on the mindbender120s.
 
The very same experience with the 130s: first three days of b/c all was well. Then on day four, yesterday, I went skiing at a small resort, and thought I'd try them with my regular, needless to say heavier, skis and bindings. At the top of the first run, both boots popped out of ski mode as soon as I flexed forward, and for the life of me I could not get them to stick back and hold in ski mode. What if I had been in the b/c about to wade into slabs of wind blown powder? Luckily, I had my other boots in the car. But as one of you said, how can I trust them again? And can I in good conscience sell them? Last, does anyone suppose there is recourse via warranty? Has anyone attempted a claim?

**This post was edited on Mar 21st 2022 at 2:16:11pm

**This post was edited on Mar 21st 2022 at 2:17:00pm
 
I’ve had no issues with this problem..we’re they fitted properly? Might be over flexing the boot? I did rip out the walk mode off a 3foot canon doing a blind 4. K2 hooked up with fresh new pair

1037046.jpeg
 
The screws that hold up the walk mode snapped on my boots 3 times, swapped screws with new ones with fresh locktite, new backplate, second time also new lever. Real bad construction if you ask me, all force is held up by a couple of tiny screws. Anyone else with the same issue?
 
Next year they are introducing a locking mechanism that appears on the Dispatch walk mode. It will be fully transferrable to the old mindbender models
 
14514598:Juviticus said:
Next year they are introducing a locking mechanism that appears on the Dispatch walk mode. It will be fully transferrable to the old mindbender models

That's good news. I have contacted K2, but their support is really slow. Would be great to change it, real hard to find new boots that fit this late in the season.
 
Found this page looking for known issues with the K2 Mindbender. I have the 130 and the head of the bottom screw snapped off. I have the walk mode zip tied right now, but relieved I'm not the only one with this issue.
 
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