K2 Hellbent Alpine Ski - 2010 BCS

179 for sure.

good!!

thought id drop a comment here, I would also love to know the weight on these, bout to pick a pair up, but I hate hiking with a heavy as fuck pair of skis.
also, any light but sturdy binding suggestions?

179 with all the rocker they have.

+6 worked great. No tip dive in fairly deep heavier snow that I felt. Seems like it nails that sweet spot with all the tail rocker length. Not very much flat area behind the rear heel at +6. Eliminated the 'wheely' effect in pow for the most part unless you really wanted them to. Worked fine for the groomers too. Personally would not go less than +4 or +5 unless you have a really big boot. I use a 316mm 27.5 shell at +6.

manufactures don't always put the mounting line were it should be k2 should have made the line +4

+6 for sure not just for Seth. the mounting point doesn't give you much tail. incase you land in the backseat you do need some tail. also it will help when riding switch. you will still float like a cork in nipple deep plus 6 but +4 will work out well to if you think +6 is to much but really you shouldn't go less than +4 for optimal performance.

If your just getting a powder ski get these,I have these and the obsethed 2011 and when its 8 plus DEEP these rule!!Supepurb for stomping and straighlining the deepest of pow.They also are good an any snow that is smooth,super glopped up or partially packed out with ruts is a rough ride.

Nathan I own pontoons(had s7 rossis-sold them), obseths, dynastar xxls and 2011 hellbents,if you want to huckcliffs bomb powlines and sendit 40 plus feet off of catracks and cornices the hellbent is the ski for you.Straight talk no bull.Good luck!!

nahh, this years model is too big for you. Last years hellbent would have been good, for you, go with the obsethed. I know what your saying with the rocker making them ski shorter than they actually are, but you would just be better with the obsethed, there wont be a difference at all in how you float. How tall and heavy are you. Its also not the kind of ski you want to grow out of, too fun. mabye wait until you can ski a 179 then get it and you can ski it forever.

The stock brake on the baron is 110 mm. They do make an aftermarket brake that is 130 mm but it will cost close to $50.
There is a possibility that you could talk the shop that mounts them to bend them from 110 to 130. although that is about all the bend they will have in them.

I have 27.5 boots as well (315mm) and +6 is amazing. If you go to far back you don't have enough unrockered ski behind your boot and, therefore, can end up backseat pretty easy. I would not be afraid to go that far forward, and at +2 you'll literally have like an inch of unrockered ski behind your binding, which is especially an issue given the soft flex. At +6 I mess around and try to sink my tips and it's almost impossible. These things are 160/132/151 afterall, so float isn't a problem.

I have mine mounted plus 5 28.5 boot and its great but wish they were plus 6 for a few backseat hucks Ive had. I weigh 180.Zero tip dive .

this ski is perfect for japan. the benefits of the longer ski include better flotation and more stability.
they won't be to small in the 179 (09/10 model). +4 is 4cm in front of the center line. this makes you closer to core center which helps you ride switch. if they are mounted -4 you might have some problems riding switch. I'd go head and buy them from your friend.

Chetlers would be too soft for SA crud.

check out the k22 obsethed or the jjs are a nice option or you could check out line sir francis bacn

Line Prophet 115. great ski for powder and crud, like we have in the Pacific Northwest.

There are some who use Hellbents as daily drivers, but I would say they're not the best for crud and crust because they have a bit too much flop to them. You'll get through it with enough power, but you'll also get kicked around a bit.
I would look for a bit skinnier ski if you want a wet pow ski...
JJs, Blogs, Seths probably more what you want.

If you live out west, go hellbents, if you live in the east, consider the Obsethed, they practically replaced the 2010 hellbent niche, and the bents just got fatter= obsethed are more versatile.

Depends on a lot of things, do you plan on getting taller and much heavier, where do you ski, and what you want to do with them. I use them for basically everything, im 5'11 130 i ski the 179s, first of all they are 185 in length, k2 accounts for rocker and they say it is 179 because that is how it will ski. If you want to use these for a lot, consider the schizo bindings, they are sick, I live in NYC and ski east and west, and have tried urban with them. The big benefit of 189 is the stability at higher speeds, 179 will float you no matter how heavy you are but they are cool because you can still rip on them when you are light, I'm 15 so i had to take growth into account also, but this should be good for sure, the schizo bindings are also good for growing because if your feet happen to grow and you get new boots you never have to re-drill.

189 for sure. i ski the 189 & am the same hight as you & couldn't be happier. the ski much shorter due tothe huge rockers! hope this helps..

What Jack said. I have both from last season, and they are different skis in all respects, no mistake about it.
Both are 189s for my 6'2", 195 lb. frame. The Heads are 187s that travel with either pair of the K2s, but I never take both K2s.

Grow some balls and get the Hellbents, then learn to land switch you big ninny. See you in Chamonix bro.

The new Obsethed is the perfect dimension and rocker profile for the type of skiing you're describing. The new 'bents are a bit too cartoony shaped for the day to day ski in backcountry and typical terrain that a normal, aggressive, daily skier would encounter. If you're not going to be spinning and landing switch a lot, then there's not much reason to have the 'bents. Obsethed will be your go to ski, if you choose it.
Good luck, and happy turns!

Lots of people are using this and the older one for their daily ski Here in the NW. Even some of the guys from the shops. Everybody seems to love them. You won't be dissapointed.

these are pretty soft so you might want stiffer for crud busting but these will be awesome in powder. the jj and the bentchetler are stiffer. get the arg ,super good on crud and powder

These would be ok but if you just ride forward id go for the k2 pontoons there more soft snow specific.

I have heard its a cool ski to tele on, and It is definitely one of the best skis for skiing switch in pow, maybe with the EP pro, which is basically the same ski.

i got the dakine concourse double ski bag an my 189 hellbents fit perfect with room for my gear... 179 should fit with plenty of room

don't go that big, I'm 6'2" 175lbs and ride the 179 its a lot of ski! I feel I could go 169 personally

I'm your same height/weight and I ride the 169 K2 Kung Fujas. I can't imagine ripping on 189s. Just my opinion, but I think that's way too big. Especially if you want to do any switch, or jibs in the backcountry. 189s would be tough to control I think.

hey matt, i got the 179s when i was 5-7 130 and they are fine, you could rip on the 189s, i say go for it.

hey matt, i got the 179s when i was 5-7 130 and they are fine, you could rip on the 189s, i say go for it.

189 is around 6'2 you might want the 179. even though they have tons of rocker it might be hard to handle for your height

nope

generally wouldn't recommend rocker for a tele set up unless your strictly in the fluffy stuff. you run into real problems with tip initiation on turn entry bc you cant just drive the tip into a turn anywhere you want like a fixed-heel set up. however, if you do plan to use it just for powder days, then the tip initiation issue should be moot.

never heard of hellbents as a tele ski but the bents should float better and be much eisier to ski on snow other than pow because there is an almost 2cm waist difference between the two

Are the K2 Backside skis also true to size this year?

They used to measure the top of the ski instead of the bottom of the ski, which meant that a 179 was more like a 183 and a 189 was more like a 195...but this year they changed it up and a 179 is about a 179 or 180 and a 189 is more like a 189 or 190.

Skis are true to size this year.
179cm measures out to 179cm.

rocking the dukes & couldn't be happier...

Dukes were made for you at 80% resort and 20% backcountry- they do not feel like AT bindings at the resort, and they are pretty heavy but they're perfect if you AT once in a wile

Salomon sth 16 would work well and you can always get some alpine trekkers for touring

So are you touring in the backcountry?
If so go with the Marker Duke.

Otherwise Salomon STH 14 or STH 16 will do great.
The Dynastar/Rossignol/Look binding is fine too.

If your not riding switch the line 130's and the kuros are stiffer

Yes, the Hellbents are very soft...maybe too soft. I am 190lbs and have the 189s....at big speeds the tips really bend up.

Fun ski...but wonder if something stiffer might work better for me.

Orange base: for 1,89m 2011 Hellebnt.
green one: 1,79m
Pink base: 1,69m.
true length this year and a little stiffer on the tail.
132mm in the middle.
All is perfect Awesome. Cool!

Go with the hellbents and go with the 189. For deep days it's all about surface area. The bents have quite a bit of rocker and a soft flex so they wont be too much to handle. I have a similar build ( 6 ft. 180 lbs.) and I ski the 189 in my Obsethed's, Maiden's, etc.

For you to decide between the ARGs and Hellbents..

The hellbents will have more rocker tip and tail than the ARGs and will have a larger turn radius, the soft flex will make it a little harder to land big cliffs without landing backseat.WILL HANDLE RIDING SWITH AND LANDIN SWITCH AMAZINGLY. one of the best backcountry jib skis on the market.

The ARGs will have a bit more surfier feel due to the reverse sidecut. They will be a little stiffer for bigger cliffs and might turn easier in the trees. Will not float as well as the hellbents , but will still float amazingly. they will also be more versatile due to the slight camber and sidecut underfut. They will handle crud better than the hellbents.

They are both amazing skis but I would go for the ARGs if I were you, for the terrain you are skiing, you will have a lot more fun. Either way, you cant go wrong with either, the Hellbents are super sick, as well.

As for size, just remember, always go up. I've skied skis that are big for me and they might be a little harder to maneuver but they provide more float because of the greater surface area and will be stiffer because they are meant for heavier people. Hope this helps.

What size coomback do you use?

Do you want to ski trees more than open terrain?
This year the Hellbents measure true, so 189 wouldn't be to big. Either size would be ok, depending on what you want to use them for.

Also, have you tried a ski this soft with such tail rocker?
It's quite a shift from a traditional ski.
Slightly stiffer (still very playful) skis like the Fatypus I-Rock, Moment Night Train, ON3P Caylor, or Atomic Bent Chetler might be a better idea.
All depends on how you want to ski.