Demo’d the Recon side-by-side with the Salomon XW Tornado. Liked both skis…both were great all-mountain skis. The major difference is that the damping on the K2 seemed to isolate me from the snow…while I could feel the snow better with the Salomons. Analagous to anti-lock brakes versus non-anti lock brakes in a car. I like to have more control…

All in all, happy with both skis.

I recently demoed the K2 Recon, the Volkl AC3 and AC4, in Whistler. I’m 5’11”, expert type 3 skier. I found the Recon not lively enough. It’s a solid stable ski, but i found the turns to be slow and it didn’t punch me out of the turn. It’s ok in powder, If you’re type 2, it’s a good ski, but for all mountain exper i’d look elsewhere. My favorite of all three skis was the AC3.

I have a pair of K2 MOD 7/8 178’s 111-70-101 that are 6 years old.  I’m a Level III and go skiing out west for a week once a year.  I can ski just about anything but prefer single diamonds on piste where I have more control.  Occasionally, I’ll take a double, do the moguls, or ski the powder and tree’s.  Seems like the AC3 is versatile for me but I’m torn between this one and the K2 Recon.  My K2 MOD’s have been very kind to me so I am biased on K2 right now.  On the Volkl, not sure if I should go 177 or 184, I’m 6’3”, 190lbs.

Just yesterday VT got dumped with at least 18 inches of fresh snow.  As an Eastcoast skier it’s needless to say that I called out of work to hit the slopes.  I’m in the market to buy new skis at the end of the year so I demoed a few yesterday at Mount Snow.  Demo’ed the Head Monster 77’s, Nordica After Burners and K2 Apache Recon’s.  I’m 5’9, 200, level III and ski pretty aggressively.  When I took the Monsters the only size available at the time were a 163, far too short for that kind of snow.  Didn’t float very well but made decent turns.  I can’t come to a real conclusion because I the ski wasn’t big enough.  I would’ve loved to take a bigger model out later in the day but the opportunity wasn’t there.  The Nordica I took in a 170 (what I normally ski on) and the ski absolutely rocked.  I really floated on the snow and was able to rip through powder up to my mid-shin with ease.  I took the Apache Recon in a 167 and fell in love with it.  The K2 didn’t float like the Nordica did but had a much better turning radius, probably because it has less sidecut.  I prefer the Apache over all 3 of them.  I wanted to take the Volkl AC3’s but they didn’t have them in the size I wanted.  I’m going to Killington in a few weekends to demo again on more traditional East coast snow so I can get a better feel for which ski fits all intents and purposes best.  I’ll be demo’ing the Apache again in a 167, Volkl AC3 in 170 and the Head Monster 77 around 170 as well.  More to come later.

I’m 5’11” 205 type 3 and generally prefer short radius/slalom skis (Rossi R11 Mutix and Head iSlalom)—100% East Coast.

Well we got something like 15” at Waterville on 2/15-16 and I needed something for powder then soft crust over powder—demo’d the K2 Recons in 167 both days and loved them.  I suspect 167 was a bit short for 2/15 storm/pure powder—could have used just a bit more float, but today 2/16 with a soft crust they were just amazing—up at medium speed I could arc turns just breaking through the crust layer.  And on the softpack they were quick on turn initiation and surprisingly comfortable—all day long type ski… No surprise that the skis have a rep for being chosen by Ski Patrol.  Seriously considering adding them to the quiver as I expect they’ll do real well in Spring crud as well—be interested in any opinions on the Recon for Spring skiing.  Huge fore and aft sweet spot by the way—great for variable pow conditions (went from ice to puff without tripping).

I just bought the Apache Recon, after demoing a bunch of skis at Mt Snow. I demoed the Volkl AC3, the Rossignol X9 and the Rossignol B2 and this was most forgiving in the bumps.

I demo’d the AC4, AC3, Apache Outlaw, Metron B, Top fuel, Slim daddy, and the Apache Recon.

I bought the Recon as my ‘non powder’ ski.  this is not a powder ski!  A lot of the reviews seem to be focusing on powder performance from this 78mm waisted ski and that is funny.

Out of all the skis I tried this was the most versatile for the day after the storm to the ice stages for steep slopes.  The sidecut is progressive allowing you to carve pure or to cheat if you need to and for steep technical tree to mogul skiing this is important.  The Apache Recon are also dampened which I like for hard snow and for really arcing.  The rebound is different from some of the other skis and so the “energy” can be slower and more based on mid-long turns and this might not be to some people’s liking.  Personally I find that energy in chutes and trees is a bit over-rated.  So if you are looking for more of a slalom race ski feel look elsewhere. 

But for a ski to take you from mixed up crud, to slush, to firmpack on the off-piste this ski rips.  I truly fell in love with it this weekend on mostly buffed out firmpack on high-yellow face at alpine.  No matter how tight the line I took this ski ripped.

Type iii skier from Squaw.

Ski equipment is a personal choice and you have to find what is best suited to your preferences and abilities. If you are an excellent skier in the market for a truly versatile ski then you should absolutley demo a pair of these skis and see for yourself.

I was wavering between the Recon and the Outlaw but found the Recon better at high speed cruising. Powder snow is never a constant these days and if I could afford two pairs then the Outlaw would be my second choice although I haven’t tried the Chief yet…...

I purchased 181 Recon, am 6’4” and a level 3 skier who has lived and worked in Thredbo, Whistler and Val Thorens.

I will be 60 yrs old this September. I spent 25 years as a ski bum all over the world. Skied professionally and could get most equipment free. I can stgill get down the mountain and ski 30+ days a year as a better than average Type 3 and the K2 Recon is the FIRST ski I have kept two years in a row. Ever. Forty 45 years skiing! I just ordered a new pair for 2007/08 season. *(And a pair of K2 Pontoons)  ; )

I ski 60 days a season. Ridden every ski under the sun.  BEST SKI EVER for all mountain, crud, pow, steep, ice, wind pack, death cookies, cut up muck, groomers, whatever.  I ride Seths, PE, for Big BC, and heavy heli days.  For in bounds all around mountain these rip everything, and will out perform every other ski. Think I like em?  HELL YEAH!  After ripping on my 2 buddies, they bought em too! Don’t buy em there will be more for me!

Has anyone compared the Recon to the PE?  I am a moguls junky that spends the other have of his time in steep trees.  Any recommendations?

Got a pair of recons and with no effort at all blew away my best nastar time on my first run. Have used them out west, Canada, east and there is nothing they can’t do.  Like riding on rails, even when super-steep.  I’m 5’10” and 165lbs using 174cm. 20 to 25 days per year.  Could probably go to the 167cm for trees, but these are fine.  Can’t think of a ski I’d rather have.  History: TRC, Fours, Axis X, and now Recons.  Every K2 has been better than before. Atomic, Volant, Fischer, Rossi, etc

Got a pair of recons and with no effort at all blew away my best nastar time on my first run. Have used them out west, Canada, east and there is nothing they can’t do. Like riding on rails, even when super-steep. I’m 5’10” and 165lbs using 174cm. 20 to 25 days per year. Could probably go to the 167cm for trees, but these are fine. Can’t think of a ski I’d rather have. History: TRC, Fours, Axis X, and now Recons. Every K2 has been better than before. Atomic, Volant, Fischer, Rossi, etc don’t even come close.

I am at an intermediate level and live on the east coast. I am looking for an all mountain ski that can handle the ice but also moderatley deep powder. I have been looking at the following skis (any reccomendations?): K2 Recon, Volkl AC30, Fischer AMC76, Hot Rod Nitrous, Metron B5, Magfire 8.

Go with the AC30s. No question about it. They’ll fill all the needs you have. Slim enough to carve, yet wide enough to stay up in the pow. The only other one i mighhtttt recommend is the nitrous, but, if I were you, I would pick the Volkls.

I have been looking at a few different pairs of skis: the Volkl AC30s, the Salomon XW Tornados, and the Apache Recons. I need to know: Are the Recons good in moguls?

I just bought a pair of K2 Recons and if you are a good skier I will go for them. On packed snow, it feels like there is someone pushing you forward out of every turn and it keeps on speeding, Amazing! On Powder up to 3 to 4 feet you dont need another ski. For Heli skiing with deep snow get somethibg else

Recently demo’d the recons in 167 and 174, went back the next day and snatched the 174’s. Love the m-1 binding, very smooth action w/ accurate metering. Rode on crossmax 10’s for the past three years after getting off my cruddy cut’s. The recons cut infinately better than the crossmax which were a carver in the first place. Not bad flotation, little sacrifice in bounce with the stiffer spine but overall great ski. pretty too! I’m level 3+ from white mountains area. These things eat corduroy for breakfast!

Just got through demoing the Vokl AC 40, the Solomon X Wing, the K-2 Apache Recon, and a pair of Stiklis at Breckenridge and Mammoth. I actually loved them all but felt the Volk was too stiff (wish I could have tried the 30’s), the Stikli was like riding a Bentley but not enough spring out of the turns, and the Solomon felt like the sweet spot was a little too small (if I got lazy the tails grabbed).. but what a carver. The Recon had it all. Smooth a silk and carve like crazy. I’m 5’9” and 170 lbs. Bought the 167.

I am 50 yr old type 3 skiier who has been doing this for 35+ yrs. I get out 20x/ season, and can honestly say this ski is the best I’ve ever strapped on. It will perform in almost all conditions (haven’t tried it yet in deep powder- but how often do we see it on a regular basis in the east). My kids love ripping moguls. This ski allows lightning quick edge transfer, and maximum time getting ready to absorb the next bump. After I demo’d 2 other like skiis, I went back and bought the two pair of 174s recons left on the rack!!!!