K2 Blur 79 Skis Review

This is the ski you might hate to love — because you want to think you’re destined for pro models. K2’s new Blur 79 ski is a narrower frontside silhouette that’s great for beginners, but the design is plenty fun and capable for most intermediate all-mountain skiers.

Budget-conscious skiers will especially appreciate that it ships with integrated QuikClik bindings. The bundle saves on the purchase price and mounting costs.

As one of the narrowest skis I’ve field tested, the K2 Blur 79 ($599) is more suited to frontside skiers working to improve their technique on groomers. This ski also works well for a range of abilities, from beginners who want to own their first pair to advanced riders wanting a friendly driver for a range of frontside conditions.

If you live out West and chase pow days, look elsewhere. This is a fun ski for exploring the mountain and occasional off-trail action, but it’ll drown in deep snow. Our Best All-Mountain Skis Buyer’s Guide has plenty of 100mm+ options to consider if this is you.

In short: The K2 Blur 79 is aimed at budget-conscious frontside skiers. But they’re far more fun and capable than most pre-mounted setups. Skip them if you ski a lot of deep snow, but consider them for any kind of frontside, playful skiing.

Read the Best All-Mountain Skis Buyer’s Guide and Best Skis for Beginners Buyer’s Guide to see how the K2 Blur 79 lines up.

K2 Blur 79 Skis Review

I’ll admit, these skis are much narrower than what I would normally consider an “all-mountain” ski. That’s especially true given that I live in Colorado. As a “dedicated front side ski” that’s 79mm underfoot, the Blur 79 should be thought of as a frontside all-mountain ski. This blueprint prioritizes carving over off-piste exploration.

The defining characteristic? That sub-$700 price tag. Plus, the skis come pre-mounted with bindings (often called “system skis”). But that’s a shame, because the Blur 79s are a lot more fun than the stereotype implies.

I’m an expert skier who favors fatter, stiffer skis for big mountain riding. That said, I’ve kept the Blur 79s in my quiver. This design is easy to control, and a great set for casual, playful days. I like clicking into these skis for carving without needing to focus like I’m driving an F1 car.

Easy Carving

The highlight of these skis is the design’s ability to lead you through the beautiful edge-to-edge dance we call carving. The Blur 79s have a substantial sidecut with a 16m turn radius that’s perfect for edging on groomers.

A lot of skis in this category have similar specs. What I enjoy about the Blur 79 is how effortless it is to arc good, if not great, turns over and over. Ted Ligety would hate how soft these skis are. But for 90% of the carvers out there, this ski won’t hold them back. In fact, most people will have more fun on the Blur 79 than a stiff, race-minded ski designed for pros and sold to recreational skiers who think they’re ready for the World Cup.

Where this easy skiability breaks down is on hardpack and ice, where the Blurs are more likely to chatter and break out of their arc. But again, how many of us are railing perfect turns on icy race courses? Heck, most recreational skiers will pack it in for après if the only skiing on the menu is hardpack carving. In softer conditions, the Blur 79 naturally seeks turns. This ski helps pull you in and out of the apex into the next turn.

Surprising in Mixed Conditions

While the softer tip and tail flex can be limiting on hard snow, it’s a blessing when you enter junkyards. Again, this ski is at its best on groomers. But I was surprised at the capability in bumps and on the edges of trails where snow is more variable.

At 1,750 g, the K2 Blur is light, which helps it stay nimble in bumps and trees. The medium flex and forward mount combined with a bit of tip rocker make it much easier to zipper through a mogul field than other, stiffer frontside all-mountain carvers. The tails release easily, which prevents you from hooking into a turn in tight quarters when you least want to.

I generally prefer a fatter ski for chopped-up soft snow and crud. But the Blur 79 can get you through anything — provided you keep your speed in check. I particularly recall entering a field of refrozen chopped crud and moguls at Vail on the Blur 79 and being relieved at how well they soaked up the chatter instead of transmitting it straight into my femurs.

Limitations

As you might have guessed from the specs, these 79mm-wide skis are not meant for deep snow. I skied the Blur 79 through some powder stashes and wasn’t surprised to be let down. That’s just not what these skis are.

Again, there are more capable soft snow-oriented all-mountain skis than ever. So, if you’re shopping for a pair with dreams of surfing atop double-digit depths, check out the other options in our Best All-Mountain Skis Buyer’s Guide.

This ski is on the softer side of that medium flex, other than underfoot, where an H-shaped plate of metal stiffens things up. This has noticeable benefits in certain situations, but holds the ski back if you’re dead set on going as fast as physics will allow. Your average intermediate to advanced skier might never find the speed limit. But heavier and harder-charging skiers may want more resistance.

K2 Blur 79: Final Thoughts

The K2 Blur 79 makes frontside skiing easy without watering it down. This pick is refreshingly affordable, relative to the very pricey competition. It has some limitations for bigger, badder skiers.

The Blur 79 would make a great “dad ski” for someone who wants to be able to have fun and ski easy all day without giving up the ability to rail some high-angle turns. The waist width keeps it out of the running for deep-snow all-mountain options. But this ski is surprisingly capable on groomers, bumps, and trees — where most skiers ride day to day.