Thread: K2 Sideseth and Atomic Automatic contrast?

Deciding on skis is tough, especially with no opportunity to go test the skis before the flight for this seasons adventure leaves.

Thus I wonder, is there anyone here that have tried both the K2 Sideseth and the Atomic Automatic and can give a description of them in contrast to each other?

What kind of adventure are you talking about? Heli access, lift-served, full-on touring?

The two are very different skis. The K2 model that best compares to the Automatic is the Pettitor.

Originally Posted by gregL

What kind of adventure are you talking about? Heli access, lift-served, full-on touring?

The two are very different skis. The K2 model that best compares to the Automatic is the Pettitor.

I'd like to hear a comparison between the Automatic and Pettitor. Throw in the Bibby and Caylor, as well. Currently, I have a pair of MRs and a pair of Protests ... looking to fill in the void between the two. Leaning towards the Bibby because of it's jack-of-all trades personality (playful, yet can still charge a decent amount for a light guy; handles the powder and the chop+crud ...). The Automatic seems like it's role overlaps with the Protest a bit. And without much information besides the ads from K2 ... it seems like the Pettitor could compete with the Bibby. And unless I can find a pair of Caylors on the cheap, I'll stay away even though they are bomber skis from what I have read.

Slackcountry ski mounted with dynafits basically. I won't be spending one second with the in any kind of park, but I am planning to learn how to do 360's off cliffs and terrain features in the backcountry. I'd like it if the ski performs well in big mountain conditions, but since I'll be taking the new babies to central Japan, they need to be able to handle tree skiing well.

At first I was all about the sideseth, but the slightly lower weight and slightly better price of the Automatic is appealing. But if the automatic is more comparable to the pettitor, I think the sideseth will be my ski.

There are better skis out there. Why do you hate America?

^^ I think mostly because shipping and customs kill us in Sweden when ordering from the US.

K2 is american, isn't it?

But snej is correct, importing skis to Sweden (from a non EU country) is like having your wallet traumatically inseminated. Since my wallet is already dynafisted, I need my skis to be cheap. If you're a cheap swede, what you do is import skiing equipment from Germany. (Despite of shipping, prices in swedish stores are about 50% higher than the total price when ordering from Germany.)

TL;DR version:
I'm ordering skis from here, so I'm confined to what they're carrying.

And you´re dead set on getting one of these two? And also that you have to buy them from S-C? Pretty limiting IMO.

Hi, guys - heading back out the door, but just a couple of quick things.

* I'll have a review of the Atomic Automatic up tomorrow. Unfortunately, I've yet to ski the Sidestash, so no comparisons there.

Couple other things:

* I suppose that the K2 ski closest to the Automatic is the Pettitor, but these still seem more different than similar to me.

* The Automatic is nothing like the Praxis Protest, other than you stick bindings on both.

* The Automatic will be a ridiculously good tree ski.

Jfe24, looking forward to the down review

Originally Posted by SiSt

And you´re dead set on getting one of these two? And also that you have to buy them from S-C? Pretty limiting IMO.

They are the two models that I've found interesting and affordable when doing research, so that's why I'm asking about a comparison between the two.

With that said, you're mostly welcome to give me alternatives with combinations of skis and shops that would en up in the same price range (~8500 SEK with skis, dynafit bindings, mounting and skins). I want the skis to be reasonably light (<2500 g per ski), 115~120 mm in the waist and be able to handle whatever snow conditions you throw at them.

EDIT: I just realized that if you want to give further options I should add that I'm looking for a ski that is ~190 cm long, so the atomic atlas goes. Also völkl shiro goes because of the full rocker construction. I have been considering both the Salomon rocker 2 115 and BD amperage as well, but they both seem a tad light on the surface side of things (both not as fat and only available in shorter lengths).

Originally Posted by JFE24

Hi, guys - heading back out the door, but just a couple of quick things.

* I'll have a review of the Atomic Automatic up tomorrow. Unfortunately, I've yet to ski the Sidestash, so no comparisons there.

Where'll that review be going up, a link to it when it's done would be nice!

Good place to start: http://blistergearreview.com/article...nas-ski-review

And there's an index page of previous ski reviews somewhere.

I'm super biased of course, and waiting for our first review on blister feels like having a big exam... (But we have a presale going currently if that sounds like your kind of thing.)

I have been looking at CD3, though prices without the presale the prices were too high (no matter how cheap the ski is prices tend to run away when it's not possible to shop ski+binding packages, especially when dynafit is involved). With the presale prices, this might actually be an option again, ty!

A good thing about this ski is that I have the MnO & co. ski test on freeride.se to help me get an idea of the ski. How would you say that the 12/13 model compares to the 11/12? I see that a few things (more than the graphics) have changed. Unfortunately, I think that your graphics were better last year...

The changes are bases (more black, fewer diecuts), stone grind from the factory, base edges hung from the factory, new lighter topsheet, matte finish which is less suceptible to scratching and a rounded top edge which also helps reduce chipping.

Other than that, the core profile, core materials, triax fiber, carbon stringers, epoxy and edges are the same.

In short, same ski, but upgrades on finish, glide and aesthetic durability.

Check out my SideSeth review, I surprisingly really liked it. One caveat though, it definitely isn't light even though it's supposed to be a sidecountry model.

I actually think this and the Automatic will hit a pretty similar target (and not the Petitor which is more of a Jib ski = Bentchetler, SideStash is more conventional, SideSeth somewhere in between) which is why I'm intersted to try and get my hands on the Automatic as well after the good reviews.