The Kore 105 is a brand new ski for Head going into 2018 and sits between the Kore 93 and Kore 117 as arguably the most versatile ski of the bunch (depending on where you ski of course). These skis were designed to be both lightweight and offer great stability for aggressive skiers. The Kore 105 is a ski that is appropriate for a wide range of skiers thanks to the light weight Head has achieved. The construction of the ski is a combination of super-light Karuba wood, Graphene, Koroyd, and carbon fiber, and the result is impressive. The Kore 105, along with the rest of the line, also has an awesomely subtle, somewhat blacked-out graphic that we think looks awesome. All of our testers skied the longest available length, the 189 cm ski.
Mike Anglin found the Kore 105 had plenty of strength despite the impressively light weight. “This black mamba has no speed limit or boundaries. It did it all and did it well.” Mike scored the Kore 105 5 out of 5 for flotation, stability, torsional stiffness, versatility, and overall impression… so we think he liked it. His inner Vermonter really came out as he described the feel of the ski, “smooth as fine maple syrup in all snow conditions and turn shapes.” Mike also thought that a wide range of ability levels from intermediate to expert can all enjoy the performance of the Kore 105.
Marcus had a very similar reaction to the Kore 105 as Mike did, giving it the title of “Swiss Army Knife All Mountain Weapon.” While we understand why Head didn’t name it that (kind of a lot of text for a ski name), we do think that’s a great way to describe the ski. While 105 mm under foot used to be considered a powder ski width, these days it’s certainly not an uncommon choice for an all mountain ski and we expect skis of this width to be able to handle a wide range of terrain and conditions. Marcus described the Kore 105 as “impressively light with quick edge to edge transfer on open groomers.” Marcus felt that he could make “quick short turns in the soft snow,” but could also “open it up on groomers with excellent stability.” Generally a ski that has that level of stability is also relatively heavy, but the construction Head has developed is impressively light.
Mike Thomas picked up on this right away. He thought the Kore 105 had a “great, special combination of very light weight and traditional Head dampness.” Mike admitted that he “loved this ski!” In contrast to past models, Mike felt the Kore 105 represented a new direction for Head, “not the old Head ‘wide-GS-ski, more fun and nimble.” Mike felt the Kore 105 offered “something for everyone,” and went into further detail by saying that it would be “best for a bigger skier looking for a light, playful ski or a lighter skier looking for a smooth, damp ride that isn’t a tank.”
We think Head hit the ball out of the park with their new construction. The Kore 105 seemingly sits by itself in the ski market thanks to its impressive combination of light weight and stability. It’s very maneuverable and easy to throw side to side, but still allows you to step it up and charge straight down the fall line. The 105 mm waist width is perfectly appropriate for a wide range of terrain from east coast to west coast to Europe and just about anywhere else you can think of and the Kore 105 is very approachable even for intermediate skiers. Well done, Head!
