2022 Head Absolut Joy

The Head Absolut Joy is one of the easier-turning and confidence-boosting carving skis out there, and ladies who are looking for something light, quick, agile, and fun will definitely find a lot to like about the Absolut Joy. Built with a composite wood core and a graphene laminate, these skis are a bit stiffer and more responsive than you may think, and they allow the skier to really get involved in the process—offering feedback and input to the ski that gets transmitted back to you as performance. This makes the ski feel like a much higher-end product, with quality and precision to spare. At 79 mm underfoot, this on-trail specialist gives you just a touch more in terms of balance point, making it easy for you to stand on the edges of the ski and complete the rounded turns that are so sought after. While it’s a bit on the lighter-duty side for most of our testers, they definitely see the benefits and the good parts about it, keeping the intended audience in mind throughout the testing process.

Morgan Nichols skied the 158, and noted that it was too short for her. She did, however, score the ski top marks of 5 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness. We even see the overall impression score jut just over the 4-mark into 4.5 territory, and that’s great to see for a ski like this. Morgan notes that “this ski hooks right up and holds the turn, making any skier look good. Definitely softer and better for quick turns, it’s probably too soft for a higher end intermediate and advanced skier, but that’s okay because there are a whole lot of those out there.” The light weight and the shape of the ski certainly put it more in the on-trail and intermediate range for skiers, and in that sense, the ski is a big success.

Also on the 158, Carly Monahan found it to be short as well. She gave top scores of 4 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness, with 3’s for playfulness, versatility, and overall impression. Being quick and agile is a huge part of skiing, especially if you’re advancing and progressing through the levels. Carly calls it “very light and forgiving. If mellow cruising is your thing, these skis will definitely put a smile on your face. When trying to drive them faster, they felt a bit lethargic and unresponsive, and they’re not quite substantial enough to bust through the crud, but that’s not really what they’re made for.” The intended audience is definitely on a lower level of ability and aggressiveness versus what Carly is putting out there, and that’s just fine—a lot of skiers need that ease of use that the Absolut Joy creates.

At 79 mm underfoot and with a lighter build, the Head Absolut Joy has a whole lot going for it in terms of on-trail carving for beginner and intermediate skiers looking for a higher-end feel. Precise and agile, these skis will boost the confidence level of a huge demographic of skiers, and will have a lot of fun in the process. If you’re looking to step up your carving game and improve your skills, these are just the skis to do it.