2022 Head Kore 87

As the narrowest in the Kore line, the 87 is certainly the quickest, and most on-trail oriented of the skis in the line. For us eastern skiers, this is a fantastic choice for a daily all-mountain ski, as it’s light, stiff, and grippy for a variety of conditions and terrain. Fantastic on the groomers, and somehow even better in the bumps and trees, the Kore 87 is like a Swiss-Army knife in that it’s sharp, useful, and smartly designed. New for 2022, the Kore 87 gets a rounded upper sheet of carbon that adds a third dimension to the laminate. This gives the ski a bunch more energy and liveliness. While the previous year’s skis weren’t particularly unlively, this new build is a noticeable upgrade, allowing advanced and expert skiers a new platform to stand on and a wonderful snap out of the back of the turn. Also available in different length options this year, the Kore 87 breaks on the 7’s versus the 9’s, so now you get a choice from 163, 170, 177, 184, and 191. The winner here is the skier, who gets a tighter range of options and likely a more tailored fit.

Andrew Ruschp skied the 177, and while it was a bit short for him, he did note that it skied true to size. As most 87 mm underfoot skis should, this Kore 87 got a low score of 1 out of 5 for flotation—certainly better suited for on-trail/non-powder days. His top score was a 5 out of 5 for stability, followed by 4’s in quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. This is what we’d like to see from our ~88’s underfoot skis, regardless of whether they have metal in them or not. Andrew notes that the Kore 87 is “A great all-around ski. Nothing fabulous but got the job done was really solid and consistent.” Consistency and predictability are two very overlooked qualities of a ski, and we’ve found that the Kore’s excel in both areas, and even more so now for the 2022 version. Benny Wax was also on the 177, which was right up his alley, and he held the ski’s carving ability in high regard, but not really its versatility. Benny’s top scores were 4’s out of 5 for forgiveness, torsional stiffness, and edge hold, with the rest of the scores being 3’s. He notes that the Kore 87 is “Nice and stable for groomers. Not a versatile ski😢.” Sad, I think, because he wanted it to be more well-rounded since he liked it on the smooth terrain a whole lot.

Dana Allen states that his 177 was too short for him at 5’10”, but that it skied true to size. The 184 would likely be where he wants to be. Resultingly, he had a top score of 5 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability. 4’s were given for stability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. Pretty high overall marks from Dana here, even with a shorter size than desired. “As a front side carving ski, this is a good one. A bit less forgiving longitudinally than some with a ton of edge grip due to its torsional rigidity. Requires a stronger, more attentive skier. Don’t expect to back seat noodle on this stick. Definitely a dedicated carving ski- so not terribly versatile in bumps or chop. But good for what it’s meant for.” We certainly agree with the front side prowess, and we’ve also found that when the sizing is more appropriate, you do get a bit more flex that makes the skis more suitable for bumps and shorter turns.

Advanced and expert skiers will certainly glean the best performance out of these stiff skis. High edge angles are their friends on the groomers, and if you want to use them in the bumps and trees, do not be afraid of sizing up, as that gives you a bit more flex in the shovels and tails with the longer length. No matter how or where you use these skis, the 2022 Head Kore 87 is a vastly improved version of its older amazing self.