2022 Head Oblivion 94

Twin tips are just a whole lot of fun. Whether you’re in the park all the time, or never ever at all, the Head Oblivion 94 is a true all-mountain weapon. It’s amazing what Head has done with a poplar wood core and some fiberglass, as these skis have a fairly simple construction. The shape and camber go a long way in giving the ski a ton of energy, snap, and pop when it comes to true all-mountain skiing, and that same character also gives this ski the same great performance in a park and pipe setup as well. At 94 mm underfoot, this ski operates quite well in a versatile setting, and they have a good amount of power and stability, especially for a ski without metal in it.

Matt McGinnis skied the 184, and noted that it felt short to him, “even though 184 is normally on the long side for me.” Perhaps that more flexible nature to the ski made it feel that way, but as the longest in the lineup, he’s really got no other choice. All 4’s out of 5 on the scorecard for Matt, with a lone 3 for playfulness, showing that he did find these skis to be on the stiffer side of the spectrum. Normally, we’d see a twin-tipped park ski dominate the playfulness category, but this just shows that the Oblivion 94 is quite a bit more than just a trick ski. “Honestly, this ski is a straight 4. It handled everything I threw at it, from quickly skidding to switch, to laying down long arcing turns, and popping off side hits and mogul bumps. The one demerit I’ll give it, is that it never seemed to absolutely excel at anything. So, rather than earning 5’s, it earned 4’s in nearly all categories. Keeping that in mind, I’d recommend this ski to any intermediate or advanced intermediate skiers who want a tool they can take anywhere. These twin tips would be at home in the park, on any trail, or even in the backcountry on days with ~10” or less of fresh snow. As for anti-recommendations, I wouldn’t recommend this to any high-level park skiers as the flex might not be suitable for big jumps, or any skier looking for a powerful free ride ski. As per usual, this ski would be adequate, but there are simply better options out there.” True, and we agree with Matt that there are better choices for just a park ski, but for a ski that does everything pretty darn well, it’s hard to make an argument against the Oblivion 94.

Sam Freund also skied the 184, and like Matt, noted that it felt short. Also like Matt, Sam normally would fit right in with a 184 on most other skis, so if you’re in the middle of a sizing choice with the Oblivion 94, it sounds like sizing up is a good option. Sam scored the ski top marks of 5’s out of 5 for playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability, with 4’s given for stability, flotation, versatility, and overall impression. These are some consistently high scores for the Oblivion 94—lending credence and respectability to its all-mountain heritage. It’s clear from the moment you pick these skis up that there’s more to them than just a jib stick. “They said it was a park ski, but I would call it an all-mountain ski, and a fun one. Way more versatile than I expected, and was really fun in the varying snow conditions. Don't know how strong the edge would hold on a fast day, but if there's snow, these were really fun.”

This happens a lot in our ski tests, and it’s one of my favorite phenomena. A wider park ski just really impresses our ski testers. With no metal, a twin tip shape, and minimal expectations, the all-mountain versatility and fun-loving character really shines through. From park and pipe to bumps and trees, these skis have a lot of abilities that you normally wouldn’t think of. There are a lot of skiers out there who would greatly benefit from being on something like the Oblivion 94 versus a more demanding ski, emphasizing our philosophy that you should get a ski for the conditions and terrain that you actually ski versus those for which you want to ski.