Fans of easy turning carving performance will love the crisp and agile Head Shape E-V8 for its technology and performance. This thing has a whole lot of technology packed into a small unit, and it makes a lot of sense for intermediate and advanced skiers who spend most or all of their time on groomed and smooth terrain. The vast majority of skiers out there will benefit from a ski of this shape and style as they progress through the levels and skills. Head does a great job because they put just as much effort and technology into their mid-range skis as they do in the upper ends. This makes skis like this E-V8 stand out among other mid-70's underfoot skis because they are built with such sophistication. With smoothness, stability, and an easy-turning nature, the E-V8 is a carving skier’s dream come true.

Built like a ski for much higher-end skiers, the Head E-V8 uses a blend of karuba wood with ash stringers to get the most out of the weight to strength of the materials. We get two carbon layers on top and bottom of the ski as well as fiberglass laminates that help stiffen the flex. Overall, this is a pretty stiff ski, and when paired with the shorter turn radius, it definitely makes the ski come to life. We also get a graphene strip in the middle to further boost the performance without adding much weight, and then to top it off, the ski also gets Head’s Energy Management Circuit to dampen vibrations. This circuit basically takes the unwanted vibrations and filters them out to make for a smooth and predictable ride. It works quite well on their higher-end skis, and that tech filters down into this ski as well.

At 75 mm underfoot, this ski is certainly at home on the groomers and hard packed trails. There’s not a whole lot of versatility built into this shape and style of ski, but that’s okay given its preference and performance in an on-piste format. The ski creates a short turning radius of 13.2-meters in the 170, making the E-V8 one of the sharper-turning skis on the market, especially for a non-race ski. There’s basically no rocker in this ski as it relies on the camber to add energy and pop to the turn. The small amount of rocker that’s found in the tips and tails is appropriate for turn initiation and completion but doesn’t have much to do with flotation or versatility. With rounder tips and tails, the ski is easy to maneuver and slide from one turn to the next with simplicity.

The 2024 Head Shape E-V8 is a clean turning ski that works great on groomed and smooth surfaces. While it’s suitable for intermediate through advanced skiers, it’s got a much higher-end build than the levels may indicate. This ski loves to be on edge and in a carved turn, and if you’ve struggled in the past with getting a ski up at a higher angle, this one will certainly make a big impact in the progression of your skiing.