Skiers wanting one ski for groomers, bumps, and soft snow should take a good look at the Head Discovery 86 Pro. This wider-waisted all-mountain ski pairs a wood core and fiberglass frame with Auxetic technology, a pressure-reactive material that stiffens the harder you push it. An early-rise tip eases into a flatter tail for effortless turns. The result: a forgiving, adaptable ski ready for more of the mountain.

Why we like it:

Head's unique Auxetic layer stiffens when you load the ski, so the flex stays lively at cruising speed and locks down the harder you charge. We also like the graphene strip in the core, a smart way to add torsional snap without extra weight.

Who it's for:

This one's built for advancing intermediate to advanced skiers who spend most of their day on groomers but don't want to bail when things get bumped or heavy. Skiers chasing a true one-ski, everywhere-on-the-mountain quiver will feel at home here.

Highlights:

Thge Discovery 86 Pro sits on an all-ride rocker profile: an early-rise tip for easy turn initiation, a cambered midsection for edge hold, and a flatter tail that stays predictable when you're driving hard out of a turn. The construction is where things get interesting. Head builds the 86 Pro around a full wood core wrapped in a fiberglass Superframe for a more consistent flex from tip to tail, with Auxetic technology layered in, a material that builds internal pressure as you flex the ski harder so it actually stiffens and grips more the harder you push. A graphene strip adds torsional response without extra weight, and the base is a fast, durable UHM C sintered base. This ski comes pre-mounted with Head's PR 11 GW binding.

Things to consider:

The tradeoff for that lighter, livelier feel is the absence of a metal laminate. There's no titanal here, so the Discovery 86 Pro won't have the same damp, plowing stability at speed or in chopped-up crud that a metal-laminate ski this width would deliver. The 15.2 meter radius also favors a medium arc over tight, quick turns, so dedicated bump and tree skiers may want to look elsewhere. The same wider-waisted profile that makes it versatile everywhere else won't float like a true powder ski once the snow gets deep.

Fit & sizing considerations:

The Discovery 86 Pro skis true to length across its size run. Stick with your usual length for quick, easy turns on groomers; bump up a size for extra stability in bumps, crud, or soft snow.