2019 Head Kore 105
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Ski Stats

Sidecut 135/105/125
Radius 17.8m @ 180cm
Lengths 171,180,189
Weight 1755g @ 180cm
MSRP $875
FIND
Power Score: 8.39

Finesse Score: 8.36

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The core that the Kore name is meant to call attention to is made from Koroyd, a synthetic honeycomb, and Karuba, a bantamweight wood often found in AT skis. Graphene is used in the tip and tail, making the extremities not only lighter, but inherently stronger and stiffer. This allows the center of the Kore 105 to bow more easily, a benefit when skiing on a surface that gives way when you press against it. You expect the Kore 105 to be light. But you don’t expect it be this strong. It smoothes out chunder that would treat most non-metal skis like a rented mule. Its relatively straight-waisted mid-body facilitates foot swiveling, a godsend in the trees where there’s neither time nor space to execute a carved turn. Its tapered tip isn’t itching to carve, either, but it can bank into a wind berm with the cornering confidence of a bobsled.

The R&D department at Head had several seasons of experience with Graphene, carbon in its most elemental form, before applying it to its freeski collection. The primary objective driving the creation of the Kore series introduced just last year was lighter weight, a familiar refrain in the Big Mountain category.   But Graphene and the Kore collection proved to have much more going for them than just less mass. Word spread quickly that the new Kore model were kick-ass. For years, Head’s perfectly good off-trail skis toiled in utter obscurity. Then along came Kore and Head couldn’t keep them in stock.

The core that the Kore name is meant to call attention to is made from Koroyd, a synthetic honeycomb, and Karuba, a bantamweight wood often found in AT skis. Graphene is used in the tip and tail, making the extremities not only lighter, but inherently stronger and stiffer. This allows the center of the Kore 105 to bow more easily, a benefit when skiing on a surface that gives way when you press against it.

You expect the Kore 105 to be light. But you don’t expect it be this strong. It smoothes out chunder that would treat most non-metal skis like a rented mule. Its relatively straight-waisted mid-body facilitates foot swiveling, a godsend in the trees where there’s neither time nor space to execute a carved turn. Its tapered tip isn’t itching to carve, either, but it can bank into a wind berm with the cornering confidence of a bobsled.

“Ten inches of new, dense, tricky snow today, and this ski powered through it like it was two feet of Champagne,” says Rob from Boot Doctors, who recounts he “sailed by other skiers as they flailed in the unpacked snow.” Lucas from Footloose lauds the Kore 105’s “awesome energy and snow feel. The dampest lightweight ski, it works all day inbounds or backcountry. Favorite ski in test,” by Lucas’ lights.

The real beauty of the Kore 105’s avant-garde construction is it doesn’t require any adaptation on the part of the pilot. Bob Gleason of Boot Doctors describes his first experience on the 105: “I stepped in and immediately dropped into a narrow, steep tree run. These skis took no thought to rage. They’re easy going yet give the strength you desire. A great, every day, wide-profile ski.”

The Kore 105 is such a well-balanced ski it could easily be presented among our Finesse Favorites, where it would have finished second. For fulfilling the promise inherent in Big Mountain skis – that they make off-trail skiing easier – we again award the Kore 105 a Silver Skier Selection.

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Test Score Data

Total Score: 83.50
Early to Edge:
Continuous Carve:

Rebound/Turn Finish:

Stability/Accuracy @ Speed:
Short-radius Turning:
7.75
8.25
8.25
9.00
7.50
Off-piste Performance:
Low-speed Turning:
Forgiveness/Ease:
Drift/Scrub:
Finesse/Power Balance:
9.38
8.25
8.13
8.38
8.63