Head has a history of offering a better-than-average ski at a lower-than-average price somewhere in its Frontside family; for now, that ski is the Strong Instinct Ti. At $599, binding included, the Strong Instinct Ti is a steal. It’s a perfect ski for a young adult getting his first ski that isn’t a hand-me-down, or the middle-aged skier who hasn’t renewed his equipment in several years and is ready for something shorter, lighter and generally easier to ski.

Skis with synthetic cores aren’t usually named “Strong,” but Head uses both Graphene and Titanal to give the Strong Instinct Ti the torsional stiffness needed to grip on the groomed conditions where the Strong prefers to roam. For any skier who self-classifies as “intermediate” and would like to shed this epithet, the Strong Instinct Ti is your ticket to improvement.