2027 Head Kore 104 Ti W

The 2027 Head Kore 104 Ti W gets a graphic update for this year but returns otherwise unchanged. This is a fun-loving yet business-like freeride ski for advanced and expert skiers. These 104’s have a wonderful blend of flotation and energy to allow for confidence and development in softer snow. At the same time, these skis still have two sheets of metal and a poppy wood core with high camber so they are quite capable of high-performance skiing. In the mid-100's there aren’t many options for dual-metal laminate skis that operate well in both soft and firm snow, so these Kore 104 Ti W’s are quite the anomaly and put them in a rare category when it comes to mixing versatility and performance. With a strong backbone and a smooth style, these skis are high-end freeride skis with a lot of soft snow damping.

Head does a great job bringing a high-end construction to the mix. Built with a blend of poplar wood and PET recycled material, the core of the Kore 104 Ti W is light and energetic. They then include two sheets of metal that end right below the tips and tails in order to keep the swing weight on the lower side. The topsheet consists of flax, increasing the damping and silent nature of the ski as well as increasing durability. Like most skis in Head’s lineup, the Kore 104 uses a graphene strip to energize the ski due to its blend of light weight and stiff flex. Tester Annie MacDonalt notes that it’s “Very playful and liked short swing turns much better than GS turns! Got a bit squirrely at speed! Soft snow and powder. Not great in icy conditions! Intermediate to advanced skiers that like to turn and smear! Cute girly graphic good for selfies in the sunshine for all those influencers in the wild out there! 😂”

These skis certainly blur the lines between all-mountain and freeride. At 104 mm underfoot, this ski leans more to the soft snow side of the mountain but is still able to carve an energetic turn. While most skiers will be using it primarily as a soft snow ski, there is some power and grip due to the metal here for sure. In the 177, we get measurements of 133/105/126 which generate a 16.7-meter turn radius. This is on the short side, but we felt you can open it up if you want and get some speed under your belt. Tester Fiona Reed states: "I really enjoyed the 93 Ti which I tested in a 170 cm and was excited about this one as well. It ultimately was a little bit disappointing comparatively, but I think most of that has to do with the conditions. It was certainly a little sluggish to get up on edge - makes sense considering the width - and was pretty solid once up but not quite railgun level of stability. Ok in moguls but not super poppy and fun and lacked a little bit of the significant pop and energy return of the 93s. Overall, damp and stable though, a solid ride and a good ski but would need better testing conditions to really assess. Definitely more freeridey than all mountain versatility." And that's fine, and important to note.

While the skis have a lighter core, the width makes them slightly challenging. Best when used by advanced and expert skiers, mainly in softer snow, the dual-metal Head Kore 104 Ti W is a strong and stable ski that appeals to aggressive skiers who like to charge. While it’s light enough to be accessible for intermediates and advanced skiers, those who are looking specifically for a wider ski with two sheets of metal will find the most success here. The camber makes them feel peppier while the metal lets you know what the ski is all about in terms of power and stability.