2027 Head Oblivion 116

For 2027, the wide-bodied Head Oblivion 116 gets a graphic update but otherwise returns unchanged. This is a big-mountain twin tip ski for deep snow and big tricks. Since it’s an athlete-driven ski, there are portions of this ski that may not resonate as much with the general public. Specifically, the use of only two lengths—a 181 and a 189, and a very long turn radius. These make the ski feel unique and individualistic, but perhaps at the cost of universal appeal.

The 116 shares the same construction with the 102, starting with a blend of poplar wood and PET stringers. By using recycled plastic in the core of the ski, Head is making a statement here. For one, it’s great to see materials sourced from the recycling plant just from an environmental perspective, but it’s also interesting to see how they add to the performance of the ski. With something this wide, you need to shave some weight, and these PET stringers keep the ski lighter and more mobile without jeopardizing performance. To reiterate, these skis are only available in a 181 and a 189 cm length, so there are limited options here. They’re on the stiffer side because they use two sheets of carbon in them, but still with a thinner core overall they do not lose a freeride or creative feel.

At 116 mm underfoot, these are some wide twin tips. This puts them in a rare category, but they hold up quite well among the existing competition. The big story here is the use of a very long turn radius of 30.8-meters in the 189 cm length. Off the top of my head I can’t think of a non-race ski with a longer arc than that. They don’t use a lot of taper, and rely on a flatter profile to gain the floaty feel, but the overarching theme here is certainly the straight cut. This allows for maximum creativity and flexibility within turns so the skier can truly dictate shape and style of turns. It maxes out the amount of slashy and drifty methods and makes skiing in a surfy manner incredibly easy.

If you’re finding yourself in deeper snow, atop large pillow lines, or on a big mountain with spines and terrain, having a ski like the Head Oblivion 116 on your feet is a huge advantage. While it’s limited in scope and versatility, it most certainly excels in the realms for which it was built and works best on the feet of daring, creative, and experienced skiers.