Head Kore 117 Skis
While newer skiers will have to work their way up to the Head Kore 117 skis, those with the skills will be thoroughly impressed by their construction.
These skis are durable, lightweight, and perfect for powder, giving skiers a responsive and stable ride with barely any cons to consider.
- Groomer Performance
- Powder Performance
- Edge Hold
- Ease of Use
- Construction Quality
Are you seeking a pair of lightweight skis that are great on powder, but which also reach high speeds and provide excellent stability?
It’s a tall order, but the Head Kore 117 Skis may be your perfect fit. According to testers, they feature a highly lightweight design, they’re extremely damp, and they’re best suited to powder.
Be warned: these are powder skis, pure and simple. A couple of our skiers found they struggled on hard-packed snow, while others warned the skis were poorly suited for beginning or intermediate skiers.
Nevertheless, before you make your final decision, let’s take a more in-depth look at the Head Kore 117 Skis.
Contents
Head Kore 117 Skis: The Details
In a Nutshell
- Lengths: 180 and 189 cm.
- Sidecut: 145/117/129 mm (189 cm).
- Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker.
- Turn Radius: 24.6 meters (189 cm).
- Level: Advanced to Expert.
- Type: Powder.
Features
Profile
The Head Kore 117 Skis feature a rocker/camber/rocker profile. As such, the tip and tail of each are slightly upturned, while the middle section where your feet mount is concave.
This will straighten out as you place down your weight, adding to their overall flexibility.
The camber helps to make the best contact with snow, creating a more stable ride, while the rocker’s upturned tips ensure they glide over powder without getting caught.
Core
The core of these Head Kore 117 Skis is made of Karuba wood. This equips the design with a great amount of pop, ensuring they can perform jumps or tricks without a ton of struggle.
They will snap back and ease the impact of landing. Naturally, heavy skis won’t have pop, so this core also factors into their lightweight and balanced nature.
There’s no danger of your feet being weighed down, and the stability will reduce chatter.
Laminates
Three different laminates are used in the construction of the Head Kore 117 Skis.
First is the Topless Tech, which uses polyester fleece to cover the design instead of a plastic topsheet – an uncommon choice among ski manufacturers. This ensures the skis are incredibly lightweight, while also remaining sturdy.
The next laminate is a material called Graphene. It’s both strong and lightweight and is inserted into the ski from tip to tail.
In addition to reducing the skis’ overall weight, it also boosts their response to your movements, especially in deeper snow.
The third laminate is a substance called Koroyd, which contributes to the stability and durability of the Head Kore 117 Skis.
Designed to boost their strength and elasticity, without adding to their bulk, this material also helps with chatter and vibration. There’s no danger of a rough ride or feeling every bump on the slopes!
Construction
The Head Kore 117 skis are created through a process called sandwich cap construction.
In practice, the materials used to create the skis are carefully layered – like a sandwich – with vertical sidewalls added to the edges for enhanced stability.
The ‘cap’ stage of this process involves the top material being wrapped around the tip and tail – ‘capping’ off the ends.
This sandwich and cap design reduces the price of these skis, while also boosting their ratio of flexibility to rigidity.
Head Kore 117 Skis Review
The Positives
Damp
Our testers reported these Head Kore 117 Skis as very damp. With the sidewalls, the rocker/camber/rocker profile, the construction, and the core, each of these features combine to reduce vibrations and chatter as you soar down the mountain.
Working as shock absorbers to evenly disperse your weight and redirect impact, they make for a smooth ride that won’t have your legs aching from each divot, bump, or rock in or under the snow.
A damp ride aids in giving skiers much more confidence as they take on slopes since they remain stable and give a smooth ride even at high speeds.
Stable
Speaking of stability, users also noted these powder skis as incredibly stable overall. Despite all the materials included to reduce the overall weight, there’s no danger of having too much contact with the snow.
Head included the sidewalls, profile, and core in a layered design that places strength in sensitive areas.
As such, when you reach high speeds (and you can go very fast), these features channel the control exactly where you need it.
Newbies may struggle to find and use this precise control, but experienced skiers are all but guaranteed a steady ride. You’ll be able to build a great deal of confidence on the snow too as a result.
Lightweight
Since the core is made of lightweight wood and the laminates are chosen for their slim nature, no excess is packed into these skies.
As such, you won’t feel weighed down or burdened with a clunky design, saving your feet and legs from being worn out at the end of the day. In addition, lugging your skis back to the lodge won’t be difficult after several hours on the slopes.
Even though these skis are feathery light, they don’t lack in durability or stability which is uncommon for skis of this make. You’ll be getting best of both worlds with the Head Kore 117.
Good Pop
Among the features, testers seemed mainly fond of the Head Kore’s pop. This means they’re great for jumps and tricks, while also offering flexibility and spring.
Users found they struck a balance between rigid – to keep you stable – and elastic – to adapt well to tricks. As such, you can perform jumps smoothly but won’t feel as much impact in your legs and knees when you land.
If you like poppy skis, these may be an ideal fit. The fact that these skis pack a good pop gives them much more versatility for the skier who wants some options.
Excellent Float
According to tester feedback, these Kore 117 skis are great in powder. Since they’re not heavy enough to sink, even when you’re riding on the lightest of snow, you can glide right on top.
The rocker profile ensures the tips won’t dig in and slow your pace. If you love to ski on freshly fallen snow or powdery slopes, these are a great set.
For skiers who like a bit of extra versatility, this means you won’t be too limited in your ski routes. Its lightweight build makes it easy to turn in deep snow and its stable construction means you won’t have to worry when you take on turns either.
Very Fast and Responsive
Users who had a need for speed mentioned the Head Kore as fitting the bill. These skis excel at fast paces, with a slim design that floats easily on the slopes.
Whether you unleash them on the piste or in forays on powder, they’re only limited by your experience level.
As a bonus, don’t worry about sacrificing stability or dampness for speed. The sturdy design remains a strong constant even as you rise to a faster pace. They’ll stay stable so you can enjoy your ride without wearing yourself out.
You won’t have to worry about these skis lacking in maneuverability either. They’re responsive and intuitive so skiers won’t have to worry about their day in the snow being ruined by crashes.
This is thanks to the construction of the tip rocker and the great edge hold on these skis which also contribute to the ability for some serious carving.
Durable
Thanks to the flexible, long-lasting materials used in these skis, you can expect them to last a long time no matter how lightweight they are.
They won’t buckle went put against bumps or jumps so you won’t have to worry about being too fragile with these skis.
The Graphene layer on top of the flexible wood is super strong, elongating the lifespan of these skis without adding any extra bulk or weight. It’s clear they’ve really put a lot of thought into these skis and the payoff looks great!
The Kore 117s won’t back down from aggressive skiers so you won’t have to hold back. Overall, the durability and longevity of these skis make them a great value.
The Negatives
Not for Hard Snow
While these skis are great on powder, skiers who tried them in hard-packed or icy snow were dissatisfied.
They are stable, but not when taking them out of their powdery or mild element. That level of impact makes for a bumpy ride.
They’re not a great match for crud, even with its strong build. While it will stand up to cruddier conditions, the ride won’t be as smooth as most skiers would prefer.
So, if you prefer backcountry skiing or hard-packed snow, it’s wise to seek out a different option.
Not for Beginners
This Head Kore 117 set is also not for beginner or intermediate skiers. The advantages noted above only come into play if you’re skilled enough to handle skies which rely on you for direction – rather than helping you along.
While they are easy to maneuver and quite stable, you’ll need skiing experience to make them perform at their greatest potential.
Anyone below an advanced level may be frustrated or overwhelmed and it’s best to wait until you’ve upped your skills before taking these for a test.
However, if you’re after skis that will let you test your abilities, this set is a valid contender.
Here’s a video showing more details on the Head Kore 117 and what they look like in action.
Overall Verdict
After going through all the positives and negatives, we highly recommend the Head Kore 117 Skis.
They are incredibly fast, stable, damp, and great on powder. What more could you ask for? They offer a complex design and honed abilities.
If hard snow is your thing or you’re at a beginning level, then it’s wise to keep shopping. Otherwise, these skis may be one of the top skis on the market today.
Where to Buy the Head Kore 117 Skis
Head is committed to the sports world with a large line of sporting tools and equipment from racquetball to diving. They’re a known brand with products around the globe that are accessible to a variety of sports enthusiasts.
As such, items like the Head Kore 117 Skis are available both in-store and online and they won’t be too hard to find.
It’s best to check sporting equipment and outdoor stores, but you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.
- Corbett’s Ski & Snowboarding (from $639)
- Skate Pro (from $699)
And of course, you can also find these skis on Amazon.
That’s the end of our Head Kore 117 review. Tempted to give these skis a try?
