Review: Head Kore 99 Skis · 2024
Published on 07/19/2023 · 3 min readCurated Ski Expert Ian Hamilton shares his experience with using the 2024 Head Kore 99 Skis. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Ski Expert
Ian Hamilton
The Curated Take
3.6/5
Head Kore 99 skis, with their lightweight and graphene construction, are versatile and high-performing, suitable for advanced to expert all-mountain skiers. These skis offer impressive flotation up to a foot of snow, solid edge hold for carving, high-speed stability, and a degree of playfulness. They provide exceptional performance in various snow conditions, making them a good one-ski quiver option. While their stiffness requires good technique, they remain nimble and maneuverable, enabling easy initiation and transitioning of turns. Despite a substantial price tag, their robust construction and balanced performance make them worthwhile.
Ideal for
- Carving
- All-mountain versatility
- Aggressive skiing
Not ideal for
- Too stiff for beginners
- Not forgiving
- Requires decent technique
Flotation
In my experience, I only get true powder performance once I get above 110mm wide; however, there is a difference between no floatation and decent flotation. No floatation makes skiing...Read more
Carving
Carving is impressive for a 99mm wide ski. The 17-meter turning radius matches the versatile nature of the ski. They feel at home both cruising on the groomers and doing...Read more
High Speed Stability
They perform amazingly well at high speeds for how light the Kore 99 is. I can go full-speed pedal to the metal and don't feel out of control. I didn't...Read more
Playfulness
Without metal in the construction, the Head Kore 99 is more playful than similar heavier and stiffer options. That being said, the graphene keeps them stiff, and they are pretty...Read more
Durability
Past iterations of the Kore series have had complaints of showing cosmetic wear quickly. Still, Head has tried to remedy this by rounding the edges of the thin topsheet to...Read more
Turn Ease
The Head Kore 99 has graphene in the construction instead of metal to keep it stiff but light, and I love how this makes it easy to initiate and transition...Read more
Versatility
This ski is about as good as it gets for high performance in a wide range of snow conditions. Any wider, I lose most of the carving ability on hardpack,...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Head Kore 99 Skis
Ian Hamilton I hadn't skied any of the Kore line and wondered if the price tag of around $800 was worth it. My first impression was this ski could do it all. I got to ski them on a decent day at Solitude Resort in Utah and took runs on groomers, moguls, trees, leftover powder, and park. You name it. And they did pretty well on everything. I was impressed at how aggressively I could ski them for how little they weighed compared to other stiff, aggressive skis. They floated well enough to enjoy, carved like a dream, and could take high speeds and high-powered turns. They wouldn't be a great option for lighter or lower-level intermediate or beginner skiers. They do require some decent technique. They want to carve, not slide turns, and they might feel unforgiving for a skier who isn't confident. This is a great ski option for the advanced to expert all-mountain skier who wants a ski that can do a bit of everything.
Review Ratings
Flotation
3/5
Ian Hamilton gave 3 of 5 stars. In my experience, I only get true powder performance once I get above 110mm wide; however, there is a difference between no floatation and decent flotation. No floatation makes skiing fresh snow miserable. It's hard work, and I get stuck. However, the Kore 99s have just enough width and rocker to make powder skiing fun. They do great up to a foot of snow, and over a foot, they are decent.
Carving
4/5
Ian Hamilton gave 4 of 5 stars. Carving is impressive for a 99mm wide ski. The 17-meter turning radius matches the versatile nature of the ski. They feel at home both cruising on the groomers and doing quick turns in the trees or on the steeps. Their lightweight makes initiating turns easy, and they have solid edge hold.
High Speed Stability
4/5
Ian Hamilton gave 4 of 5 stars. They perform amazingly well at high speeds for how light the Kore 99 is. I can go full-speed pedal to the metal and don't feel out of control. I didn't give them 5 stars only because there are similar skis with a sheet of metal in them that are just a bit damper and more stable at top speeds.
Playfulness
2/5
Ian Hamilton gave 2 of 5 stars. Without metal in the construction, the Head Kore 99 is more playful than similar heavier and stiffer options. That being said, the graphene keeps them stiff, and they are pretty directional, so they aren't a super playful ski. But they are light, easy to maneuver, and have good pop so that I can bring a little playfulness into my skiing.
Durability
3/5
Ian Hamilton gave 3 of 5 stars. Past iterations of the Kore series have had complaints of showing cosmetic wear quickly. Still, Head has tried to remedy this by rounding the edges of the thin topsheet to prevent chipping and scratches. They might show signs of use a little faster, but the overall build and construction are strong. They look and feel solid in my hands and should last years for the average skier.
Turn Ease
4/5
Ian Hamilton gave 4 of 5 stars. The Head Kore 99 has graphene in the construction instead of metal to keep it stiff but light, and I love how this makes it easy to initiate and transition turns. The skis feel intuitive, both carving on-piste and in fresh snow. They are a bit stiff for an intermediate, requiring good technique, but they are nimble and maneuverable.
Versatility
5/5
Ian Hamilton gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski is about as good as it gets for high performance in a wide range of snow conditions. Any wider, I lose most of the carving ability on hardpack, and narrower, I lose float in fresh snow. The lightweight build really keeps them responsive in tight trees or steep terrain and keeps the edge-to-edge carving quick and nimble.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Ian Hamilton I got to try these on a day when a versatile ski was necessary. There was leftover powder but also moguls and fresh groomers. I got a great top-to-bottom run where I got some pow turns, high-speed carves, mogul turns, and even hit the jumps in the park. The Kore 99s handled everything easily.
Why did you choose this product?
Ian Hamilton This is a really high-tech and popular ski, so I wanted to see if they lived up to their reputation. Some skis compromise performance in all areas to be decent at everything but not the Kore 99. I am impressed by the versatility and the high level of performance in every terrain.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Ian Hamilton This is a ski with top-shelf construction and has a significant price tag to match. That being said, the performance is really impressive, and the graphene construction feels solid and durable. I think the Kore 99 is a good value for the money, and if one can find them on sale, they're definitely worth the purchase.
What do you love about this product?
Ian Hamilton I love that this ski strikes a balance between hard-charging performance and playful versatility. I can rip high-speed carves one run and then some playful powder turns or quick tree turns the next. These are wide enough to handle some fresh snow but stable enough to be good on hardpack.
4.99
Ian Hamilton
Ski Expert149 Reviews
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