Keeping Me On My Toes: The Head Kore 87 (2025): Ski Review

[@RicketySkiReviews]

For anyone wondering this GoPro Footage was one day before my crash, but I am recovering and doing well, I'm hoping one more week of Ice and Ibuprofen and I'll be good as new. Thanks everyone who left nice comments, and thanks for watching!

[@davidbeazer9799]

That’s what I was going to ask!

[@mathieug6136]

Good to hear!

[@Drwatcherman]

Get well soon!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks! @@Drwatcherman

[@Glowtrey]

Those footage of Zach's skiing were rad 😂 we all knew he was loving them kore 87 😂

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Haha some times you can tell when skiing just looks "happy"

[@BabTheBabs]

These are my everyday ski. I love them for quick turns on the side of slopes in soft snow. But they hold their edge very well even on hard snow and at high speed. For precision, I weight only 160 so it makes a lot of things different. I also have to agree with the soft snow performance. We had some mild weather in February and I really had a hard time that day, catching edges all the time. The only ski I liked even more (which i tried after purchasing the Head) are the Armada Declivity 88c. I think you should try them. They are a bit more flexible and versatile.

[@heathdalton8972]

i realy like how in depth you get .....i learn so much in how you explain things....glad your better and thanks for these vids....

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for watching!

[@Drwatcherman]

I bought a pair of these with shifts mainly because I’m getting into some back-/ sidecountry. I was blown away with how well they ski, especially carving. For me they’re great in tight VT trees, good in bumps, great on groomers and hardpack but they do have a speed limit (~40mph for me, 6’ 220 lbs). They’re great for skiing with my 10 year old (advanced skier) who’s carving and loves the woods and bumps. I’m looking to sell my Stockli Stormrider 88s now, have barely skied them since I got the Kores.

[@craigmellin6217]

How are they on ice?

[@jasonholland3837]

Good review I was looking at this ski but opted for the Brahma 82 last year because I wanted something very damp. Glad I didn't buy it after your review. Also Jeff likes the 87 and Bob likes the 93 so that matches what you said about weight. Glad your feeling better.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks!

[@stevenelson6639]

I watched your review of the Kore 87 and the Kendo 88..I like to ski steep and carve turns…occasionally some off trail and powder (live in Maine). Just wondering which one you would pick if you had to pick one.

[@christieman4001]

Elliot, I can’t believe you didn’t mention similarities or differences to your favorite or go to in this category but rather the QST. My older Kore 93s (black top sheet) seems to give me that pingy feeling I think you are referring to and subsequently I prefer my old Salomon Enduros that are 80 underfoot. I’m still looking for the ultimate daily driver since I have some pure carvers and pure powder skis for the correct conditions.

[@michaelaronson9447]

Great comments. Makes sense.

[@michaelaronson9447]

The old DPS Pagoda CT cut through everything on the front side. Monster ski.

[@BobGilman-in3wh]

Spring morning ski!

[@res_ipsa-REX]

The Kore 87 is the go to ski for Ted Ligety. He rips the hell out of them with 80+ degree edge angles on steep groomers. I want to demo this ski next season.

[@scarface548]

he prbly can do that on any ski

[@exothermal.sprocket]

SOME of it is definitely the ski, the ability of the equipment to do what it's commanded.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Oh interesting I always see him on the 93s on Instagram but makes sense he has access to multiple.

[@res_ipsa-REX]

@@RicketySkiReviews In the Carv videos he always seems to be on the 87s. You should contact Carv and see if they will let you try out their digital coaching system next season. My buddy has it and he enjoys it.

[@bryanwhittaker6135]

I just happen to be in the right place at the right time this year and got to ski two runs at Deer Valley with Ted Ligety. He was skiing the Head Kore 87s and of course was ripping it. I also heard him on a podcast in November and he was talking about how he skis the Head Kore 93s. The conditions on the day I skied with him were not great. It was snowing quite a bit and things even on the groomers were pretty bumpy. Didn’t matter to Ted he was rippin it and dragging knucks with big edge angles. There is a reason he is known as Mr GS. After watching him ski, I would say he could ski like that on whatever brand ski you give him.

[@davidadam285]

How do these compare to the Atomic Maverick 88 Ti? Would be interesting to know how they compare to the ski you raved about so much 😊

[@BabTheBabs]

I have the Kore 87 and tried the Mavericks 88 2 times. Personally I feel it's something he talked about the Mavericks that they don't have much turn initiation or end of turn. On the other hand, when I put my Kore on edge, they turn right away and really help me make a nice round turn while the Mavericks feel maybe more balanced and will stay in the turn longer. As he said, the Head are very responsive and want to start the turn and finish it to make the next one. I love them for quick turns on the side of the slope in the soft snow.

[@simonorr594]

Feel better! Any top tips for wax on sticky snow? We tried liquid Vola wax at Courmayeur and it worked well,

[@res_ipsa-REX]

Rub Rainx on the bases and it lasts 1-2 runs. Then let them sit face up in the sun for 2-3 minutes to dry. This is better than any wax I have ever used. Put a little in a gallon sized ziplock bag with a few paper towels and keep in your pocket. Kinda annoying to do it every other run but less annoying than constantly getting thrown forward in wet snow and/or having to lean back all the time. The extra time is worth it, in my opinion, at the bottom of the lift to enjoy the snow a lot more. A second partial solution is to treat the bases with the DPS phantom Glide permanent "wax" This reduces the wet snow drag by about 40% on its own. Makes the slush moderately more tolerable. But nothing is going to co0mpletely overcome the laws of thermodynamics.

[@kenjohnston1257]

I found a pair of super cheap 2023 Kore 87s a couple months ago and I think I should have listened to the guys on Skiessentials when they said they tend to favor heavier skiers that can flex them. I just couldn't pull much flex out of them until I hit higher speeds, and then they did fine, but at medium speeds when I just wanted to play they seemed to fight me the whole time. This was on groomers, I guess I'll keep them in my quiver if they perform better in powder next season

[@brucerehberger9080]

Very interesting take on the Kore 87. I am leaning towards these skis ar about 170 cm's abeit I may get the Kore 85 W which are a bit narrower. Coming off my skinny Head Racing skis, I did not want a wide ski like the Kore 93. Time will tell if I was right or wrong. I am a 70 year old senior now and my old 193 racing skis were too long and too heavy for me, hence my decision to look at the shorter and lighter Kore skis.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Yeah I love the 93s but they're very different skis and that makes total sense

[@skiRobG]

85 W is the same ski as the 87 - (but with a different graphic) the Kore line gets narrower as it gets shorter and at the same lengths the 85W is the same width as the 87. Cheers, Curated's "old guy"

[@neumeisteranimalhospital2627]

I have a pair of Kore 87's. I like them better than the Enforcer 88's and the latest version of the Rossi Exp Ti 82's I have. Eastern front side Masters beer league racer. Snappy and carve well for my 170lbs lbs on 177cm. I've got race skis for pure performance and some wider stuff for the one or two times a season we actually get powder. The Kores are just a fun all rounder for me.

[@DrPhranc]

Hey Elliott. What ski or type of ski do you think is best for wet slushy snow?

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Great question, I tend to like heavier skis like the m6 mantra, 2025 Nordica Enforcer, or the Stöckli stormrider. No perfect ski for sticky snow (wax is pretty key) but I prefer those ^

[@DrPhranc]

@@RicketySkiReviews Thanks for the reply! So, wider and heavier with good wax?

[@paulpallet4960]

A waterski 😁behind a 250 verado

[@DrPhranc]

@@paulpallet4960 lol

[@darinsmith2458]

i am a heavier skier too... my guess is that if you were going over the handle bars then i would too..

[@Bergur.Palsson]

To me Head Kore is about backcountry skiing, also with the ascent meaning very light but still very skiable in the alpine/off piste. Lighter than eg QST, for the ascent, but as being light / carbon they cannot match eg. QST on the free down, but are wery close to it. (Im never on skiareas)

[@tayloranderson456]

Still waiting for that ski that will do my taxes for me!

[@davidbeazer9799]

You won’t like the 1040 under foot!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Don't give turbo tax any ideas

[@davidbeazer9799]

@@RicketySkiReviews well, they would need a Turbo to move at that width!

[@danishknight2798]

Too much weigh on your inner ski for my preference. Plowing the bunny slopes. wink wink

[@TD05SSLegacy]

Link to purchase?

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I couldn't find an affiliate link, all my normal vendors are sold out, but I like the guys over at @skiessentials (I don't make any money from the sale) and they're currently selling it here: www.skiessentials.com/products/2024-head-kore-87-ski-315453?ski%2520size=163

[@chengyufang2672]

If you want 170cm of Kore 87, you might look at 170cm of Kore 85W as well. Same ski, different graphics, but usually cheaper.