By Andrew Ingold
Head Oblivion 116 review
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Quick overview and character
The Oblivion 116 is a playful, powder‑biased twin‑tip built for riders who want park creativity and serious big‑mountain float. With a 116–117 mm waist and TNT Rocker (roughly 30% tip / 50% camber / 20% tail), it feels lively and surfy underfoot. The ski splits the difference between freestyle attitude and freeride capability, appealing to those who want to ride switch, hit features, and still charge deep powder lines without sacrificing a snappy, responsive feel in the turns.
Construction and what the specs mean
The construction pairs a Carbon Sandwich twintip layup with a poplar + recycled PET wood core, Tuff‑Wall sidewalls, an elastomer Independent Suspension System (ISS) in tip/waist/tail and a sintered base. Tip widths are about 141–142 mm, waist 116–117 mm, tail 131–132 mm. The specs mean excellent float from the wide planing surface, added torsional stiffness and pop from carbon, improved vibration damping from ISS, and solid durability from the sidewalls. Weight runs around 1.94–2.00 kg per ski, and long radii (≈27.8–30.8 m) favour stability at speed.
Powder performance and float
In deep snow the ski excels: the wide midsection and TNT rocker create lift and easy turn initiation, producing a surfy, playful sensation. Carbon reinforcement keeps torsion in check so the ski maintains energy through chop and variable snow, while the ISS elastomers smooth chatter on rough faces. The two lengths (181 and 189 cm) let you choose a more agile footprint or maximum float and high‑speed stability. Overall, it’s a confident powder tool that encourages creative line choice and aggressive surfing.
Park, switch and hard‑snow behavior
The full twin tip and pop from the poplar core deliver good switch performance and park‑friendly playfulness—presses, butters and switch landings feel natural. On firm snow and ice the Oblivion 116 is less at home: the wide waist and long turn radius don’t offer the instant edge bite of a dedicated carving ski, and you’ll need bigger, more committed turns to engage the sidecut. ISS helps with dampening at high speed, but this model is a deliberate compromise towards fun rather than piste precision.
Who it's for, strengths and drawbacks
Who should buy it? This is for riders who split time between park and big mountain powder—freestylers who value surf and playfulness more than absolute piste performance. Strengths are float, pop, and stability in chop; weaknesses are relative heaviness and less grip on hardpack, plus a long radius that limits tight turning. If you want a surfy, twin‑tip powder ski that still handles sizable lines, the Oblivion 116 is a compelling option; piste‑centric skiers should look elsewhere.