Discovery 70 review

Overview

The Head Discovery 70 is the narrowest and most beginner-oriented ski in Head's new 26/27 Discovery family — and the only one Head badges "On Piste" rather than "All Mountain". It carries a 128/70/108 mm sidecut, a lightweight synthetic core with Auxetic Tech inside the Superframe construction, the Allride Rocker profile and a PR 11 GW system binding (a PR 10 GW Promo option is also listed). Six lengths run from 142 to 177 cm with radii from 7.9 m to 13.3 m, 12.5 m in the 170 cm reference length.

On-snow performance

On paper the Discovery 70 is built for learning to carve. The 70 mm waist is the quickest edge-to-edge in the range, and the radii — under 10 m up to the 156 cm length — mean the ski wants to turn as soon as it is tipped on edge, exactly what a beginner practising round turns needs. The synthetic core keeps the flex soft and the swing weight low, so a slow-speed skier can bend it; Auxetic Tech then adds stiffness as pressure builds, giving a little more support once the skier starts to lean into the turn. The 15 % tip rocker eases turn initiation and keeps the tip from hooking, while the 85 % camber keeps the edge gripping on groomed snow. Head rates it Slow and On Piste, and the 70 mm waist confirms it: this is a groomer ski, not one for soft or variable snow.

Construction & specs explained

Core: Head's lightweight Superframe synthetic core. The Superframe construction wraps it in a fully enclosed fibreglass structure for torsional strength and even pressure distribution, and Auxetic Tech — a structure that expands in width when stretched in length — pushes against that frame so the ski gets stiffer the more it flexes. The base is UHM C and the inclined Better Balance Base gives the same ramp angle for every boot sole size. There is no Graphene layer and no PROTECTOR-ready listing on this model. The ski ships on a pre-mounted PowerRail base with the PR 11 GW system binding (TX BTR toe, GripWalk compatible) or the PR 10 GW Promo. Lengths 142, 149, 156, 163, 170 and 177 cm; sidecut 128/70/108 mm in every length; radius 7.9 / 8.9 / 9.9 / 11.0 / 12.5 / 13.3 m; Head quotes 1450 g per ski without binding at 170 cm. Rocker 15 % tip, 85 % camber.

Who it's for & comparisons

A first-time or returning skier who wants a forgiving, easy-turning piste ski with a binding fitted and a flex that will not go dead as soon as technique improves; the 142 and 149 cm lengths also make it a fit for smaller adults and teenagers. Within Head's range, the Discovery 74 is the same construction with 4 mm more waist for a touch more stability in soft snow. Elsewhere, the Rossignol Forza 20d is the direct rival — a soft, short-radius beginner system ski; the Salomon S max 8 is a slightly firmer 72 mm carver for someone who already skis red runs; and the Fischer Lite 70 is the lightweight alternative on the same waist.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Quickest edge-to-edge ski in the Discovery range thanks to the 70 mm waist.
• Short radii (7.9–13.3 m) make round, controlled turns easy to learn.
• Six lengths from 142 to 177 cm, including sizes for smaller skiers.
• Auxetic progressive flex gives more support as skills grow.
• Lowest price in the Discovery family, PR 11 GW GripWalk binding included.

Cons

• Synthetic core and "Slow" rating — intermediates will outgrow it within a few seasons.
• On-piste only: the 70 mm waist offers no soft-snow margin.
• No Graphene and no PROTECTOR option, unlike the Sport and Pro models.
• System PowerRail base rules out touring bindings and limits aftermarket choice.

Verdict: A purpose-built learner's carving ski: light, forgiving and quick to turn, with Head's Auxetic flex to grow into — buy it for the first seasons on groomed runs, not as a long-term all-mountain ski.