Head Discovery 86 pro — Review

The Discovery 86 pro is the widest ski in Head's all-new Discovery line for the 26/27 season and the closest thing the range has to a true all-mountain do-it-all. With an 86 mm waist, a 130/86/113 sidecut at 170 cm and a 15.2 m radius, it sits at the wider end of the all-mountain category — still narrow enough to be at home on groomers but with enough surface area for chop and light powder. The full wood core, Superframe construction, graphene strip and Auxetic Technology layer carry over from the rest of the Pro line, and the Discovery 86 pro ships with a pre-mounted Protector Evo PR 11 GW system binding, so it is firmly a resort-oriented ski rather than a touring platform.

At 86 mm underfoot the Discovery 86 pro is noticeably more relaxed edge-to-edge than its 82 mm sibling but compensates with more surface area in soft snow. The 15.2 m radius at 170 cm reads as a medium-to-long arc — comfortable on open groomers and bigger off-piste turns, less interested in tight tree skiing. All-ride rocker (early rise tip, regular camber underfoot, flat-ish tail) makes turn initiation easy without giving up the rebound you want when you load the ski up. The Auxetic flex behaviour rewards harder skiers: cruise it and it feels composed and forgiving, but lean on it and the ski stiffens up enough to drive through chop and variable snow.

The Discovery 86 pro uses a 100% wood core, Head's Superframe fully wrapped fibreglass structure, a centred graphene strip for torsional stiffness, and the Auxetic Tech layer that expands laterally as the ski is bent — the manufacturer's pitch for "progressive flex". The base is UHM C, and the pre-mounted Protector Evo PR 11 GW binding sits on a Superframe rail interface. Verified weight at 170 cm is 1545 g per single ski; lengths offered are 163, 170, 177 and 184 cm. There is no 156 cm option in the 86 pro — the wider waist starts one length up from the 82 pro.

The Discovery 86 pro is aimed at advanced skiers who want one frontside-rooted all-mountain ski with more soft-snow margin than a pure 82. Compared to the Head Kore 88 Ti it is less aggressive — no titanal layer — and noticeably easier to flex at intermediate speeds, but gives up some high-speed authority; against the Head Kore x 85 it is closer in width but stiffens up more under load thanks to Auxetic; and versus the Atomic Maverick 88 TI it is narrower, more piste-oriented and lighter feeling. Pick it over the 82 pro if your typical day mixes groomers with cut-up off-piste and you want a ski that doesn't feel pinned to the trail.

Pros

• 86 mm waist gives meaningful soft-snow margin without abandoning piste.
• Auxetic Tech delivers a real progressive flex feel rather than a marketing buzzword.
• Full wood core stays composed in chop and variable snow.
• 15.2 m radius at 170 cm is a comfortable all-day medium arc.
• All-ride rocker forgives the entry, camber underfoot gives the exit bite.

Cons

• 15.2 m radius is too long for skiers who want quick, short-radius carving.
• Integrated Protector Evo binding limits aftermarket swap or touring use.
• No titanal layer means it gives up some grip and damping versus full-metal 88 mm competitors.
• 86 mm waist is not enough float for serious deep-snow days.
• Shortest length is 163 cm, so smaller or less aggressive skiers may prefer the 82 pro.

Verdict: The Discovery 86 pro is the all-mountain flagship of Head's new entry-into-performance line, sitting between the Shape lineage and the Kore in feel — a credible single-quiver resort ski for advanced skiers who want progressive flex and 86 mm versatility.