e absolut joy review

Overview

The e.Absolut Joy (also sold as e-Absolut Joy) is the 25/26 name of the 80 mm model in Head's women's Joy collection, sold as a set with the Joy 9 GW SLR binding. Head has since dropped the "e" and sells it for 26/27 as the Head Absolut Joy. Retailer specs for the 25/26 e.Absolut Joy (122/80/108 mm, 14.8 m at 163 cm, 1773 g per ski) are the same figures Head lists on its 26/27 Absolut Joy page. Snowleader positions it as an all-round ski for performance on and off the slopes, aimed at intermediate skiers.

On-snow performance

Five extra millimetres underfoot are what set the e.Absolut Joy apart from the 75 mm Real Joy and Super Joy. On paper that gives it more support in the soft, cut-up snow at the side of the run and a calmer ride on bumpy late-afternoon pistes, while the 80% camber keeps it at home on groomers. Snowleader still rates it 5/5 on piste and 2/5 off piste, with a mid stiffness of 3/5, so think of it as a piste ski that tolerates detours rather than a freeride ski. The radius grows by about one metre per size, from 10.8 m at 143 cm to 15.8 m at 168 cm: shorter lengths stay quick and playful, while the longest lengths prefer medium-to-long turns. The 20% tip rocker should make turn entry easy for skiers who are still refining their technique.

Construction & specs explained

Core and lay-up: Snowleader's 25/26 listing describes an ultra-light sandwich of Graphene and Koryod around a Karuba-oak wood core, under Head's LYT Tech name.

Sidewall: Power Sidewall Jacket Construction, a fibreglass wrap combined with ABS edges.

Damping and stance: EMC F with a piezo-ceramic element in the front of the ski, plus the Better Balance base with a 0.75° ramp on every length.

Base and profile: Structured UHM C base; Allride Rocker with 20% tip rocker, 80% camber and no tail rocker.

Shape: 122/80/108 mm on all six lengths (143, 148, 153, 158, 163, 168 cm); radius 10.8 / 11.7 / 12.7 / 13.7 / 14.8 / 15.8 m.

Weight: 1773 g per ski without binding at 163 cm (Snowleader lists 1770 g).

Binding: Joy 9 GW SLR (DIN 2.5–9) on the pre-mounted SLR base. As a system ski it cannot take a touring binding.

Who it's for & comparisons

The e.Absolut Joy is for an intermediate or confident woman who spends most of the day on piste but likes to drift into soft snow at the edges. If you never leave the groomers, the narrower Head Real Joy is quicker edge to edge; if you want more float, the 85 mm Head Total Joy is the wider sibling. The Salomon Stance w 80 has the same 80 mm waist but adds a titanal layer and weighs 1780 g at only 159 cm, so the Head is lighter for its length. The Blizzard Phoenix 80 ti also uses titanal and turns tighter, with 13 m at 165 cm. The Stockli Montero aw is an 80 mm flat ski, so it lets you choose your own binding, which the Head system does not.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• 80 mm waist gives more support in soft snow than the 75 mm Joys.
• Six lengths from 143 to 168 cm with a radius that scales with size.
• Easy turn entry thanks to the tip rocker and Better Balance ramp.
• No metal and 1773 g at 163 cm keep it manageable for lighter skiers.
• Same shape and weight as the 26/27 Absolut Joy.

Cons

• Still piste-first: it is not a powder ski.
• No titanal, so strong skiers will find its limits at high speed.
• The 15.8 m radius at 168 cm feels less nimble in short turns.
• System binding only, no touring or flat-mount option.

Verdict: The e.Absolut Joy is the 80 mm all-rounder of the 25/26 Joy line and the same ski Head now calls the Absolut Joy. It suits women who ski mostly on piste but want a little more width for the soft snow beside it.