Head Total Joy — Review

The Head Total Joy is the widest piste-leaning all-mountain in Head's women's Joy collection — 85 mm waist, full-sidewall construction, Allride Rocker and a 14.7 m radius at 163 cm. It is the most off-piste-capable Joy that still carves like a piste ski. Joy 11 GW system binding on Power Rail is included.

The Total Joy is unique in the Joy lineup because it has a full sidewall under foot (rather than the partial Power Sidewall Jacket the narrower Joys use), so on hard snow it carves with more authority than the 80 mm Absolut Joy at the cost of a touch more swing weight. The 14.7 m radius keeps medium-radius arcs natural, and the wood-cored chassis stays composed at carving speed. Off-piste the extra waist genuinely helps: cut-up snow at the side of the trail, soft tracked-out crud, and the occasional ankle-deep powder day are all manageable. It is still a piste-tilted ski — proper deep snow days warrant a wider tool.

Wood core (light, no titanal), LYT Tech construction, full sidewall (a step up from the partial sidewall used in the narrower Joys) and Allride Rocker. Sidecut 128 / 85 / 114 mm and 14.7 m radius at 163 cm. Lengths: 148 / 153 / 158 / 163 / 168 (no 143 — the chassis size starts higher than the narrower Joys). Weight at 163 cm is approximately 1530 g per ski. Joy 11 GW SLR alpine binding on Power Rail.

A confident-intermediate to advanced woman skier who wants one ski leaning toward all-mountain rather than strict piste. Compared to the Nordica Santa ana 84 it is lighter and a touch more piste-bound — the Santa Ana 84 has more freeride DNA. Against the Elan Lynx 82 w the Total Joy carves with more authority on hard snow but is a touch less playful off-piste. Skiers wanting more soft-snow utility should consider the Dynastar M pro w 85 or one of the wider w-suffix all-mountains.

Pros

• Full sidewall gives more authority on hard snow than narrower Joys.
• 85 mm waist + Allride Rocker opens real all-mountain duty.
• Light at ~1530 g per ski (163 cm) — easier than many 85 mm all-mountains.
• Wood core is composed at carving speed.
• Joy 11 GW system handles harder driving than the Joy 9.

Cons

• Five lengths (148-168), no 143 — smaller skiers must shop carefully.
• Not a powder ski — keep expectations modest in deep snow.
• System binding restricts mounting and resale flexibility.
• A touch heavier on the foot than a narrower Joy for everyday piste.

Verdict: The Joy for women who want one ski that does most things — piste, side-of-piste and the occasional soft-snow day. The most useful all-rounder in the line for a mixed week on the mountain.