The 2025 Head Absolut Joy is purpose-built for women progressing from early intermediate to confident cruising, offering a lightweight, smooth, and predictable experience on groomed terrain. It’s part of Head’s Joy series—skis designed to be easygoing and intuitive—so it’s no surprise the Absolut Joy continues to earn fans for how effortlessly it gets from edge to edge.

This year’s model features a refined 80mm waist and a new shape that broadens its versatility. While still clearly an on-piste ski, it’s now better able to handle variable snow or shallow off-piste ventures without feeling twitchy or unstable. Head uses a wood composite core reinforced with Graphene, which keeps the ski remarkably light while maintaining some torsional rigidity for grip and control. The result is a ski that’s forgiving but doesn’t feel flimsy—ideal for progressing skiers who want to build confidence without being held back as they improve.

On snow, the Absolut Joy feels composed and easy to steer. It excels in shorter, controlled turns, but thanks to its slightly longer turn radius this year, it can comfortably arc medium turns at moderate speed as well. Turn initiation is smooth and doesn’t require much input—great for skiers working on refining edge control or looking to upgrade from rental gear. While it’s not built for speed or deep carving, it holds its edge well enough on icy groomers to keep things predictable.

Compared to other skis in this category like the Volkl Flair 79 or Rossignol Nova 8, the Absolut Joy stands out for its weight—or lack thereof. It’s one of the easiest skis to carry, load, and maneuver, both on the lift and on the slopes, which makes a surprising difference for skiers who don’t want a physically demanding ride. It’s also a bit more versatile in mixed snow thanks to its slightly broader waist.

This is a ski that’s all about confidence and progression. If you’re moving up from a beginner setup or want something that lets you cruise the corduroy without punishing mistakes, the Head Absolut Joy does exactly what it says on the tin—it brings joy, absolutely, one smooth turn at a time.