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The 5th edition of the Head Total Joy we tested is a real all-mountain crowd pleaser guaranteed to bring a whole lotta joy to your skiing.
head total joy
Level
Advanced
Terrain
All Mountain
Best for
Intermediate or advanced skiers who like light skis and short turns
Price
£595
Season
2018/19
lengths
148,153,158,163,168
Bindings?
Yes
Float
7
Playfulness
10
Value
10
Edge hold
10
Stability
8
Turn initiation
10
Overall Score
9
+
An easy, playful and flattering ski
Clinical, slightly lightweight graphics

If ever there was a ski that embodied the 'don't judge a book by its cover' life lesson it would be the Head Total Joy.

With its slightly 'fluffy' name and rather lightweight white/pale blue graphics, the Total Joy gives the impression of being a bit, well, delicate really. First impressions created admittedly low expectations but within seconds the Total Joy had proved us all wrong.

Punch and pazazz were there from the off and we ended up having a total blast on the Total Joy, ripping around the resort at this year's Ski Test to the soundtrack of our own whoops and the relentless digital oom-pah beats of the Austrian Apres ski.

With its 13.6 turning radius, the Total Joy is a real lively lass who likes nothing better than smashing out super quick, short turns on piste or in the bumps. Agile and responsive, the edge-to-edge performance of the Total Joy is right up there with the best in test but if you do decide to put in some longer turns, it has the control to stick with you and carve right through the arc.

The light, responsive and playful feel of the Total Joy can be attributed to its graphene koroyd carbon construction and allride rocker. Magical graphene is the strongest, lightest and thinnest material in the world and provides the agility and responsiveness that make the Total Joy such a joy (ahem) to ski.

At 85mm underfoot and with a short tip rocker, the Total Joy is more than wide enough to play in shallow powder snow and chopped off piste sections, but it will come unstuck if you see a whole lot of deep faceshots in your future.

Cost-wise the Total Joys are at the more expensive end of the all-mountain price point but for £595 you're guaranteed to be rocking a really fun, flattering ski that will keep you entertained all over the mountain. The whole resort is your playground with the Total Joys on your feet, so grab a pair this winter and get ready to have a lot of fun.

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