To Be or Not To Be: That is the Question ..
Written: May 25 '06 (Updated Oct 31 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: One of the best all-terrain skis available
Cons: None really. It is suitable for good skiers only if that's a defect.
The Bottom Line: This ski is an improvement over another amazing ski such as the Head Monster i.M 75 Chip. Great tool, expert driver wanted though
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| icio's Full Review: Head Monster i.M 77 Chip Super Railflex II Ski |
... or the difficult job of being the Head Monster i.M 77 Chip.
In late April 2006 the news that US ski superstar Bode Miller left Atomic to join Head hit the press. Now, this is remarkable since Atomic was the brand with which he won the World Cup in the 2004-5 season. While it is possible that Bode's somewhat bizarre behavior may have prompted the Austrian house (notoriously serious) to get rid of him, he seemed very happy to find a new home with Head. Head has been on top of innovation in the skiing industry during the last several seasons. Now, with Bode on board, chances are that Head will no longer be sort of well-kept secret in the industry. Head keeps "taking out of the oven" one amazing ski after the other. The Monster i.M 77 Chip Railflex II is no exception. But, the choice has become so big that even those of us who are staunch supporters of Head are having trouble keeping up with the new models. I would almost like for Head to pause a moment.
A SKI WITH A DIFFICULT TASK FINDING ITS SPOT .
Maybe this ski does not face as serious a dilemma as Hamlet's, but it surely has one of the toughest spot to fill in the entire ski industry. In 2003 Head released the Head Monster i.M 75 with chip which soon became a very popular hit due to its versatility. There are still quite a few of those skis out on the slopes today (mine included). Then, during the 2005/6 season, Head released the replacement for the Monster i.M 75 with chip, the Monster i.M 77 Chip, and also released two more models the Monster i.M 72 and the Monster i.M 88. And if that were not enough, we do know that next year Head will release the Monster i.M 82. This has caused a lot of us asking ourselves what the role for the Monster i.M 77 Chip should be. Apparently, it is not too different from the old i.M 75 and, it competes with the i. M 72 for the groomed runs and the i.M 88 for big mountain skiing. And those who decided for the Monster i.M 77 Chip because the Monster i.M 88 was simply too much, are now aware that Head will soon release the new Monster i.M 82 that should clear some of the doubts about the, perhaps, too fat i.M 88.
WHO ARE THE TAKERS ? Well, it appears that the biggest fans of this ski are the very people who already own a Monster i.M 75 with chip. Somebody new to the Monster line of skis is more likely to try the i.M 72 and, perhaps give a short i.M 88 a try. If they try the i.M 77, they are so daunted by the level of choice out there that they hardly spend enough time on it to get to know this tool. It is those skiers who have been impressed with the i.M 75 Chip who are serious about the i.M 77 Chip as they are aware of the amazing performance of the old i.M 75 model and hope that the new tool can be even better. It is like we "old i.M 75 aficionados" are all out there asking ourselves "Is this thing better than the i.M 75 Chip? It can't be, can it?" What's the story?
WHAT HAS IMPROVED WITH RESPECT TO THE MONSTER i.M 75 WITH CHIP? The ski like its noble predecessor is very stable and can carve nicely long, lazy turns. Nevertheless, it can be charged down the line in short radius turns. It is not the most reactive of skis and short turns are a serious workout, but so was the i.M 75. The advantage is that at least the i.M 77 is a little lighter (a positive thing) and uses the new Liquidmetal technology (see below) which improves its rebound and make it more lively than its famous predecessor. In the bumps it does not behave too differently from the i.M 75, but handles powder a little better, probably because of the slightly wider surface. The Railflex system is not really new as my old i.M 75 already had one of those.
HI-TECH FEATURES FOR A VERY SOUND SKI
It used to be that skis in this segment answered to a very simple rule: we, ski makers, give you a ski wide enough and then you, the skiers, put your legs and technique to go wherever you like. Not any more. Now, even all-mountain ski have become super-sophisticated. As a matter of fact, the Monster i.M 77 Chip encompasses all the best hi-tech features that Head has come up with in recent years:
- Intellifibres with Chip;
- Liquidmetal;
- Railflex binding system.
The ski is built with Head's Intelligence System, a system using intelligent fibres, Intellifibres , that are capable of recognizing whether the skier is going fast (carving on a groomed slope, for instance) or slow (skiing in chopped up snow, for example) and adapt. What happens is that, when the fibers perceive the ski as going fast, they make the ski torsionally stiffer and that allows the ski to be much better at holding an edge. On the other hand, when the perception is of a ski going slow, the ski will remain relatively softer from a torsional point of view which helps making it more manoeuvrable. In addition,
this model also comes with a Chip that works by sending the electrical energy generated by the Intellifibres through a circuit to a microchip embedded in the ski, underneath the binding. There it is amplified seven times and fired back to the Intelllifibres. The reinforced energy creates a counterforce of the Intellifibres that correct the torsional movements of the ski even more effectively. This process does not take longer than 5/1000's of a second. The ski is dynamically stabilized without impairing its liveliness
Liquidmetal, as the name suggests, is a metal but with a liquid molecular structure that, unlike conventional metals, remains unchanged while the skis are turning and returns the power at a ratio of 1:1. This gives the ski perceptibly more vitality. Skis made of materials with conventional molecular structures lose too much power during turns as a result of heat and strong ski deformation. According to Head's own website, Liquidmetals' unique molecular structure makes it twice as strong as titanium and 29% more powerful. Liquidmetal technology fully absorbs the power of the turn and returns it without a loss. This powers the ski and ensures maximum dynamism at every turn.
Finally, the Railflex II binding mounting system keeps the ski flexible in soft snow and confident on ice. It basically allows the ski to bend naturally. But, the other feature that is important to skiers is that the binding can be positioned in 3 different settings:
- forward (more suitable for carving since the ski is more reactive, but a little bit more demanding in managing the tails);
- backward (more convenient when skiing in ungroomed conditions or power as this keeps the tips above the snow
- neutral (an hybrid configuration that should suit most type of terrain and snow conditions).
The good thing is that it takes just a quarter coin to change the settings on the bindings which is definitely a thumbs up in my book.
WHOM IS THIS SKI FOR? There is little doubt in my mind that this ski is really a ski for technically strong skiers. One does not need to be an expert, but the skiers who get 5-6 days a year top, may not have enough time to learn the ski. Plus, it is really a ski who likes to be taken off-bound although it does not dislike a few quick runs on groomed slopes.
HEAD MONSTER i.M 77 Chip : THE SINGLE GRADES (1=lowest, 10=highest)
CARVING: 7.5 It definitely carves well, almost like a much narrower waisted ski. It can hold an edge even on icy slopes. Not very different from the Monster i.M 72, just a tad slower because of the "extra beef".
STRAIGHT LINE: 6.5 Some reviews stated that the Head Monster i.M 72 was supposed to be a ski suitable for going fast. I disagreed in my review. At least, noboby ever claimed that this is a fast ski. It is not and it should not be. It does not hold a straight line really well and simply it was not built for that purpose. However, one should keep in mind that this ski can be regulated with a forward setting of the bindings. If the bindings are moved forward the behavior of the ski in a straight line does improve deserving a 7 mark.
BUMPS: 6/6.5 No problems in soft bumps, but icy bumps or tight and icy bumps are different issues. Nevertheless the chip technology makes its behavior acceptable even in this hostile environment. Not my choice for that though.
SHORT TURNS: 7.5 They are a little bit of work, but the liquidmetal and the chip technologies do help and one can show off in tight radius turns despite the ski would in principle be too "beefy" for that. However, strong technique is definitely required. If you know how to ask, this baby will deliver!
SKIDDING: 7 While skidding and carving are enemies, there are situations where skidding is necessary even if it is not what the modern technique says. You can make the Monster i.M 77 ski. However, if your skidding is the result of skiing with the old technique from the times of the pencil skis, this ski may not be much fun at all.
FORGIVENESS: 7.0 Fairly forgiving, but not a saint. This ski is aimed at good skiers and it is not a toy for intermediate or lower advanced skiers. It is a serious ski and it is not built to offset any wrong input by a skier or else it would not have any performance.
UNGROOMED, CHOPPED UP SNOW CONDITIONS: 8.0 Bring it into its element and it will not disappoint you. Moving the bindings backward could improve the performance in this particular element.
WEIGHT: 7 It is a little bit on the heavy side, although not so heavy as the old Monster i.M 75 with chip,
QUICKNESS UNDERFOOT: 7.5 Fairly quick underfoot in changing directions for a ski this size. Even more so when the bindings are set forward. If the bindings are set backward, instead, then it is a different issue and a mark of 7 would mean already being kind of generous.
STABILITY: 8 Very stable, even heavier skis should not have concerns in this field.
REBOUND: 7.5 Excellent even for fairly heavy skiers (like myself). But be sure you buy it in the right size and do not undersize it as there is some kind of tendency to do these days.
POWDER: 7.5/8 It is not the i.M 88 but with the backward setting of the bindings it can definitely take its raider for a memorable experience in powder. Right size a must.
OVERALL GRADE: 7.5/8 A very versatile all-mountain ski. At ease in chopped up snow, powder and groomers alike. The possibility of toying with bindings make it like a Swiss-knife like its smaller brother, the i.M 72. I would not get rid of my Head Monster i.M 75 chip for it. But, if I were on the market for a new all-mountain ski I would suggest giving this ski a serious fighting chance.
Other Head Monster skis I reviewed:
- Head Monster i.M 70
- Head Monster i.M 72 Railflex II
- Head Monster i.M 75 Chip Railflex Binding
- Head Monster i.M 85
- Head Monster i.M 88
- Head Monster i.M 82
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
icio
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Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 6 members
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