Head Supershape e-Magnum Review
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The quick verdict: The benchmark recreational carver. A 72mm waist and roughly 13m radius that snap edge to edge, two Titanal sheets plus graphene and EMC damping that hold the arc on ice, and a grip-to-forgiveness ratio tilted hard toward grip. Advanced skiers get a hero ski; intermediates get homework. ~$1,100 with bindings
Overview
The Supershape line is Head's piste flagship, the family that distills its World Cup race program into skis civilians can buy, and the e-Magnum is its middle child in the best sense. Narrower Supershapes chase slalom quickness, wider ones chase versatility; the e-Magnum's 72mm waist and 13m-class radius sit at the point where short turns, medium arcs, and high-speed stability overlap. Head aims it at experienced skiers who are confident on any groomed slope, and endorsements from retired World Cup names like Didier Cuche say plenty about the intended audience.
The construction sheet reads like a race department inventory: a wood core wrapped in two sheets of Titanal, graphene in the layup, Head's EMC damping to quiet vibration at speed, and the Crossforce carbon structure feeding power from the binding area into the edges. The profile is what Head calls Speedrocker, roughly 94 percent camber with a short 6 percent tip rise, so nearly the whole ski works the snow. It sells as a system with Head's Protector or PRD GripWalk bindings, the same platform the brand's own boot pages pair with it.
Key Specs
| Spec | Head Supershape e-Magnum |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 126 / 72 / 110 mm (brand site, 170cm) |
| Turn radius | ~13.1m at 170cm; shorter lengths tighten toward ~10m |
| Lengths | 149, 156, 163, 170, 177 cm |
| Profile | Speedrocker: ~94% camber, ~6% tip rocker, flat tail |
| Construction | Wood core, two Titanal sheets, graphene, Crossforce carbon, EMC damping |
| Weight | ~2,300g per ski with plate (brand spec) |
| Binding | System: Protector PR 11/13 GW or PRD 12 GW, GripWalk compatible |
| Ability level | Advanced to expert (brand rating) |
| Warranty | Standard HEAD manufacturer coverage |
| Price | ~$1,100 as a set on the brand site; ~$1,300 at retail with PR 13 |
Sizing & Fit
Carving skis size shorter than all-mountain skis, and the e-Magnum's five lengths run 149 to 177cm. The 170 is the reference length for men around 5'9" to 6'0" who ski fast; the 163 suits lighter or shorter skiers and tightens the radius noticeably. Published test feedback at 177 found the length right for strong six-footers and a handful judged it long, which matches the usual advice here: on a deep-sidecut carver, size to about nose height and let the shape do the work. Pair it with a stiff, precise boot in the 110-130 flex range; a soft boot cannot load this much Titanal, and our ski boots guide has matched options. The system binding accepts GripWalk and alpine soles and needs a shop mount and release check like any other.
Where It Shines
- Edge grip on hard snow and ice: published test panels score it near the top of the frontside category, which is what two Titanal sheets and near-full camber buy
- Edge-to-edge speed: the 72mm waist rolls over faster than anything wider, making linked short turns feel automatic
- Damping: graphene plus EMC keeps the ski quiet at speeds where lighter carvers chatter, per brand materials and retailer test notes
- Consistency: reviewers describe its behavior as predictable and stable rather than nervous, rare in a ski this quick
- Instructor cred: test crews note how many instructors choose Supershapes as their teaching-and-demo daily driver
Tradeoffs to Know
- Forgiveness scores run low in published tests: skied from the back seat, it hooks up and goes whether you were ready or not
- Versatility is the price of the 72mm waist; a few inches of fresh snow or afternoon crud turn the magic off, where the Peregrine 82 keeps working
- It is a hefty build for its size; swing weight is noticeable in moguls and the ski prefers arcing to pivoting
- System binding convenience cuts both ways: less choice, and the set price lands around twice the Wingman 78 C
Who It's For
Advanced and expert skiers who spend most days on groomed snow and want the cleanest possible arc out of every one of them. It rewards skiers who finish their turns, run edge angles, and treat a 7am corduroy lane as an event. It also makes sense as the frontside half of a two-ski quiver next to something wide, and our all-mountain guide covers that other half.
Who Should Skip It
Intermediates still building a carved turn will find it demanding at full length; the Elan Wingman 78 C teaches the same skills with none of the attitude at half the price. Skiers who want one ski for groomers plus trees, bumps, and storm days should take the Völkl Peregrine 82 instead. And if your carving happens mostly above 35mph in long arcs, the Forza 70 Ti is built closer to that brief.
How It Compares
The Völkl Peregrine 82 gives up a beat of edge-to-edge quickness for 10mm of width and real capability in mixed snow. Choose the Völkl if your mountain's afternoon chop is part of the plan; choose the e-Magnum if the groomer is the plan.
The Rossignol Forza 70 Ti is the closest rival in spirit: fully cambered, Titanal-built, slightly wider at 77mm with a bigger shovel. The Forza favors big angles and sustained speed; the e-Magnum is quicker turn to turn and the more polished all-day carver.
The Elan Wingman 78 C is the approachable alternative: lighter, softer, around half the price, and happiest at intermediate speeds. It is the right buy on the way up; the e-Magnum is the reward once the technique is there.
See the full lineup in our guide: The Best Carving Skis of 2026/27.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Supershape e-Magnum good for intermediates?
Only ambitious ones, and only in shorter lengths. Published tests rate its forgiveness low, so a skier who skids turns will fight it. A solid intermediate who already carves on easier terrain can size down to the 156 or 163 and grow fast; anyone earlier in the curve is better served by the Wingman 78 C.
What is the difference between the e-Magnum and the other Supershapes?
Waist and radius. The e-Speed is the narrow GS-style model, the e-Rally sits at 78mm as the versatile one, and the e-Magnum's 72mm and ~13m radius make it the all-round carver of the family, quick enough for short turns and stable enough for medium arcs.
Do the system bindings limit my boot choice?
No. The Protector and PRD bindings accept both alpine and GripWalk soles, so any current boot in our boots guide works. They do need to be mounted and release-checked by a shop, and the Protector version adds a knee-friendly release design that published reviews rate as a genuine safety plus.