OGSO Spearhead skis | Tried & tested by Rob Benton, author of ski touring route guidebook Écrins Collective
OGSO is a fairly new brand, entering the market in 2015. The company essentially offers two skis – a fully rockered model (Super Rocker) and a more traditional camber (Neoteric). Within the two, you get a choice of weight with a super light version – aimed at ski touring and ski alpinism – and a medium light version – more of a freeride ski that works well for the odd bit of short touring.
Width underfoot ranges from 70mm to 110mm (widening in 10mm increments) but which also scales up the longer the ski. For example, the Schwarztor is the super light fully rockered ski that is from the 100mm underfoot range. But the 186cm length ski is in fact 106mm underfoot. This makes it really easy to choose a ski the shape, size and weight you want. That’s pretty much custom!
The Spearhead (pictured below) is named after the epic ski traverse in Whistler. It’s from the 80 underfoot, super rocker, ultra light range. It’s the thinnest ski in the super rocker range.
Stats
Based on the 180cm model (for the full tech spec visit the site here):
123mm at the nose
86mm underfoot
107mm in the tail
This gives it a 16m radius
Weighs 1.4kg
Atomic Backland 85 length 172 = 1.24 kg
Black Crows Ova Freebird 85 at 175 = 1.25kg Even considering it’s a longer ski than the others it’s still is a tad heavier, but not by much. When mounted with a light binding, it’s a great weight for a ski package.
The Review
Mounted with the Grizzly.Ski GR Olympic bindings – a very lightweight binding inspired by ski rando racing, at 120g per binding – this gave a very light set up. I skied this set up throughout the 2021/2022 season on a mix of terrain and snow.
For modern freeride and touring skis, these are at the thinner end of the market. Most people talk about a good range for a good all-rounder from 95 – 105mm underfoot and normally I would agree, but I have to say this ski feels like it could be a challenge for this.
On the way up they feel light and easy to climb with, and are well balanced. As someone who is used to having fatter skis, they feel like feathers. Well, for the first few 100m up… After that they’re still very light. They are perfect for longer tours or multi-day tours where you need to save energy.
As for the skiing, I was skiing 180cm length, which is a little short for me at over 6’2. I think for me the 180 is a great size for spring skiing and steeper lines, maybe as part of the quiver. But if I was buying it as my only ski, I reckon I would go for 188cm length.
They are part of the fully rockered range but for the thinner models in this same range I would say it is more of an early riser for the tail than fully rockered. On the fatter skis in this range you see the rocker at the back much more pronounced.
The shape and the medium flex of the Spearhead leads them to turn really easily, whether that is a poppy short radius turn or a longer, more carving-type turn. Even though they are a medium flex they are a solid ski – you get no flapping from the tip or tails.
On firm snow, spring corn or even the piste they are great, just what you want: easy to turn and fun – easy to whip round on the steeper lines too.
I was very impressed with the amount of float in soft or powder snow, they felt like skiing a fatter ski – like a 95 underfoot.
As with all skinnier skis it helps to keep a bit of speed, but they are fun to play in the powder with. On trickier snow like crud or the dreaded breakable crust they ski well.
Once again like most skinny skis you do have to put a bit more effort in on this type of snow and they would have probably have been even better if I was on the longer version. Being a fully rockered ski and a medium flex, I was a bit worried it would struggle on icy sections both going up and down, but it was fine. (I did an icy couloir with a friend on a very straight edge set of skis and faired no better or worse).
Before this review I always said I was happy carrying a heavier/wider ski for the advantages and ski quality, but now I am not to sure I need to.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed skiing these skis. They are easy and lively, and when matched with a lightweight binding they made the up a dream. Or less painful, anyway. Ideal if you want to get out every day.
Before this review I always said I was happy carrying a heavier/wider ski for the advantages and ski quality, but now I am not to sure I need to. If you like your skis on the thinner side then you should really check them out. Or, if you are looking for a light set-up for big missions or multi-day tours, these are worth a look.
