A friend of mine was given a pair of Head skis today that purport to contain graphene, as the shop-man enthusiastically pointed out.
Being a somewhat scientific sort, he knows what graphene is so didn't just accept that a 'clever sounding thing' would automagically make the skis better and questioned the shop-man as to how on Earth a single molecule thick sheet of carbon atoms would have any beneficial effect on the construction of a ski?
Unsurprisingly, the shop man was stumped by this question
So... do Head skis have gaphene in, and if so why? Or is it just 'the appliance of science because you're worth it and too stupid to know bullshit when it's being shoved up your nose' marketing?
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Someone on the bash? So you have ample scope for "testing"?!
I'm not a materials scientist, but from what I know of graphene, isn't it one of those high strength, low weight materials similar to adding a layer of carbon fibre? The other explanation is that it's like Ti, in that a layer of titanal is added for extra torsional rigidity, but everyone thinks it's titanium
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
It's quite likely that for stifness to weight, graphene may well provide advantages. However, looking at the designs linked below, the area of graphene coverage is so small that if you used a steel plate it's unlikely to make much difference to either factor.
Smells of snake oil but it is possible that it is useful in skis...
"Components with higher strength to weight ratios. Researchers have found that adding graphene to epoxy composites may result in stronger/stiffer components than epoxy composites using a similar weight of carbon nanotubes. Graphene appears to bond better to the polymers in the epoxy, allowing a more effective coupling of the graphene into the structure of the composite. This property could result in the manufacture of components with high strength to weight ratio for such uses as windmill blades or aircraft components" ...or skis.
I thought someone had done the calculation and proved that the amount of graphene Head would need to incorporate in their skis to have a meaningful impact exceeded the amount which existed in the world i.e. it is very possible the diagram is accurate and Head actually incorporate a piece the size of a shreddie in order to make the maketing boast. Or they shave a pencil into the core of every ski and call it good.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@under a new name, Doesn't look as good though, does it?
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Scarlet, nope
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@admin, sounds like BS to me....saw someone skiing them last week and had a chuckle at the time. Hope they feel the benefit!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
It's a wonder metal, as in you wonder what the hell it does and wonder whether it is just marketing BS.
Same as a wonder-bra, once taken off you wonder where it all went.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Head? marketing BS? From the company that persuaded a whole trade industry that the KERS chip actually did something? Surely not!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Skiing them makes you feel like you've got two "AA" batteries in your mouth, lovely feeling of being lightly electrocuted as the twitchy vibrations weave through your body, does feck all for your skiing though IMO
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
olderscot wrote:
Head? marketing BS? From the company that persuaded a whole trade industry that the KERS chip actually did something? Surely not!
I'd be surprised if anyone actually believed that or that it was intended to be believed.
All I can say is I absolutely love my Magnums (my second pair) and a mate absolutely loves his Titans (and his Speeds in the right conditions).
@DB, people are chucking in micro amounts into the matrix so that they can advertise that the there is graphene in the construction. Pure marketing BS for both bikes and skis. If they did indeed contain enough to make an appreciable difference then not many in eth world could afford them!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
I'd be surprised if anyone actually believed that or that it was intended to be believed.
They do make good skis. No doubt about that.
But try watching any of the trade 'experts' doing a head ski review video and talking about the benefits of the KERS technology. I can't see why any company would put their brand supporters in the position of looking like complete numpties by perpetuating a marketing myth.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
From 00:25 - well done for keeping a straight face
Seems like a reasonable explanation. Oxygen doped Graphene + resin + carbon fiber = more strength at lower weight. Has anything come of it? Have not seen the market being flooded yet.
After all it is free
After all it is free
pam w wrote:
is graphene the same thing as graphite?
Same chemical (carbon) but arranged in to a different structure. Just like diamonds are also pure carbon, but with a different arrangement to graphite.
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Hmm I note graphene is one of the ingredients in the boots our favourite tech talk troll/overly entitled arrishole pupports to have. Feels an ideal match
Graphene makes your skis stiffer, stronger, unvibratier, turnier, heat-dissipatier, faster, lighter, and thinner.
Graphene is currently found in tiny amounts inside skis because the material is expensive and hard to mass-manufacture.
Amounts will increase in the future.
A spider's web of graphene could stop a falling airplane.
Several graphene skijackets have been on sale for a couple years.
They keep you warmer, drier, and less stinky from sweat.
Above all, graphene is one of them cool materials that makes everyone else in the liftline / bar without it feel like a loser
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Golly. Stiffer and stronger and makes you the envy of the rest. Where have I heard that before?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I have i.speeds and I can confirm that since I got them, I am: More attractive, faster, richer, more muscular, taller and funnier. This is mainly down to the Graphene. The KERS chip has made me slightly less believable though.....
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Steilhang wrote:
pam w wrote:
is graphene the same thing as graphite?
Same chemical (carbon) but arranged in to a different structure. Just like diamonds are also pure carbon, but with a different arrangement to graphite.
Not specifically a different structure is it, just the result of thining graphite down to a single layer of atoms.
If you want to make some graphene at home you just need a pencil some paper and some scellotape (and some time on your hands as there's not really anything you can do with it at the end) - https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Graphene
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
DB wrote:
From 00:25 - well done for keeping a straight face
I don't know about kinetic energy recovery in skis, as surely this is complicated by there being two sorts of energy involved in skiing: potential energy building up in the ski when it is compressed (like a spring) and then being released as you come out of the turn; and kinetic energy developed through motion down the hill.
I would have thought that potential energy was a far more important factor. I recall back in the 70s, I had a pair of Schwendener skis that I could "wind up" going down Corrie Cas gun barrel, so that they bounced me into the next turn as soon as pressure was taken off mid turn. I have to say, the nearest I've come to this in recent years is when using my Supershape Magnums. However I do not believe this has anything to do with kinetic energy.
Any physicists on here ?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I‘m not a physicist but suspect what gives skis such a rebound is from a special ingredient called „wood“. It‘s the same stuff was used in the construction of the Morris minor estate. Amazing ....
Ooooh...my car has ceramic brakes!! You can tell because they are red!!!
Oooh.. look at the stripes on my Ford Fiesta!
My Super Joys have graphene - I bought them because, after a bit of reseach into which ski might be appropriate to move up to, these were available to try and I liked them.
My boots have graphene - they are newly fitted by Rivington (thanks guys, they're fab) but I had no input into the choice other than comfy or not - brand, colour or other esoteric options would have been detrimental to the outcome.
My skis and boots are certainly lighter than those they replaced which, I believe, is the graphene claim.
I bought a pair of these Head Kore's just before last season. After walking through that long tunnel to return to Cervinia from Zermatt a couple of times I wanted something lighter to carry, but with a wider platform thoughout to help me in the pow. I've found them superb for stability, cutting through the crud and slush and doing short turns. Not had chance to test them in powder yet though. I'm no scientist so can't say if/why the graphene has helped - just that they are the best ski I have ever had. I'm told they were last season's best sellers, which probably explains why Head didn't make changes to them for this season.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I don't know how I could ever sleep at night without my KERS system chip installed.
I wasn't skiing so good today .. perhaps the KERS needed an update.
Still a great ski though.
After all it is free
After all it is free
@DrLawn, maybe you need to update to the new Wide Area Network KERS system... I think you can do that by yourself. Don't go for the Kinetic Network Integration Contol one though, gets in a right old twist.
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