A disk drive head suspension of the type having a rigid beam region extending from a spring region and a flexure on the beam region. The beam region is etched from a laminate sheet of material having first and second stainless steel layers separated by a polyimide layer, and includes a base portion formed from the first layer and a stiffener portion formed from the second layer. The base portion is generally triangular in shape, having peripheral edges and a continuously decreasing width with increasing distance from the spring region. The stiffener portion has a tapered shape with generally concave peripheral edges and a continuously decreasing width with increasing distance from the spring region. Angles between the peripheral edges of the base portion and the stiffener portion at the proximal and distal ends of the beam region are between 5.degree. and 30.degree..