Black Crows Navis Freebird Ski 2024

Light enough to not feel heavy on long days but still stiff enough to not chatter on firmer / variable snow. Paired with Shift bindings providing safe/reliable DIN release and elasticity, they are the perfect backcountry ski from steep couloirs to moderate powder. No major wear on top edges from tight jump turns after a few days on these which is a sign of durable top sheets.

My initial impressions were that they were surprisingly stable through crud and at speed, considering their weight and that they're generally designed for uphill use. Unfortunately, first impressions were all I had time for because after hitting a rock at moderate speed I wound up with a demolished edge and a shattered core. Comparing these to my previous set of uphill skis that are more p-tex than base at this point, I really would have expected a little more durability out of these. Hitting the occasional rock is a part of skiing off the groomers, and these skis really can't handle any impact at all. If they start grooming the uphill terrain these skis might find a niche to fit into, but otherwise I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

These skied really well on both groomers, tracked crud, and powder. Unfortunately, I hit a rock that wound up shattering the core, delaminating the topsheet, and blowing out the edge. Considering the damage done versus how hard I hit the rock (my previous backcountry skis are more p-tex than base material at this point, but still quite functional), I can't recommend these for anything other than skiing on groomed runs. They aren't durable enough to handle the inevitable dings and scrapes that come with anything but the most filled in backcountry/off-piste conditions (and even then it's a dice roll).