The 2027 Black Crows Navis Freebird is the fourth generation of an iconic Black Crows touring ski, fully modernized for this season with a refined tip, a new sidecut, a 21-meter turn radius, and a 10% weight reduction. It's a big-mountain touring ski for skiers who go up to ski down hard, and it ships with a matched set of Black Crows Pilus skins to make life on the skin track simpler.

Why we like it:

The Navis has always sat in a sweet spot of the touring world, light enough for long days but stout enough to actually charge on the descent. The 2027 update doubles down on both ends of that range. It feels notably lighter on the climb than the previous generation, but the descents feel even more confident, with the new sidecut and refined tip lending a more decisive carving feel.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert touring skiers who want a versatile freeride-touring ski for varied terrain. Great for skiers who do real backcountry days with significant downhill commitment, freeride-leaning tourers, and anyone who values descent performance as much as climbing efficiency.

Highlights:

The Navis Freebird's construction is built to balance weight and authority. A paulownia and poplar wood core keeps the swing weight low while still giving real damping at speed, and a mix of carbon and fiberglass laminates dial in torsional stiffness without piling on grams. A titanal plate under the binding zone adds screw retention and stability where it matters most, especially when you're running hybrid touring bindings. The construction is semi-cap with ABS sidewalls underfoot for power transfer, and a partial cap up front saves more weight. The 2027 update is significant. A refined tip combined with the new 21-meter sidecut radius gives the ski a more committed, alpine-style feel through high-speed turns, and the new 165-to-186 size run means the ski now fits a wider range of skiers more precisely. Set comes with the brand's matched Pilus skins, which are sized exactly for the Navis Freebird so you can skip the trim-to-fit step and get straight to skinning.

Things to consider:

Even with the weight reduction, the Navis Freebird is still firmly on the descent-focused end of the touring spectrum. Skiers chasing maximum efficiency on long approaches or summer ski mountaineering missions should look at lighter, narrower options like the Camox Freebird.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis true to length. Pick the size that matches your usual touring length, or size up if you tour mostly for descents in big terrain.