Black Crows Solis Ski Reviews

[Karl_H]

Has anyone spent enough time on the Black Crows Solis to provide a solid review?

There are aren't many reviews out there for these skis and some of the info provided by Black Crows is a little odd / concerning. Julien Regnier gives an interview on the Solis (https://www.blackmail.ski/en/tech-en...here-was-light), where he states:

It is really quite a powerful ski, so you should really put good kit on this ski so that it can express all its qualities. So, if you fix bindings which are too supple at the back, the boot will tend to want to release and finally, won’t ski well because the binding is always on the move. This ski transmits a lot of energy so it is useless to associate it with floating bindings. There is a force in this ski. It is a highly specialised ski but lots of friends want to try it. So, I tell them that it isn’t for them. But nothing to do, the guy answers me: “I don’t care, I want to ski it”.

Given this info, I am particularly interested to get reviews from people who have skied these with tech bindings.

[grinch]

Sounds pretty good for that usage. 100 underfoot with longer radius , stiff underfoot and good rocker to be out of the way. All about edge contact underfoot. Too much sidecut takes away edge pressure underfoot. Doesnt say anything about camber. Also crious about what he means by "substantial kit". Soft skis and pintech heels can be a problem but id think these would be ok. Maybe he means an alpine heel to be fully engaged with the ski. Be nice to see the full numbers too

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[mall walker]

There were a couple folks here in another thread on the 173, which surprised me. I guess it's a handful. I am very seriously considering splurging on the 180 for a late March/April/May scare-yourself-steep ski.

[Andyski]

I've got about 7 days on my 173s. I'm 5'8" 140 w/o gear. They're sweet. The "super stiff" bullshit in that article is just that. I've got dfit verticals on them and have managed not to die yet . The camber is REALLY slight. Damn near flat, but just enough. Perfect for what I want. Due to life and weather, I haven't done any firm couloir skiing on them yet. Have slain corn, shallow powder and packed pow and dig them. They ski like a real ski and not a tinny carbon chatter fest, but they BETTER given that they're not light. The mount (pretty sure it's -8) feels a little forward to me on less steep stuff, but they ski fine there and once things steepen up, that balance points works for me.

I have no idea what skins are supposed to attach to that logo cutout at the tip - even the ones BC sells for the Solis look like they're just a typical loop at the tip.

[alpinevibes]

I skied with a few Black Crows guys in Italy when they’d just announced the Solis. Both skied the 173 + F1s and were absolutely hauling ass. Very impressed with its ability to handle conditions





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[east bear fr]

I have no idea what skins are supposed to attach to that logo cutout at the tip - even the ones BC sells for the Solis look like they're just a typical loop at the tip.

Skins sold for the Solis are equipped with a special hook fitting this cuttout.

Solis are not light but definitely not heavy. Mount them with ATK R12 or FR14 and it's a real good combo for steep.
Quite stiff, solid underfoot, very good edge hold. Turn initiation is easy due to tip rocker. Tail is solid but not grabby. A really good mountain ski.

[Andyski]

Skins sold for the Solis are equipped with a special hook fitting this cuttout.

Even their own web site says it's a tip loop and shows photos of a standard loop (on a different ski, too) on the product page for the skins, so thanks for the update. Just saw that the page for ski does show some connecty tip thing. Downside: that's cool because the tip is a bit of pain to fit a tip loop on centered. Upside: I look like slightly less of a brand whore.

[mall walker]

Oooh it's a fun ski! Mounted mine over the weekend. Please bear in mind these are like 1.5lbs per ski heavier than my ordinary skis, so take my comments with a hefty dose of salt. But boy they are fun. Skied them in some mid winter quality steep Wasatch powder, they plane up well and feel ridiculously stable compared to my other sticks. Made a few tight jump turns (albeit in soft snow) and they were pleasantly obedient, which is what I was after. Tip rocker is perrrrrrfect, long and low. I'll get some pics later. The tip rocker every ski should have imo. Tail rocker is similar, maybe just a touch more splay than I'd prefer. Rocker profile is quite similar to the Down LD90 but with less tip rise. More camber than you'd think looking at them online. They are stiff; I haven't skied new alpine skis in over a decade so can't really compare them, but substantially stiffer than anything I've been on recently (Praxis #3 flex for example). Slick looking too.

Time will tell, but so far so good.

[nyskirat]

Where'd you mount them? Recommended?

[mall walker]

Where'd you mount them? Recommended?

yeah, more or less... I ended up at like +0.4ish maybe because I found it inexplicably tricky to eyeball boot center from the height the boot sits over the binding (though I measured so the mounts are even with each other). It's a kinda progressive mount per my understanding of what that means, but I like that. The low tip rocker and overall stiffness means there's more in front of you than it seems like when you compare to other skis, or at least when you compare it to my other skis. About the same amount of ski in front of the toepiece as my 177 Movement Response-X, which is a comparatively traditional mount. More in front than my 179 Praxis Wootest, which was a very progressive mount I felt.







edit for updated rocker pics, which make no sense in this post, but here they are

edit again to add: still unable to find a speed limit on these...

[kevino]

what boots are you guys using with these? too much for something like a beefed up tlt6 (power wrap + booster strap)? or other similar boots. been lusting about these for a while and trying to justify them.

for references, i can drive 185 black crows navis in good snow with the TLT's, in more variable snow they can be a bit challenging at times. i've been years on the the 180 praxis backcountry with no problem with those boots.

[mall walker]

I’m on Tecnica ZeroG Tour Pros, my other boots are Fischer Carbon Travers. The Travers I don’t think would cut the mustard. ZGTPs obviously are great. Beefed up TLT6P, I dunno, I guess it depends what you’re used to and how balanced you are. It’s a pretty stiff ski (at 180) but not unmanageable or anything. I suspect to ski hard in steep bad snow (which is what I got these for personally) you’d need more boot though.

[mall walker]

Bump to mention: I now have a pair of Down Countdown 104s (the heavy ones) in a 181 as well as the Solis in a 180. These skis are incredibly comparable:

Black Crows Solis 180cm: 126 x 100 x 108, ~1950g/ski, 25m radius. Tip rocker, flat tail

Down Countdown 104 181cm: 128 x 104 x 121, ~1800g/ski, 25m radius. Tip rocker, flat tail

Seems like maybe BC kinda copied the CD104 a bit. The main DIFFERENCES are: the Solis has a bit more camber, it has a couple cm lower tip rocker height, and a shorter length but slightly higher height tail rocker. It's also heavier. When I stand the skis on end next to one another, the recommended mounting line is identical. I'll take some pics at some point to compare, but they're remarkably similar skis. The CD104s are very stiff everywhere except the tip which is medium stuff. The Solis is I-beam stiff from tip to tail.

I like the CD104 tail a lot better, but the Solis tip a lot better. Despite the goofy amount of overlap I can honestly see keeping and skiing each of these. This is what I like lol. The CD104 has the same super smooth tail release that the other Down skis I've skied have had (CD102L, LD90) and it's the absolute perfect tail for steep skiing, in my opinion.

[Andyski]

what boots are you guys using with these? too much for something like a beefed up tlt6 (power wrap + booster strap)? or other similar boots. been lusting about these for a while and trying to justify them.

for references, i can drive 185 black crows navis in good snow with the TLT's, in more variable snow they can be a bit challenging at times. i've been years on the the 180 praxis backcountry with no problem with those boots.

I've skied my 173s with TLT6Ps w/Powerwrap plug liners and booster a bit and thought they drove the skis just fine in corn. As Mall Walker says, at speed in more variable BC snow, the TLTs get more wobbly, obviously. I've skied them in Vulcans (tour pro liners, tongue in) and that was, you know, better. Will ski them w/Zero g TPs ASAP and let you know.

I guess if I were only going to get them if I could ski them in a fun fashion with beefed up TLTs, I'd definitely do it. I think they can ski them well enough, but the solis (relatively heavy, stiff) is a slightly better match for a slightly burlier boot. It's a good reminder that the TLT6P is fucking awesome.

ETA regarding mount point: Mine are on the line as well, but it feels a little more forward (less ski in front of the toe than I'd want) for what i'm used to, but that point skis REALLY well the steeper it is. Don't think I'll mount back.

[mall walker]

ETA regarding mount point: Mine are on the line as well, but it feels a little more forward (less ski in front of the toe than I'd want) for what i'm used to, but that point skis REALLY well the steeper it is. Don't think I'll mount back.

Agreed on that. It LOOKS really far forward, but in steep terrain it's really nice, and in softer snow conditions it's not noticeable at all.

[smooth operator]

Does anybody have the weight of a 173 Solis?

[kid-kapow]

BC quote 173s at 3450gr - so 1725 a ski.

If you pick a length on BC's site the technical information specified further down on the product page changes (mostly updates the weight) to reflect the length in question.

Mount point quoted at -9 for both lengths.

These skis are very interesting. I've pondered picking up a pair and trying them, but I have managed to resist the urge thus far As such the information in this thread is most welcome and provides a ton of very informative feedback.

[Andyski]

Even their own web site says it's a tip loop and shows photos of a standard loop (on a different ski, too) on the product page for the skins, so thanks for the update. Just saw that the page for ski does show some connecty tip thing. Downside: that's cool because the tip is a bit of pain to fit a tip loop on centered. Upside: I look like slightly less of a brand whore.

Following up on the skins: Black crows customer service and cripple creek both say the skins have a standard tip loop. No special attachment. Maybe changed this year?

[east bear fr]

Following up on the skins: Black crows customer service and cripple creek both say the skins have a standard tip loop. No special attachment. Maybe changed this year?

I bought my Solis one year ago on the BC website, and skins have been delivered with the specific hook fitting the tip cutout.

[SoVT Joey]

I bought my Solis one year ago on the BC website, and skins have been delivered with the specific hook fitting the tip cutout.

I don’t have a solis, but I did notice that my ferox and the specific skin for it came last year and the skin is made by contour. My skins just came the other day for my Corvus and the skin is made by Pomoca. I think something must of just went on with changing manufacturing. The spelling of pellis and pilus made me realize. I was searching for “pellis skins” and couldn’t find any in the right size.




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[east bear fr]

Yes BC have changed their supplier from Contour to Pomoca this year.
But i guess Solis skins should continue to be sold with the specific hook (it's the only model with this cutout). Pics on website are just a fail, as they were last year.

[mall walker]

Just fwiw, the narrower tip hook that came with my pomoca cpsg’s works fine on the tips. it looks a little janky but it’s narrow enough to stay between the “corners”

[JackC]

Just fwiw, the narrower tip hook that came with my pomoca cpsg’s works fine on the tips. it looks a little janky but it’s narrow enough to stay between the “corners”

Agreed on that. It LOOKS really far forward, but in steep terrain it's really nice, and in softer snow conditions it's not noticeable at all.

I'm looking at the Solis as a "travel to Chamonix" ski. I'm a mainly alpine skier (85%). Would mount these with alpine or Shift binding and ski predominantly with Tecnica mach 1 boot. Perhaps convert to Tecnica Zero G for some climbing.

This ski looks like what I want. My ambition is to ski some of the milder (relatively speaking) couloirs so I want rock solid edge, zero janky behavior, swingability and ability to punch through mixed snow conditions. I'm 5'7", 187 pounds, bit of a fireplug. Would you recommend the 173 or 180? I considered the Justis, but am afraid of somewhat less dependable edge/stability due to the rocker profile. Any advice welcome!

[alpinevibes]

If you want it to primarily be a couloir ski I would say 173 and take advantage of its maneuverability. The ski is moderately stiff, long radius and low-ish profile, so it will remain stable at speed. That's also with the assumption that you'd either bring or be willing to rent a freeride ski if the conditions warranted.

[Pins and Skins]

Out of curiosity, is anyone in this thread looking to buy a pair of 173cm Solis?

I have a never-been-used 2020 model which I'm looking to sell. It is mounted with 110mm Tecton 12s at 295 BSL and includes the BC Solis skins and Phantom 2.0 base treatment (all have never been used or have touched snow).

I bought them right before COVID and unfortunately never got to take them out. Now looking to trim my quiver and decided to offload them.

If interested, I can send photos. Thanks!