Now a staple in the North American backcountry ski industry, the Black Crows brand offers a wide-ranging lineup of touring skis. Each “Crow” has its iconic solid color and corresponding spot in the quiver. The 97mm-underfoot Camox Freebird, sporting a crimson red topsheet, feels right at home in most snow conditions you’ll find in the springtime.
I’ve been using these skis for a few seasons now and have been able to really put them to the test. From unexpected over-the-head powder in Alaska, to puckeringly firm chutes in Cooke City, these skis have seen it all. I’m not going to sugarcoat it and make these look like a full-on swiss army knife of a ski. Yes, the Camox will get you down the mountain in any snow condition, but, this ski particularly excels in common springtime conditions: ie: corn, chalk, and shallow powder.
Tech Specs:
Lengths: 157.1 cm, 164.3 cm, 171.1 cm, 178.4 cm, 183.4 cm, 188.2 cm
Weight: 1450g at 171cm
Turning Radius: 17m
Who’s This Ski For?
If you already have a wider, heavier pair of touring skis (>108mm), and you want to add another pair to the quiver, the Camox is a perfect complement with its 97mm waist and relatively short and snappy 17m turning radius. At ~1500g per ski, they feel nimble and surprisingly responsive under the feet, allowing for maximum confidence. These skis walk the line of weight and performance quite well– the lighter weight will help you get to further-out objectives, while also providing a solid platform for technical descents. In Montana, the approaches are long, the skintracks nonexistent, and the adventure is cranked to the max. If you want to be able to ski further, climb faster, and explore more, these skis are a great choice.
Montana’s long approaches can be made much easier with a lightweight pair of skis. The Camox rides the balance of being lightweight while still having enough of a backbone to keep the skiing fun and engaging.
Conditions They Excel In
These skis perform best in snow you’ll generally find in springtime in the Western US. They allow for snappy, controlled turns on corn and chalk, while still having enough flotation to coast over denser spring powder. Arcing from edge to edge on these feels incredible, when the snow condition allows. Hop-turning in these skis is made easy due to their light weight, making steep, techy lines all the more fun. These skis handle icy and refrozen snow as well as you could ask for; the 17m radius sidecut and camber allow for plenty of edge contact and control in firm conditions. I’ve found that these skis perform really well in up to boot-top powder before they begin to swim around. In my opinion, the Camox will feel great for most conditions you’ll find in spring ski mountaineering.
The Camox Freebird’s springy construction excels at tighter and more controlled turns like on the left, but also feels comfortable making larger-radius turns as seen in the rightmost tracks.
Arcing down perfect corn on Mount Adams’ southwest chutes. The Camox felt right at home in these conditions!
Who These Skis Aren’t For
As with most lightweight touring skis <100mm underfoot, you have to dial it back a smidge in these. Don’t expect to arc turns on crud and variable conditions like you do in your burly resort setup at Bridger Bowl. The Camox Freebird has a lightweight and surprisingly playful build, and while they’ll hold up to some light freeride and playful skiing, I won’t be hitting big pillow lines in these anytime soon. I’ve had some unexpected knee-deep powder days in these skis, and while it was fun, it would’ve been even more fun with wider skis.
Overall Verdict
If you want a dependable ski for big objectives with long approaches and techy descents, this ski is a great option. Its ability to make controlled, tight radius turns in techy terrain, combined with a lightweight build really makes this an ideal springtime ski. I’d bring these on long days in the Tetons, Beartooths, or any other technical mountain range with confidence, knowing I have a lightweight ski that I can trust under my feet.
Want to try these out? Use our online rental system to reserve your demo pair! We also have a variety of sizes in our shop for sale. Stop by and check them out.
The Camox Freebird is charcuterski-approved.