Black Diamond

Helio Recon 105 Alpine Touring Ski

Great ski

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Light, damp, just enough weight to be fun downhill and not too bad uphill. Went with the 185cm. Do not experience any tip dive with the recommended BC mount line in fresh snow. Plenty playful too!

Bought this ski to have a lighter AT setup but still do the occasional groomer runs. Absolutely love these skis, turn well and feel great

Big boy in the Backcountry!

While on a recent trip to WY I decided I wanted to do some backcountry skiing. I motored down to Bluebird Backcountry in CO and rented a set up consisting of Black Diamond Helio skis and Dynafit ST bindings. I have to say I was very surprised at the durability, downhill ski-ability and overall performance of these skis. I was a little concerned about them being able to perform for a larger athlete @ 6'-5" and 240lbs but, they were fantastic! I will be getting a pair of these for my quiver and would recommend them to anyone!

I bought these as a ski touring ski for the powder days. Skis work great in the powder, are relatively light and go uphill easily. What little time I've spent on the groomers with these skis was not ideal, but it isn't what I bought them for. The factory tune that came on these skis was not ideal for me. I had to retune them, putting a 89 deg side edge and 1 deg base, which made them much more responsive.

Light and versatile

two years of skiing on the Helio. It is quickly replacing most other skis for me in the backcountry.

Great on powder, tragic on crunch

Skied 20 days in these now. They are so stiff, it is crazy. On powder days, they are great. Smooth, floating. But powder on crunch, or any variable condition, every bump is transferred straight to my leg. These skies have zero give. So, great skies of you only ride powder, no so great for PNW terrain.

these skis fricken rip

never been compelled to write a gear review before but these are amazing. they arc groomers better than any powder ski i've spent time on, are incredibly playful but manageable in a wide variety of conditions, they even rip bumps. After just a few days on them I had the confidence to ski the most technical lines of my life and they were totally solid. Also light enough to not be a drag on the uphill. My one complaint is that they are exposing how sloppy my touring boots are, but I suppose theres an easy solution to that. Can't recommend enough. They made my friend tell me I "actually looked like a good skier"...

Very nice touring ski

This is the damper, slightly heavier version of black diamonds 105 width touring skis. Although the carbon helio version is lighter with the carbon contruction, I like how this build feels better. I like the shape, it is easy to carve turns at the resort, and skis powder pretty well. Even in heavier, wetter, consolidated powder, it does just fine. I have a fritschi vipec binding on it and I love the combo. I mounted 3cm behind the recommended (BC) line and I am very happy so far.

Super skis!

I have now skied on the Helio 105/185cm ten times and feel I can comment on their performance. I am 200#, and have been skiing professionally for 34 years in Colorado. I have skied the skis in hard pack and powder, and I find them to be predictable and smooth in any condition. On the hard pack they are smooth and stable, no chatter, and make controlled medium radius turns with ease. I have also enjoyed them in the moguls some as well. In the powder they are smooth and predictable and turn with ease giving me confidence to just plow ahead. Long ago I owned some BD skis and was disappointed so I was skeptical - glad I bought these! Great all arounder that is motivating me to get out and skin some laps! One "ski quiver" gets tossed around with these skis and I agree.

I have had the Helio 105 for a little under a year. Whether I was tearing up the moguls in resort or slaying the pow in the backcountry they faithfully carried me down the slopes. These are incredible skis and super fun to ride on in any backcountry environment. They are fun on the groomers or moguls in resort but to reach their full potential you need to go for a powder ski.