Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 2026 Skis

The 2026 Helio Carbon 95 is Black Diamond’s “sweet spot” all-mountain tourer, built for skiers who refuse to specialize. This ski wants to crush early morning skin tracks, punch through sketchy wind lips, dance through soft days, and still keep its composure when things get chattery or icy.

This newest version brings a number of upgrades over the previous generation. The updated pre-preg carbon fiber layup, combined with full-perimeter 5 mm beveled ABS sidewalls, delivers better dampness and torsional stiffness than before. The engineered paulownia core returns, but in synergy with the new layup you get a smoother downhill ride, reduced chatter, and more edge hold in variable snow. Early-rise tip and tail rocker help with float in soft snow and make trail breaking easier. An ABS tail protector with an integrated skin-clip tab makes for more secure gear on steep climbs. The turn radii have been tuned across lengths so you still feel agile without sacrificing stability.

On snow, this ski feels like a heavier, more grounded version of lighter backcountry sticks—but without that disconnected, floppy descent feeling. It carves hard when you want, holds edges in crud or wind-board, and still lets you surf in softer snow without getting swallowed. It’s not going to rival a full float ski in thigh-deep powder, but it gives up little for its weight; you’ll notice the difference when charging hard snow, where the improved dampness makes the ride more composed. Compared to the old Helio 95, the new Carbon version drives better in variable snow and has lost the chatter that plagued many carbon skis.

This ski is best for advanced to expert touring skiers who want one reliable quiver-tool. If you hike, traverse, or skin a lot, then want something that behaves all-over the backcountry—not just powder or resort—this is your match. If your priority is pure float or you live in deep snow and want full surf, you might still prefer something wider; if you’re chasing ultralight uphill times and mostly ski firm snow, you might go narrower. But the Helio Carbon 95 is the balanced middle path: versatile, confident, and ready to hit big days on varied terrain.

For a full refund, items must be returned within 30 days of purchase.
Sale items are not eligible for returns.

No extended discounts on previous purchases.Gift cards are non-refundable.

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