95 mm Carbon Touring Ski
Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 Alpine Touring Ski
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 Alpine Touring Ski is built for tourers who want efficiency for big climbing days and a fun, precise ride down. A 125-95-114 mm shape at 183 cm floats variable snow while the pre-preg carbon layup over a paulownia core keeps the ski torsionally stiff without adding mass. At 1,440 grams per ski in a 183, with a 20 m radius and full-perimeter ABS sidewalls for damping, the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 brings versatility and playfulness to previous versions of the Helio that suits long tours, spring traverses and ski mountaineering days.
Expert Ski Review Ratings and length guidance reviewed by CCBB ski staff.
Is This the Right Ski for You?
Best For
Tourers and ski mountaineers who count grams on long ascents, ski 90 to 100 mm underfoot, and want a carbon ski that stays damp enough to handle variable snow on the descent.
Consider Another Ski If
You want a damp resort-weight ski for lift-served days, you need more float than a 95 mm waist gives on deep storm days, or you prefer a shorter radius for tight technical terrain.
CCBB Ski Ratings
Float
95 mm waist, early rise tip
Stability at Speed
Full-perimeter ABS sidewalls
Playfulness
20 m radius at 183
Uphill Efficiency
1,440 g at 183 cm
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
Specs at a Glance
Waist Width95 mm
Dimensions125-95-114 mm (183 cm)
Turning Radius20 m (183 cm)
Weight1,440 g per ski (183 cm)
Lengths155, 162, 169, 176, 183 cm
ProfileLow rise semi-rocker tip, rockered tail
CoreEngineered paulownia
ConstructionPre-preg carbon with ABS sidewalls
Why We Like It
- At 1,440 grams per ski in a 183 the Helio Carbon 95 is one of the lighter 95 mm skis we stock, which is what makes the difference on a long ascent.
- Full-perimeter ABS sidewalls wrap the whole ski, adding damping and edge durability that carbon skis of this weight often lack.
- The pre-preg carbon layup over an engineered paulownia core holds torsional stiffness, so the ski still bites on refrozen spring snow.
- Early rise in the tip and tail improves float in variable snow and makes trail-breaking less work.
- An ABS tail protector with an integrated skin-clip tab keeps skins seated, which matters on repeated transitions.
- Black Diamond covers the Helio Carbon 95 with a two-year warranty.
Best Uses
- Long tours and high-vertical days
- Spring ski mountaineering and traverses
- Variable and refrozen snow
- Skiers running pin-tech touring bindings
- Fast-and-light objectives in the 90 to 100 mm range
Ski Specialist's Advice
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 runs a longer radius than most touring skis its width, from 16 m at 155 cm out to 20 m at 183 cm, so the ski prefers open terrain and rewards a committed turn. Sizing down shortens the arc and makes tight couloirs easier, and the sidecut narrows with length as well, from 123-95-112 mm at 155 and 162 cm to 125-95-114 mm at 183.
The Helio Carbon 95 has a titanal mounting plate under the binding area, so it takes a pin-tech mount without an additional plate. Match skin width to the 95 mm waist, and use the skin-clip tab on the tail protector rather than a separate tail strap. Confirm your binding is pin-tech before mounting.
Length and mount guidance reviewed by CCBB ski staff. Confirm length against your height, weight and terrain.
📐 Technical Specifications Full spec table · Click to expand
Shape and Sizing
Dimensions123-95-112 mm (155 and 162 cm), 124-95-113 mm (169 and 176 cm), 125-95-114 mm (183 cm)
Turning Radius16 m (155 cm), 17 m (162 cm), 18 m (169 cm), 19 m (176 cm), 20 m (183 cm)
Weight1,440 g per ski (183 cm)
Lengths155, 162, 169, 176, 183 cm
ProfileLow rise semi-rocker tip, rockered tail, camber underfoot
Construction and Use
CoreEngineered paulownia
ConstructionPre-preg carbon fiber layup, full-perimeter ABS sidewalls, titanal mounting plate
TailABS tail protector with integrated skin-clip tab
Recommended UseAll-mountain touring and ski mountaineering
Binding PairingPin-tech touring bindings. Titanal mounting plate, no additional plate required.
WarrantyTwo years
Compare the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95
Helio Carbon 95 vs. Kastle TX94
The Kastle TX94 carries more mass and stays calmer in chopped snow, while the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 is the lighter ski and climbs with less effort. Choose on whether the ascent or the descent sets your priority.
Shop Kastle TX94 skis
Helio Carbon 95 vs. Blizzard Zero G 96
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 is 95 mm underfoot and the Blizzard Zero G 96 is 96 mm, so both work as all-season touring skis. The Blizzard Zero G 96 skis firmer and more directional, while the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 has a longer radius and full-perimeter sidewalls for damping. Turn shape preference usually decides.
Shop Blizzard Zero G 96 skis
Helio Carbon 95 vs. DPS Pagoda Tour 100
The DPS Pagoda Tour 100 runs wider underfoot for better float on soft snow days, while the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 is narrower and quicker edge to edge on firm surfaces. Snow conditions where you ski most decide between them.
Shop DPS Pagoda Tour 100 skis
Common Questions
Who should buy the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95?
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 suits tourers and ski mountaineers who prioritize the ascent and still want a capable descent. At 1,440 grams per ski in a 183 with a 125-95-114 mm shape, the Helio Carbon 95 is light enough for high-vertical days and damp enough for variable snow.
How much does the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 weigh?
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 weighs 1,440 grams per ski at 183 cm, and shorter lengths weigh less. Note that Black Diamond publishes this spec as a per-pair figure, so a single number quoted without a length or a per-ski qualifier is easy to misread.
What are the dimensions of the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95?
The sidecut changes with length on the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95. The 155 and 162 cm measure 123-95-112 mm, the 169 and 176 cm measure 124-95-113 mm, and the 183 cm measures 125-95-114 mm. The waist stays 95 mm throughout.
What is the turning radius of the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95?
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 runs 16 m at 155 cm, 17 m at 162 cm, 18 m at 169 cm, 19 m at 176 cm and 20 m at 183 cm. That is a longer radius than most touring skis at this width, so the ski prefers open terrain over tight couloirs.
What bindings work with the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95?
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 is built for pin-tech touring bindings, and a titanal mounting plate under the binding area means no additional plate is needed. Confirm your binding is pin-tech before mounting, and match brake width to the 95 mm waist if your binding carries brakes.
How does the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 ski variable snow?
Better than its weight suggests. Full-perimeter ABS sidewalls and a pre-preg carbon layup over paulownia give the Helio Carbon 95 more damping than most carbon skis in the 1,400 gram class, and early rise in the tip helps the ski stay on top of wind-affected snow.
Does the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 work with skins?
Yes. The ABS tail protector has an integrated skin-clip tab, so a tail clip seats without a separate strap. Match skin width to the 95 mm waist rather than the 125 mm shovel.
What length Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 should I ski?
Length choice changes both radius and sidecut on the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95. A 169 or 176 keeps the arc shorter and works better in technical terrain, while the 183 lengthens the radius to 20 m for open faces and higher speeds. Confirm length with our staff against your height, weight and terrain.
Our Verdict
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 Alpine Touring Ski is a strong choice for skiers who measure a day in vertical. At 1,440 grams per ski in a 183 it climbs like a dedicated touring ski, and the pre-preg carbon layup over an engineered paulownia core with full-perimeter ABS sidewalls keeps it damper on the descent than most skis at that weight. The radius runs long, from 16 m at 155 cm to 20 m at 183 cm, so the Helio Carbon 95 rewards open terrain and a committed turn more than tight, technical skiing.
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