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Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 Alpine Touring Ski
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Description
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 Alpine Touring Ski is a 108 mm powder touring ski at 1,595 g per ski (180 cm), with a 24 m radius and ABS sidewalls for stable, fast descents.
Tech Specs
Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 Alpine Touring Ski
The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108 Alpine Touring Ski is for tourers who chase soft snow and big descents and want a dedicated touring ski that climbs light enough for long days. A 108 mm waist with early rise at both ends keeps the ski planing in powder, and a 24 m radius at 180 cm with full-length ABS sidewalls holds a calm, stable line when you open it up on big faces. At 1,595 g per ski in a 180, built from pre-preg carbon over an engineered poplar core, the Helio Carbon 108 fits powder touring, big-mountain objectives, and storm-cycle hut trips.
Is This the Right Ski for You?
CCBB Ski Ratings
Ski Profile
Why We Like It
- Pre-preg carbon, sheets of carbon fiber already impregnated with resin, lets Black Diamond build a 108 mm ski at 1,595 g per ski in a 180.
- The radius runs from 22 m at 166 cm to 25 m at 187 cm, long enough that the ski stays settled at speed on open faces.
- Full-perimeter 5 mm beveled ABS sidewalls, a tough plastic edge wall, add the edge support and damping that cap-only touring skis give up.
- An ABS tail protector with an integrated notch holds a skin tail clip in place and protects the tail when you plant the ski in snow.
Best Uses
- Powder touring and storm days
- Big-mountain and open-face descents
- Hut trips in deep-snow ranges
- Freeride lines reached on skins
- A wide ski in a two-ski touring quiver
Ski Selection Advice
Length on the Helio Carbon 108 sets turn shape as much as reach. The radius grows from 22 m at 166 cm to 23 m at 173 cm, 24 m at 180 cm, and 25 m at 187 cm while the waist holds at 108 mm, so shorter lengths turn more readily in trees and longer lengths add stability for fast, open skiing. Weight climbs from 1,500 g per ski at 166 cm to 1,650 g per ski at 187 cm.
The Helio Carbon 108 is built for pin-tech or frame touring bindings. A brake has to clear the 108 mm waist, so choose a 110 mm brake or wider. Match the binding to your boot sole norm. We size skins off the tail: the 119 and 120 mm tails on the 166 to 180 cm take 120 mm stock, and the 121 mm tail on the 187 cm takes 140 mm stock, all trimmed to the edges.
Technical Specifications Click to expand
Shape and Sizing
Construction and Use
Compare the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 108
Helio Carbon 108 vs. 4FRNT Hoji
The 4FRNT Hoji is 4 mm wider at 112 mm, fully rockered with a 30 m radius, and weighs 1,990 g per ski at 184 cm, built for resort powder as much as tours. The Helio Carbon 108 adds camber underfoot and climbs much lighter. Choose the Hoji for split resort and backcountry days, and the Helio Carbon 108 when most days start on skins.
4FRNT Hoji Alpine Touring SkiHelio Carbon 108 vs. Voile HyperCharger
The Voile HyperCharger is 106 mm underfoot at 178 cm and 1,395 g per ski at 178 cm, a lighter full-cap ski with a flat tail and a tighter 19.5 m radius at 178 cm. The Helio Carbon 108 carries sidewalls and a longer radius for more composure at speed. Pick the HyperCharger to save weight and the Helio Carbon 108 for fast, open descents.
Voile HyperCharger Alpine Touring SkisHelio Carbon 108 vs. DPS Powderworks Lotus 117
The DPS Powderworks Lotus 117 is 9 mm wider at 117 mm with a 21 m radius at 185 cm and a pintail, shaped as a dedicated deep-snow ski. The Helio Carbon 108 is the more versatile touring ski across a full winter. Choose the Lotus 117 for the deepest days and the Helio Carbon 108 for everything from storm snow to wind-buffed bowls.
DPS Powderworks Lotus 117