97 mm All-Mountain Touring Ski
Black Crows Camox Freebird
Skiers who count grams on the climb but refuse to give up the descent are the reason the Camox Freebird has run for five generations. A 97 mm waist and an 18 m radius keep turn initiation quick and hold an edge through firmer snow, while extra fiberglass under the binding area, an additional glass laminate layer, improves screw retention where touring skis usually give out. At 1,375 g per ski in the 173.1 cm and 1,400 g in the 179.2 cm, the Black Crows Camox Freebird spans a six-length size run from 155.2 to 185.5 cm and suits everything from lift-assisted laps to long spring missions.
Expert Ski Review Ratings and length guidance reviewed by CCBB ski staff.
Is This the Right Ski for You?
Best For
Tourers who want a quick, light all-rounder at 97 mm underfoot, ski a wide range of conditions, and value an 18 m radius that initiates fast in trees and tight terrain.
Consider Another Ski If
You want more float than 97 mm gives in deep snow, a stiffer platform for high-speed chop, or a telemark setup, which Black Crows states the Camox Freebird does not accept.
CCBB Ski Ratings
Uphill Efficiency
1,375 g per ski at 173.1 cm
Downhill Performance
Solid flex, glass under the binding area
Soft Snow Float
97 mm waist, progressive front rocker
Firm Snow Grip
18 m radius, short sidecut
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
CCBB Ski Profile
Dimensions129-97-113 mm (173.1 cm)
Turn Radius18 m (all lengths)
Rocker ProfileProgressive front rocker with an early rise tail
Flex PatternSolid underfoot, progressive in tip and tail
Mount Point-9 cm from center
Skin FitModel-specific pre-cut Pilus, hook and TPU tail
Recommended UseBackcountry touring, all mountain
Why We Like It
- An 18 m radius on a slightly short sidecut makes the Camox Freebird quick to start a turn, which pays off in trees and on tight, technical descents.
- At 1,375 g per ski in the 173.1 cm, the Camox Freebird sits under 1,500 g, which is the ceiling we work to when we build an all-day touring setup.
- Extra fiberglass under the binding area, an added glass laminate, targets screw retention, a common failure point on light touring skis.
- A six-length run from 155.2 to 185.5 cm is unusually deep for a touring ski and means smaller and taller skiers get a real fit rather than the nearest available length.
Best Uses
- All-season backcountry touring on a single pair
- Trees, gullies and technical terrain where a short radius helps
- Long spring ascents where mass matters on the climb
- Skiers building a first dedicated touring setup
Ski Specialist's Advice
The 18 m radius holds at every length, so the six-length run is about fit rather than turn shape. Skiers who want quickness in tight terrain should size down toward the 167.1 cm or 173.1 cm, and skiers who want more platform underfoot in soft snow should size up to the 179.2 cm or 185.5 cm. The Camox Freebird is one of the few touring skis where a 155.2 cm is a designed length rather than a leftover.
Black Crows sets the mount at -9 cm from center with a 3.5 mm by 9 mm drilling pattern. A 100 mm brake is the narrowest that clears the 97 mm waist, and a 105 mm brake gives more room if the same setup sees soft snow with a hybrid binding. Black Crows states that its touring skis are not compatible with telemark bindings, and we hold to that.
The Camox Freebird takes a model-specific pre-cut Pilus skin that hooks at the shovel and feeds a TPU block through the tail. Trim-to-fit skins should be sized off the tail, which runs 111 to 116 mm across the size run and puts every length on a 120 mm skin with room to trim.
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
Dimensions125-97-111 mm (155.2 cm), 126-97-111 mm (161.1 cm), 128-97-112 mm (167.1 cm), 129-97-113 mm (173.1 cm), 130-97-114 mm (179.2 cm), 132-97-116 mm (185.5 cm)
Waist Width97 mm
Turning Radius18 m (all lengths)
Lengths155.2, 161.1, 167.1, 173.1, 179.2, 185.5 cm
Weight1,375 g per ski (173.1 cm), 1,400 g per ski (179.2 cm). Black Crows lists the remaining four lengths as provisional
Construction and Use
Rocker and CamberProgressive front rocker with an early rise tail for pivot control and float
SidecutSlightly short sidecut for carving and reactivity
FlexSolid underfoot for stability, progressive in tip and tail
ReinforcementExtra fiberglass under the bindings, an added glass laminate, for screw retention
Mount and Drilling-9 cm from center, 3.5 mm by 9 mm drilling. Not compatible with telemark bindings
Skin FitModel-specific pre-cut Pilus with a hook tip and a TPU tail block
Recommended UseBackcountry touring, all mountain
Compare the Black Crows Camox Freebird
Camox Freebird vs. Black Crows Navis Freebird
The Navis Freebird is the wider, more descent-focused sibling at 104 mm underfoot on a 21 m radius, with 1,475 g per ski at 172.2 cm. The Camox Freebird trades float for a quicker 18 m radius and less mass. Skiers who ski tight terrain choose the Camox Freebird; skiers who want float and speed choose the Navis Freebird.
Shop Black Crows Navis Freebird skis
Camox Freebird vs. Black Crows Orb Freebird
The Orb Freebird is the ski mountaineering option at 91 mm underfoot and 1,325 g per ski at 167.0 cm, mounted at -10 cm. Both run an 18 m radius. Skiers whose season is mostly firm and steep take the Orb Freebird; skiers who want more soft snow capability take the Camox Freebird at 97 mm.
Shop Black Crows Orb Freebird skis
Camox Freebird vs. Atomic Backland 100
Skiers cross-shop these two as mid-weight all-round touring skis. The Backland 100 is wider underfoot, while the Camox Freebird runs 97 mm on an 18 m radius that starts turns sooner. Terrain decides it: open bowls favor the Backland, tight terrain favors the Camox Freebird.
Shop Atomic Backland 100 skis
Common Questions
Who should buy the Black Crows Camox Freebird?
The Black Crows Camox Freebird suits tourers who want one light all-rounder rather than a specialist. At 97 mm underfoot with an 18 m radius and 1,375 g per ski at 173.1 cm, the Camox Freebird is aimed at skiers who cover varied terrain and value quick turn initiation over outright float.
What bindings work with the Black Crows Camox Freebird?
The Black Crows Camox Freebird takes standard alpine bindings, pin/tech (low-tech) touring bindings, and hybrid bindings, because a ski carries no sole norm of its own. Match the binding to your boot sole norm rather than to the ski, and confirm the binding accepts that norm. Black Crows sets the mount point at -9 cm from center and specifies a 3.5 mm by 9 mm drilling pattern. Black Crows states that its touring skis are not compatible with telemark bindings, and we hold to that. Choose a brake that clears the 97 mm waist, so 100 mm is the narrowest that works.
Why do you list only two weights for the Camox Freebird?
Black Crows marks four of the six lengths as provisional in its 26/27 specification, so we publish only the two confirmed figures: 1,375 g per ski at 173.1 cm and 1,400 g per ski at 179.2 cm. Publishing a provisional number as though it were final is how wrong weights end up quoted back to us a year later. We will fill in the rest once the manufacturer confirms them or we scale a pair in the shop.
What length Black Crows Camox Freebird should I get?
The 18 m radius is the same at every length, so length selection comes down to fit and terrain. Skiers who spend their days in trees and tight lines should size toward the 167.1 cm or 173.1 cm, and skiers on open terrain who want more platform underfoot should look at the 179.2 cm or 185.5 cm.
How wide is the Black Crows Camox Freebird?
The Camox Freebird is 97 mm at the waist across every length, with the shovel growing from 125 mm at 155.2 cm to 132 mm at 185.5 cm and the tail from 111 mm to 116 mm. Black Crows rates float at this width as good rather than deep-snow specific.
What skins fit the Black Crows Camox Freebird?
Black Crows offers a Camox Freebird specific pre-cut Pilus skin covering all six lengths, with a hook at the shovel and a TPU block at the tail. Trim-to-fit skins work as well and should be sized off the tail, which runs 111 to 116 mm and puts every length on a 120 mm skin.
Where does the Black Crows Camox Freebird mount?
Black Crows marks the mount at -9 cm from center on the sidewall and specifies a 3.5 mm by 9 mm drilling pattern. The brand advises against moving the mount and states that customizing it transfers responsibility for resulting damage to the owner, so we mount at the marked line by default.
Is the Black Crows Camox Freebird stiff enough to ski hard?
The Camox Freebird uses a solid flex underfoot that softens progressively into the tip and tail, which is a touring flex rather than an alpine one. At 1,375 g per ski it will move around in heavy afternoon chop more than a 1,900 g freeride ski. Skiers who want a stiffer platform at speed should look at the Navis Freebird or a dedicated freeride ski.
Our Verdict
The Black Crows Camox Freebird is the balanced choice in the touring range and the one we point most first-time touring buyers toward. A 97 mm waist on an 18 m radius starts turns quickly in tight terrain, extra fiberglass under the binding area targets screw retention, and 1,375 g per ski at 173.1 cm keeps the ski honest on a long climb. The six-length run from 155.2 to 185.5 cm is deeper than most touring skis offer, which means the fit is chosen rather than settled for.
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