Review: Black Crows Camox Skis · 2023
By Ski Expert
Luke H.
Black Crows Camox Skis · 2023
$479.97
$799.95
40% off
4 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The 2023 Black Crows Camox is an all-mountain ski suitable for intermediates to expert skiers. The ski has a mid-fat 97mm waist with a double rocker design, providing adequate float for powder days while ensuring a good grip on groomers. Despite not being a dedicated powder or speed ski, it can carve and handle speed. It is quite playful due to its forgiving flex and lightweight poplar and carbon construction. It is versatile, easy to turn, durable, and fun to ski on varied terrains. Although its topsheet durability is questionable, it offers good value for money regarding versatility and approachability.
Ideal for
- Fun and playful ski
- Goldilocks flex pattern: not too stiff or soft
- With its twin-tip design and 97mm waist, can hit the whole mountain and park
Not ideal for
- With no metal in the construction, can chatter at very high speeds
- Can carve fine at medium speeds, but can't be pushed aggressively
- A bit too stiff to be a true freestyle ski
Flotation
I found some leftover powder stashes from the most recent storm when testing the Camox, and the ski can manage its own in powder. The 97mm waist is a great...Read more
Carving
I found the Camox to be a very decent carver: the rocker in the tip and the freestyle rocker allowed me to get the ski up on edge easily. On...Read more
High Speed Stability
The Camox can handle low and medium speeds competently, but at very high speeds, say GS size turns or higher, the ski lacks the gravitas of a heavier, stiffer ski....Read more
Playfulness
Black Crows built the Camox to be a freestyle-inspired all-mountain ski, and they absolutely nailed it. The ski has a poppy and lively nature. It has incredible suspension underfoot, whether...Read more
Durability
It's hard to gauge the long-term durability of a ski without putting it through its proper paces for the length of a season, so we also have to rely on...Read more
Turn Ease
The Black Crows Camox is one of the most versatile and skier-friendly skis I have ever been able to ride. The Camox combines a poplar wood core with fiberglass and...Read more
Versatility
The Camox is a versatile ski; the 97mm waist makes it a mid-fat ski, capable of gripping on groomers and floating on powder days. The more forgiving flex makes it...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Black Crows Camox Skis
Luke H. I've had doubts about Black Crows skis in the past; they are relatively new on the scene, and I've had bad experiences with smaller ski brands. But the Black Crows Camox is one of the most fun skis I tested this winter. The Camox has no metal, sporting a wood core with a carbon layer, so the Camox is no heavy, damp speed demon; instead, the Camox has a very user-friendly flex that makes the ski confident but also poppy and lively. The ski felt great underfoot as if I had added suspension as I transitioned from groomed runs to more variable off-piste conditions, and though there are better options for a pure on-piste ski, the Camox held a strong edge grip and carved adequately. The Camox was super fun in more varied terrain, where I could go fast if desired. Still, I could change direction quickly due to the forgiving flex and twin-tip design. And I am not very good at throwing tricks on skis, but I found myself hitting small jumps and landing switch just because it was so dang fun! The Camox is definitely a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, and I loved them for it. They are a great all-mountain option for both ambitious intermediates and even advanced and expert skiers.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2023 |
| Ski type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Flotation
4/5
Luke H. gave 4 of 5 stars. I found some leftover powder stashes from the most recent storm when testing the Camox, and the ski can manage its own in powder. The 97mm waist is a great compromise. It's narrow enough that the ski still gets a good edge grip on groomers but can still keep someone from sinking on the occasional powder day, which is awesome. There are much better options if I want a dedicated powder ski, but they tend to sacrifice all-mountain capability. The Camox, though, can still be both, and the rockered tip and tail allow the ski to still be surfy and fun in soft snow.
Carving
3/5
Luke H. gave 3 of 5 stars. I found the Camox to be a very decent carver: the rocker in the tip and the freestyle rocker allowed me to get the ski up on edge easily. On top of that, the more forgiving flex of the ski made it very easy to get the ski to arc fluidly through a turn. So the Camox is a very competent carving ski for medium-radius turns. But with the softer flex, I could not drive power aggressively through the front of the ski; if I tried to do so, the front of the ski simply collapsed underneath me. So it can carve "fine," but carving is not the Camox's ideal application.
High Speed Stability
3/5
Luke H. gave 3 of 5 stars. The Camox can handle low and medium speeds competently, but at very high speeds, say GS size turns or higher, the ski lacks the gravitas of a heavier, stiffer ski. The combination of poplar and carbon makes the ski very poppy. Still, that same construction that makes the Camox so fun is a bit of a liability at very high speeds, where the ski doesn't track as well and feels a bit squirrelly underfoot. That being said, for being a more playful and lighter ski, the Camox holds more stability at higher speeds than other similar skis, like the Volkl Revolt or the K2 Reckoner. But if speed is one's ultimate priority, there are better options than the Camox.
Playfulness
5/5
Luke H. gave 5 of 5 stars. Black Crows built the Camox to be a freestyle-inspired all-mountain ski, and they absolutely nailed it. The ski has a poppy and lively nature. It has incredible suspension underfoot, whether I was carving turns on groomers or beating through moguls and trees. Unlike stiffer skis, which can feel a bit punishing off-piste, the Camox easily absorbed all the hits I took. I was able to change direction on the Camox easily. I even found myself throwing some 360s and 180s, something I hardly do, but it was simply too much fun not to do on the Camox. This is definitely a fun first, business second type of ski, and I was very happy with how this ski felt all over the mountain.
Durability
3/5
Luke H. gave 3 of 5 stars. It's hard to gauge the long-term durability of a ski without putting it through its proper paces for the length of a season, so we also have to rely on reports and reputations. At first look, the Camox seems solidly built. Poplar, used for the wood core, is a common and durable wood, and Black Crows back that up with a layer of carbon, which adds even more strength to the ski. Unfortunately, Black Crows have developed a reputation for cracked fiberglass topsheets and not always honoring the warranty, so that is something to keep in mind.
Turn Ease
5/5
Luke H. gave 5 of 5 stars. The Black Crows Camox is one of the most versatile and skier-friendly skis I have ever been able to ride. The Camox combines a poplar wood core with fiberglass and carbon to produce one of the most consistent, friendly flex patterns I have ever experienced in a ski, and it made the Camox a joy to turn. The rocker in the tip of the ski made it easy to initiate a turn. Still, the camber underfoot and progressive flex throughout the ski allowed me to arc the ski fluidly and effortlessly. The Camox is not a damp, stiff ski like other all-mountain options; it is made approachable and fun and shows that in every turn.
Versatility
5/5
Luke H. gave 5 of 5 stars. The Camox is a versatile ski; the 97mm waist makes it a mid-fat ski, capable of gripping on groomers and floating on powder days. The more forgiving flex makes it poppy and playful for trees, moguls, and off-piste skiing. And combined with a partial twin tip, this ski can easily do double duty in the park as well. I loved how this ski felt all over the mountain. Though it did lack in certain areas compared to more dedicated skis, it was much more fun in numerous environments than many other skis I tested. The Camox may not be a master of any single part of the mountain, but that's why it shines all over the mountain instead.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Luke H. My favorite moment with the Black Crows Camox was dipping into trees and moguls with these skis. A lot of mid-fat skis, between 90-100mm underfoot, can be great for groomers, but they feel a bit punishing when getting into more varied terrain. The Camox operates very differently, and they were incredibly fun when blasting through trees and making tight turns through moguls. Due to the ski's forgiving flex pattern, the Camox felt very lively underfoot, and it was so easy and fun to change directions quickly and get the skis up for some hang time. After a morning spent testing heavier, stiffer skis that were great for groomers but a bit too serious for everything else, the Camox skis reminded me that skiing is supposed to be fun.
Why did you choose this product?
Luke H. I was very eager to test the Black Crows Camox because 1) Black Crows has simply blown up in popularity across the ski industry, and people rave about their skis, so I've been very interested in how their flagship all-mountain ski performed and lived up to the hype, and 2) I had purchased a pair of Black Crows touring-specific skis the winter before, and I absolutely detested them. In fact, I sold them second-hand after only owning them for two weeks; that's how much I did not like them. So before I simply wrote off the entire Black Crows brand, I wanted to test some of their other skis to see how they did.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Luke H. Black Crows tend to be more expensive, and I think part of that is paying for the brand. Some skiers like to support the more boutique ski manufacturers, and Black Crows fit that bill. The company is relatively new—not even having been around for 20 years—and was founded by two pro skiers. Black Crows has developed a quickly growing corps of rabid fans, and I can easily see why after skiing on the Camox. Their skis are fun. And I also think the Camox is a much better all-mountain option than similar skis, such as the Volkl Revolt or the Rossignol BlackOps 98. So if someone is set on a Black Crows ski, I think the Camox is certainly worth the price because of its versatility and fun character. However, if they are interested in a very similar ski at a more approachable price, the Nordica Unleashed 98 is also a great option.
What do you love about this product?
Luke H. What I love most about the Camox is its versatility and its approachability. It is a very fun ski that doesn't take skiing too seriously, so I think there is a vast range of skiers who would have a really good time on this ski. From intermediates to experts, the Camox is an all-mountain ski with a sense of humor, making it easy to recommend to many different skiers. The Camox is well-built to bring versatile, all-mountain skiing to a much larger audience than other skis allow.
Share article:
