2023 Black Crows Navis Freebird

The 2023 Black Crows Navis Freebird returns unchanged for this year, much to the delight of fans of the green machine. Hybrid skis are all the rage these days. Most companies have done a good job at either lightening already-established alpine skis or bringing something new to the table. The Navis is mostly the former, with a 102 mm waist and an interesting construction. Built with a blend of paulownia and poplar wood, the skis also get carbon stringers mixed in with the fiberglass laminate. This stiffens the ski, but not to the point that it makes it unwieldy or twitchy. In fact, most everything about this ski is in the rounder and smoother zone rather than grabby. In the 179, the skis produce a turn radius of 19-meters, so it’s right in the sweet spot for skis of this width and application. They also tip the scales at 1700 grams per ski in that length, so while we’re still a bit north of the 1500-gram mark, it’s not like it’s a heavy ski at all. While most skiers will use this as a touring/backcountry option, there’s certainly capabilities for lift-served performance, just not every day or all day.

Ryan Darlow skied the 179 and noted it skis a tad short, but he’d get this size for himself. Lots of high scores from Ryan on the Navis, with 5’s for overall impression, forgiveness, and playfulness. Versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, quickness, maneuverability, stability, and flotation all got 4’s, so that’s a very high baseline average for the Navis from Ryan, who notes that “These skis are awesome chargers for a ski of their weight class. They can handle short and long radius turns at variable speeds. They require some demand from the skier but they put out about as much as you have to give. They are very playful and land well after getting air. All around a great ride.” With scores and feedback like that, it’s pretty easy to see that Navis has gained a fan in Ryan Darlow.

Phil McGrory was on the 185 and found it to be a perfect length for him. He had quite a few high scores to go along with it as well, with his low score being a 3 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability. All other scores were 4’s, with the exception of a couple of 5’s for versatility and overall impression. For a touring ski, this is a pretty nice showing for the capable Navis Freebird, and we’re stoked to hear it. Phil notes about the ski that it’s the “perfect ski for both the resort and backcountry. Light enough for a great uphill performance without sacrificing stability. Quick turning for tight trees or the human slalom on the weekends. Ideal ski for advanced to expert skiers.�� It’s definitely the type of ski that has that distinct number of capabilities to it, and will satisfy a lot of skiers’ needs. For those who are looking for that one ski that is a dual-threat both in and out of bounds, the Black Crows Navis Freebird is a wonderful ski and a fantastic choice, and it sounds like it lines up really well with what Phil is looking for in a ski as well.

In a world with a lot of hybrid options, the Navis separates itself with strong alpine performance to go along with a lighter weight. While not the lightest, nor the most hard-charging, the well-rounded nature and the round shovel shape make this ski an excellent performer in a variety of snow conditions and terrain. Thanks to the construction and the energy from the carbon and fiberglass, Navis Freebird is the way to go for a whole lot of backcountry enthusiasts.