2026 Black Crows Sato

Fun, lively, and easy to ski, the all-new Black Crows Sato is sure to be a crowd pleaser. While there are a handful of great 88mm underfoot skis on the market, the Sato separates itself with a nice mix of simple performance and consistent energy. Some skis in this range are just too soft, while others are quite demanding. Sato splits the difference, bringing excellent pop and grip to the mix in a high-quality feel. While it’s mainly a ski that’ll excel in the intermediate and advanced realm, experts and other skilled skiers will appreciate its traditional feel and well-rounded application. Thanks to Black Crows’ insistence on individuality and uniqueness, there aren’t many skis that can match Sato’s overall snow feel and zippy character

Speaking to construction, the Sato doesn’t bring a revolution to the table, it’s simply built with poplar and fiberglass. The semi-cap build with full sidewalls all around create consistency and coherence to the mix while the glass energizes the ski and provides proper feedback. It’s not too stiff, but it is supportive. It’s stiffer than some other skis in this range like the Elan Ripstick 88, but not as burly as a Mantra 88. Somewhere in the middle is where the Sato loves to live. It’s got a bit of heft to it, though, with the weight of the ski hitting 1925 grams. Tester Christian Strong notes that “This ski was very playful in short turns and has good flex and snap back. It held up well at higher speeds on frozen groomed conditions. Quick from side to side and carves were super fun!”

At 88 mm underfoot, the skis become extremely versatile and well-rounded overall, mainly because they’re quick enough to be used in a variety of conditions and terrain with ease. They’re just not difficult to ski, so if you encounter adversity, you can at least use the higher mobility of the ski to get you through tough spots. With a wonderful mid-range radius of 18-meters, these skis are poised and ready to take your skiing to the next level. There’s not a ton of taper or rocker to discuss here, as the skis follow more of a traditional format with classic shapes and stylings. There’s some tail rocker and a bit of tip rocker to go along with a rounded tip shape. Basically, this thing looks and feels a lot like a non-twin tip version of a Black Crows Captis.

We’re stoked on the new Sato for 2026. With a huge range of skier ability and type at its disposal, this ski has something to offer a whole lot of skiers. It’s great in the bumps, fun in the trees, peppy on the groomers, and smooth and stable on firmer snow. While it may not have the higher-performance ceiling of the metal-clad Serpo, Sato brings more available performance to the masses.