Returning for 2025, the Black Crows Justis with Salomon Strive 14 GW Bindings epitomizes the versatile all-mountain chargeing setup, adept at carving trenches on-trail and slicing through soft snow. Exceptionally powerful, precise, and damp, the Justis excels in nearly any condition with a level of smoothness that's hard to match in the ~100 mm underfoot category. Its intuitive performance shines through with dynamic edge angles, offering increased stability and a versatile turn radius, while the ample tail rocker ensures effortless powder skiing and agility. We paired the Justis with the Strive 14 because of this binding’s well known reputation for safety, reliability, and ease of use. Featuring an LDN toe piece that optimizes contact and response, these bindings integrate seamlessly with boots and skis, allowing for a natural flex and balanced stance, making them the perfect choice to pair with this ski.

Why we like it:

The Justis delivers immense power and precision without sacrificing maneuverability or playfulness. Unlike many skis with similar stiffness and power, the Justis maintains a high degree of flickability and responsiveness.

Who it's for:

Advanced to expert skiers who tackle the mountain aggressively and seek a ski that combines top-tier carving performance with superior soft snow capabilities.

Highlights:

Featuring a robust poplar woodcore reinforced with fiberglass laminates, the Justis provides a stable and smooth ride. The core’s thickness underfoot enhances stability, energy, and pop. Double H-Shape titanal laminates and an aluminum tail insert offer excellent vibration damping and torsional stiffness for maximum edge grip. Its rocker profile and sidecut are designed so that higher edge angles yield a tighter turn radius and extended effective edge, resulting in an exceptionally intuitive and smooth turn initiation and release. The Strive 14 GW, with its lightweight build and low-profile chassis, delivers a smooth and responsive ride all day long. It remains nimble in deep snow and light on your feet as the day progresses. The LDN Toe Pieces offer a low stand height, optimizing power transfer and improving the connection to your skis. The Automatic Toe Adaption feature effortlessly adjusts to GripWalk boots without the need for manual adjustments. Additionally, the Snow Scrapers on the toe pieces effectively remove snow and ice, ensuring a secure fit that enhances both safety and performance for direct power transmission

Things to consider:

The Justis is relatively heavy and demands significant skier input to fully engage. Its short effective edge at lower angles may not be ideal for boilerplate conditions. Additionally, the lack of tip taper can cause some grabiness in very deep snow.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis are true to size. Given their stiffness and power, sizing down slightly can enhance off-piste maneuverability without significantly affecting carving performance.