Black Diamond Helio Recon 105 Alpine Touring Ski 185

The Black Diamond Helio Recon 105 Ski styles the same backcountry-friendly design as the original Helio, except instead of a lighter carbon layup, Black Diamond used triaxial fiberglass for a beefier, stiffer feel. That's not to say it's too heavy for touring; this Recon model maintains a trim seven pound weight that's more than suitable for a long skin up steep mountains. It simply styles the same shape, sidewalls, and vibration-damping technology as the original Helio, except a stiffer flex and a poppier wood core make the Recon a more aggressive choice for laying down turns at faster speeds, and digging into firmer snow a bit better.