3.5 stars. My fourth pair of skis. I’ve used a Dynafit Cho, BD Helio 88 and 105 and Movement 100s.
This might have been my least favorite ski of the bunch. A lot of this has to do with my preference as a skier.
I started out in shorter 174 cm skis and jumped to 185 with these. The length of these was noticeable. It def did not ski short. A lot has to do with preference here, I like skis that maneuver well, can make better kick turns, lighter, etc. And I didn't find that with these. My other problem is I had these paired with Scarpa F1s. I think this is def the max end I can pair this ski with that boot.
These skis really excelled in the powder though. On deep days (12'' plus) you can feel the bounce as it snaps back. Really loved that.
This is the most popular ski amongst my friends who have been skiing for 15 years in the Wasatch so take that for what it's worth.
Black Diamond Helio 105 Ski
The 105 is the not the slimmest ski in the Helio lineup. With the ample waist, it’s obviously more of a powder hound than the 88 and 95. That said, the ski has the same construction and dampening system found on the other skis in the line that make hard snow not just bearable but fun. The Helio 105 is a good option for a one-ski quiver for folks that hunt for powder on their daily adventures. It’s also good for ski mountaineers that like to ski fast and aggressively down variable conditions, and prefer the extra float and rocker provided by a bigger platform. The ski can handle what you throw at it, while not being too heavy on the approach. A solid ski for solid lines.
- Balsa flax wood core is laminated with carbon-fiber for good torsional stiffness and stability.
- Sidewall Dampening System has integrated rubber behind the heel for hard snow performance.
- Rockered tip and tail and a generous waist let you float in powder and stay above the chop.
- 5mm ABS sidewalls offer good rock impact protection and improve edge hold on the steeps.
- Titanal binding reinforcement plates are the latest in lightweight mounting security.
Update 2018/19: Along with a graphics update the ski had its layup tweaked for a bit more dampening. Weight went up a couple ounces per ski (weights listed on Specs tab).
| Specifications | |
| Lengths (cm) | 165, 175, 185 |
|
Weight |
1405g [165] 1495g [175] 1600g [185] |
| Weight (pair) | 2810g [165] 2990g [175] 3200g [185] |
|
|
131-105-118 [165] 132-105-119 [175] 134-105-119 [185] |
|
Turn |
20m [165] 21m [175] 22m [185] |
|
Skin |
Round tip, reinforced flat-notch tail |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
312-350mm rockered tip, traditional camber w/ 232-260mm "Semi Rocker" tail |
|
|
Rounded tip, medium radius, flat tail |
|
|
Flat sandwich with pre-preg carbon layup |
|
|
Balsa flax wood core |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Lightweight powder laps, aggressive ski mountaineering |
| Notes | ABS tail protector is a nice touch |
| Bottom Line | Soft snow charger with technical precision |
| Compare to other High-fat Skis | |
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Questions & Reviews
Comment on this review:
12/10/2019
Hello,
What does the marked "BC" mean on these skis? Is it "Board Center" or the recommended mounting point?
Thanks!
What does the marked "BC" mean on these skis? Is it "Board Center" or the recommended mounting point?
Thanks!
12/10/2019
Fair schussing to you, GlidingJerry! The initials stand for "boot center," which is the recommended mount point. Black Diamond also provides a handy +1cm and +2cm mark in case you wish to move the mount point forward.
Answer this question:
I have owned a few pairs of the Helio 105 through it's various renditions. The current model is a few ounces heavier/pair but is noticeably more durable and skis a bit better (more damp). For anyone considering a "Quiver of One" or looking for a really fun powder ski - the Helio 105 is worth a strong consideration. My take home points on the currently BD Helio series is: fun, lots of fun! and just an easy predictable ski.
Comment on this review:
9/6/2018
I have a question on sizing... I'm 5'11" and 185 lb without gear. I think that puts me on the 185, but I am concerned about the length and was leaning towards the 175. Some of my current skis include G3 synapse 92's at 180 cm and G3 district 112's at 179 cm. I have never wanted more length on either of those. My length concern is for kick turns, tight couloirs and tight trees. I don't spend time time charging wide open spaces. Thanks for any info!
9/6/2018
Hey Andy! Based on those last sentences about your skiing style, the 175 seems to make way more sense to me.
Answer this question:
5/17/2018
I am skiing a G3 C105 Zen Oxide 191 cm, loving the carbon lightness but looking to shorten.
At 6'2" 200lbs with clothing and gear, I would like to hear a comparison (if possible) with Helio 105 at 185cm and the 95 at 183cm. I prefer light and stiff in all conditions.
Thanks,
At 6'2" 200lbs with clothing and gear, I would like to hear a comparison (if possible) with Helio 105 at 185cm and the 95 at 183cm. I prefer light and stiff in all conditions.
Thanks,
5/17/2018
Hey Scott! Nice! They're fairly similar in terms of performance/flex/behavior characteristics but there's the obvious difference of width here and because of that, they're both tuned to succeed in slightly different snow conditions. The 95 has a tighter turn radius which lends itself to relentless edge hold in steep terrain, easier carving on hard snow, but potentially a lower top end speed (not the ski to straightline something). The 105 at the same given length has a pretty drastically different turn shape which is straighter (faster?) but the extra width coupled with the straighter turn shape requires a bit more oomph to get it to carve tight turns on hard snow, whereas the 95 will do that effortlessly. Not the best steep ski but it'll get it done. I wouldn't necessarily call the Helio series of skis stiff though, for what that's worth. They seem to be on the stiffer side of average, but not by a whole lot. They're fairly forgiving skis with a definite soft snow bias.
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3/30/2018
Jbo, what is the camber contact length on the 185CM Size
3/30/2018
Hi Tony, it's about 129cm.
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