Black Diamond Helio 88 Ski
As the lightest and skinniest member of the Helio family, the 88 is the fastest to the top and the quickest to turn. It’s the ideal choice for long-distance or high-altitude winter tours, plus spring mountaineering season. It shares the Sidewall Dampening System of the other Helio skis which is what makes them feel like a beefier ski. The full length ABS sidewalls improve the impact resistance and offer and secure edge hold. Those are important features when you’re high on a mountain with just one way down. The Helio 88 skis are versatile, easy-to-handle, and just plain fun.
- Rubber integrated into the sidewall behind the heel reduces vibration on hard snow.
- Balsa flax wood core is wrapped by carbon-fiber to make a reliable ski with a balanced flex.
- Beveled 5mm ABS sidewalls help with edge hold and add some rock impact resistance.
- Binding area is reinforced with Titanal sheets that will make pull-out a near impossibility.
- Rockered tip and medium sidecut make for a good all-round ski that won’t get hung up.
Update 2018/19: Along with a graphics update the ski had its layup tweaked for a bit more dampening. Weight went up 2-3 ounces per ski.
Specifications | |
Lengths (cm) | 158, 168, 178 |
Weight |
1235g [158] 1320g [168] 1440g [178] |
Weight (pair) | 2470g [158] 2640g [168] 2880g [178] |
Dimensions
|
119-88-110 [158] 121-88-111 [168] 123-88-112 [178] |
Turn Radius
|
17m [158] 18m [168] 19m [178] |
Skin Fix
|
Round tip, reinforced flat-notch tail |
Specs Verified | Yes |
Design | |
Profile
|
240-270mm rockered tip, traditional camber w/ 129-143mm "Semi Rocker" tail |
Shape
|
Rounded tip, medium radius, flat tail |
Construction
|
Flat sandwich with pre-preg carbon layup |
Core
|
Balsa flax wood core |
Skimo Co Says | |
Usage | Long distance touring |
Notes | Full sidewall construction has great edge hold |
Bottom Line | All around mountaineering ski for high altitude adventures |
Compare to other Mid-fat Skis |
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Questions & Reviews
Other skis:
-Helio 95 Carbon 183cm. Been driving them with the Scarpa F1, feel the boot gets overpowered before I can really flex the ski. Going to remount the Superlite 2.0s I have with the new Dalbello Lupo Air 130 and think it'll be great.
-Blizzard Brahma 88 180cm. Resort ski, feel at home on it.
Thanks for an opinion!
I am getting a BD helio 85 158cm for skimo. (I am 115lb and 5'3) What binding do you recommend? I am thinking about the dynafit speed turn because of its lightness, but I am also somewhat concerned about the degraded downhill performance?
I am living in Northern New England and am about 5'11" 170 pounds. I am a splitboarder who has made a hardboot transition for my splitting, and is now looking to get back on skis for fitness before the lifts run, traverses, approaches to climbs (especially in the presidentials), and some other two plank fun. My boots are the arcteryx procline (noncarbon). yes I snowboard in them too!
I have narrowed my choices of ski down to the Voile Objective, the BD Helio 88, the Blizzard Zero G 85, and the Dynafit 7 Summits. My question is not just which ski, but how long? I will not be the most graceful skier, and most likely not maching down the mountain on these things. And also, any recommendations for which ski to go for? I have an old pair of speed radical toes that I will be using.
Thanks,
- the one planker.
I am 5'6, 150 lbs and a intermediate+ skier with many years of touring. I think the 163's might be a little short for me, so maybe that solves it and I should buy the 88s.?
Thanks for any thoughts!
and heavier powder. I don't weigh much (120lbs) so I thought I could get away with a skinnier ski that would still be able to
perform in crud and heavier west coast snow. What do you guys reckon?
Thanks in advance,
Frederique
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