Black Crows Justis Review

Black Crows introduced the all-new Justis for the 2021-2022 ski season. The 100-millimeter waist and a 20-meter turn radius set the expectations right away. This ski is a big line charger with a high-speed preference. The Justis is ready for any wild ride, supported with double titanal plates and weighing 9 pounds per pair. Even with all the burliness, we found that Black Crows had delivered on its promises, albeit we were breathing hard after each run.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

The Black Crows Justis is one of the most stable skis at speed in our review despite its wider waist width. Looks aren't everything, and the Justis proved to our crew again and again that big boys can go fast too. Black Crows adjusts the titanal plates in the Justis in the shape of the letter "H." Coupled with their blend of classic camber, the Justis is a carefully crafted heavyweight made for big terrain and wide-open bowls.

Carving Ability

For a true carving experience, 100 millimeters underfoot is a bit wide. That's not to say the Black Crows Justis can't hang with some of the top performers in this metric. We were pleasantly surprised with the edge grip and stiff but progressive flex offered by the Justis. However, this ski does fall short of the more nimble competition when making shorter turns.

The Justis is best suited to making sweeping longer turns with the double titanal plates and a heavy platform in general. When we had the run to ourselves, the 20-meter turn radius shined through. Just remember to turn it off well before the slow signs.

Powder Performance

With more of a soft snow preference in general, the Black Crows Justis earned respectable marks for powder performance. Even when considering the rest of its heavy body, we found the tip rocker helped to provide effective and superior floatation. Other models in this review with double titanal plate construction are not on the same level.

Crud Performance

Just getting this ski up to the slopes from the parking lot takes a feat of strength. But once it's on the slopes, this beast is designed to steer right into the chop. Confidently plow through everything from avalanche debris to wind crust. It takes a bit of sweat to drive the Justis, but when it comes to crushing through nasty conditions, we don't want another pair of skis on our feet. Walking is harder than skiing anyways, right?

Terrain Playfulness

The playful metric is the lowest scoring for the Justis. The truth is that tight terrain and moguls can be extra hard work with these monsters on your feet. With a huge emphasis on big and burly, this ski will blast off into the atmosphere without concern if you are still attached.

Should You Buy the Justis?

For the right skier – big, burly, and experienced – the Black Crows Justis may help you unlock your potential as a big-mountain skier. The power required to pilot this ski is not for the faint of heart and probably inappropriate for novice skiers. Although it checks in after our testing period as one of the best all-mountain skis in our review, it is also one of the most expensive.

What Other All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider?

The Black Crows Justis is a demanding ski, clearly built for the most aggressive big-mountain athletes. If that doesn't sound like you, consider the Volkl M6 Mantra, an all-mountain ski that is still muscular but significantly more forgiving. A 20-meter turn radius can be tough to manage, and if you're not into straight-lining, then a more nimble ski like the Nordica Enforcer 94 or Blizzard Rustler 10 is more appropriate. Additionally, we would never describe the hard-charging Justis as "playful" – for those looking to bop through bumps or lap the park, the Faction Dictator 2.0 or K2 Mindbender 90 Ti will be much more fun.