Can a Ski This Light Still Handle the Big Stuff? Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 Skis Review

With a fresh foot of snow blanketing Teton Pass, I clicked into the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 Skis ($850) just as the first hints of dawn lit the ridgeline. The air was sharp and still, broken only by the sound of skins sliding over new snow. Light as they felt underfoot, I wondered if these featherweight sticks could stay composed once I dropped into the powder-filled trees below.

Over the next couple of years, from sunrise laps above Jackson to spring mountaineering missions in Colorado’s Sawatch Range, I learned the Helio 88 isn’t just a lightweight touring tool; it’s also a ski that punches far above its waist width.

In short: Whether I’m cranking out a fast dawn patrol lap or heading out for a technical all-day kicker, the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 is a reliable, versatile, and surprisingly fun backcountry partner. It’s among the lightest skis I’ve tested, so of course, it climbs with ease. What’s surprising and delightful is how it holds its own on everything from icy steeps to tight trees and even modest powder days. It’s one of the lightest skis I tested, making the climb effortless. What impressed me most was how confidently it handled the descent — from icy steeps to tight trees and even modest powder days.

Compare the BD Helio Carbon 88s to others I’ve tested in GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backcountry Skis.

Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88: Overall Impressions

After a year of testing, the Helio Carbon 88 stood out for its weight savings and downhill capability balance. Many skis in this category feel twitchy or unforgiving, but these struck a rare, sweet spot: featherlight on the way up, yet damp and precise on the way down. They inspired confidence in tricky snow, whether threading tight trees or picking through refrozen crud high in the alpine. 

While not for bottomless storm days, they impressed me with how much snow they could handle despite being relatively skinny. Overall, the Helio 88 felt like a ski encouraging big days in the mountains without sapping your energy.

Uphill Performance & Weight

At just 88 mm underfoot, the Helio Carbon 88 is one of the lightest options in Black Diamond’s line, and it shows. On countless sunrise laps up Snow King’s notorious incline, I felt the efficiency difference immediately compared to beefier boards in my quiver.

They glide uphill quickly, saving energy on long days and making steep skin tracks less of a grind. A thoughtful tail bumper keeps skins centered and secure, a small but welcome feature on frosty mornings when gear hiccups can be costly.

Downhill Performance

Light skis often sacrifice confidence on the descent, but the Helio Carbon 88 proved otherwise. Its stiff construction, short turning radius, and carbon fiber layup provide excellent edge hold and vibration damping.

These skis cut through steep, icy groomers and sketchy spring corn. They respond quickly in tight trees and variable bumps, encouraging jump turns and quick maneuvers.

While 88 mm isn’t ideal for deep powder, the early rise tips offered surprising float on Teton Pass refreshes up to 16 inches, with some strategic leaning back. If there is any more snow than that, I need wider boards. 

Versatility

Over more than 30 tours in Wyoming and Colorado, the Helio 88s handled nearly everything we threw at them. They aren’t pow-day boards, but they delivered dependable performance in mixed conditions, including corn, crud, windboard, and chalky steeps.

They’re also confidence-inspiring on technical lines where precision matters more than width. This is a versatile workhorse for skiers who need one ski to cover long-distance tours, dawn patrol laps, and spring mountaineering.

Stability at Speed

The Helio 88 is stable enough for backcountry objectives but shows its limits when pushed to resort-level speeds. Chatter on icy groomers at Mach speed creeps in more than on heavier skis. That said, stability at “normal” touring speeds is excellent. In true backcountry terrain, conditions and speed demands differ, yet these skis felt reliable, damp, and never twitchy.

Room for Improvement

The most obvious gap is deep snow. For storm-chasing powder hounds, something wider like the Atomic Bent Chetler 120 or Black Diamond’s Helio Carbon 105/115 will be a better fit. Chatter on hardpack is also worth noting if you plan to ski these mostly inbounds.

Beyond that, there’s little to no fault. For lightweight and fast backcountry travel, the Helio Carbon 88s outperform nearly all others I’ve tested in this category.

Conclusion: Who Are the BD Helio Carbon 88 Skis For? 

The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88 is for skiers who prioritize efficiency on the skin track but don’t want to sacrifice downhill confidence. It’s ideal for extended tours, high-alpine adventures, spring mountaineering objectives, and anyone chasing fitness laps before work.

Look elsewhere if you’re looking for a one-ski quiver for deep resort powder. But if your focus is light-and-fast missions in the backcountry, this ski delivers a near-perfect balance of uphill ease and downhill control.