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Black Crows Captis Birdie Review

A fun and lively ski for a lightweight or intermediate skier, this birdie likes to fly but is not reliable for higher-end skiers in difficult terrain
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Black Crows Captis Birdie Review
Credit: blackcrows
Price:  $700 List
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Manufacturer:   blackcrows
By Renee McCormack ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 6, 2022
31
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#16 of 16
  • Stability at Speed - 20% 2.0
  • Carving Ability - 20% 3.0
  • Powder Performance - 20% 1.0
  • Crud Performance - 20% 2.0
  • Terrain Playfulness - 15% 8.0
  • Bumps - 5% 5.0

Our Verdict

The blackcrows Captis Birdie offers a joyful ride on forgiving snow, but when we took it into powder, crud, or hard pack, it couldn't keep up. This ski has fantastic pop from edge to edge on fresh soft groomers. It is very agile in the bumps and trees, moving quickly from edge to edge across the 90-millimeter base width. But if you filled those trees and bumps in with either fresh powder or crud, the Captis Birdie doesn't perform. If you're an upper intermediate skier or don't have much weight behind you, this ski provides exciting kickback and fast maneuvering skills. Those on the heavier end of the spectrum, or anyone who considers themselves already an advanced all-terrain skier should look elsewhere.
REASONS TO BUY
Impressive rebound and playfulness
Nimble and quick
REASONS TO AVOID
Nose dives under fresh snow
Skis short and soft
Unreliable in trickier conditions
Editor's Note: We updated this review for the blackcrows Captis Birdie on March 6, 2022, to include a hot-take on value and suggestions for other comparable skis.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Women's All-Mountain Ski
 Best Buy Award
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Best Buy Award
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Bottom Line A blast for mellow skiers, but not dependable for more advanced birdsThis ski excels at basically everything, in any terrain, except for making a large-radius turnLively and nimble, but also stable and grippyA blast to ski in fresh snow, mogul fields, and popping around on groomersFor intermediate and advanced skiers looking for something that’s easy on the snow and on the wallet
Rating Categories Black Crows Captis... Blizzard Black Pear... Blizzard Sheeva 9 -... Elan Ripstick 94 W Salomon QST Lumen 98
Stability at Speed (20%)
2.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Carving Ability (20%)
3.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Powder Performance (20%)
1
8.0
7.0
9.5
5.0
Crud Performance (20%)
2.0
7.0
7.0
5.0
4.0
Terrain Playfulness (15%)
8.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Bumps (5%)
5.0
9.0
5.0
8.0
6.0
Specs Black Crows Captis... Blizzard Black Pear... Blizzard Sheeva 9 -... Elan Ripstick 94 W Salomon QST Lumen 98
Length Tested 171 cm 170 cm 174 cm 178 cm 176 cm
Waist Width 90 mm 94 mm 96 mm 94 mm 98 mm
Sidecut (Tip-Waist-Tail Width) 118-90-109 mm 132.5-94-114.5 mm 129-96-118.5 mm 136-94-110 mm 132-98-120 mm
Turn Radius 18 m 15.5 m 16 m 18 m 16 m
Available Lengths 149, 157, 164, 171 cm 152, 158, 164, 170, 176 cm 150, 156, 162, 168, 174 cm 154, 162, 170, 178 cm 152, 160, 168, 176 cm
Camber Profile Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot Rocker tip and tail, cambered inside edge, Amphibio tech Rocker tip and tail, camber underfoot
Manufacturer Claimed Weight per Pair 6.8 lbs 7.4 lbs 7.9 lbs 7.4 lbs 8.2 lbs
Core Material Poplar and fiber TrueBlend All Mountain Woodcore (Beech and Poplar), Titinal W.S.D. Trueblend Free Woodcore; Beech, Poplar and Paulownia Tubelite wood Poplar

Our Analysis and Test Results

Graphics Update


blackcrows rarely updates their skis, but they have updated their graphics going into the 2024-2025 season, including those on the Captis Birdie (right). We've been assured by their team that the ski is otherwise unchanged from the model we review below. We will link to the newest version, however, based on availability.

The blackcrows Captis Birdie has a lot going for it in terms of playfulness, and it provides a responsive ride in tight spaces. However, this ski was a liability when we made it go fast or placed it in challenging conditions such as powder or crud.

Performance Comparison


black crows captis birdie - a shark in a mogul field is not a fish out of water on these black...
A shark in a mogul field is not a fish out of water on these Black Crows; they butter, pivot easily, and flex nicely in the troughs.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Stability at Speed


At first, on soft steep groomers, we were surprised at how the relatively soft Captis Birdie held an edge and didn't chatter. However, after bringing it up to speed, our fears about the ski's flexibility were realized. There is a continuous flap at the tips, as well as a general sense that it was not designed for high speeds. We also noted a feeling of discomfort around its construction; it skis much shorter than its advertised length, and we regularly felt like we were about to go over the handlebars at higher speeds.

black crows captis birdie - as depicted by the extreme bend along the length of the ski in this...
As depicted by the extreme bend along the length of the ski in this shot, the Captis is too soft to provide a stable ride at high speeds.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Carving Ability


The rebound we love about this ski made it feel fun in a carved turn, but only if the snow was consistent and forgiving enough to allow us to build the speed to make it pop. Given the relatively narrow 90-millimeter waist, the Captis Birdie feels fluid and fast when moving from one edge to the other. We agree that the 18-meter turn radius seems accurate, though because the ski is so pliable, we could bend it into a tighter turn if we felt comfortable building the forces to do so (which wasn't often).

black crows captis birdie - the captis can hold an edge and carve even tighter than the 18-meter...
The Captis can hold an edge and carve even tighter than the 18-meter turning radius in easy snow conditions.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Powder Performance


While the Captis Birdie is one of the narrower skis in the range of “all-mountain” with a 90-millimeter waist, we don't believe that fact alone excuses its lack of prowess in this metric. It was understandable that it flounders in heavier snow, but it couldn't stay on track even when we took it out in six inches of blower pow.

black crows captis birdie - we didn't like how the captis performed in even a little bit of...
We didn't like how the Captis performed in even a little bit of fresh snow.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Crud Performance


This ski is simply not adept at handling variable snow conditions. We found ourselves getting bucked around all over the place, even in what should have been manageable chop. It is too soft to plow through and unpredictable in how it reacts to any undulations.

black crows captis birdie - this black crow does not have the power for confident crud skiing.
This Black Crow does not have the power for confident crud skiing.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Terrain Playfulness


In this one metric, in particular, the Captis Birdie captured our hearts. We loved the spring-back it gave us when we pressured and released them; it was more pronounced on this ski than on many in our review. The tricky part was that we needed to be on consistent, forgiving snow to feel confident, building the speed and forces necessary to make this pop happen. The Captis Birdie is super lightweight and is very easy to get airborne, but again we wanted to make sure our landing was going to be very soft and gentle before committing to it on this ski.

black crows captis birdie - the one thing we really loved about the captis was its playful pop.
The one thing we really loved about the Captis was its playful pop.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Bumps


A ski that likes to butter the snow and pivot quickly, the Captis Birdie is an enjoyable and easy ride through the moguls. In this terrain, its ability to change edges quickly, bend easily, and move nimbly allow it to thrive. Once again, however, it could only handle a mogul field with bumps cushioned by soft and predictable snow; anything too deep, hard, or chunky would send us flying in unknown directions.

black crows captis birdie - the soft, bendy, and light characteristics of the captis serve it...
The soft, bendy, and light characteristics of the Captis serve it well in the moguls.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Should You Buy the Captis Birdie?


The Captis Birdie is a fun, playful option for entry-level skiers who want to stay almost entirely on groomed runs. To the benefit of this argument, this ski is affordable compared to the rest of the field. The Captis Birdie is approachable but doesn't offer the versatility we want from an all-mountain ski.

black crows captis birdie - the captis birdie is a comfortable ski with just enough energy to...
The Captis Birdie is a comfortable ski with just enough energy to help you practice popping in and out of turns.
Credit: Scott Rokis

What Other Women's All-Mountain Skis Should You Consider?


Except for its playfulness on groomed and relatively consistent terrain, the Captis Birdie is outpaced in every other metric by nearly every other ski we tested. Intermediate to advanced skiers looking to perfect the art of the turn should steer towards the Volkl Secret 96 or Blizzard Black Pearl 94. All-mountain chargers will be overjoyed powder skiing on the Elan Ripstick 94 W.

black crows captis birdie - the black crows captis birdie might be the right option for folks...
The Black Crows Captis Birdie might be the right option for folks just learning their way around the mountain, but is simply not enough ski for those seeking an all-mountain machine.
Credit: Scott Rokis

Renee McCormack