The Black Crows Ova Freebird is an 85 mm touring ski, 975 to 1,300 g per ski by length, built to go up all day and come down easy. At $849 it is the lowest-priced ski in Black Crows' six-model Freebird touring line, and its brief is deliberately modest: light enough for long days on the skin track, comfortable and predictable on the descent, rather than a demanding race tool.

The weight comes from a paulownia core laminated with glass and carbon fibers in a semi-cap layup — the tip and tail are capped, a choice Black Crows credits to lightness and handling, while ABS sidewalls sit underfoot along with a titanal reinforcement in the binding area. The published turn radius is 17 m at every length. For 26/27 Black Crows has rebuilt the ski a third time — a new core, a stronger and livelier flex — while keeping the accessible character.

It suits touring-first skiers: long spring days, corn missions, and anyone stepping into lightweight touring gear who wants forgiving manners. The unisex run begins at 156.1 cm — that short end exists to cover smaller and lighter skiers, not to mark a women's model. It is not the ski for deep-powder days, since 85 mm buys skin-track efficiency rather than float; not for steep, icy, high-consequence lines; and not for resort-primary skiing. One honest note: the hands-on coverage available to date is of the previous generation — the revamped 26/27 version has not yet had a full independent test.

Inside the Freebird line, the Orb (91 mm, $899) is the step up in float for $50, and the Navis (104 mm) is the descent-first pick. The Ova Freebird is sold flat, so a touring binding is a separate purchase — we help you choose one, mount it, and set the right length for how you tour.