Black Diamond showed off tons of new and exciting gear at the 2010 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, and the buzz around the Salt Palace floor was the company’s new lineup of backcountry skis and boots called the Efficient Series. In Fall of 2010, four new boots and six new skis will join the already impressive gear on Black Diamond’s roster. First, let’s take a look at those pretty skis.
These babies caught my eye first off. Behold, the Drift. The fattest ski in the Efficient Series, they are 100mm underfoot with a soft-flexing, early-rise tip to give lots of flotation in the powder. I think they would look great on my ski rack too.
Next up is the Aspect. These guys are a bit thinner than the Drift at 90mm underfoot. They’re made to be a good, lightweight touring ski that still has enough beef to float in soft snow and also carve hardpack and crud.
The Stigma skis are the next level down from the Drift and Aspect, and are a true touring ski that is lightweight, but stable both in the up and the down. They are 80mm underfoot, which is great for technical areas like steep couloirs.
The Black Diamond Guru skis are the lightest ski the company makes. It’s only 75mm underfoot, which means it is nimble and quick and might make any backcountry skier feel ready to tackle aski-tour race like the Wasatch Powderkeg.
In the women-specific category, there is the Starlet and Syncra skis. The Starlet, shown above, is wide (100mm underfoot), has a soft flex, and rides high in the powder.
The Syncra ski is a smaller women’s ski from Black Diamond and is comparable to the men’s Stigma. It’s 80mm underfoot and works well as a lightweight touring ski and downhill performer.
Along with the new line of Efficient Series of skis, Black Diamond is also releasing new touring boots in the fall of 2010. There are four redesigned boots to look forward to, including the Quadrant, Prime, Slant, and women’s Swift. Black Diamond says they are “all about the down,” so they’ve made their new boots with that mantra in mind. Lightweight yet stiff, efficient yet technical, the Efficient boots are ready to prove themselves as the end-all in backcountry ski boots. Check out the pictures below to get a good look at them.
The Black Diamond Quadrant boots are the premier boot in the lineup. Stiff and powerful, they are perfect for skiing wide powder skis.
Black Diamond Prime boots are their lightest touring boots. Great for touring, mountaineering and of course, skiing.
The Slants are the most affordable boot from Black Diamond. They are comfortable and provide great range of motion.
Women get their own boot with the Swift. Like the new men’s boot, the Swift is light, fast, and focuses on performance.
All of these Efficient Series products will be available to the public when they are stocked on store shelves in fall of 2010.
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