There's a lot to love about the new version of the Black Crows Orb. It's slightly narrower, at a super-popular 88mm underfoot, making it a tad quicker and edgier. It's got H-shaped metal, which adds power where you need it without making you ski like you've got bricks around your ankles. And, it's dressed in pinstripes, which automatically makes it a winner. Lightweight for such a strong all-mountain ski, the Orb rips through moguls and slices groomers and mixed snow with an energetic, lively feel. Intermediate skiers can handle the Orb as long as they promise to keep their weight in the fronts of their ski boots and attack the hill. Experts, meanwhile, can burn enough hot laps on these skis to make them wonder if the clocks on their iPhones froze. Similar skis: Rossignol Experience 88 Ti, Nordica Enforcer 88, Dynastar Legend 88.
