Head Crux 93 Pro Review

With a visible full-carbon sheet, the Head Crux 93 Pro is, at first glance, a throwback to the lightweight ski efforts of the early 2000s. However, once all that carbon is underfoot and out of sight, this ski performs much better than you would expect based on appearances alone. We wouldn't call the Crux 93 Pro damp, but it's a far cry from the loud, rattling carbon skis of a decade ago. It is indeed very lightweight and has a touch of a traditional turn radius – the 19-meter sidecut is shorter than many contemporaries, and certainly shorter than what many consider to be a modern, all-around backcountry ski.

Performance Comparison

Weight

We tested the Crux 93 Pro in 177 cm, which, interestingly, we measured at 175 cm. (Our experience backs this up, as our test team agreed that these “skied a little short”.) On our calibrated scale, this ski weighed 1212 grams per ski – that's 2423 grams, or 5.3 pounds for the pair. Circa 1200-gram skis feel super light on the uphill and, with a little adjustment in technique and expectations, don't hold you back on the downhill. And a ski this lightweight will help maximize your efficiency while touring and ski mountaineering.

By multiplying weight against the average tip, waist, tail, and length measurements of each ski, we arrive at weight-per-surface area. This approach helps us correct for testing skis of different sizes, allowing us to compare the weights of every ski in our lineup.

Sometimes, the initially appealing raw weight of a relatively narrow ski dims a bit when we correct for surface area – not so with the Crux 93 Pro. Based on our calculations, this only makes this ski more appealing. Only a few other skis we tested even come close to these numbers, and those skis are either more specialized or ski much worse than the Crux 93 Pro.

Firm Snow

The Head Crux 93 Pro is optimized for firm snow skiing, with an edge grip that's powerful and even. Chatter is minimal on hard and icy snow, and this ski engages every turn with confidence. You may be looking at these skis as part of a quiver to complement a pair of powder skis, or you may wait until the spring, when conditions are firm, and these will be your only backcountry skis. Whichever the case, when you encounter firmer snow, you'll be ready to meet the moment with the Crux 93 Pro underfoot.

We all carry biases, and our gear habits can exaggerate them – if you seek out soft snow most often, you then match your gear to that type of snow. Hopping on these skis was enlightening for some of the ski guides on our test team, who seek out soft snow daily as part of their job. One tester with a depth of experience in the Tetons, mainly on soft snow and wide skis, was pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed the Crux 93 Pro on an icy, smooth descent of Mount Saint John in May. When properly equipped, skiing ice, windboard, and corn snow is very fun. The Crux 93 Pro changed one skier's perspective, and it might just change yours, too.

Powder

Our lead tester asserts that it's better to ski powder on skis optimized for firm conditions than it is to ski firm snow on powder skis. This is a controversial take that our test team regularly debates. One faction says that powder skiing is always fun – gear doesn't matter. Another faction argues the subtle, but oh-so important difference that powder skiing is so easy that gear doesn't matter.

What we didn't debate is that everyone had fun skiing powder on the Crux 93 Pro. At only 93 mm underfoot, you won't go as fast as you might on powder skis. And with a listed turn radius of only 19 m, your turns will be tighter and necessarily bouncier to keep this ski afloat. With these slight adjustments to our technique, we only have good things to say about the Crux 93 Pro in good powder snow.

Crud and Poor Snow

Hopefully, we've dispelled some of the concern that choosing this relatively narrow ski compromises performance in powder snow. What perhaps isn't as widely considered is that the performance of narrower, lighter skis suffers even more in crud than their wider, heavier counterparts. Whether the snow is chunky, breakable, or sloppy, skiing crud on the Crux 93 Pro demands close attention.

Considering the full spectrum of skis we tested, the performance of the Crux 93 Pro in poor snow conditions is average. But when you consider their performance for their weight, these skis do pretty well in crud. You may need to regress to 'survival skiing' techniques earlier, but no other ski in our lineup that scored similarly in this metric weighs as little as the Crux 93 Pro.

Stability at Speed

In steep terrain, our brains tend to muddle stability and edge hold, and that perceptual trick was especially true on this ski. Regardless of the snow conditions, the snappy reaction and even grip of the Crux 93 Pro were so confidence-inspiring that our testers always felt stable. When we try to correct our perception in hindsight, our team agrees that this ski is a bit more wobbly than other 'downhill-optimized' skis we tested. But that difference is slight, and we're confident that you'll feel equally comfortable in steep terrain on the Crux 93 Pro.

In less steep terrain – like spring corn skiing on volcanoes, for instance – the Crux 93 Pro responded better to carving than sliding. By keeping them on edge and playing subtle games with the turn radius, we enjoyed predictable, stable turns at speed. Stretch those out into long, skidded turns, however, and this ski tended to chatter, wobble, and wander.

Should You Buy the Head Crux 93 Pro?

In our experience, Head isn't necessarily considered a backcountry ski brand. And sometimes, that outsider perspective is just what we need. The Crux 93 Pro should be on your short list. It's perfect for expeditions to high peaks around the world and for springtime adventures everywhere. We'd call these 80/20, firm/soft snow skis – you need to be skiing mainly firm snow to realize the potential of the Crux 93 Pro fully. If you ski inside the resort all winter and then head to the backcountry for spring corn season, this is the ski you want. If you already own a wider touring ski for powder skiing, this will complement your quiver, but it is not a “quiver of one.”

What Other Backcountry Skis Should You Consider?

While we stand by our recommendation for the Head Crux 93 Pro as the best option if you're skiing mostly firm snow, if you're looking for a more versatile ski, check out the Blizzard Zero G 105. On the Crux, you'll enjoy a superlight ski on the uphill, optimized performance in the steeps, and a joyful experience carving corn. On the Zero G, you'll carry more weight uphill on a wider ski that chatters a bit on firm steeps, but with the benefit of being able to make higher speed turns in powder and more stability in poor snow conditions. Either way, you really can't go wrong with either of these skis. But what about your budget? The Crux isn't as expensive as the Zero G, but comparatively, the Rossignol Escaper 97 Nano is even cheaper and shreds springtime corn nearly as well as the Crux 93 Pro.