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'27 Black Pearl 88s and Solomon Strive bindings Feedback Please

ski now work later

ski now work later

Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Angel Diva
I'm sure there is a thread, or two, about the '27 Black Pearl 88s and/or the Solomon Strives but I couldn't locate. I've been skiing the '21 Black Pearl 88s and I just love them, but I'm thinking about replacing them this year with the newer version which sound even better. Did anyone demo them last season?

Also I've been skiing on the Solomon Z10s forever and am considering the Solomon Strive bindings (probably the 10GW as I remain a solid 5.5 DIN setting). Has anyone skied with them?

And my boots are 7 years old and somewhat packed out. And my custom footbeds are at least 12 years old. Haven't looked at boot options yet, I want to see what my local shop carries.

Ca-ching$$$!

My stats: I remain a strong intermediate skier, turned 67 yesterday, am more active with regular weight lifting and cardio than previously so I'm looking forward to seeing how that translates to stamina and skill this winter on the hill. I am a moderate speed skier and will not push those limits anytime soon due to a head injury accident this past March. I'm now closer to 5'6" due to age shrinking, and I weigh 160 lbs. Wish the BPs came in low 160s; I'll go with the 158 for maneuverability.

Any feedback Divas? Thanks in advance!
 
I couldn't find a review either. I checked SkiTalk, didn't see one there either. So I googled it...the YouTube videos might be useful. Likely you've already done this. Sounds like a good choice. If you want to demo it, I imagine it'd be easy to find at a rental shop since it's so popular. Good luck - hope you can update with your feedback later! :-)

The 2027 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 remains the quintessential women’s all-mountain daily driver. It features a women-specific Trueblend wood core, a refined topsheet look, and a 3-piece FluxForm metal layout. Reviewers highlight its lively, energetic carving on groomers alongside improved versatility in soft snow, trees, and bumps. [1, 2, 3, 4]
  • Read full staff impressions from SkiEssentials.
  • Explore tester feedback on the Powder7 Lift Line Blog.
  • Your skiing ability level (intermediate, advanced, expert)
  • The type of terrain you ski most often (groomers, bumps, trees)
https://www.youtube.com

 
Last edited:
I believe the BP 88 is unchanged from last year, except for graphics. There are a few Divas who bought last year, in part because they liked the limited edition graphics. I don't know if any of them had the '21 version for comparison though. But I suggest looking up reviews from last year. Also paging @marzNC who bought the limited edition version last year.
 
diymom said:
I believe the BP 88 is unchanged from last year, except for graphics. There are a few Divas who bought last year, in part because they liked the limited edition graphics. I don't know if any of them had the '21 version for comparison though. But I suggest looking up reviews from last year. Also paging @marzNC who bought the limited edition version last year.
Click to expand...
Hi! From what I've read, the '27 BPs have been updated, not just cosmetics.
 
I was going by this SkiEssentials review--

2027 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 | SkiEssentials

From skis to boots and bindings, SkiEssentials has all the ski equipment you need to hit the slopes. Browse our ski gear now.
www.skiessentials.com www.skiessentials.com

But the two divas I can think of that would know more about any changes from last year and how they might compare to your '21 skis would be @SnowHot and @Verve .
 
Yep as @diymom said, the SkiEssentials review says "The 2027 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 gets a graphic refresh for this year but returns otherwise unchanged. "

I have the BP88's from last year with the limited edition graphics. The graphics are beautiful and I REALLY love how they ski. I previously had the 2023 BP88s, I still love those, but these do feel a bit different and I like them better. I am really terrible about describing *how* things feel, so I am not the best reviewer, but to me they turn really nicely, hold an edge well, and just feel really solid and consistent.
 
diymom said:
I believe the BP 88 is unchanged from last year, except for graphics. There are a few Divas who bought last year, in part because they liked the limited edition graphics. I don't know if any of them had the '21 version for comparison though. But I suggest looking up reviews from last year. Also paging @marzNC who bought the limited edition version last year.
Click to expand...
maybe @SnowHot can chime in?
 
Sounds like people have the BP88 part of the question covered! I agree that you’ll likely enjoy the changes from the ‘21 model and as others have said, it’s the same ski construction from last year so you may find a deal on last years but they’re very popular so perhaps not.

For bindings! At a 5.5 din you’d be fine in a Strive 11 which I’d personally recommend over the Strive 10 which is essentially the brand’s updated version of the Stage binding. The difference is the 3-piece heel design on the Strive 11 which give you a mechanical advantage clipping out and mimics the design of their burlier Strive 13 etc. The Strive 10 is a value binding and has a single piece heel housing. It’s feels a little cheaper all around. Worth the small upgrade IMO.
 
jthree said:
Yep as @diymom said, the SkiEssentials review says "The 2027 Blizzard Black Pearl 88 gets a graphic refresh for this year but returns otherwise unchanged. "

I have the BP88's from last year with the limited edition graphics. The graphics are beautiful and I REALLY love how they ski. I previously had the 2023 BP88s, I still love those, but these do feel a bit different and I like them better. I am really terrible about describing *how* things feel, so I am not the best reviewer, but to me they turn really nicely, hold an edge well, and just feel really solid and consistent.
Click to expand...
I forgot to say, I do have Solomon Strive 11s on them.

Also, I can't edit my first post but when I say "I like them better" I mean the new & improved 2026 version!
 
Yeah I got some "fake news" for sure, I did more digging and no change from last year except for graphic. Still, I am skiing on the '21s so some changes since.
Verve said:
Sounds like people have the BP88 part of the question covered! I agree that you’ll likely enjoy the changes from the ‘21 model and as others have said, it’s the same ski construction from last year so you may find a deal on last years but they’re very popular so perhaps not.

For bindings! At a 5.5 din you’d be fine in a Strive 11 which I’d personally recommend over the Strive 10 which is essentially the brand’s updated version of the Stage binding. The difference is the 3-piece heel design on the Strive 11 which give you a mechanical advantage clipping out and mimics the design of their burlier Strive 13 etc. The Strive 10 is a value binding and has a single piece heel housing. It’s feels a little cheaper all around. Worth the small upgrade IMO.
Click to expand...
 
When I bought the limited edition BP88 last year, I wasn't sure if I would keep them or not. Partially because I hadn't demo'd BP skis for a while, and partially because I went with a shorter length than I usually ski as all-mountain skis for big mountains. As it turned out, the shorter length and the current design made the 2026 BP88 perfect for Taos. By the second day I wasn't trying to keep the bases pristine any more when going off-piste.

I liked the original Black Pearl enough to buy a used pair from a Diva in 2012, which was 88 underfoot. Also liked the versions I demo'd in 2018 at Taos and 2022 at Alta. In short, I've liked any version of BPs that are 88 or 98 underfoot as the design evolves.

Ended up with the Strive 12 binding because that's what was suggested by Powder7.

February 2026
TSV BP88 wolves 23Feb2026 - 1.jpeg
 
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Reactions: AJM
marzNC said:
When I bought the limited edition BP88 last year, I wasn't sure if I would keep them or not. Partially because I hadn't demo'd BP skis for a while, and partially because I went with a shorter length than I usually ski as all-mountain skis for big mountains. As it turned out, the shorter length and the current design made the 2026 BP88 perfect for Taos. By the second day I wasn't trying to keep the bases pristine any more when going off-piste.

I liked the original Black Pearl enough to buy a used pair from a Diva in 2012, which was 88 underfoot. Also liked the versions I demo'd in 2018 at Taos and 2022 at Alta. In short, I've liked any version of BPs that are 88 or 98 underfoot as the design evolves.

Ended up with the Strive 12 binding because that's what was suggested by Powder7.

February 2026
View attachment 27090
Click to expand...
What length did you get?
 
OMG they are gorgeous. I was interested in them but they were hard to obtain and I was caught up with my move and new home renovations. Love the color bindings on them!
 
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