The Nocta combines in a single pair of skis the best features of all my other fat skis (Shreditor 102, Volkl Two, Volkl Three, Volkl Revolt 124, K2 Catamaran and Icelantic Nomad 125). A well balanced ski, light, stable, nimble and playful in glades, rock solid in crud and frozen snow, fun on groomers and really shines in deep snow. Truly, it is the AMAZING ski that I was searching for years...
Hi Denis, I'd love to know your opinion if you don't mind. I live in Hokkaido and use and LOVE my pair of Volkl Two (bought second hand last year). Nocta 2024 has added camber which I'm not interested in, as I only ski pow (mostly in trees). But I'm interested in finding an earlier model Nocta 2020. How do you think they'd compare to Volkl Two in my conditions? I think my only complaint about the Two is they don't pop off mushrooms much and they're heavy (I tour, but I mostly use them in side country). Anyway, seeing as you've skied both I'd love to hear what you - or anyone - has to say. Thank you!
Hi@@tomlives, The Black Crows Nocta 2022 and older versions (full rocker and 26 meters radius @176cm) are in my opinion much superior to the Volkl Two, in about any snow condition. The deeper or heavier the snow, the more the Nocta outshines my other skis. The Nocta always feels nimb, light, stable and predictable whatever the snow conditions. Typically, I ski the whole day in glades and bumbs with fat skis, whatever the snow conditions (deep and shallow powder, soft, heavy, crusty and hard pack snow), even on hard groomers when glades and bumps are too icy to ride. There is always a small amount of soft snow on groomed trails. Our fun begins when carvers can no longer ride on icy or bumpy trails. I would rate my ski models as following: #1: Volkl Three @186: so stable and easy to ride, anywhere and any time. Definetely not the most nimble ski. #2: Black Crows Nocta 2020 @176: nimble, stable, fun and easy to ride aroung trees and bumps. #3: Volkl Revolt 124 @176: very stable and easy to ride, much like the Volkl Three. Still very good on hard pack and icy conditions. #4: Icelantic Nomad 125 @180: feels like a slightly more stable version of the Volkl Two. Although very close to the Volkl Two, the Nomad is more difficult to ride in deep and heavy snow (feels like a longer ski because there is no taper on tips). #5: Volkl Two @176 and K2 Catamaran 120 @177: two very different personnality. The Catamaran outshines the Two in soft or deep snow (nimblier), but the Two are more stable and less demanding on hard pack. You will truly love the Nocta 2022 (and older versions) in soft and deep snow. Nimble, so funny and easy to ride on soft bumps and in glades, while dancing with the trees... th-cam.com/video/520aDrdT8kE/w-d-xo.html I hope this information will be useful to you.
After a couple of days at Snowbird in 20"+ of pow with my BC Atris skis, just snagged a pair of Nocta 190's during Powder7's Last Chair sale. Can't wait to ride them next year! Thanks for posting this review!
@@jWalski I cant decide between the atris and the nocta. Do you think the nocta is to wide for everyday skiing. I only ski out west and in candian rockies
@@nickackerley8988 yes, the Nocta is too wide for everyday skiing, unless you only go on pow days (15cm +)! If you have other skis in your quiver to take out on average days, then the Nocta is great to have for those pow days. But if you’re aiming for a one-ski quiver, then the Atris is a good pick!
@@nickackerley8988by the way not sure what you ended up getting but I love my atris! They do great up to about 8-10” of pow and are super fun. They work ok on groomers so they can work as an all mountain with more of a pow focus. To me their biggest weakness is in the heavy chop you get at the end of a wet pow day. They definitely do best when the snow is dry like we usually get in the Rockies.
Like your 'regular guy who's stoked on skiing' style, makes sense and nice tempo. When you talk about length and what you chose though....doesn't mean much unless you share your height (pref in cm as well as ft/inch).
@@jWalski I rode them last Friday on about 15” of denser powder. Wow what a fun ride!! First run was one of the best runs I’ve ever had! I did note when the snow is heavy they do get thrown around a lot when you are in the chop heading back to the lift. Probably due to their lighter and softer construction that make them so much fun in the soft stuff. Can’t have everything lol
Great review. I have the anima last couple years. It’s a great ski being 115, They float pretty good but really want to try the full rocker. Probably float way more in deep stuff.
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve heard the Anima’s are pretty good. And yes, I’d bet the Noctas float a bit more in deep pow. The waist is a large factor in that, so at 115mm you’re already getting most of the float imo.
I’m 5’6”, but I definitely trend to getting longer skis, so it takes some effort to really make the 185cm work. Without knowing much, I would say the 185’s would be a bit better, especially if you’re looking for a lot of float, big mountain or more freeride-focused skis. But if you aren’t as aggressive as a skier and like to take it a bit easier, the 174cm would be just fine!
The Nocta combines in a single pair of skis the best features of all my other fat skis (Shreditor 102, Volkl Two, Volkl Three, Volkl Revolt 124, K2 Catamaran and Icelantic Nomad 125). A well balanced ski, light, stable, nimble and playful in glades, rock solid in crud and frozen snow, fun on groomers and really shines in deep snow. Truly, it is the AMAZING ski that I was searching for years...
It’s a ton of fun, that’s for sure!
Hi Denis, I'd love to know your opinion if you don't mind. I live in Hokkaido and use and LOVE my pair of Volkl Two (bought second hand last year). Nocta 2024 has added camber which I'm not interested in, as I only ski pow (mostly in trees). But I'm interested in finding an earlier model Nocta 2020. How do you think they'd compare to Volkl Two in my conditions? I think my only complaint about the Two is they don't pop off mushrooms much and they're heavy (I tour, but I mostly use them in side country). Anyway, seeing as you've skied both I'd love to hear what you - or anyone - has to say. Thank you!
Hi@@tomlives,
The Black Crows Nocta 2022 and older versions (full rocker and 26 meters radius @176cm) are in my opinion much superior to the Volkl Two, in about any snow condition.
The deeper or heavier the snow, the more the Nocta outshines my other skis. The Nocta always feels nimb, light, stable and predictable whatever the snow conditions.
Typically, I ski the whole day in glades and bumbs with fat skis, whatever the snow conditions (deep and shallow powder, soft, heavy, crusty and hard pack snow), even on hard groomers when glades and bumps are too icy to ride. There is always a small amount of soft snow on groomed trails. Our fun begins when carvers can no longer ride on icy or bumpy trails.
I would rate my ski models as following:
#1: Volkl Three @186: so stable and easy to ride, anywhere and any time. Definetely not the most nimble ski.
#2: Black Crows Nocta 2020 @176: nimble, stable, fun and easy to ride aroung trees and bumps.
#3: Volkl Revolt 124 @176: very stable and easy to ride, much like the Volkl Three. Still very good on hard pack and icy conditions.
#4: Icelantic Nomad 125 @180: feels like a slightly more stable version of the Volkl Two. Although very close to the Volkl Two, the Nomad is more difficult to ride in deep and heavy snow (feels like a longer ski because there is no taper on tips).
#5: Volkl Two @176 and K2 Catamaran 120 @177: two very different personnality. The Catamaran outshines the Two in soft or deep snow (nimblier), but the Two are more stable and less demanding on hard pack.
You will truly love the Nocta 2022 (and older versions) in soft and deep snow. Nimble, so funny and easy to ride on soft bumps and in glades, while dancing with the trees...
th-cam.com/video/520aDrdT8kE/w-d-xo.html
I hope this information will be useful to you.
After a couple of days at Snowbird in 20"+ of pow with my BC Atris skis, just snagged a pair of Nocta 190's during Powder7's Last Chair sale. Can't wait to ride them next year! Thanks for posting this review!
Sounds awesome! I'm sure you'll love them, especially for those super deep days! Thanks for watching 👍🏼🎿
@@jWalski I cant decide between the atris and the nocta. Do you think the nocta is to wide for everyday skiing. I only ski out west and in candian rockies
@@nickackerley8988 yes, the Nocta is too wide for everyday skiing, unless you only go on pow days (15cm +)!
If you have other skis in your quiver to take out on average days, then the Nocta is great to have for those pow days. But if you’re aiming for a one-ski quiver, then the Atris is a good pick!
@@nickackerley8988by the way not sure what you ended up getting but I love my atris! They do great up to about 8-10” of pow and are super fun. They work ok on groomers so they can work as an all mountain with more of a pow focus. To me their biggest weakness is in the heavy chop you get at the end of a wet pow day. They definitely do best when the snow is dry like we usually get in the Rockies.
your review is so good, I recommend you ask Ski companies to send you skis to review
Thank you! Yup, that’s definitely something I’d like to do 😉 (cough cough to any ski companies watching)
Great review of the Noctas! It was Informative and enjoyable to watch and I loved all the ski videos in between!
Much appreciated! Thanks for watching!
This was a great review. Noctas are my favourite skis.
Thanks! Yeah they’re a ton of fun 😄
This is a really good review man, entertaining and informative. Keep it up, would love to see more reviews from you !
Thank you! More are on the way 😊
Like your 'regular guy who's stoked on skiing' style, makes sense and nice tempo.
When you talk about length and what you chose though....doesn't mean much unless you share your height (pref in cm as well as ft/inch).
Thanks! Yes, fair point. For reference, I’m about 5’6”/169cm, so I tend to go for a longer ski.
Great review! Your channel should be more popular this is great content! I just got my Nocta’s mounted so stoked to ride em on a deep day
Thank you for watching! Yeah, they’re an absolute blast on a deep day. Almost don’t even need the snorkel anymore 🤿 😂
@@jWalski I rode them last Friday on about 15” of denser powder. Wow what a fun ride!! First run was one of the best runs I’ve ever had! I did note when the snow is heavy they do get thrown around a lot when you are in the chop heading back to the lift. Probably due to their lighter and softer construction that make them so much fun in the soft stuff. Can’t have everything lol
Great review, thanks!
its an amazing ski, great review. great fun in the powder
Thanks! It sure is a great ski ⛷
Great review. I have the anima last couple years. It’s a great ski being 115, They float pretty good but really want to try the full rocker. Probably float way more in deep stuff.
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve heard the Anima’s are pretty good. And yes, I’d bet the Noctas float a bit more in deep pow. The waist is a large factor in that, so at 115mm you’re already getting most of the float imo.
How tall are you? I’m 5’8” and trying to decide nocta size for me. Was thinking 174cm but listening to your pov on the 185 made me think.
I’m 5’6”, but I definitely trend to getting longer skis, so it takes some effort to really make the 185cm work.
Without knowing much, I would say the 185’s would be a bit better, especially if you’re looking for a lot of float, big mountain or more freeride-focused skis.
But if you aren’t as aggressive as a skier and like to take it a bit easier, the 174cm would be just fine!
For mix condition this or anima?
Between these and the Anima’s, I’d go with the Anima’s for more mixed conditions