While both Altai and Black Diamond are popular and reliable ski brands, their ski has differences in material size, weight, performance, binding option, and terrain compatibility.
Finally, the winter is here, and if you plan to go skiing, you’ll need a high-quality snow ski. When choosing a ski suitable for you, several factors come into play.
To determine which brand will suit you, I have compared both brands in terms of those deciding factors. Let’s look at which brand’s ski performs the best.
Quick Comparison Table
| Specifications | Altai Hok Ski Shoe | Black Diamond Snow Trekkers |
| Material | Paulownia wood core with a combination of natural fibers and fiberglass | Foam core with fiberglass |
| Size | 99, 125, and 145 cm | 110 to 135 cm |
| Weight | 5 lbs. | 2.2 to 2.6 lbs. |
| Performance | Better | Decent |
| Skin | Integrated synthetic skin | Incorporated mohair-mix skin |
| Binding options | Several | Single |
| Cost | $398.95 | $450 to $470 |
Key Differences Between Altai Hok And Black Diamond Snow Trekkers
- Material
The material of your snow trekkers might be less important at first. You’ll also notice often people don’t consider it too.
However, the material has a massive impact on the materials’ longevity, durability, and, most importantly, stiffness.
Foam, wood, and fiberglass s are three of the most common core materials for snow trekkers.
While Altai Hok Ski shoes have a wood core with natural fibers and fiberglass, Black Diamond snow trekkers have a foam core combined with fiberglass.
The foam core makes Black Diamond snow trekkers much more lightweight and durable. On the other hand, Altai Hok Ski shoes are much more flexible and stable due to their wooden core.
- Size
The size of your snow trekkers is significant as it has a massive impact on how it responds to different types of terrain. Depending on how your ride or the landscape, you might need to go straight, turn or move at a different speed. So, you need to choose the ski according.
Altai Hok Ski shoes come in three sizes 99, 125, and 145 cm. On the other hand, Black Diamond snow trekkers measure between 110 to 135 cm. While shorter snow trekkers have better maneuverability, they are slow. But longer trekkers are faster with better stability.
- Weight
The weight of your snow trekkers follows almost the same rules as the size. Also, the importance deeply connects to your planning type of trekking.
Altai Hok Ski shoes are heavy, weighing about 5 lbs.
On the other hand, Black Diamond snow trekkers weigh only 2.2 lbs. to 2.6 lbs. depending on the particular model.
In comparison, heavier trekkers are better for downhill because often weight and stiffness, while lighter ones are flexible and more suitable for the uphill journey.
- Performance
The performance of these new snow trekkers can be subjective for many people based on how they use them. I have divided the performance aspect into two parts, downhill and uphill.
Starting Altai Hok, it could be a better cross-country ski shoe because it’s short and wide with a slight camber. However, the uphill and downhill performance is excellent due to the skin and open tips.
On the other hand, Black Diamond is more of a balanced product with flat terrain, new snow, and beginner-level skills. However, they offer only a few cross-country or uphill-downhill performances.
- Skin
Skin is one of the most crucial parts of a snow trekker when going uphill. The whole point of having skin underneath the trekker is that it’ll give you the necessary grip to go uphill and prevent siding while you climb.
This way, it also saves your energy, and you are not backsliding.
While both Altai Hok and Black Diamond, snow trekkers have skins, they are different. Altai Hok has an integrated synthetic skin, while Black Diamond snow trekker has an incorporated mohair-mix skin.
However, both of them offer excellent grip and gliding while climbing uphill.
- Binding options
Binding is not only about connecting your boots to the trekkers.
It also plays a vital role in safety by keeping your feet secure on the trekker. You can purchase Altai Hok and Black Diamond snow trekkers with or without bindings.
However, it’s recommended that you go with the binding variant.
The advantage of Altai Hok is that it has multiple binding options, the universal one and then a 3-pin binding option.
So, it’s easier to find boots compatible with Altai Hok. On the other hand, Black Diamond snow trekkers only offer a universal binding.
- Cost
Last but not least, we need to talk about the cost of these snow trekkers. There is little price difference here, so the cost shouldn’t be a deciding factor. Altai Hok costs $398.95 with the binding and $275 without.
On the other hand, Black Diamond snow trekkers cost $450 and $470 for GlideLite 127 and GlideLite 147, respectively.
Which One Is The Best Choice For You?
After the comparison, it’s clear that both ski shoes are targeted toward very different groups of skiers. Altai Hok and Black Diamond snow trekkers have their strengths and weaknesses so the choice will be subjective.
If you are looking for a strong build, better performance, and multiple binding options at a lower cost, Altai Hok is your best choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for better maneuverability and overall performance with a beginner-level skillset, go for the Black Diamond snow trekkers.
Final Thought
That’s a wrap for today. I hope my comparison between Altai Hok and Black Diamond will help you better understand the various aspects of these two brands. Considering those factors, choosing a pair of skis will leave you with few options, like Altai Hok and Black Diamond snow trekkers.
These skis set the benchmark in the industry with high quality and flagship design. However, both of them are built for two separate skier groups for different types of terrains.
So, first, you need to decide where and what kind of skiing you plan to do and then go for the one that suits you the best.
