2022 Armada ARV 106

Wider twin tips are just a lot of fun, and when you get them in softer snow, their personality really starts to shine through. The Armada ARV 106 has a lot of different applications, but for the most part, we’re looking at a skier who spends a lot of time seeking and searching fun and playful terrain in fresh and soft snow. From natural features to cliff drops and cornices, the ARV 106 is a trickster of a ski that gives back what you put in. Built much like the narrower 96, the 106 contains a core built from a hybrid of poplar and ash wood. The lighter poplar is bolstered by the denser ash, as there are two main stringers of ash that run the length of the ski. This combination of wood makes for a smooth and stable feel, increasing the overall energy of the ski and keeping skiers who need a bit more substance underfoot satisfied. Width-appropriate rocker and taper complete the shape and profile, as it’s a fantastic and fun floater for a variety of skiers and adventurers. Our testers generally found that these skis have their place, and while the test conditions were soft and fun, they didn’t quite lend to the powder personality that these skis put forth.

Louise Lintilhac hopped on the 172 and found that it skied true to length and was a good size for her. She had a majority of scores of 3 out of 5 for this ski, with a 2 for versatility. As a wider twin tip, it certainly has its home base, and if you’re too far out of its comfort zone, it’s going to have some issues. Louise notes that “the ARV 106 is geared more toward flotation than agile maneuverability. While the mid fat width and rockered tip and tail helped keep it afloat, the lack of side cut decreased edge-to-edge speed and decreased its playfulness value. I found that this did not add to the poppiness of the ski. Was slightly dead in the water. This ski would be good for an intermediate skier with a larger quiver looking to shred pow.” And the nice thing about our test is that we love to hear this feedback, as it is equally valuable in determining a limitation of a ski in addition to the benefits.

Brad Schauerman was on the 180 and that was a good length for him. Brad scored all 3’s and 4’s for the ARV 106, showing the versatility of the ski, but not a lot of highs or lows specifically. This shows in his comments, in which he calls the ARV 106 a “good all-around ski both on and off-piste. Slightly clunky and not much energy/play in the ski but still fun and easy to use.” When you get up to the wider widths in these softer skis, it can make for a bit of hesitation in the initiation and completion phases of the turn, so it’s not uncommon to hear comments like this about a wider twin tip—they're certainly better served in smoother and softer snow where smeariness and surfiness are at a premium, and quickness isn’t needed so much. Also on the 180, Jeff Neagle did find those maneuverable qualities to push the ski’s agenda forward. Jeff calls the ARV 106 “super playful, very surfy. I love that they added the convex tips and tails to this ski. Gives it a better feel in softer snow conditions and makes it a little more forgiving for butters. Tremendously smooth and very easy edge release, which helps if you're going to take it off trail and into more technical terrain. I don't necessarily think that's the highlight of the ARV 106, or its intention, but it can definitely handle tricky terrain. It really shines smearing, slashing, and playing through soft snow in more open terrain where you can do silly things like ski switch, do little 180s, etc. Reasonably good choice for a park skier who wants a wider ski too. I could see this being a daily driver for a western skier who splits their time between the park and the rest of the mountain. Or someone who rips around a place like Alta doing tricks off of natural features. Super fun, definitely an Armada through and through.”

There’s always been a home for wider twin tips, and Armada has been making some of the best in the business for a few years now. With lighter and more maneuverable tips and tails, the ARV 106 still has great power and grip underfoot, making well-rounded turns in a variety of conditions and terrain. Playful enough for backcountry booters, cliff drops, and cornice hucks, the ARV 106 is a fun-loving freestyle ski that thrives in soft snow.