2022 Armada Declivity 102 Ti

Returning unchanged for this year (and thankfully so), the Armada Declivity 102 Ti holds its ground among a strong group of low-100's skis with metal. It offers enough stability and power to charge the toughest conditions and terrain on the planet while remaining quick and agile enough for tighter and more technical zones. Just like last year, the Declivity gets a caruba wood core, which is light, but then they add their triaxial fiberglass laminate and a titanal laminate featuring their Articulated Titanal Banding. This mills out strips in the forebody of the ski and fills them with a damping polymer. As a result, the ski flexes on multiple axes with more efficiency, and keeps the ski light and agile without losing strength or power. You should be able to feel the ski bend as you flex it, and these skis are able to maintain strong edge grip as well as a suppleness that advanced and expert skiers will love.

Matt McAlary skied the 180 and found it to be “ever so short” but pretty darn close. He did recommend sizing up if you’re caught in the middle, but generally pretty true to size. He gave the ski 4’s out of 5 for stability, quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness, with a 5 out of 5 for overall impression. A lowly three for forgiveness is not surprising, as the skis are on the stiff and demanding side. About the Declivity 102, Matt notes that “the Declivity 102Ti feels like a hard charging ski built from freestyle DNA. It has more energy than a lot of skis that use metal laminates and remains stable at high speeds despite being relatively nimble and playful. The ski felt like it had the pop of a park/pipe ski with the rigidity and edge hold of a ski more geared towards frontside/firm snow carving. It’s 18-meter radius allows for some smooth medium-long arcs, and its softer tip paired with a not-so-tapered tail allows the ski to load up nicely and provide some snap out of the turn. The ski is very versatile and I think could be considered a “1-ski quiver” for many. While it does float, this aspect of the ski is a weakness relative to other skis in the same category like the Fischer Ranger 102 FR. Overall, The Declivity 102Ti is a fantastic ski geared toward hard-charging skiers with playful tendencies.”

Phil McGrory was also on the 180, but he found it to be just right for him, even though he’s a bit taller than Matt. This just goes to show that ski size has a lot to do with preference, and there’s no real right or wrong here. Phil states about the 180: “Just right. don't need to upsize. Can upsize if you want but this size was fun and nimble enough.” For scores, Phil had 5’s for versatility and overall impression, with a similar 3 to matt in the forgiveness category. All other scores were 4’s. This is a good showing for the well-rounded 102 Ti, showcasing the high-end feel and performance of the skis. He goes on to declare that “the Declivity 102 is a great all-around ski. Handles the crud and chop by powering through it but isn't so demanding that you feel like you can get knocked around. At 102 this would be a great everyday ski out west or a powerful northeast soft snow ski. Ideal for an Intermediate to advanced skier.” It is right in that sweet spot for width, where it can be used by a variety of skiers and skier types on both coasts (as well as in the middle). Bob St.Pierre skied the 188 and even though that’s the longest size, it did feel on the short side for him, so there’s some consistency among our contributors in terms of the sizing of these skis. Bob gave the ski 5’s for stability, edge grip, versatility, and overall experience, with a lowly 3 for forgiveness. “These skis are not soft, and at 102 mm underfoot, they do require a good deal of attention, especially in firmer snow. They do not seem to care what is underneath them, as they just motor through any type of soft stuff, and hold quite well on the hard snow. It’s not the quickest ski in this range, but it is one of the most well-rounded and versatile. I love the quiet sound that they make (or don’t make), as that Articulated Titanal Banding seems to work the way it’s intended, and I like it when that happens with skis.”

Now with the Declivity 108 in the mix, this 102 is now in the middle range of the Declivity line, so it’s starting to stand out as one of the more versatile skis of the lineup. A great floater thanks to the taper and shovel size, the Declivity 102 can be used in a wide range of applications. The tail does have a nice bump out at the end, allowing for the ski to hold tight to the turn until the end, allowing carving enthusiasts to get good purchase and energy out of the turn. Lots of fun to be had on this ski!