2022 Armada Reliance 88 C

We love a good surprise as much as the next group of ski testers, and so far for the Armada family, the Reliance 88 C has been the most pleasant of the group. We saw this when the men’s Declivity 88 C was tested, and we’re happy to see that those reactions have continued into the women’s Reliance version. They’re the same ski, just with different lengths and graphics, but the nuts and bolts are all the same. This ski just gives off some amazing energy, and each and every tester who got on it recognized it. Built with a light weight Caruba wood core, Armada uses fiberglass laminate and carbon stringers to get the snap and pop. The end result, when that build is combined with more of a freeride shape and profile, is that the skier gets boosted into and out of turns with a tremendous amount of force, but these skis are so light that they are not overpowering. The 88 mm underfoot non-metal range has typically been dominated by the omni-present Blizzard Black Pearl, and our bet is that if you put them back-to-back in a blind test, the Reliance would be the more energetic and snappier ski for sure. Our testers were very much impressed with the fun and satisfying responsiveness of the ski, and we hope that the Reliance 88 C gets the accolades it deserves from the industry as a whole, because this is simply a great ski.

Lexi Hildreth skied the 160 and noted that it was a good length and skied true to size. Her scores were mostly 4’s with a few 3’s sprinkled in for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip. But the 4’s dominated the board, including overall impression, versatility, and maneuverability. Lexi states about the Reliance 88 C that it’s a “great ski, very fun! Nice and light, performed well in softer snow. Great all mountain ski that is approachable, but advanced skiers can also enjoy. Very relaxing!” Very nice to hear as well, that the skis perform well in softer snow. And, having the range to accommodate a variety of skiers is a very nice thing to have, as you’re not reducing the target audience by having something that’s not fun or approachable. On the 168, Alli Ruschp found a whole lot to like. She notes about the size that it’s true to size, and just about what she’d ski in “real life” as well. All 5’s and 4’s on Alli’s scorecard for the Reliance, with a lowly 3 for forgiveness, as in her comments, she notes that the ski was her “new favorite (I have many) but pleasantly surprised by this ski. Handled the mix of conditions, ice, crud, slush with a smooth stable ride. Perfect daily ski that will be great for a wide range of ladies, not overall aggressive but can handle a strong skier. Again. I loved this ski!!!”

A similar overall experience was had by Carly Monahan, who also skied the 168, but noted that the stiffness of the ski might make her consider sizing down. She’s usually right in the mid-160's for length, so this isn’t too surprising to hear. Carly also scored the ski 3’s out of 5 for forgiveness, quickness, and maneuverability, so that might back up her downsizing take, but nonetheless, she still had 5’s for torsional stiffness, edge grip, and stability. As to the experience, Carly states that the Reliance 88 C was “stiffer than expected, but with plenty of pop, which made it feel super stable, consistent, and confidence inspiring on firm snow. Felt a bit heavy in wet snow/choppy conditions, but still quite forgiving. Good ski for someone who wants to put some energy and effort into their turns, not as much for relaxed bell-to-bell skiers looking for a light, forgiving ski.”

We think that there’s going to be a lot of skiers who will love the energy and grip of these Reliance 88 C’s this upcoming year, and it’s great when a lighter ski can hold up to some of the stiffer skis on the market. By having that ripping high-energy performance, these skis are going to be a fantastic option for intermediate, advanced, and lighter expert skiers who are looking for the top end of performance but at a lighter and more manageable weight.