2022 Armada Trace 98

Light, fun, and playful, the 2022 Armada Trace 98 returns with a graphic change, but keeps the meat and potatoes all the same. This is one of those skis that can be used in a very wide range of applications, from a resort-only one ski quiver to a backcountry-exclusive touring ski. As a result, we tend to see an equally wide range of results and feedback, and that’s one of the things that makes this test so much fun! Built as a twin to the men’s Tracer 98, the Trace features a poplar wood core, a titanal binding reinforcement plate, and adaptive mesh to give the ski strength and energy. One of the cool things about this ski is that it features Armada’s Tapertops. By milling the top portions of the sidewall down to a flatter, more trapezoidal shape, the skis not only lose weight and become quicker, but it also makes it a bit more playful and less hooky or grabby in the softer snow. Not quite a twin tip in the traditional park-sense of the term, the Trace 98 does have a turned-up tail that makes it smearier and surfier in the deep stuff. When you’re using them as a backcountry ski, this makes a lot of sense as it allows the skier to easily dictate the release of the turn, and when you’re in powder, it’s a whole lot of fun. In the resort, at 98 mm underfoot, it’s going to make a great tree ski, and is a surprisingly agile carver on the corduroy, with the caveat being the softer the better. It’s hard not to like this fun-loving ski, and our testers certainly pick up on that intent.

On the 164, Alli Ruschp noted that the Trace 98 is “versatile and fun, snappy and smeary, perfect for soft spring conditions. Not sure if I love it for groomers as much as the Reliance, but it’s more approachable for a wider range of lady skiers. Would be a great first-time uphill set up with a Shift, where it’s used mainly at the resort, but is light enough to go uphill. Overall a fun, playful ski!” She noted that the size felt true to length, and scored the ski all 5’s with a lonley 4 for stability. This shows the well-rounded nature of the Trace 98, and how it’s fun-loving personality sure shines through, especially in softer snow. Alli got a couple of days on these skis, the first was a snowy mid-winter day and the second our spring-like ski test, so both were very good for this type of ski. Also on that 164, Lexi Hildreth loved the playfulness and quickness of the ski, noting that “the Tracer 98 was lightweight and fun, which was perfect for the slushier spring snow conditions during testing. It felt very playful, but also stable enough that it could handle groomed terrain as well as softer snow.” Lexi’s scores back up her statements, with a 5 out of 5 for playfulness and a 4 out of 5 for stability. Forgiveness also got that 5, with overall impression getting a 4.

Carly Monahan has had some good days and experiences on Armada skis this year, and it neither starts nor stops with this Trace 98. She was also on the appropriately sized 164 and loved its versatility and easy-going nature. Her scores and her comments go hand-in-hand: “Straight 4s for this one - it didn’t blow me out of the water with 5s, but really held its own in every way. Playful but not a pushover, stable and solid but not heavy. Very maneuverable and happy in a variety of turn shapes. Probably not a great choice for really powerful skiers, or someone intent on carving/on-trail skiing. Great everyday ski for a someone looking for a ski that can handle the gamut of conditions and terrain and won’t tire them out.” That is a fantastic way to look at a ski like this, both in how it’s supposed to act, and in how it actually performs. This is what it was built for, and in Carly’s experience, the “gamut” has been achieved in a fun, playful, and not-so-serious manner, and for a lot of skiers, that’s what it’s really all about.

For skiers looking for that all-encompassing freeride, all-mountain, and backcountry ski that has a wide variety of uses and applications, you could do a whole lot worse than the 2022 Armada Trace 98. We’ve been big fans of these wider “twins” for quite some time in this type of format, and companies like Armada are just getting better and better at making skis like this operate at a high level at a low weight, allowing the backcountry and touring usage to come into play. It’s a great overall ski with a super-fun attitude.