The Armada ARW 106 UL is an awesome freeride twin tip ski designed for adventurous female skiers that are looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our sport. Armada is known for progressive skis like this, and there’s a reason why their pro team is stacked with some of the best skier in the world. The ARW 106 UL is intended to provide a number of benefits for all sorts of skiers. It’s relatively lightweight, it boasts a ton of float for a ski that’s 106 mm underfoot, it’s playful, but stable too, it’s a full twin tip, so can take off and land backwards, and all in all, it’s just a blast to ski no matter how you’re using it.

In order to keep the weight down, Armada uses a Caruba wood core. This is lighter than the wood used in the men’s ARV 106, creating a fairly significant difference between those two skis. The ARW is much lighter, creating an easier and less fatiguing skiing experience, which is especially beneficial for female riders. That said, there’s still great stability in this ski, so don’t worry about it lacking a supportive feel for those who like to ski fast. It absolutely can still do that, we just think the lighter weight construction creates a more balanced ski overall. Armada also includes their Smear Tech, which basically blurs the line between what we would consider a construction element or a shape element. The beveling of the base creates a highly surfy, smeary, catch-free feel, which is especially noticeable in really deep snow. The way this thing can slash turns is so fun, and certainly a decent amount of credit is owed to the Smear Tech design.

The shape is a blend of freestyle and powder. The 106 mm waist width provides impressive float, which is further boosted by the abundant rocker profile on this ski. It is also 100% a twin tip shape, so it truly is a freestyle powder ski. We’re starting to see some crazy tricks from women in the backcountry these days. Big switch tricks are fully possible on the ARW 106, it’s just up to whether or not the skier is capable! If you’re a progressive freeskier and you’re looking to add some tricks to your repertoire, a ski like the ARW 106 UL is a must have.

This ski casts a huge net for those looking for something fun, playful, and floaty. By combining a relatively simple build with an engaging shape and profile, the Armada ARW 106 UL is a very interesting ski for those looking for a wider-bodied twin. While the name may indicate that it’s on the ladies side, the longer lengths open it up to a wide variety of skiers and skier types. Armada is smart to do this, offering up a great ski for the masses-just so long as those masses are interested in fun, smeary, playful, and versatile soft snow twins.