2026 Armada ARV 88

Unchanged for 2026 except for graphics, the Armada ARV 88 continues to be a wonderful freestyle ski for a pretty specific set of skiers. As the most park-oriented of the ARV’s, the Armada ARV 88 has a competition basis but that doesn’t mean it can’t be an all-mountain ripper as well. Skis in the 88 mm range are often known for their versatility, and just because the ARV 88 is a twin tip doesn’t mean it can’t ski the mountain with the best of them. When we saw the designs for the new 88 two seasons ago, it was clear what they were going for here, and the real-world application of the ski makes a lot of sense. Freestyle skiers are going to find a lot of competitive aspects that come to fruition here while those that are either park curious or who just want to be on a light and mobile twin tip will love this ARV 88. It’s always impressive when a ski can stand up to the rigors of top-level slopestyle while keeping normal all-mountain skiers totally satisfied.

As the stiffer of the ARV’s, the 88 has a slightly thicker core to withstand the big airs and harsh landings that can be encountered after large jumps in the park and beyond. The ARV 88 uses a poplar wood core with an ash binding insert. This works great and sets the blueprint for the wider ARV skis moving forward into this season. The ash keeps the mid-body of the ski nice and firm while the poplar adds smoothness and predictability. ARV 88 also incorporates their w3dge2all tech back into the ski, fusing the sidewall material into the core in the pressing process. This adds energy and smoothness while increasing durability. Tester Bruce Bell notes that the ARV 88 is “Somewhat sluggish in the tip response, but it felt pretty damp, which is a good thing.” Freestyle isn’t even a big part of Bruce's ski repertoire, and he still finds a lot to like about this jib stick. The fact that it’s light is very appealing to a lot of skiers as the 181 hits the scale at 1650 grams.

The shape and profile of the ski is largely based in the freestyle realm, and it is competition derived. There’s not a whole lot of rocker here as the tips and tails have roughly equal splay but not a long bend. The 181 produces a 17-meter turn radius based on 121/88/115 mm measurements. There’s not a huge drop in taper from tip to tail, again leading to the more symmetrical and competition-oriented style of the skis. Long camber is the big story when it comes to profile, as that leads to a very energetic feel both in the air and on the snow. Eli Moskowitz is a bit more park-oriented than Bruce, and when it comes to the energy, Eli states that “the ski is very light and poppy. It can hold an edge well but can be hard to break loose once you start a carve.” That’s a big plus for those that are looking for a sturdy feel on trail while being strong and capable in the park. Another park skier, Ryan Nagle, finds that it “works well on smooth and even surfaces more than anything else” and he wishes it was a bit stiffer and heavier.

When it comes to skier type, other than competition style skiers, this ski is light enough to handle progressing beginners all the way through lighter weight advanced skiers looking for that narrow-ish twin tip to handle park and all-mountain. Bruce thinks it’s more for “intermediate to aggressive advanced front side skiers who like to play in the park and jib on the mountain.” This seems like a very good place to be for a lot of skiers who are blending all-mountain and freestyle capabilities. You get the light weight for mobility and the stiffness and energy for high-level park performance. As a result, the ARV 88, despite its approval in the park, also has some versatility from a skier and style standpoint.