2026 Armada Stranger 100

There’s something about the Armada Stranger that just makes sense. While the name may imply that there’s something foreign or unknown about these skis, the reality is quite different. They feel familiar, intuitive, and like they’ve been part of your family for quite some time. Bonus points for you if you’re used to more flexible and sturdy twin tips at or around 100 mm underfoot. Overall, this is a very unique ski, yet it performs with an amazing sense of comfort, confidence, playfulness, and fun.

The construction of these skis is quite interesting as it uses a blend of poplar and ash in the wood core. The skis are hefty as a result, but they don’t have a very stiff flex. In addition to the core, the Stranger also uses wider edge, a springboard tail, edgeless tip, and a 75% sidewall to create this ski’s innovative character. They’re not terribly light, nor do they come in a variety of sizes. You can have the 172 at 2000 grams or the 180 at 2100 g/ski. That’s about it. As a larger skier at 6’2” and 225 pounds, I feel totally at home on the 180 with no issues in stability. In fact, the mobility that results from the flex and the shape creates some awesome fun.

With measurements of 140/100/121 mm in the 180 cm length, these skis generate a 15.8-meter sidecut radius, allowing the Stranger to make some shorter turns. At the same time, it’s sturdy enough to run straight and true, making quick work of high-speed arcs despite the shorter radius and softer flex. The tips and tails of the skis allow for more creative and playful skiing—there's not even any edges around the tips, so the flex is even more generous. While it’s not a true twin tip in the classic sense, it does have a more modern look that allows for fun and easy skiing both forwards and backwards.

These skis do a fantastic job at blending and merging freeride, freestyle, and all-mountain skiing. They do so by mixing a sturdy build and a creative shape. With a unique snow feel, these skis can go between trees, powder, bumps, and carving with ease, but especially on the feet of more accomplished skiers who don’t mind a 2000-gram weight. Thanks to the heftier feel, you can let them run at speed as the shorter arc doesn’t keep them back all that much. The flex and rocker make them easy to use while the additional power mainly comes from the use of ash and a thicker core profile.