2027 Armada ARV 94

The 2027 Armada ARV 94 is a well-rounded twin tip that does have a bit of a freestyle lean but is totally acceptable as an all-mountain ski as well. This ski gets a new graphic option for 2027 but returns otherwise unchanged. It’s still a very fun, peppy, and hyper-mobile ski that blurs the lines between park, all-mountain, and freeride skiing. The mid-90's is a great place to be in terms of overall versatility, and when you add a twin tip to the mix, it just makes it more fun. In terms of skiing, more fun is better. The ARV 94 also can span a variety of skier types and abilities, making skiing accessible for intermediates and satisfying the needs of more demanding advanced and expert skiers. If you’re between this ski and another mid-90's ski, the ARV 94 does feel like a more balanced and symmetrical option for park-oriented skiers.

This ski still has the same construction as last year, and that’s great news for skiers who love the smoothness and predictability. We’re still seeing that full poplar core in this ski and Armada’s W3dgewall sidewall technology continues. Other than that, it’s pretty simple in terms of the build. The only other point of note is that the core thickness of the 94 here is more ample than that of the wider 100 and 106, giving this ski a bit more stiffness and strength for big jumps and landings, emphasizing the park focus of this ski. Tester Phil McGrory notes that the ski excels in “variable terrain and off-trail. The ski is very nimble and playful allowing you to take it down a variety of terrain.” It does take a somewhat sturdy ski to be amenable to various types of snow conditions and trail choices. The ash binding insert helps here but doesn’t really deliver the type of power and smoothness versus a full ash core or even stringers. In 178, the ski weighs 1800 grams per ski. The light feeling does come more from the mix of shape and profile than the build.

While some twin tips in the mid-90's have more of a directional feel, the ARV 94 leans the opposite way. The shape of these skis is pretty darn symmetrical, adding to the freestyle capacity. Boasting sidecut measurements of 123/94/118 in the 178, the ski only has a 5 mm drop in tip and tail width. This leads to balance and excellent performance in a switch realm. This leads to a 17-meter turn radius, and much of that is accessible by the mid-range flex pattern. Tester Bob St.Pierre states “I'd say this ski belongs in the park or in the trees, but mostly park. You should ski it in the trees on your way to the park. It carves fine, but you can't really push it too hard. The twin tip makes it incredibly playful and creative. This ski is super mobile and wicked agile. It goes exactly where you put it with no fight and no fuss. It feels like more of a true park ski with some all-mountain character rather than an all-mountain twin.” Much of the footprint backs up Bob’s theory here, that this 94 is a well-positioned ski for freestyle with the bonus of handling other things as well. There’s good energy due to the camber, but it’s by no means overpowering or demanding.

When it comes to choosing this ski, this is a fairly accessible ski for intermediates and advanced skiers, whether they’re interested in slopestyle or not. Some people just like twin tips, and if they’re more symmetrical than directional, then so much the better. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun out there, and if the shape of this ski allows you to do that more, then go right for it. The fun part of this ski is that you don’t need to be a park skier to enjoy the balance, symmetry, and well-rounded nature—it's just a good ski that just so happens to excel in the slopestyle realms.