2027 Armada Antimatter Collection Introduction and First Impressions

For 2027, Armada is shaking things up. The AntiMatter collection is mostly new in terms of shaping and construction, although there are some carry forward principles from the Declivity line—some are shape-oriented, others are build-focused, and a few are just named differently. We’ll do our best to keep it all straight! It’s fair to say that the new skis within AntiMatter represent all sorts of different directions and applications, ranging from the carvy and peppy 75 all the way up to the smeary and floaty 114.

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 75 W Skis

2027 Armada Antimatter 75 Skis

We'll go narrowest to widest, so starting out with the all-new AntiMatter 75 which is available in both men's and women's graphics. These skis use a poplar wood core and a titanal laminate to power the ski—and it works! We found that the new 75 is a highly engaging carver, and while it doesn't feel like the rest of the AntiMatter skis in terms of use case and application, it certainly stands on its own merit when it comes to linking carved turns and providing a ton of frontside fun and electricity. In the 168 cm length, we're getting a 13.5-meter turn radius which is quite short, but also extremely entertaining. Versatility takes a back seat to singularity, but we think that there's room for everything. It's pretty stiff underfoot and through the tail and that goes along with a relatively fully cambered profile—there's not a lot of rocker in the tips at all, and the tails are quite square.

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 82 W Skis

2027 Armada Antimatter 82 Skis

Here's where things get a bit odd but only for a brief second. The AntiMatter 82 W has the same shape as the Reliance 82's of the past, but this one uses the same construction as the Reliance 82 C, so we get a caruba wood core and two strips of carbon to power the ski. This creates a lighter chassis and a more flexible nature for skiers who are looking for increased agility and quickness. There aren't too many skis like this out there that have an 82 mm waist but an all-mountain shape and freeride heritage. There's versatility here, but not as much on-trail power as the Reliance 82 Ti had in years past. For the AntiMatter 82, we're looking at a clone of the Declivity 82 Ti—same footprint, same build, but a different name and graphic. These skis still have the Articulated Titanal Banding that allows for increased torsional flex while keeping the ski glued to the snow. With a stiff flex and a nearly total lack of rocker or taper, these AntiMatter 82's have more of a front side look to them while keeping all-mountain versatility somewhat intact. While advanced and expert skiers will be able to still access off-trail performance here due to skill, the skis are happier in an on-piste format.

2027 Armada Antimatter 82 Skis - Now Available

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 88 W Skis

2027 Armada Antimatter 88 Skis

These two skis are the same. Same as they are now and same as they were last year. They have different graphics and size options to suit larger or smaller skiers but are structurally similar from tip to tail. They replace the Declivity 88 C in name and look, but retain the construction, shape, and profile. With poplar wood and carbon strips, they are light, agile, and incredibly fun. While they lack the top end power and stability of the metal-clad AntiMatters, they more than make up for it in energy and electricity. We find these skis to work great in an all-mountain setting, and they excel in bumps, tight trees, and other places in which short turns are super handy. While the weight (1575 g/ski in the 168) may not inspire confidence at high speeds on firm terrain, we're actually continually impressed with how well this ski holds up to relatively aggressive skiing. It's something we'd ski here at Stowe any day of the week. The flex is on the softer side for access to the sidecut, but with a longer effective edge, the skis still feel smooth and supportive in any shaped turn.

2027 Armada Antimatter 88 W Skis - Now Available

2027 Armada Antimatter 88 Skis - Now Available

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 92 W Skis

2027 Armada Antimatter 92 Skis

Things get fun and interesting when we enter the 92 range. These skis are also structurally similar to one another, with graphics and sizing options being the main differentiators. AntiMatter 92 shares the mold with the outgoing Declivity 92 Ti but incorporates a new construction. They still both use a poplar wood core and a full sidewall, but for 2027, AntiMatter 92 and 92 W use Armada's new Speed Metal laminates as opposed to the Articulated Titanal Band layers. They've reduced the width of the metal and removed the slits and elastomer, so by sheer volume, there's less metal here, but it is fair to say that it's more functional overall. By steadying the central spine of the ski with the Speed Metal Laminates, they're keeping the suspension fully in place while allowing the sides of the skis to be more amenable to off-trail and freeride applications. These skis have a slightly stiffer than average flex, but they feel more at home in chunky and variable snow than we've noted before. They don't lose a whole lot in terms of damping and power on-trail, as they're still really fun to get up on a high edge angle and take advantage of the longer camber and shorter turn radius. We're right at 1885 g/ski in the 172 cm lengths, so a nice mid-weight to go along with that moderate flex. There are minimal vibrations in these new skis, and they have been tester and employee favorites so far in our on-snow adventures this past winter.

2027 Armada Antimatter 92 W Skis - Now Available

2027 Armada Antimatter 92 Skis - Now Available

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 100 W Skis

2027 Armada Antimatter 100 Skis

The AntiMatter 100's are our second set of skis that are 100% totally new. Gone are the X 102's, and in their place are more freeride-oriented 100's. These AntiMatter 100's feature a new shape and use the same construction as the 92's and 114's with the Speed Metal Laminates. Similar to the 92's, the new 100's use a poplar wood core, a full sidewall, and the Speed Metal central laminates. They end up having some weight to them with the 182 sitting on the scale at just over 2000 grams and the 168 at 1750 g/ski. In addition to the construction having a bit less metal, the shape is considerably more freeride-focused. With a more central (-6.5 from center) mount point and gratuitous rocker and taper, these skis feel more like directional twins with metal more than anything else—and that's a good thing. Or you could call them narrower freeride skis—either way is fine with us. They do have more of a wiggly and swervy style than Declivity did, and that puts them more in line with the wider 108 and 114's in terms of overall character. This makes them super useful for around here in Vermont where we get into tricky spots more often than not when we're being adventurous. Having a ski with a strong backbone and a drifty shape makes a lot of sense for our trees and off-piste zones. On groomers, once you get them up on edge, the 18-meter turn radius in the 182 makes for a fun and engaging carving process. The women's 168 drops 2 meters to 16 in the arc—a bit more of an across-the-fall-line mentality as you go shorter. To reiterate, there's much more of a freeride shape and profile to these 100's than in the 92's.

2027 Armada Antimatter 100 Skis - Now Available

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 108 Skis

Similar to the 92, the AntiMatter 108 retains the mold and footprint of the Declivity X 108 but brings the new construction into the fold. The 108 still uses a poplar wood core and a full sidewall, but now has their Speed Metal laminates. The tips and tails are still slightly on the stiffer side, as this ski is built for high speeds and more aggressive skiing. It's fair to say that the new 108 has a slightly more forgiving flex pattern than it did before, but these skis are still more than capable to take on challenging conditions and terrain with a confident mentality. The 184 sits on the scale at a stated weight of 2175 g/ski, giving it a sturdy nature that will satisfy the most demanding of directional freeriders. One of the coolest parts of this ski is the shape, so we're happy to see that return. With measurements of 130/1018/121, the skis generate a relatively long radius, hitting a 24-meter arc in the 184. If you get the big 191, that number jumps to 26 meters, making this a fall-line lover that can be slashy if you have the skills and muscles. There's not a ton of versatility going on with this ski as it's certainly better suited to deeper snow and more open zones. We've skied it in some trees and powder here at Stowe, and it works fine, but any tighter and you're going to want something a bit more manageable.

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 114 Skis

Finally, the third totally new ski in the AntiMatter collection, and it's a good one. Developed in conjunction with Armada athlete Max Palm, the AntiMatter 114 is a big mountain powder ski with gratuitous rocker and a playful yet powerful feel. We get the new build, with a poplar wood core, full sidewall, and Speed Metal laminates. Like the other skis, this keeps the suspension damp and active while allowing the skis to be driftier along the sides in a more slashy and smeary format. There's definitely a bunch of freestyle influence here with a more symmetrical shape and style. The skis use measurements of 138/114/132 to generate a 21-meter radius in the 187 cm length. With only a 6 mm drop in tip to tail width, these skis have a very modern shape to them. The Palm line, which is found just behind true center, is a good option for stunt-oriented skiers while those looking for more of a directional feel can go with the Freeride line which is another 2.5 cm behind Palm. They are right about the same weight as the 108, so a slightly thinner core profile keeps the 187 at just about 2100 g/ski. This ski, like the AntiMatter 75, are more specific within this new range, and have a more limited scope of application. That makes the 114 a ski that can be relied on and entrusted to be a big mountain powder ski while anything other than that will be more of a challenge.

2027 Armada Antimatter 114 Skis - Now Available

Keep Exploring the 2027 Armada Antimatter Skis:

2027 Armada Antimatter Product Pages

2027 Armada Antimatter 92 & 92 W On Snow Review