As the narrowest of the Declivities, the 82 Ti doesn’t always get top billing. This is not because it lacks power, precision, or performance, rather this all-mountain line tends to skew towards the wider options. That said, if a skier is looking for a sharp, agile, and versatile ski with a quiet sound and smooth feel, the Declivity 82 Ti is a very solid option. There aren’t many skis in this width range that aren’t front side skis with system bindings. The fact that this ski comes flat and has more of a versatile nature allows it to stand out from a lot of other skis in this world. If you ski in an area that doesn’t get a ton of snow, it’s imperative to have conditions-appropriate skis. For some, especially those with race backgrounds, a front-side exclusive ski is often a great choice, but those can lack versatility. When you get on something like the Declivity 82 Ti, the all-mountain prowess definitely stands out, mainly based on the construction, shape, and profile. For 2024, we get a topsheet change, but the rest of the ski returns unchanged.

One of the main things that stands out about this ski is the use of light weight caruba wood sandwiched between two titanal laminates. That blend is an interesting one, as it keeps the weight down but the stability high. The upper laminate of metal is where this ski gets very interesting. By milling slits out of the forebody of the ski, Armada creates what they call Articulated Titanal Banding. This allows the ski engineers to create a more supple start to the turn while keeping the smoothness at an absolute maximum. In place of the removed metal, Armada incorporates an elastomer material that creates even more vibration damping without sacrificing power or performance. Unsurprisingly, this creates the feeling that the ski “articulates” to the snow, creating that flowy feel, especially in the front. Built with a full sidewall and triaxial fiberglass laminate, the ski has all of the attributes necessary for a strong and energetic product. The wood keeps it light, though, even with the metal, as the 174 weighs in at 1675 grams per ski.

The shape of this ski makes it unique when combined with the build. There aren’t many skis out there at this width that perform like this. The 82 mm waist is bookended by 128 mm tips and 110 mm tails in the 174, and that makes for a pretty pin-tailed shape. Great for long edge contact, smooth carving performance, and excellent underfoot grip, this shape is ideal for on-trail skiing in a variety of conditions. These dimensions create a relatively short 15.9-meter turn radius, making this ski eager to initiate and complete a carve. Throughout the course of the day, when those smooth conditions may deteriorate, this ski keeps it tight and adjusts to the inconsistencies in order to access that smoothness and versatility. While there’s an appropriate amount of rocker in the tips and tails for a ski this wide, the underfoot camber is what really stands out. There’s a lot of energy and pop built into this ski, and it’s mainly because of this profile. Quick and agile, the Declivity 82 Ti makes for an awesome front side ski that can handle trees, bumps, and other non-corduroy applications.

While the waist width may keep this ski off the radar of more advanced and aggressive skiers, this shouldn’t be the case in reality. This is a high-performance ski for sure with a top-end feel and ceiling. The fact that it’s accessible due to its maneuverability is only a feather in the cap of this oft-overlooked option.