2018 Line Blends or Armada ARV 106?

ndude.k

ndude.k

Member
I do a lot of Eastern skiing as I live in New England. I love to do both park and all mountain. I currently have the 2017 Line Tigersnakes but i'm planning on buying a new ski with a wider waist. Any recommendations to which ski? I feel like the blends would fit more eastern snow more than the ARV's for both park and all mountain, but yet again the ARV's seem pretty send worthy.
 
speaking as a current fellow easterner, i'd personally suggest something skinnier and stiffer than 106. 100s waisted ski will be sick as hell on some days but for the vast majority of east coast days, a little skinnier (90s waist) and stiffer will work better IMO. those are two particularly soft skis and i don't know if i'd want them as my daily driver here in the east where it can be so firm sometimes

just my 2 cents
 
I have to agree with the previous comment on 96 prob being better, however seeing as you already have a ski that's 88 in the waist, I can see why you would want something more than 8mm wider.

Can you use the 106 in the east? You bet- I did everywhere last year east and west even on some craptastic ice and hardpack with the ARV 106. It was great as far as I could tell, but then again I never compared it to a narrower version of itself or a stiffer ski. Would a 96 be better? Probably for most days
 
13942269:SofaKingSick said:
speaking as a current fellow easterner, i'd personally suggest something skinnier and stiffer than 106. 100s waisted ski will be sick as hell on some days but for the vast majority of east coast days, a little skinnier (90s waist) and stiffer will work better IMO. those are two particularly soft skis and i don't know if i'd want them as my daily driver here in the east where it can be so firm sometimes

just my 2 cents
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I use 100+ for a daily on the east coast at stratton, gore, whiteface and it works great. It really comes down to the ski choice. Id recommend the 106 over the blend. the blends are soft and will not carve well on hardpack.

13942308:IsitWinterYet17 said:
I have to agree with the previous comment on 96 prob being better, however seeing as you already have a ski that's 88 in the waist, I can see why you would want something more than 8mm wider.

Can you use the 106 in the east? You bet- I did everywhere last year east and west even on some craptastic ice and hardpack with the ARV 106. It was great as far as I could tell, but then again I never compared it to a narrower version of itself or a stiffer ski. Would a 96 be better? Probably for most days
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arv 106 would be a great second ski to his 88. If you ski the woods, bumps, mixed terrain and then venture into the park some the 106 will work. If you spend more time in the park than in the woods, etc.. and ski groomers and carve go wtih a 96 and you'll never touch your 88s again unless its early/late season.
 
blends are pretty noodly so they're prob not your best option for charging on the ice coast. cant rly say anything about arvs though, but maybe go with something less than 100 underfoot.

i like my skis wider even on the east coast, but id say even 95 underfoot is pushing it (at least where i ski).
 
13942487:freeskibum82 said:
I use 100+ for a daily on the east coast at stratton, gore, whiteface and it works great. It really comes down to the ski choice. Id recommend the 106 over the blend. the blends are soft and will not carve well on hardpack.

arv 106 would be a great second ski to his 88. If you ski the woods, bumps, mixed terrain and then venture into the park some the 106 will work. If you spend more time in the park than in the woods, etc.. and ski groomers and carve go wtih a 96 and you'll never touch your 88s again unless its early/late season.
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I feel like the ARV would fit me better since I find myself making the mountain my park
 
arvs are more durable, blends are flexier. if ur all about butters then get the blends, but generally i'd recommend the arvs, although i might be biased since i used to own a pair
 
Definitely ARV considering you ski all mountain too. I have Blends and Live in Maine so i can tell you that there is a lot to be desired with the blend, I cant say so much about the ARV's but the 106s seem great for your situation.
 
My 2016 armada bdogs are the shit on east coast pow days. I have a pair of 2018 jj zeros and for light pow they felt much less maneuverable. The bdogs feel nice and damp for hard landings and butter well.

Also if anyone has '16 Chronics, send me a pm (unknown pleasures is my childhood)
 
13943249:freeskibum82 said:
further proof the arv106 is the right choice:https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Roofbox-Reviews-2019-Armada-ARV-106
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just for the record i don't necessarily disagree with you, i think youre right that it could totally work (esp on the good days!). just personally ive found that i like something a little stiffer and skinnier on the east for the average east coast day. but the 106 could work really well esp if it's true that theyve stiffened them a little this time around, as ive heard
 
13943299:SofaKingSick said:
just for the record i don't necessarily disagree with you, i think youre right that it could totally work (esp on the good days!). just personally ive found that i like something a little stiffer and skinnier on the east for the average east coast day. but the 106 could work really well esp if it's true that theyve stiffened them a little this time around, as ive heard
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I definitely agree with you. I usually gauge the weather and how much manmade vs natural has fallen to determine what ski to bring. if its a cold bulletproof day there is no way im bringing something wider than mid 90s. Those are the days i know i wont be in the woods, the bumps will be hard and the groomers firm ill throw the Scratchs in the car and leave my wider skis home. If the temps are mid 20s to 30s and the snow is drier i will usually stick with my blizzard rustler 10s or rossi s3.
 
I ski in New England and almost any (not all) Line skis are great around here. I’m Getting a new pair of blends this season and they are some great skis...
 
13944368:Cade2 said:
Arv 96s would be a way better choice
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I get what you're saying, but I feel like a thicker ski would fit my type of ski style. I love doing freestyle all over the mountain and then hopping into the park every now and then.
 
13944682:ndude.k said:
I get what you're saying, but I feel like a thicker ski would fit my type of ski style. I love doing freestyle all over the mountain and then hopping into the park every now and then.
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That’s exactly why u should get the 96
 
personnaly i would rather have the blends because they are more playful and buttery to suit my ski style

I ski in new england multiple times a year and judging by the conditions every year, i think that the blends would work better for u but if u are set on some armadas, i think u should get th 96's
 
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