Armada Ar7 vs. Scott Jib TW vs. K2 Domains vs. K2 Recoils vs. Nordica Ace of Spades

SteezyLaxer

SteezyLaxer

Member
I'm looking for a ski that I can use in the park and all mtn. I ski 50% park and 50% all mtn including 15% powder. I mostly ski in vermont and go out west once or twice a season. If you have any other recommendations write them. Like AR7 and TW Jib the most.
 
I have ridden a pair of the 177 flat camber version of the AoS last season here in central New York. I skied about 70% rails, 30% jumps for 50 days exactly.

I LOVED these skis, snappy, responsive, light and overall, a lot of fun! These performed exceptionally on rails because of their weight. Flat camber also makes surface swaps pretty slick, too. I also felt like I could load up on them and jump over just about anything.

For jumps, I never really had an issue with them. A little bit more stiffness would have been favorable for my body type (5' 11'' 200 lbs), but I feel like for a more averaged sized skier, these would be perfect. However, I never really had an opportunity to push these skis on jumps bigger than 50ft because of such weak snowfall/snowmaking last season. I buttered these around quite frequently and loved every minute of it.

In terms of build quality, I was able to enjoy a lively ride for the first 35 days. The race bases were AWESOME too, I never had to hike as high as my friends and could clear things that no one else could on a regular basis. I had easily over 30 hairline to full sized edge cracks on them that didn't effect performance. By day 36 or so, my sidewalls started to blow out and the topsheet separated from the sidewalls between my toe pieces and heel pieces. Here, I also started to feel the flex break down to become progressively floppier. Days 45-49 I noticed a fracture in the sidewall of my right ski right at core center. On day 50, last Sunday, I blew out my sidewall to the point of core exposure between my toe/heel, being about 3mm deep measuring from the edge inward. I didn't really feel like I could lock out the edge and get the pressure I needed to push around front 450's on a higher mellow down rail. The ones I did get around, I washed out to my back because the tails got to be like a wet noodle.

If you're not as concerned about riding them as long as I did and are looking for a sick ride with exceptional performance, I would definitely recommend you getting them!
 
I had AoS previously, and they were great skis before they got stolen. Super bomb proof with my experience (previous guy says different), no edge cracks or anything else. The race base really does help get that extra speed too. However, after about 60 days on them I'd say they lost the majority of their pop having a traditional sidewall and wood core. They also didn't fare as well as my Halo's do all over the mountain I'd say. Nice ski while it lasts!
 
All the skis you listed there are straight up park skis, no matter what the manufacturer's matrix may say. That being said, I think the Recoil might be the best option. It has rocker like the Domain, but it's stiffer.
 
I have demoed the scott jib and the iron maidens(same as the recoils). I'm 6' tall and 180lbs advance skier. Demoed both skis at sunday river in spring like conditions a week from today. Middle of the trails were classic east coast ice.

I was extremely disappointed in the iron maidens. They didn't have much pop and were heavy. They were heavy enough to make me notice. The iron maidens got very squirrely at speed but i wasn't even going too fast. Once I hit around 30mph I started to out ski them. The positive with the iron maidens is they feel very stompy in landings and you can thrash the shit out of them. You can feel when you ski them that they are built like a tank. I demoed them at the 179 length. The recoils right now are dirt bag ski bum cheep right now. They are going for $275 on evo gear in all lengths so that miiiight push you to over look all those things. If you get them only get them in the 179 length.

The scott jibs were a really fun ski. Scott put in a ton of carbon stringers in the jibs giving them a shit ton of pop. If you hit a bump on the trail and your not ready for it they will buck you up into the air. I actually liked that in the jibs. I have never rode on any ski with that amount of pop. They did good in the bumps and were stable in the landings. The only problem I foresee in the jibs is durability. In the past scott durability hasn't been the great but I'm going to take a gamble on the jibs and buy them this year. I demoed them in the 178 length. I have a preference to ride short. I like my skis to go everywhere and east coast trees are tight as shit and the shorter length helps.

I can give some word on armada. I have had my thalls for four years and they are still going. They are pretty thrashed but not broken. Armada also makes a very lite ski that is bomber. Armada products have never disappointed me. Just picked up some ARV's this year and love them.
 
Just picked up the AoS for this season(2011-2012 version). I am so excited on them. They have a really nice flex for me (5'10" 165 pounds) and I really like the vinyl topsheet. I have heard a TON of good vibes about the race bases. I will be skiing on them tomorrow for the first time, so Ill post a more detailed version of this tomorrow.
 
So should I fully take the aos of my choices because of the sidewall issues? I'm now a little more skeptical with the Scott jib. I also heard though that they made the Jibs more durable this year with the thick sidewall construction, Btw anybody have anything to say about the arv?
 
what level skier are you? the ar7s are always a reliable and good ski. good for all levels. the only thing that it probably wont work for is powder, but none of those skis will so it doesnt really matter.
 
im intermediate to advanced. ski on blacks and can ski pretty big in the terrain parks. like 40-50 foot jumps doing 3s,5s, and 7s. im ok on rails i cant do kinked rails yet though but working on it
 
I have the ar7s and they are a dream, they are super light and right now are my favorite park ski. I ski all over the mountain and they just are so fun. If I would buy again I might go for the halos, but Im a park guy. But honestly, the Ar7s are to die for, and they are backed by a great company.
 
So I think I'll prob go with the ar7s I also heard about the dynastar 6th sense distorter. Are those any good? Also what size would you say I should get and what bindings?
 
i just skied my AR7s for the first time today and i absolutely loved them!!! Absolutely ripped on them and for as stiff as they were (could just be because i havent worked them in yet) i found them to be very buttery... very very fun ski!!!
 
Yup I'm definitely going with the ar7s. For bindings someone at my local shop recommended me a pair of look pivots, are those any good?
 
I'm on the domains, really fun and durable rail/park ski though the lack or camber can make turns boring, but the benefit you get towards rails makes it worth it.
 
My shop is out of stock of the 181 ar7 so I got to wait. Hum up with any other recommendations i also saw the line chronics which seem like a perfect ski for me hmu with recommendations. I have now narrowed down my choices to the following in this order: AR7, AOS, Chronics, and TW Jibs.
 
just wait it out for the AR7s, trust me! they have a sick amount of pop and are very buttery as well! not to mention they absolutely haul on the groomers
 
I ride recoils and I can agree for the most part, although I haven't felt that they are chattery skiing out of the park (I'm a small guy though). Anyway, yes, they are pretty heavy, but they are built extremely solid, very tankish. If you are looking for the most use out of your skis, and/or are hard on your stuff, def consider the recoil. They are really cheap right now too.
 
The recoil is an awesome ski. I've skied it a couple of times so far. Its very stable, holds an edge and is extremely durable are as all K2 skis. If your a park and all-mountin skier I suggest the recoil more than any of the other skis. The Recoils Rocker (all-terrain rocker) is great for all over the mountain, and it is rather good in the pow. A great tree-ski also.

K2 domains are a little lighter and do not have a camber underfoot, instead they are jib rocker. Know to be very buttery and are an exceptional park ski.

Ar7, although park orientated holds up great all-mountin, just not as good as the recoil.
 
I noticed that too, they are pretty heavy but you do get used to them, and although heavy on the ground they feel rather light in the air.
 
im just gonna go with the ar7 i heard nothing negative about it. Also the recoil is too fat to me for a park ski with 92mm underfoot. The only other ski i would consider at this point would be the aos because i can get them for dirt cheap on skis.com.
 
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