Armada ARG as touring ski?

stinky_cheese

stinky_cheese

Active member
Does anyone know anything about these skis? i can't find info anywhere. Found a good deal on some mounted with frame bindings, skins included, but i just know nothing about these skis. Anyone have any experience? thanks
 
I was just talking to someone today who is selling theirs in order to get a ski that they can tour on. They love the ARG's but they said they're so heavy they'd be a total pain to tour with.
 
The width would cause issues in the skin track, unless you were happy to blaze trail. The real problem is the full rocker profile. Not having consistent traction is what would make those a sketchy touring ski.
 
I haven't had these skis in hand, but their nearly-reverse sidecut might make edging on skin tracks difficult. The rocker wouldn't be too much of an issue (unless they're really ridiculously splayed, like I said, I haven't seen them in person).

Mostly, I just wouldn't want to drag the weight around. There are much better options out there for powder-oriented touring. If they're really that cheap, use the bindings and skins on something else and use the ARG's as your dedicated resort pow day ski.
 
fuck all this noise! set them up with a touring binding and get yourself up the hill. it will be worth it for the down, and that's what it's all about.

sure rocker skis will have less contact on the skin track, but the wide mid section of the ski gives you plenty of surface area for traction. my kid brother used that ski for years in the backcountry around jackson wy and crushed.

don't be a pussy!

(there are way too many pussy comments in this forum)
 
13765403:snomaster said:
fuck all this noise! set them up with a touring binding and get yourself up the hill. it will be worth it for the down, and that's what it's all about.

sure rocker skis will have less contact on the skin track, but the wide mid section of the ski gives you plenty of surface area for traction. my kid brother used that ski for years in the backcountry around jackson wy and crushed.

don't be a pussy!

(there are way too many pussy comments in this forum)
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Ouch!!

But I completely agree with you.
 
I don't know if anyone commenting has toured on these skis, or anything close .. or if they have ever toured at all in fact ...

I have been touring on a similar ski for over 5 years now. the Skevik Oda, and they are my go to ski for almost every day in the BC now. and yes, they make skins that fit skis this wide. I don't have any real difficulty on the ski track, and despite people's initial misconceptions they tour just fine.. yes, on a very steep and established skin tracks, finding your balance point over the skis is crucial .. but its crucial for everyone.... I slip in the same places people with more traditional shaped skis slip on the ski track..they are amazing at breaking trail, and even better for breaking trail in deep pow.

they will tour just fine... just keep in mind the additional weight of that ski with a fat skin. I moved from a frame binding to pins, and the weight reduction was an amazing improvement.
 
13766514:Hugh_Conway_jr said:
I don't know if anyone commenting has toured on these skis, or anything close .. or if they have ever toured at all in fact ...

I have been touring on a similar ski for over 5 years now. the Skevik Oda, and they are my go to ski for almost every day in the BC now. and yes, they make skins that fit skis this wide. I don't have any real difficulty on the ski track, and despite people's initial misconceptions they tour just fine.. yes, on a very steep and established skin tracks, finding your balance point over the skis is crucial .. but its crucial for everyone.... I slip in the same places people with more traditional shaped skis slip on the ski track..they are amazing at breaking trail, and even better for breaking trail in deep pow.

they will tour just fine... just keep in mind the additional weight of that ski with a fat skin. I moved from a frame binding to pins, and the weight reduction was an amazing improvement.
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I haven't toured with the ARG, but having ridden them plenty inbounds, I wouldn't want to.
 
Anything is a touring ski if you're dedicated enough! I'd get the G3 scala skins though, there will be a lot of drag, especially when breaking trail.
 
Sounds like a sufferfest.

I would skip the heavy touring option and maybe consider something lighter. You will find it excruciatingly difficult on short ascents and grinding through xx-inches of powder with heavy touring gear. I know from experience.

The exact weight of my touring setup (including boots) Is 3.246kg per foot.
 
13777376:D.B. said:
Sounds like a sufferfest.

I would skip the heavy touring option and maybe consider something lighter. You will find it excruciatingly difficult on short ascents and grinding through xx-inches of powder with heavy touring gear. I know from experience.

The exact weight of my touring setup (including boots) Is 3.246kg per foot.
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Sufferfest? excruciating?

I am going to go out on a limb and say you have never broken trail with a pair of reverse camber skis.... its actually their time to shine. They raise above the deep snow extremely easily and are far more efficient than a traditional camber ski.
 
13777595:Hugh_Conway_jr said:
Sufferfest? excruciating?

I am going to go out on a limb and say you have never broken trail with a pair of reverse camber skis.... its actually their time to shine. They raise above the deep snow extremely easily and are far more efficient than a traditional camber ski.
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If you're always breaking a new track, I could see how a wider, reverse camber setup would be beneficial, but most skiers are usually going to be on a skin track thats already put in. In that respect, they're gonna suck. and If you're spring skiing on firm snow, they're also gonna suck. If you doing any booting, you're carrying more twice the weight in skis, so again they're gonna suck. You're basically advocating for a ski that will be great for conditions you'll encounter 5% of the time you tour.
 
13778063:papermache said:
If you're always breaking a new track, I could see how a wider, reverse camber setup would be beneficial, but most skiers are usually going to be on a skin track thats already put in. In that respect, they're gonna suck. and If you're spring skiing on firm snow, they're also gonna suck. If you doing any booting, you're carrying more twice the weight in skis, so again they're gonna suck. You're basically advocating for a ski that will be great for conditions you'll encounter 5% of the time you tour.
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I am advocating for a ski that will be great for 100% of the conditions that you want to ski.

the additional weight of the ski is negligible. Consider mounting pins to reduce weight in the binding if you can get enough leg strength and stamina. ;)
 
I tour on ARG's. They are the best ski in deep powder!! More weight, more excercise! Breaking trail is awesome and reverse camber Doesent hurt you that bad, most of your traction Comes from under your feet anyway.

Bad conditions? Do something else! Why would I go touring if there wasn't a foot of fresh at the top?

Pick your favorite ski and get it to the top.
 
Yeah. I'd skip the ARG and just get something narrower and longer instead.

I float all day on 192 TST's mounted with Vipecs. Much more useable.
 
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