Best Armada All Mountain Ski??

G

GPB

New member
Hey all, looking for an all-mountain ski for more crud/on-piste conditions, seeing as i've just picked up a set of Magic J's for deep days. In saying that, i don't want to have to whip out the J's every time theres a few inches of fresh snow - and need a ski that can handle some softer conditions as well. Don't want another ski that is too wide and have nothing on the narrower side either.

LOCATION: Australia (+trips to Canada & Japan over the next couple of years)

HEIGHT/AGE/WEIGHT: 5'9 / 165lb

ABILITY LEVEL: 3 mountain / 1 park

BUDGET: ON3P and other US made brands are way too expensive in Australia.

WHAT KIND OF SKI DO YOU WANT: All-mountain skis mainly for crud, hitting natural terrain, and progressing in the park - but also able to handle some soft snow.

CONTENDERS: ARV 96 / ARV 96ti ZERO / Edollo / BDog / Other suggestions?

Chosen these based on their widths, which i'm hoping will be enough for some soft snow, but not too wide to hold an edge. Fairly sure theres not much difference between them in-terms of shape, so its down to the flex pattern. I have no idea whether to choose a stiffer ski (96ti Zero) or softer ski (Edollo) and need to put the decision to bed.

**This thread was edited on Sep 3rd 2018 at 2:46:49am
 
Sounds like 96 Ti would be your best bet out of those choices. I'd also take a look at Faction CT 2.0 just as another option but it sounds like you're pretty sold on Armada
 
id get the 96 ti

106 is too close to the other ski already in your quiver, the JJ, IMO. 96 will be a better do it all that doesnt encroach on the JJ's area of expertise
 
13941208:SofaKingSick said:
id get the 96 ti

106 is too close to the other ski already in your quiver, the JJ, IMO. 96 will be a better do it all that doesnt encroach on the JJ's area of expertise
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Thought the same, dont want to abandon the magic js. Opions on the ARV 96 over the 96ti? Ill pick one of the two, just cant decide between a mid or stiff flex

**This post was edited on Sep 8th 2018 at 7:06:30am

**This post was edited on Sep 8th 2018 at 7:06:57am
 
13941401:GPB said:
Thought the same, dont want to abandon the magic js. Opions on the ARV 96 over the 96ti? Ill pick one of the two, just cant decide between a mid or stiff flex

**This post was edited on Sep 8th 2018 at 7:06:30am

**This post was edited on Sep 8th 2018 at 7:06:57am
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I haven't skied the new TIs but I've skied the old ones and the regular 96s for years. Both are great do it all skis, but the ti is way better for doing well in crud and they're more stable. No reason in my mind to not do the ti if you aren't looking for a softer ski in particular.

In my mind, another way to look at it is: if this ski's purpose is leaning slightly more toward park, go regular. If you're buying it as more of an all mtn shredder than a park ski, go ti. That's my take at least
 
I've been riding pretty much the whole lineup this year and I'd probably agree the ARV 96ti is the best of those options. The dampness and stiffness of the Tis makes them way more useable in cruddy snow. The regular 96 is still a pretty solid ski, but it's a lot more poppy and energetic so it bounces around a bit in mixed snow.

I actually think you'd probably be more stoked on the 106 footprint though. It's plenty different from the Magic J (125mm vs 106mm) and I find them pretty much as usable as the 96 day to day. They are incomparably better in a bit of soft snow, I find some extra width helps in crud and they hold an edge almost as well. The downsides come more on jumps (swingweight) and stability (they are softer than the regular 96, let alone the Ti)a. The ARV 106ti does exist and I think those would be the perfect choice, but they are an Evo exclusive I believe, so you would have to import them. I'd probably say 106ti if you can get em, 96ti if you can't.
 
13941540:Twig said:
I've been riding pretty much the whole lineup this year and I'd probably agree the ARV 96ti is the best of those options. The dampness and stiffness of the Tis makes them way more useable in cruddy snow. The regular 96 is still a pretty solid ski, but it's a lot more poppy and energetic so it bounces around a bit in mixed snow.

I actually think you'd probably be more stoked on the 106 footprint though. It's plenty different from the Magic J (125mm vs 106mm) and I find them pretty much as usable as the 96 day to day. They are incomparably better in a bit of soft snow, I find some extra width helps in crud and they hold an edge almost as well. The downsides come more on jumps (swingweight) and stability (they are softer than the regular 96, let alone the Ti)a. The ARV 106ti does exist and I think those would be the perfect choice, but they are an Evo exclusive I believe, so you would have to import them. I'd probably say 106ti if you can get em, 96ti if you can't.
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Spewin, the 106ti looks like a dream come true. Evo exclusive makes them almost impossible, and if so, stupidly expensive, to get hands on here. 96ti is sounding pretty solid at the moment though, given they hold up in the softer stuff.
 
There are also the Invictus series as an all mountain. Won't be as freestyle oriented as the ARV series though.

**This post was edited on Sep 9th 2018 at 8:48:10am
 
13941540:Twig said:
It's plenty different from the Magic J (125mm vs 106mm) .
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Oops yeah you're right I didn't realize he said magic j so that's not as close as I was thinking

I stick by what I said tho plus, as you pointed out, the 106 is really soft and the 106ti will be prohibitively tough or pricey to get
 
13941555:SofaKingSick said:
Oops yeah you're right I didn't realize he said magic j so that's not as close as I was thinking

I stick by what I said tho plus, as you pointed out, the 106 is really soft and the 106ti will be prohibitively tough or pricey to get
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Sounds like the 96ti is the go, cheers for all the help!
 
13941654:_newschooler_720 said:
Hope you enjoy them

Awesome ski
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Do you find they handle park well? I heard the last model had some people negging out about the added weight from the metal.
 
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