Ski recommendations

T

TheGhostlySheep

New member
I'm looking to buy a pair of skis for myself as a Christmas gift. Problem is there's just so much choice out there and it's a bit overwhelming trying to make a choice. Feels like the more I look the less sure I am about which ones to get.

Height: 179cm

Weight: 67kg

Ability Level: intermediate/advanced. Comfortable on pretty much any groomed run, have done a reasonable amount of park skiing and some powder skiing.

Budget: 500 GBP max.

I'm looking for an all mountain twin tipped ski. I was initially looking at more park oriented skis. However, skiing on park features destroys skis so quickly and I can't afford to buy a new pair every year. So, I'd rather just have a twin tipped all mountain ski that skis well when center mounted, that I can take around the resort and on some jumps in the park, while avoiding boxes and rails.

On groomers I like to ski fast, but I do sometimes like to take my time when there are some nice natural features on the side of the slope and have a nice playful ski down the slope. So Ideally I'd need something that is reasonable stiff and steady while charging down a black run but also light and playful enough to mess around a bit. Might be difficult to find something but that's why I'm here asking for help lol.

Skis that I can say might fit the bill are:

- Armada ARV 96

- Black Crows Captis

- Volkl Revolt 95

Then I got super overwhelmed with how many options there are and I couldn't figure out which ones to pick.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks
 
Be careful you start buying one pair and you end up eventually with a full garage ?

I assume if you're from the UK you'll do most of your skiing taking trips to the Alps?

Seriously the option you're looking at are pretty good for what you want!

I think the ARVs are pretty perfect actually.

For Black Crow, the Camox (97 under foot) are probably a little bit more do it all.

For Volkl, I'd recommend checking out the the Revolt 104, it's a little wider with a bit more rocker, but it'll be great in powder while being a super fun skis everywhere, a lot of people love that ski.

When it comes to mounting point, I'm sure some people on here will disagree but I would recommend against mounting true center, in my opinion it doesn't make sense to mount true center unless you ride 100% park. It will vary from one ski to the other but for a directional twin tip with all mountain use in mind I feel like you get much more out of the ski mounting it around the -2cm mark, which is pretty much where the freestyle/team mounting point is on the ARVs and the Revolt
 
I think the ARV 96s are a great all rounder park ski, consider the ARV 106 if you are gonna be staying off the rails and want more pow performance. The 106s are also a tad stiffer for charging. imo the 96s ski pow like ass when they are center mounted but that's to be expected with a centered park ski.
 
Probably the perfect ski for that is the new Moment Deathwish 104. Amazing edge hold, stiff but not too stiff, while still being fully a freestyle ski. But the triple camber is either love it or hate it.

Wildcat 101 is also a contender, probably a little more playful and less "weird" than the deathwish, but quite stiff and great through the chop.

K2 Reckoner 102 would be more playful & better park ski but worse at groomers and charging

Not super familiar with ON3Ps but I imagine the Jeffery's are a good option

Bent chetler 100s might also work but probably suck at charging through the chop

Sego bighorn makes the whole playground your mountain etc but fr actually seems to fit what you want pretty nicely

Dynastar M Free idk people seem to like

Volkl Revolts are sick

Lots of options, none of them bad.
 
I am indeed going to be doing most of my trips to the alps, will be going in December, April and potentially in July.

I've narrowed it down to either the ARV 106 or the Camox. They're both a tiny bit outside of my budget but they just seem to be perfect so I'd rather pay a bit more to bag myself the perfect ski rather than save some money and settle for something that is great, but not quite what I would like.

My thoughts are that the ARV 106 is a bit stiffer and heavier than the Camox so, probably a bit better for charging down groomers but less playful than the Camox. So, as usual comes down to what I intend to do with the skis.

I also had a look at the Volkl revolt 104s and I hate to say this but I dismissed them simply because I really REALLY don't like the art on them lol.

In terms of bindings I'm looking at some marker griffon 13s (100mm for camox or 110mm for ARVs), nothing fancy but should get the job done seeing as I don't put my DIN past 8 normally as I'm a pretty lightweight skier. Question I had was do you know what the mounting points are for the ARVs? Black Crows has a recommended -6 for the Camox. The ARVs don't have anything on the Armada website and I can't find much online, other than there are 2 mounting points one at -2.5 and one at -5 but not sure which would be better.

14345649:colorado_frenchy said:
Be careful you start buying one pair and you end up eventually with a full garage ?

I assume if you're from the UK you'll do most of your skiing taking trips to the Alps?

Seriously the option you're looking at are pretty good for what you want!

I think the ARVs are pretty perfect actually.

For Black Crow, the Camox (97 under foot) are probably a little bit more do it all.

For Volkl, I'd recommend checking out the the Revolt 104, it's a little wider with a bit more rocker, but it'll be great in powder while being a super fun skis everywhere, a lot of people love that ski.

When it comes to mounting point, I'm sure some people on here will disagree but I would recommend against mounting true center, in my opinion it doesn't make sense to mount true center unless you ride 100% park. It will vary from one ski to the other but for a directional twin tip with all mountain use in mind I feel like you get much more out of the ski mounting it around the -2cm mark, which is pretty much where the freestyle/team mounting point is on the ARVs and the Revolt
Click to expand...
 
14346078:TheGhostlySheep said:
I am indeed going to be doing most of my trips to the alps, will be going in December, April and potentially in July.

I've narrowed it down to either the ARV 106 or the Camox. They're both a tiny bit outside of my budget but they just seem to be perfect so I'd rather pay a bit more to bag myself the perfect ski rather than save some money and settle for something that is great, but not quite what I would like.

My thoughts are that the ARV 106 is a bit stiffer and heavier than the Camox so, probably a bit better for charging down groomers but less playful than the Camox. So, as usual comes down to what I intend to do with the skis.

I also had a look at the Volkl revolt 104s and I hate to say this but I dismissed them simply because I really REALLY don't like the art on them lol.

In terms of bindings I'm looking at some marker griffon 13s (100mm for camox or 110mm for ARVs), nothing fancy but should get the job done seeing as I don't put my DIN past 8 normally as I'm a pretty lightweight skier. Question I had was do you know what the mounting points are for the ARVs? Black Crows has a recommended -6 for the Camox. The ARVs don't have anything on the Armada website and I can't find much online, other than there are 2 mounting points one at -2.5 and one at -5 but not sure which would be better.
Click to expand...

I’ve skied extensively in the alps with my Camox’s and I have yet to find a ski that does it all so well. For skiing everything and anything that the alps through at you, choose the camox. If you feel like switching it up some days and ski for the majority of the day in the park, the ARV’s will hold up better. The 96 would be an even more refined choice if your sure you’ll be in the park more often than not.

They’re fairly similar in terms of playfulness, the camox maybe slightly more traditional in its flex pattern, whilst the arvs have agood change of flex leading up to the tips.

Got to recommend Tyrolia Attack 13s as your binding choice, should be able to get them £20/£30 cheaper than the griffons and they’re arguably a better more solid binding.

Mounting points will really come down to how you intend to ski
 
14346078:TheGhostlySheep said:
In terms of bindings I'm looking at some marker griffon 13s (100mm for camox or 110mm for ARVs), nothing fancy but should get the job done seeing as I don't put my DIN past 8 normally as I'm a pretty lightweight skier. Question I had was do you know what the mounting points are for the ARVs? Black Crows has a recommended -6 for the Camox. The ARVs don't have anything on the Armada website and I can't find much online, other than there are 2 mounting points one at -2.5 and one at -5 but not sure which would be better.
Click to expand...

I think you should go with either Pivot 12s or Tyrolia Attack 13's. There's almost no reason to go with the Marker griffons these days, they are the least reliable binding and Attacks are cheaper and better in almost every way. Pivots are better at not pre releasing and allow you to be closer to the ski and get more flex out of it, but cost more and have almost no adjustment if that matters to you (for resale or different boots)

Also the brake size can typical fit about+5mm without bending. I have 110mm Attacks on my 116mm Blister pros, and they fit just fine.
 
14346153:powpatrol said:
Mounting points will really come down to how you intend to ski
Click to expand...

I think if OP is not very experienced in mounting point he just just mount at the recommended line..
 
You can get the poacher. They are pretty good for all-mountain and I think you can get them on evo for 350 right now. it is last years model but that is just different colors. Also, I think last years looks better.
 
14346078:TheGhostlySheep said:
I am indeed going to be doing most of my trips to the alps, will be going in December, April and potentially in July.

I've narrowed it down to either the ARV 106 or the Camox. They're both a tiny bit outside of my budget but they just seem to be perfect so I'd rather pay a bit more to bag myself the perfect ski rather than save some money and settle for something that is great, but not quite what I would like.

My thoughts are that the ARV 106 is a bit stiffer and heavier than the Camox so, probably a bit better for charging down groomers but less playful than the Camox. So, as usual comes down to what I intend to do with the skis.

I also had a look at the Volkl revolt 104s and I hate to say this but I dismissed them simply because I really REALLY don't like the art on them lol.

In terms of bindings I'm looking at some marker griffon 13s (100mm for camox or 110mm for ARVs), nothing fancy but should get the job done seeing as I don't put my DIN past 8 normally as I'm a pretty lightweight skier. Question I had was do you know what the mounting points are for the ARVs? Black Crows has a recommended -6 for the Camox. The ARVs don't have anything on the Armada website and I can't find much online, other than there are 2 mounting points one at -2.5 and one at -5 but not sure which would be better.
Click to expand...

I am in a very similar situaiton to you it seems! Can I ask where you ended up and if you are happy with your choice?

I know longer ski park as much and my ski time tends to be mainly piste, fun around the edges and any powder if lucky with the conditions. So I am basically looking for the best twin tip ski that can hold its own on piste but then also be versatile enough for a bit of park fun, some occasional powder and in between pistes, trees, bumps and jumps.....if that exists!!

Thanks
 
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