Ski similar to ARV 106's but flexier and/or lighter

WisconsinBadger4

WisconsinBadger4

New member
Don't ski much park, mainly moguls, trees, steeps, hitting side hits and jumping off moguls everywhere. Love my ARV 106's (188cm) for all that so I'm looking to try a ski with a similar shape (waist width and rocker profile), but flexier and/or lighter to have more fun jumping around/buttering.

The ARV's feel pretty stiff for popping/buttering and are pretty dang heavy. I could also be interested in 1 of the 2-- all reccs accepted!

I am 6'3 200lbs.

Also as a side note, wondering if this length sounds right for what kind of skiing I'm doing, or if I should consider going shorter.

**This thread was edited on Dec 22nd 2021 at 4:22:39pm
 
from what i hear the volkl revolt 104s might be worth looking into. i think they also have a 188cm length and I've heard that they are really fun all mountain. i have never tried them myself tho
 
at 6'3 200lbs the reckoner 102 will probably feel like a noodle to you, it does for me at 6'3 and 240. but hey if you want a noodle ski doit.

Revolt 104 feels surpringly good regardless of weight, have a 176lbs buddy skiiing same length (188) as me and loves them
 
Based on your description I think you’d really enjoy the Fat-ypus M5s in the athlete flex 188cm version. At your height and weight, they’ll feel super playful and their poplar core and tapered design makes them feel incredibly light. I enjoy the same terrain/style as you do and these are my absolutely favorite skis :)
 
What year ARV do you have? They redesigned it in 2021 and is now stiffer.

If you're have an older version I'd look into the Line Sir Francis Bacon, it's one of the few ski in that width category that is gonna be softer and more "playful" than the old ARVs.

If you have a 2021 or newer, there is a lot of options, a lot of them being mention above. Another one I'd recommend is the Faction Prodigy 3.0, playful but still stable (pretty similar to the old ARVs IMO)

**This post was edited on Dec 23rd 2021 at 10:34:17pm
 
Get the arw 106 UL. Yes they have it in the woman’s category but it’s a unisex ski and come in the 188 length. It’s lighter and softer flex but still the same shape as the regular arv 106. If not that ski I would recommend the revolt 104 for sure. It’s the closest thing I’ve skied that compares to the arv
 
14409816:WisconsinBadger4 said:
I am now thinking about getting the J Skis Vacation 180cm . Thoughts?

Just looking to make trees and moguls more fun really, lol.
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If I go with the Vacations, could I try the 180s or should I really go for the 186’s? Being 6’3” I feel like I should go 186’s, but on the other hand I mainly ski moguls and trees, where I sometimes wish my 188cm ARVs were shorter.
 
Def go 186. Most likely the true length is less than 186, just like how your ARVs are shorter than 188 (I know cuz I have the 2022 ARV 106 in 188 and they actually measure out to 186).

Also, it has been noted in NS’s own roofbox review that the vacation in 180 is an absolute noodle. Vacation 186 supposedly ups the stiffness to something actually reasonable for all mtn but still on the softer side.
 
I have the Season Nexus in a 189 and can't say enough good things about it. I am the same height but a little lighter. The playful shape, turn radius, but solid design make it great for a playful but still fairly aggressive ski. I think it would feel a less cumbersome than the arv106 without losing to much of the stability.
 
14409872:OhJay said:
Def go 186. Most likely the true length is less than 186, just like how your ARVs are shorter than 188 (I know cuz I have the 2022 ARV 106 in 188 and they actually measure out to 186).

Also, it has been noted in NS’s own roofbox review that the vacation in 180 is an absolute noodle. Vacation 186 supposedly ups the stiffness to something actually reasonable for all mtn but still on the softer side.
Click to expand...

Welp, the last Vacation 186 available just sold out today, so I guess those are out of the option.
 
After reading detailed reviews on all the skis people have mentioned, I'm pretty certain the K2 Reckoners will be ideal for what I'm looking for (184cm length). Luke Koppa's review over at Blister definitely inspired the decision as he talked about skiing the same terrain I do, and having a blast on em.

Right now, I'm at the question of whether I get the 102's or the 112's. I would love for K2 to offer a 104-108. It sounds like they have more rocker than the ARV's, so that could somewhat compensate for the reduced width for loss in float on powder days, right?

But then again if I go with the 112's that sounds like a step in the opposite direction of my ARV's, going heavier and worse for trees/moguls, even though they would be flexier.

I am in CO so don't get too many deep, deep storms (and am a resort skier as well)....... I've talked myself into going with the 102's :)
 
14410528:WisconsinBadger4 said:
After reading detailed reviews on all the skis people have mentioned, I'm pretty certain the K2 Reckoners will be ideal for what I'm looking for (184cm length). Luke Koppa's review over at Blister definitely inspired the decision as he talked about skiing the same terrain I do, and having a blast on em.

Right now, I'm at the question of whether I get the 102's or the 112's. I would love for K2 to offer a 104-108. It sounds like they have more rocker than the ARV's, so that could somewhat compensate for the reduced width for loss in float on powder days, right?

But then again if I go with the 112's that sounds like a step in the opposite direction of my ARV's, going heavier and worse for trees/moguls, even though they would be flexier.

I am in CO so don't get too many deep, deep storms (and am a resort skier as well)....... I've talked myself into going with the 102's :)
Click to expand...

I ski in New Hampshire and Vermont and had a 102 last year, I’m only 5’11 200 pounds and I skied the 184. I owned it, and it did not hold up in the all mountain category. It’s not torsionally stiff enough to hold an edge at high speed and it flaps like a motherfucker in chop and crud. You do you but if you’re taller and heavier than me, you’re gonna fold the thing in half.
 
OP, when you say your ARV 106s are heavy and stiff, I'm assuming you have either this season's or last. In which case, the Reckoner 112s are actually still lighter and easier to maneuver/swing around than your ARVs.
 
Hmm… well, no shop around me demos Reckoner 102s. Did find some 188 Revolt 104s to demo this weekend— if those are stiffer than I want I’ll consider Reckoners, if they’re too soft I’ll know the Reckoners forsure aren’t for me.
 
How would someone say the Line Sick Day 104s compare to the ARV 106's ? Wondering if maybe I would like that farther-back mount point... hmm...

(by the way, since a few have asked, my ARVs are 2019):

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