2022 Armada ARV 106 - SkiEssentials com Ski Test

Test Results: www.skiessenti...
Buy Now: www.skiessenti...

[@adiosjohnny1]

Hey Bob! I own the Armada Declivity 92ti 180cm (front side ski) and Armada ARV JJ 116 185cm ( deep powder days). I live out in California and mostly ski the west coast. I'm looking for a daily driver to add to my quiver. I like the idea of adding the ARV 106, but I'm not sure if 180cm would be too short. The 188cm is too much of a ski for me, especially in tight terrain. I owned the ARV 106 back in 2017, and I got rid of rid of it because it was a little too short when I pushed it for speed other than that a great ski. Will the newly designed 2022 with smear tech be enough ski for me when I want to open it up? I think this new iteration weighs a bit more. The other ski I have at home right now is the K2 Reckoner 102 in a 184cm. I haven't mounted it up yet because I'm on the fence which way to go. I like skiing, trees, bumps and transitioning back and for between groomers and off piste. I realize both skis have a speed limit, but which ski would be a more fun all mountain ski, but have the ability to open it when I want to? I'm 5'10" and weigh around 165.

[@SkiEssentials]

Hey John! I find the ARV has better longitudinal stability, so better at skiing fast in a straight line, but the Reckoner 102 actually has more torsional stiffness, so slightly better edge grip, but with a softer longitudinal flex pattern. I know that's probably something that sounds impossible, but I do find they feel that way. For reference (I'm actually Jeff, not Bob, although Bob is sitting about 6 feet away), I'm about the same exact size as you and find I can push a 184 cm Reckoner 102 pretty hard. Part of me feels like you should go with what you already have (the Reckoner), but ARV would be nice if you just wanted to feel stronger in general (it's definitely heavier). Hope that helps!

[@hmcglash]

What are the recommended mounting points on this ski? I know Armada usually has freestyle and factory recommended mounting points

[@lickmybuttholeeugine4097]

I bought a pair today and put them on freestyle, my old arv’s were freestyle mounted and I loved it. They’re light in the tip and tail, I found the farther I was mounted back the more u would wash out on landings. I remounted them on freestyle and it made a big difference, more centered all together and aggressive. Also it depends on how you ski, if your looking to rip go freestyle.

[@lukeindustries]

would you recommend these or the arv 116?

[@sendersepp9632]

If you want a Ski to ride everywhere including powder, resort, park the arv 106 is probably the better joice. But if you are looking for a Ski only for Deep Powder the 116 is the best joice.

[@SkiEssentials]

Sender Sepp nailed it. Pure powder ski, get the 116. More all-mountain/freeride/some-powder, go 106.

[@koenig12]

I can't decide between bent chetler 100 or the arv106?? Help??

[@SkiEssentials]

How often are you in deep snow conditions? If it's pretty frequently, go ARV 106. If it's less than 50% of the time, I would probably go Bent Chetler, especially if it's what you'll be skiing most regularly. The Bent Chetler has more edge grip on firm snow and in general is a little more well-rounded. More of an all-mountain ski where the ARV borders with being a powder ski. Hope that helps!

[@cm96yyc]

Hey! I am 5'11" and 160lb, skiing west coast rockies mostly off-piste, advanced but no expert. I skied the Tracer 98 in 172 all last season and I love how playful they are, but I am now looking for bit more stability through chopped out pow and late day crud while retaining the fun factor. Do you think these would be a good fit and not too stiff? Considering also the Rustler 10 and the Sender. Thank you!

[@SkiEssentials]

ARV 106 or Rustler 10 would be my recommendations here. Not too stiff, but both feel a little more stable than the Tracer 98. Sender might be too stiff for what you're looking for, certainly not as playful as the other two skis. Don't be afraid to go closer to 180 cm for length too. That's not outrageous for your size by any means.

[@leonsann]

Hey! ARV 106 version 2022 really tougher than 2021? How much? Flexibility numbers scare me a little

[@SkiEssentials]

Hello! It's a little stiffer, but not crazy stiff. I've seen some flex numbers on it that don't seem completely accurate to me. It still feels supple and playful in the tips and tails in my opinion...

[@ClassicTor]

Are these skis good if you like to do tricks but also like to ski off piste and on piste and doing naturel jumps and drops?

[@SkiEssentials]

Yes! Perfect for that application!

[@calvinrolston4449]

How does this ski compare to the rossignal sky 7 hd? I had them last year and liked how they rode

[@SkiEssentials]

Similar, but not the same. The Sky 7 is narrower and has a shorter turn radius. It also has more taper in the tips and tails, which makes it ski a little shorter than its listed length. It's also more maneuverable than the ARV 106 in tight terrain. On the other hand, the ARV is far more stable at speed, has more vibration damping, and better edge grip too. Still fun in soft snow, just not quite as agile as the Sky.

[@rickden8362]

Weight of a ski in terms of different wood types is false logic. For much of the length of the ski the core is shave down making the weight difference not as significate as one might expect. What makes difference is uniform throughout the length of the ski: # of glass layers, base layer, steel edges, side walls, metal(if any). The weight of these layers added up faster than that of the core. And remember, where the core is the thickest is right under the boot where you have the easiest leverage on it. Speaking of boots...and binding, the weight of these may equal that of the skis and there's not really a lot of talk about the weight of these pieces.

[@SkiEssentials]

thanks for the feedback!

[@lukebourneuf3985]

Curious to know what ARV stands for?

[@SkiEssentials]

This is going back a ways in Armada's history, but the "AR" stands for Armada and "V" stands for Versatile.

[@fernandog.aguirre2791]

I just got the ARW 106 UL, 180 cm I'm advanced skierand 181 lbs.......I like the idea of almost 300 grms lighter per ski, I like to hike up to. What you guys think, should i saty with the ARV havier and stronger? Thank you guys!

[@SkiEssentials]

Hey Fernando! I think if you're hiking a lot, that makes total sense. It's still a relatively strong ski, just that much more efficient for going up and a little easier to flick around too.

[@user-ft2co8be7w]

Hey! I own armada arv 116 jj ul and im looking for all mountain skis. I love doing flips at park but i still want skis that are over 100 because i pretty much ski everywhere. Do you think i should buy these as a 174cm/60kg park/all mountain skier?

[@user-ft2co8be7w]

or is it more worth to buy arv 96 because i already have 116? i really want these but i dont know if they are worth it

[@SkiEssentials]

I think the 96 is a better overall complement, but if you know you prefer wider skis, then I'm not going to sit here and talk you out of it! SE

[@user-ft2co8be7w]

@@SkiEssentials i bought 106's👍🏻

[@scully2671]

Hey Bob! I've been skiing on the 2016 Soul 7 for quite a while now and I've been searching for a new pair of skis. The soul 7 is 106 underfoot but I want to get a ski that's a bit larger and playful while still having a short radius. I saw that the ARV 116 in a 185 (I'm 183) has a radius of 18m (1m longer than the Soul7). Do you think that ski would be a good option?

[@SkiEssentials]

I love that ARV shape and feel. Most skis in that width won't have a very short radius, but 18 is definitely on the short side. I'd also check out the Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 112, or if you want to wait a bit, we just got on the 2023 Atomic Bent Chetler 110 which was pretty sweet--similar shape and profile to the 120 just 10 mm narrower.

[@ronaldp4]

these guys just did a review of the 2024 Rossignol Sender Free 110 (or Black Ops Free or something) and several reviews are stating it's Rossi's new ski similar to the Soul 7.

[@volvoswag]

Does anyone know what poles they were skiing with in the video?

[@SkiEssentials]

Nordica poles--they were promos last year.

[@nature4492]

Hey Bob! are they liked even on the ground inside the track.

[@SkiEssentials]

It's a surprising ski for groomers, mainly because it's heavier than you would expect, and weight translates well to on-trail skiing. Certainly, it's not as good as a narrower, more all-mountain ski, but for a wide twin tip, it's pretty darn good. SE

[@KyleRattay]

What’s up with the JJ?????

[@SkiEssentials]

Fantastic ski, we just didn't have it in the test this year. Super fun powder ski, very bouncy and buoyant.

[@alfredaronsen9256]

Im kinda leaning between this one, the atris or the on3p woodsman. I like to have fun with my friends and do tricks and fall. I mostly ski free ride, and forest oriented. I have had a problem with my last ski (black crows capris) that it was really hard to turn in the forest, and I sometimes just went straight into a tree. What would you recommend?

[@SkiEssentials]

The Atris is far more maneuverable than the Captis in the woods. Much longer tail rocker and more surface area in general so it's easier to release the tail edge and pivot, smear, skid the ski. I can certainly understand the Captis feeling a little catchy in the trees with the narrower width and less rocker. I haven't skied the Woodsman a ton, but I certainly have no reason not to recommend the Atris as it sounds like a great ski for you.

[@sadk3535]

Im 18 an advanced skier, but I've never had powder experience before im just gettig started. Can I use these skis both on snow and on the piste?

[@SkiEssentials]

Absolutely! The ARV 106 handles powder really well.