Armada ARV Worth Buying?

Which size? For park or all mountain? Where do you ski?

IsitWinterYet17Which size? For park or all mountain? Where do you ski?

They would just be a park ski. Unless they would be decent all mountain, which I doubt. I’d get them in a 159 and I ski on all the resorts around Tahoe! North Star, Mirkwood, heavenly, boreal. Occasionally whistler

I bought the 106 to replace a bunch of my shitty park skis with one do it all all mountain ski and I couldn’t be happier.

I can't comment on park. Their edges are quite thinner than other skis, especially the 106's have a thin edge. I have the 106 and they do pretty good all mountain.

In the 156cm length, you are talking about the ARW(Women's line) not the ARV(Men's line). The ARW series is designed for lighter women so their flex is softer and are available in shorter lengths. In either line, they get stiffer as they widen so they improve performance outside of the park. An option for an advanced women who does want better performance all mountain would be to more up to a Men's model in the 163cm length. They all have forgiving flexes even for a women and the longer length would be more stable. Lots of people using the ARV96 or even ARV106 as a Park/All Mountain ski without issue but if Park is a priority, I'd lean towards the ARV 86 or ARV 96.

The ARV 86 and ARV 96 actually have larger than normal edge and base thickness, it's just the ARV 106 that uses "standard size" edges in order to reduce weight as not as many ARV 106 users hitting rails they assume. One of the changes to next years ARV106 is beefier edges like the other ARV I guess.

What Faction skis do you have now and what length are they?

I have had the arv 86's for a month or so and love them, very soft if that's what you're looking for

Greg_KIn the 156cm length, you are talking about the ARW(Women's line) not the ARV(Men's line). The ARW series is designed for lighter women so their flex is softer and are available in shorter lengths. In either line, they get stiffer as they widen so they improve performance outside of the park. An option for an advanced women who does want better performance all mountain would be to more up to a Men's model in the 163cm length. They all have forgiving flexes even for a women and the longer length would be more stable. Lots of people using the ARV96 or even ARV106 as a Park/All Mountain ski without issue but if Park is a priority, I'd lean towards the ARV 86 or ARV 96.

The ARV 86 and ARV 96 actually have larger than normal edge and base thickness, it's just the ARV 106 that uses "standard size" edges in order to reduce weight as not as many ARV 106 users hitting rails they assume. One of the changes to next years ARV106 is beefier edges like the other ARV I guess.

What Faction skis do you have now and what length are they?

Yeah, sorry I meant ARW. Right now I have the faction ambit, which I was really nervous about because I’ve been skiing on men’s skis since I was 4, but I’m super happy with them. I’m just worried that women’s line will be too soft for what I’m use to skiing on and it’s soooo hard to find a men’s ski in my length. My true size is about a 156, but I usually am most comfortable with a 159 in all mountain/park skis

I took a look at that Faction ski you have and it would be similar build quality to the Armada ARV84 but with Rocker tip and tail. Faction is cap constructed, light, symmetrical ski and in older models had extruded bases which are low maintenance and durable but are not as fast as a sintered base is. The Faction you have would have a similar soft flex to the ARW line I think, so the ARW 86 for example may just be a slight upgrade over what you have now. Every ski line(Men's or Women's skis) increase in stiffness as they go up in length within the line, so choosing the shortest length of the Men's line is just slightly stiffer than the longer lengths of the women's line. For advanced women skiers, the ARW line can be a little too soft, so the ARV line would give a stronger back bone even in their shorter lengths.

If you want a decent upgrade in the park and better all mountain capabilities, I'd consider the 163cm ARV 96 as a nice upgrade.
In the ARV 96 you would go to a wider waist for more versatility all over the mountain, more directional shape for better carving capabilities, a durable yet faster base and beefier edges and a stiffer center but very playful tip/tails. You could use this ski in the Park and it would surprise you with it's performance outside of it.

Arv 86 for just park, 96 for park/allmtn 106 for decently deep pow

I ski the 96 and they are good for about boot deep give or take a inch or two of pow, park/buttering, all mountain and variable conditions. Topsheets are not great I got Delam in the tail about 2 months into the riding them