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Honey Badger/Bee sizing

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SawedAlibis
Posts: 6 - Karma: 32
I'm a 5'4 / ~162.5cm female, usually around 120 lbs. I grew half an inch this past season but I'm mid 20s so if I'm growing more it won't be by much (I think, but my sister and mother are around 5'7 and I'm the genetic outlier so far so who knows; I'm not even sure how I grew this late).

So my 4FRNT Vandals were nicked a few months ago, and I was planning to use them more as park skis the next season and get something bigger for all mountain. They were 158; think I'd be better on 165 and I really liked them, so I'm just going to buy some 165 Vandals for all mountain.

I'm looking at Honey Badgers or Honey Bees for park now since they seem like the most affordable skis that are above 90mm at the waist, which I figured would be better for Utah powder days, but I don't know how much that will make a difference in the park. I'll probably end up in trees and moguls somehow. Planning to center mount or at most go -1cm. I'm a beginner in the park. All I've done is boxes and mostly small jumps, some grabs, but that's it. I'm not worried about durability or speed.

The question is whether I should get the 155 or 166 Honey Badger/Bee. Seems like I should get 166 given my experience with the Vandals and center mounting HBs? Should park skis be taller than you? Should I flip a coin? Should I even CARE?
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Aug 9 2018 6:05AM
3 0
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powpatrol
Posts: 1660 - Karma: 10,839
Go with the 166. As you progress in the park and other types of skiing you'll be wanting the extra length and stability.
Even though you might be fine for some time on 155s its very likely you'll just be wishing for the longer ski. Longer length will also help with some powder however the Honey Badgers/Bees aren't going to be the best choice for a powder stick.
With regards to moguls and skiing in trees, as your technique progresses you'll be able to whip the ski around and between the tight spaces just fine.
Have Fun :P
Aug 9 2018 11:11AM
2 0
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9253 - Karma: 60,519
wait so you're getting another pair of vandals, and these will be in addition to those? i'm not sure i'd even bother getting two skis with such similar waist widths. personally i use 96 waist skis for everything and ive never wished they were skinnier, even on the east coast.

if youre in utah, if anything id say your vandals should be the park/all mtn ski and then if you get another pair, make it a pow ski
Aug 9 2018 11:53AM
2 0
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4755 - Karma: 16,836
SofaKingSickif youre in utah, if anything id say your vandals should be the park/all mtn ski and then if you get another pair, make it a pow ski


This. Use the Vandals as park and low tide ski and get a wider freestyle or freeride ski for snow days?

I know the honeybees/badgers are really inexpensive but with some searching I'm sure you can find a great deal on quality 105mm+ skis right now and have an excellent quiver with park and pow skis.
Aug 9 2018 1:02PM
3 0
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,021
I rode my Vandals all around Brighton and PC last year. The honey bee would be perfect for a dedicated park ski, but theres some overlap there. If you want an all mountain stick maybe look at a fatter ski or just save the money
Aug 9 2018 2:42PM
2 0
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frekalicious
Posts: 99 - Karma: 298
Id stick with the 166's as a minimum! Im pretty much the exact same size as you (and a girl) and I ride 164 chronics in the park and they work great for me! And my all mountain skis are ON3P Jesse 98's in 171

**This post was edited on Aug 9th 2018 at 4:57:20pm

**This post was edited on Aug 9th 2018 at 4:58:24pm
Aug 9 2018 4:53PM
3 0
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SawedAlibis
Posts: 6 - Karma: 32
166 it is.

In case I wasn't clear, I meant my Vandals were stolen. I was going to use that pair for park and future beater skis. And then I would have bought powder skis in addition to those. I might still buy powder skis, but I'm holding off on it until I'm sure it'll be worth it. If I find some alternative to Vandals that are wider, I might go for that, but I really liked what I had even though they could've been a little bigger.

The HB setup will be pretty cheap. Already have bindings that would work for them or the Vandal. My reasoning for getting the HB is that I want to have a pair that's center-mounted, won't need sharp edges, and that I'm not worried about tearing up. I was also thinking earlier about putting Attack demo bindings on the Vandals so I could switch from center to traditional for park and all mountain? But I'm going to buy the HBs at least since it's no problem money-wise.

Thanks to everyone who posted!
Aug 11 2018 2:02AM
4 0
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AstroKush
Posts: 184 - Karma: 360
Check into ARV with 96mm wide base-great all around 1-ski quiver. They go for 300-400 max. Might be able 2 find used one floating around as theyre popular. Theres ARW for women too & theyre bit softer in tail.
Aug 11 2018 5:05PM
1 0
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SawedAlibis
Posts: 6 - Karma: 32
I used ARW 96's for a few days, and I didn't love them, honestly. May have been the stiffness? I recall ARW felt more stiff than Vandals. The dimensions were pretty similar otherwise. They were fun, though. I'm just picky.
Aug 12 2018 3:22AM
1 0
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AstroKush
Posts: 184 - Karma: 360
ARW96 is more stiff than ARV? I thought its the other way around? I havent yet demoed ARW. I picked ARV because Im bit on heavier side & wasnt sure if ARW would be too soft for me.

**This post was edited on Aug 12th 2018 at 10:03:05am
Aug 12 2018 10:01AM
0 0
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SawedAlibis
Posts: 6 - Karma: 32
I doubt it. I'm comparing ARW to 4FRNT Vandals. Vandals are decently soft.

I also found it pretty useful for getting down once ski patrol closed the mountain because I could ride on my tails through the snowmobile tracks when the snow was sticky or trying to eat me. lol
Aug 13 2018 6:48AM
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