K2 Poacher vs Armada ARV96

If you do a quick google search "K2 vs ARV 96 Newschoolers" you will come up with plenty of information.

Basically, you can't go wrong with either but I'll point out one thing that stood out to me from handling both in person and currently owning the ARV 96. Poachers have more rocker length at the tip and tail with less camber height. ARV96 is the opposite; less rocker, more camber height. You can probably figure out from here how these will differences will translate on snow.

But since you mentioned being able to carve as something you're looking for, I will say my ARV 96, granted it's the ti version, fucking rips once I tip it on edge.

I'm a NZ skier, go with the arv. The size of the rocker makes the poacher ski too short for our conditions after you de tune imo. The softer flex on the arv is cash if you want to butter too. Zero Ti version if you don't care to butter so much and want something a bit more chargey.

OhJayIf you do a quick google search "K2 vs ARV 96 Newschoolers" you will come up with plenty of information.

Basically, you can't go wrong with either but I'll point out one thing that stood out to me from handling both in person and currently owning the ARV 96. Poachers have more rocker length at the tip and tail with less camber height. ARV96 is the opposite; less rocker, more camber height. You can probably figure out from here how these will differences will translate on snow.

But since you mentioned being able to carve as something you're looking for, I will say my ARV 96, granted it's the ti version, fucking rips once I tip it on edge.

Thanks for the insight man! I probably am leaning slightly more towards the ARV, but probably not the ti, I think on my priority list I'd want to go with something with a little more play and butter than carve.

DarcI'm a NZ skier, go with the arv. The size of the rocker makes the poacher ski too short for our conditions after you de tune imo. The softer flex on the arv is cash if you want to butter too. Zero Ti version if you don't care to butter so much and want something a bit more chargey.

Yeah man, I'm thinking the ARV's. And i'd probably go with the OG ARV as opposed to the ti, purely as something a little more playful, plus the new graphic is dope!

I’ve never ran the Poachers and if you get them I’d wait for the next models graphics because they look way sicker.

I own 2019 ARV96’s and they are arguably my favorite setup I’ve ever owned. They were pretty stable when I hiked up our bowl and hit fresh terrain. I dropped some mini cliffs (we don’t have anything too massive) and they gave a little more than I’d like but sounds like you’re not planning on doing a lot of that kinda riding. They are sick in the park. I was able to pop higher over features that I was having trouble getting over with other skis. There’s a bench that’s always fun to jib over under our main lift and my first pop with the ARV’s actually took me to a full Ollie over the whole thing instead of a little tail tap like my revolts which hadn’t been getting the tips up as easy. Definitely don’t get the ti if you want any “play” in the ski.

I will I’ll say that I came from running Revolt 87’s all season which are billed as a pure park ski but the ARV’s actually started to vibrate and chatter at lower speeds because of how flexible the tips and tails are. I flat out wasn’t able to ski as fast as the revolts which were more stiff and stable but once again, sounds like you’re not really racing so probably doesn’t matter.

Lol sorry for the essay but if you’re gonna drop hundreds on skis, figured you’d want a somewhat in depth review

If u want them to last get poachers

DesertStix summed it up for our home mountain, Snowbowl. The ARV doesn't like crud and gets a little chattery at speed, but you can rip it all mountain in the right conditions. I took it to Durango and skied that 47 inch dump they had with them. Wasn't too bad in the powder. My powder skiing skills were the limiting factor by far.

**This post was edited on Apr 15th 2019 at 2:55:28pm

DesertStixI’ve never ran the Poachers and if you get them I’d wait for the next models graphics because they look way sicker.

I own 2019 ARV96’s and they are arguably my favorite setup I’ve ever owned. They were pretty stable when I hiked up our bowl and hit fresh terrain. I dropped some mini cliffs (we don’t have anything too massive) and they gave a little more than I’d like but sounds like you’re not planning on doing a lot of that kinda riding. They are sick in the park. I was able to pop higher over features that I was having trouble getting over with other skis. There’s a bench that’s always fun to jib over under our main lift and my first pop with the ARV’s actually took me to a full Ollie over the whole thing instead of a little tail tap like my revolts which hadn’t been getting the tips up as easy. Definitely don’t get the ti if you want any “play” in the ski.

I will I’ll say that I came from running Revolt 87’s all season which are billed as a pure park ski but the ARV’s actually started to vibrate and chatter at lower speeds because of how flexible the tips and tails are. I flat out wasn’t able to ski as fast as the revolts which were more stiff and stable but once again, sounds like you’re not really racing so probably doesn’t matter.

Lol sorry for the essay but if you’re gonna drop hundreds on skis, figured you’d want a somewhat in depth review

Don't apologise for the essay bro thanks! everything helps. I think I'm gonna give the ARV's a go this season and see what i think. Thanks dudes.

Cade2If u want them to last get poachers

You really think poachers are tougher than arvs?