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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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I need help

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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
Hey NS,

This might be a long read but I really need your opinion. To give you a little context, I live on the east coast, I mostly ski ice and shitty conditions. I love all kinds of skiing but mostly park/all mountain and I like to ski fast. I love playful skis. I rarely have the chance to ski real powder where I live but I take usually trips once or twice a year where snow is deep.

My quiver is all twin tip park skis and my widest skis are 101mm ON3P Jeronimos. They do fine when snow gets a little deep but I always wanted a dedicated pair of real powder skis, and on top of that I would like to get a dedicated touring set up too. I have never been touring before and have zero experience.

I kinda fell in love with the Armada ARG UL because they are huge and the reverse rocker. I can get them for a very good deal and they would be the best powder skis ever, but also I would barely use them.

Do you think I should buy them even if I just use them less than 10 days a year? I was thinking of putting a cast touring system on the ARG at first, but they are so big/heavy I don’t think they would be a good touring option so I will probably get a lighter touring set up as well and not as wide so it can handle bad conditions.

Do you think I should install a set of cast bindings on the ARG anyway just in case I wanna tour them in deep powder or is it not worth it?

Should I consider a different ski/set up? I’m open to all ideas.

Thank you for your help!
Mar 18 2024 12:17AM
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deac
Posts: 827 - Karma: 3,810
bro what
Mar 18 2024 3:05AM
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Flwrs
Posts: 87 - Karma: 291
Just go for it
Mar 18 2024 4:27AM
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Frombrumtobrazil
Posts: 93 - Karma: 435
buy whatever skis you want, maybe smthn a little less fat than the ARG cos 133 is just a bit much. mount with your go-to downhill bindings (for me Piv15s) then get some daymaker touring adaptors to do any touring - will be a bit heavier and slower on the uphill but so much better on the downhill and you don't have to buy new boots for touring, as well as you will probs use the skis more as they will have downhill bindings which you'll be ore comfortable with. - you get your powder ski and your touring ski in one and can have some beer money
But that's just my opinion
Mar 18 2024 5:52AM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
deke_skibro what


It’s called overthinking
Mar 18 2024 6:03AM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
Frombrumtobrazilbuy whatever skis you want, maybe smthn a little less fat than the ARG cos 133 is just a bit much. mount with your go-to downhill bindings (for me Piv15s) then get some daymaker touring adaptors to do any touring - will be a bit heavier and slower on the uphill but so much better on the downhill and you don't have to buy new boots for touring, as well as you will probs use the skis more as they will have downhill bindings which you'll be ore comfortable with. - you get your powder ski and your touring ski in one and can have some beer money
But that's just my opinion


Thanks for the advice I appreciate it! I’ll look into daymakers, not sure what I’m doing yet.

Everyone is telling me the ARG is too fat :( might have to look for something else.
Mar 18 2024 7:51AM
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Flwrs
Posts: 87 - Karma: 291
ARV 116 JJ UL could be a solid choice
Mar 18 2024 8:08AM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
FlwrsARV 116 JJ UL could be a solid choice


To be honest I would probably buy the JJ over the ARG and mount them with cast binding and have the best of both world.

But the thing is I can have a very good deal on the ARG, so that’s why I was thinking of buying them for powder only and have another light touring setup. I’m just not sure if I should mount the ARG with cast bindings too.

I’m just having a hard time justifying the purchase of a 133mm ski when I live on the east coast and it will see minimal use but I feel like it would be so much fun during those powder trips and it’s the type of ski that you just keep for years for those once in a while occasions.

Am I crazy?
Mar 18 2024 10:16AM
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saucemastrscotty
Posts: 139 - Karma: 785
tijerdogTo be honest I would probably buy the JJ over the ARG and mount them with cast binding and have the best of both world.

But the thing is I can have a very good deal on the ARG, so that’s why I was thinking of buying them for powder only and have another light touring setup. I’m just not sure if I should mount the ARG with cast bindings too.

I’m just having a hard time justifying the purchase of a 133mm ski when I live on the east coast and it will see minimal use but I feel like it would be so much fun during those powder trips and it’s the type of ski that you just keep for years for those once in a while occasions.

Am I crazy?


116 is plenty wide, I’ve skied the jjs and bent 120s and never felt the need for anything wider (grew up in BC). Even if you are getting a good deal on the 133s I’d argue it’s still worth it more to get a narrower ski that you’ll actually use.
Mar 18 2024 1:19PM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
saucemastrscotty116 is plenty wide, I’ve skied the jjs and bent 120s and never felt the need for anything wider (grew up in BC). Even if you are getting a good deal on the 133s I’d argue it’s still worth it more to get a narrower ski that you’ll actually use.


Thanks for the input I really appreciate it, so far everyone is pretty much telling me to look for a narrower ski and it is probably the best option too. Even my friend who’s a hardcore touring/powder guy told me I don’t need 133s they are too big. I don’t know why I’m attracted to those huge paddles so much.

It makes me a little sad but I guess I’ll have to move on from the ARG because it seems like they are not the best option for me. I’m a little heartbroken I really wanted to see how fun they would be but I guess it would not be the best investment.
Mar 18 2024 2:30PM
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poonis
Posts: 255 - Karma: 1,455
tijerdogTo be honest I would probably buy the JJ over the ARG and mount them with cast binding and have the best of both world.

But the thing is I can have a very good deal on the ARG, so that’s why I was thinking of buying them for powder only and have another light touring setup. I’m just not sure if I should mount the ARG with cast bindings too.

I’m just having a hard time justifying the purchase of a 133mm ski when I live on the east coast and it will see minimal use but I feel like it would be so much fun during those powder trips and it’s the type of ski that you just keep for years for those once in a while occasions.

Am I crazy?


Go with the JJ ULs if you're planning on getting a good setup for trips out west. That's what I use for my pow/touring setup. I have daymakers as well so I can still use my alpine boots and bindings for the downhill. I don't tour that much outside of accessing backcountry booter spots a few times a season, so daymakers are fine for me, but they'll probably be fine for you too unless you plan on doing lots of long tours or you're just hellbent on getting CAST (which has its own set of disadvantages). The JJ ULs are super light and feel amazing on uphills as well as in powder. 116 underfoot was plenty of width to keep me afloat on a tits deep day at Steamboat. If you're planning on touring often and using these out east, I'd maybe even go with a narrower ski around 105-110 with some good rocker that will float well in powder but won't be too difficult to ski on hardpack. Going backcountry skiing doesn't always mean you will encounter soft conditions and you want a ski that will be able to handle lots of different stuff.

The ARGs are only useful if you're skiing in BC or Alaska. They're pretty terrible in any other conditions besides bottomless pow. If you live on the east coast I bet you'd see one day in five seasons where those skis are worth using unless you're planning some dope heli or backcountry trips. You don't wanna waste a grand on skis you'll never get to use.
Mar 18 2024 6:35PM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
poonisGo with the JJ ULs if you're planning on getting a good setup for trips out west. That's what I use for my pow/touring setup. I have daymakers as well so I can still use my alpine boots and bindings for the downhill. I don't tour that much outside of accessing backcountry booter spots a few times a season, so daymakers are fine for me, but they'll probably be fine for you too unless you plan on doing lots of long tours or you're just hellbent on getting CAST (which has its own set of disadvantages). The JJ ULs are super light and feel amazing on uphills as well as in powder. 116 underfoot was plenty of width to keep me afloat on a tits deep day at Steamboat. If you're planning on touring often and using these out east, I'd maybe even go with a narrower ski around 105-110 with some good rocker that will float well in powder but won't be too difficult to ski on hardpack. Going backcountry skiing doesn't always mean you will encounter soft conditions and you want a ski that will be able to handle lots of different stuff.

The ARGs are only useful if you're skiing in BC or Alaska. They're pretty terrible in any other conditions besides bottomless pow. If you live on the east coast I bet you'd see one day in five seasons where those skis are worth using unless you're planning some dope heli or backcountry trips. You don't wanna waste a grand on skis you'll never get to use.


That makes a lot of sense, thank you so much for your detailed opinion, it really does help a lot.

I will forget the ARG’s and look for something else. I haven’t had one person recommend them to me so far.
Mar 18 2024 7:01PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4886 - Karma: 17,385
Why not just move to like Alaska or something and buy the ski or your dreams?
Mar 18 2024 10:36PM
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Voyage86
Posts: 923 - Karma: 3,616
realistically i don’t think the arg is a good choice for you. i wouldn’t personally bring that thing out unless it’s well over a foot plus of fresh because it literally can’t ski anything other than powder in an enjoyable way. you would never use it on the east coast and you’d much rather have something way more veritable for a trip to deep snow because if you don’t live there you can’t guarantee the snow conditions. JJ 116 or the UL version are sick with a cast system on them and especially the normal JJ you could find yourself bringing out and having a blast on the east coast.
Mar 18 2024 10:44PM
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drifts
Posts: 605 - Karma: 4,393
poonisdaymakers are fine for me, but they'll probably be fine for you too unless you plan on doing lots of long tours or you're just hellbent on getting CAST (which has its own set of disadvantages).


if you like pivots cast is the only hybrid/touring adapter situation thats worth using.


op do UL JJ and cast, way more reasonable

**This post was edited on Mar 18th 2024 at 11:17:16pm
Mar 18 2024 11:16PM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436








I found an old pair of JJ’s from 2013 with pivots 18 for 350$ CAD, they look in decent shape. Is that a good deal or should I look for something more recent?
Mar 20 2024 4:52PM
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saucemastrscotty
Posts: 139 - Karma: 785
tijerdog








I found an old pair of JJ’s from 2013 with pivots 18 for 350$ CAD, they look in decent shape. Is that a good deal or should I look for something more recent?


Those pivots are ancient lol not worth 350imo. Also since they are the older fks 185 and not the newer 180 I’m not 100% sure if you can put cast on them, I might be wrong but I would check cast’s website.
Mar 20 2024 6:03PM
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tijerdog
Posts: 49 - Karma: 436
saucemastrscottyThose pivots are ancient lol not worth 350imo. Also since they are the older fks 185 and not the newer 180 I’m not 100% sure if you can put cast on them, I might be wrong but I would check cast’s website.


Is there really a difference between older and newer pivots other than the color?
Mar 20 2024 6:25PM
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8796 - Karma: 6,290
tijerdogTo be honest I would probably buy the JJ over the ARG and mount them with cast binding and have the best of both world.

But the thing is I can have a very good deal on the ARG, so that’s why I was thinking of buying them for powder only and have another light touring setup. I’m just not sure if I should mount the ARG with cast bindings too.

I’m just having a hard time justifying the purchase of a 133mm ski when I live on the east coast and it will see minimal use but I feel like it would be so much fun during those powder trips and it’s the type of ski that you just keep for years for those once in a while occasions.

Am I crazy?


bro the ARG are HEAVY AS FUCK you don't want to tour on those puppies. I got the JJ UL with cast system and ski them 90% of the year at whistler, and if I go touring, I've got that covered too. its a great ski. I live out here and rarely even see the need for something as fat as the ARG.
Mar 20 2024 7:09PM
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drifts
Posts: 605 - Karma: 4,393
tijerdog








I found an old pair of JJ’s from 2013 with pivots 18 for 350$ CAD, they look in decent shape. Is that a good deal or should I look for something more recent?


The og JJ is one of the best wide/soft skis there is, so much fun in the slush!

Mar 21 2024 7:10AM
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