Armada ARV 106 2023 Review

The Armada ARV 106 has been one of my favorites all-mountain skis since it dropped several years back. The updated version for '19 and '20 was stiffer and more all-mountain focused than the original, and Armada have done the same again with the newest version, the '21 ski. When I'm not sure what conditions the trip I'm going on is going to throw at me, these are still a great ski but while I could ski both the older versions in the park, I found the new ski too stiff. It's definitely a more demanding ski to ski than the older versions but unquestionably performs better on trails, in mixed conditions and in powder. That's in part thanks to the edgeless, smear tech tip/tail and also a slightly more freeride oriented shape (more pinned tips/tails). The stiffer flex does make playing around, buttering and jibbing a lot more work than the previous model, which isn't a great thing for my style of skiing, but these skis charge. They perform WAY better in crud and mixed snow. I also skied them on the deepest day of my life (they happened to be what I had with me) and they crushed it. The edges and construction make them a realistic fat park ski option durability wise, but expect a stiffer ski than almost any other in this bracket. -Twig

Profile & Bases:

The 2023 ARV 106 has been our most versatile all-mountain freestyle ski since its inception. It brings an ultra-playful yet stable ride to high performance skiers tired of tossing sticks in the trash every half season. The ARV 106 features Smear Tech’s edgeless base beveling in tip and tail, enhancing soft snow performance and adding additional release. It’s reinforced with AR75 Sidewall construction and a Poplar-Ash Core to absorb high speed chatter and any rail, wall or concrete you can press them on. The ARV 106 is as at home surfing the white wave as it is thrashing the pro park.