Review: Armada ARV 106 Skis · 2024
By Curated Experts
Camden Watkins and Cat Leonowicz
Armada ARV 106 Skis · 2024
$429.99
$749.95
43% off
6 photos
The Curated Take
4.4/5
The Armada ARV 106 Skis are ideal for intermediate to advanced all-mountain skiers who desire a versatile and heavy-duty option capable of handling a wide range of conditions, from groomers and parks to off-piste and crud. Despite their weight and stiffness, these skis shine in terms of responsiveness, playfulness, and stability at high speeds due to their rockered tips and tails and stiff cambered underfoot. They offer excellent edge hold and carving ability, making them a strong contender for a one-ski quiver. However, their topsheet durability could be better, as it is prone to chipping and scratching.
Ideal for
- Great for any all-mountain skier who wants a versatile ski for any conditions
- Great for charging through the crud in less-than-ideal conditions
- Excellent when it comes to pop and playfulness
Not ideal for
- Feels very heavy
- Be aware of the stiffness through the middle of the ski
- Topsheet tends to chip and scratch on pretty much anything
Turn Ease
Since I got this product, I have been very impressed with its ability to hold an edge on groomed runs. It can carve hard and hold in almost any condition....Read more
Overall, this ski can rip on ice, snow, and powder. Even taking the ski into trees, it performed highly and was well reactive. The only area I felt this ski...Read more
Playfulness
This ski is very fun and playful. It is a stiff ski except in the tip and tail. The ARV is more flexible, allowing skiers to be more playful when...Read more
Durability
This ski has held up great so far since I've used it. I like to ski hard and fast through the crud, and most skis would have lost stiffness or...Read more
Most of the time I rode this ski was spent on piste, but it still held up well when I took it into the trees and onto slightly rockier terrain....Read more
High Speed Stability
I ski fast and hard every day. I have never had an issue with chatter or wobbles since skiing it. I have gone about 70mph on these skis, and even...Read more
The ARV 106 is comparable to the Nordica Enforcer in its ability to carve precisely while still maintaining a smooth ride at charging speeds. Even when hitting choppier conditions, I...Read more
Carving
This skis stiffness allows the ski to grab hard on groomers and make nice big swooping turns. This ski isn't the best for small turns, but if someone is looking...Read more
This ski can turn on a dime and dig edges in on steep, slippery terrain. Even on ice and at speeds up to 60mph, I could shoot down the slopes...Read more
Versatility
This ski has been great in all the conditions. I've skied it in powder, in the park, groomers, trees, and crud, and nothing seems to cause them any problems. These...Read more
This ski could be considered a one-ski quiver. With free ride, carving, and powder abilities, it is as versatile as a ski one can get. I felt comfortable tackling almost...Read more
Flotation
The ARV 106s are not ideal for deep snow conditions because they are heavy but still work great in any condition. With a 106 underfoot, they still work well in...Read more
This ski can float on top of powder and rip down the hill just fine. Most of my testing was done on more chopped-up powder, but the ski could still...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Camden Watkins
Cat Leonowicz
About the ski gear
- Model: Armada ARV 106 Skis · 2024
Test conditions
- When I bought these: I bought the ARV 106s last season around November. They were the 2023 model, but the ski is the same other than the graphic on top.
- Where I’ve used them: Canada, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, and Idaho in all conditions.
- How many times I've used it: 60
Expert Reviews of the Armada ARV 106 Skis
Camden Watkins I absolutely love my Armada ARV 106s. They have great responsiveness, even for being a pretty wide ski. They are very good at getting on edge and holding on groomers. These skis are some of the most versatile skis I have used. They are great skis for all types of terrain and would make a great one-ski quiver if that’s what skiers are looking for. These skis are quite heavy, making them hard to move, especially if I plan to use them in the park. They also have a fragile topsheet that can crack and scratch easily. But otherwise, I haven’t had any other issues with the ski.
Cat Leonowicz This ski is a full-force all-mountain powerhouse. Skiers get the playfulness of a freestyle ski in the rockered tips and tails and the performance of a charging all-mountain carving ski with the stiff cambered underfoot. This ski is ideal for a freestyle rider aiming to hit the park and rip down the groomers. As if it doesn’t get better, the 106 waist underfoot also allows this ski to float through the power. Even on icy days, I could get the ski on edge and rip down the hill. This is an ideal selection for intermediate to advanced skiers looking to send hard and big.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Ski type | Freestyle, All Mountain |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Turn Ease
4/5
Camden Watkins gave 4 of 5 stars. Since I got this product, I have been very impressed with its ability to hold an edge on groomed runs. It can carve hard and hold in almost any condition. It is a stiff ski, so it turns hard and fast when I get it on edge. It's a bit wide, so it takes time to get there, but it grabs nicely when I do.
Cat Leonowicz gave 4 of 5 stars. Overall, this ski can rip on ice, snow, and powder. Even taking the ski into trees, it performed highly and was well reactive. The only area I felt this ski struggled with was that it could be hard to weigh it down in tight spots and get on edge as a slimmer skier.
Playfulness
4/5
Camden Watkins gave 4 of 5 stars. This ski is very fun and playful. It is a stiff ski except in the tip and tail. The ARV is more flexible, allowing skiers to be more playful when trying tricks like butters. The stiffness helps to generate maximum pop and helps me get up when I'm playing in the park.
Durability
4/5
Camden Watkins gave 3 of 5 stars. This ski has held up great so far since I've used it. I like to ski hard and fast through the crud, and most skis would have lost stiffness or had other issues by now, but this ski has stayed strong and stiff even through harsh punishment. The only issue I've seen is that if I just hit the ski on something or cross them or anything, they will scratch and sometimes chip away the edge of the topsheet.
Cat Leonowicz gave 4 of 5 stars. Most of the time I rode this ski was spent on piste, but it still held up well when I took it into the trees and onto slightly rockier terrain. The only damage I noticed to the ski was in the topsheet. The colors faded a little after riding the ski a few times.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Camden Watkins gave 4 of 5 stars. I ski fast and hard every day. I have never had an issue with chatter or wobbles since skiing it. I have gone about 70mph on these skis, and even at that speed, I didn't get any chatter. The stiffness helps with stability and control at high speeds. Overall, the ski is very dependable.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. The ARV 106 is comparable to the Nordica Enforcer in its ability to carve precisely while still maintaining a smooth ride at charging speeds. Even when hitting choppier conditions, I could stay upright and maintain stability and speed just fine.
Carving
5/5
Camden Watkins gave 4 of 5 stars. This skis stiffness allows the ski to grab hard on groomers and make nice big swooping turns. This ski isn't the best for small turns, but if someone is looking to cruise down the mountain making nice wide S turns, it will handle great. It's a bit wide, so it can be hard to get on edge, but overall, when I do, it holds well and carves well.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski can turn on a dime and dig edges in on steep, slippery terrain. Even on ice and at speeds up to 60mph, I could shoot down the slopes and easily get on edge. This is one of my all-time favorite carving skis.
Versatility
5/5
Camden Watkins gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski has been great in all the conditions. I've skied it in powder, in the park, groomers, trees, and crud, and nothing seems to cause them any problems. These skis are fun and versatile. They are great skis, and I recommend them to anyone.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski could be considered a one-ski quiver. With free ride, carving, and powder abilities, it is as versatile as a ski one can get. I felt comfortable tackling almost any terrain while on this ski, and it’s a ski I plan to purchase personally in the near future.
Flotation
4/5
Camden Watkins gave 3 of 5 stars. The ARV 106s are not ideal for deep snow conditions because they are heavy but still work great in any condition. With a 106 underfoot, they still work well in the powder, but they aren't perfect. That mostly comes from their weight but also because the tip and tail don't widen out like a traditional powder ski.
Cat Leonowicz gave 5 of 5 stars. This ski can float on top of powder and rip down the hill just fine. Most of my testing was done on more chopped-up powder, but the ski could still perform just fine. With the size and the rockered tips and tails, I could fly through all the chop and still send it big down the mountain.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Camden Watkins This ski may be very heavy, but despite its weight, it is also very good for all-mountain skiing. The weight makes this ski great for skiing in bad conditions. It allows me to plow through the bumps and stay strong through the crud so I can still enjoy the mountain on those kinds of days.
Cat Leonowicz Effortless and free-flowing to ride, this ski feels like it's an extension of my body when I’m clipped into it. Skis like this act as a reminder of why I love skiing.
Why did you choose this product?
Camden Watkins I chose this product because it has great dimensions for an all-mountain ski, and that's exactly what I needed. It is also a beautiful ski with many features that help it thrive in any condition.
Cat Leonowicz I loved riding the ARV 100 and wanted to try one with a wider underfoot and a little stiffer.
Camden Watkins
Ski ExpertCat Leonowicz
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