Review: Armada Reliance 88 C Skis · Women's · 2023

Published on 02/14/2024 · 3 min readCurated Expert, Lucia L, has tested this product to give you their unbiased, definitive take.
Lucia L, Ski Expert
By Ski Expert Lucia L
8 photos
Photo by Lucia L

The Curated Take

4.1/5

The Armada Reliance 88C Skis are ideal for beginner and intermediate riders seeking easy edge-to-edge transitions and confident carving on groomed slopes. With a lightweight core, they offer effortless maneuverability, especially for those learning to ski parallel. While lacking in flotation for deep snow and overall versatility, they excel on piste, providing stability at moderate speeds. Durable construction withstands park and big mountain use, offering long-term value for women skiers transitioning into the sport. They are recommended for those prioritizing groomer performance and seeking a reliable, progression-friendly option.

Ideal for
  • Easy shift from edge to edge
  • Carves great on groomers
  • A good option for beginner and intermediate riders
Not ideal for
  • Not a lot of float in deeper snow
  • Lacks some play
  • Doesn't have a ton of versatility
Turn Ease
Lucia L, Curated Expert
I found the Armada Reliance skis to be very easy and effortless to get on edge and turn. I am pretty tall and normally ride a ski with a 100mm...Read more
Playfulness
Lucia L, Curated Expert
While the Armada Reliance is a front-side and groomer-oriented ski, it has a lightweight core, which makes it easy to play and pop with the ski. There is little camber...Read more
Durability
Lucia L, Curated Expert
The Armada Reliance skis looked great even after a season of use. These skis have strong bases and edges to put up with park and big mountain riding. The topsheets...Read more
High Speed Stability
Lucia L, Curated Expert
I found the Armada Reliances to be pretty stable when skiing at higher speeds. They were easy to get on edge and hold well on the ice and crust. I...Read more
Carving
Lucia L, Curated Expert
While they are not my go-to carving ski, I think the Armada Reliance 88C did great in the carving area. The 88mm waist makes it easy to get on edge,...Read more
Versatility
Lucia L, Curated Expert
If someone is a skier riding mostly groomers and staying on the trails, then the Armada Reliance would be perfect. The ski does great on moguls and gets on edge...Read more
Flotation
Lucia L, Curated Expert
One of the main limitations I found with the Armada Reliance was flotation in the deeper and fresh snow. The skis do fine in a little bit of fresh, but...Read more

Expert Reviews of the Armada Reliance 88 C Skis

 I took the Armada Reliance 88s out a few times in the 2023 season around Crystal Mountain. I used them on hardpack days when the snow was closer to concrete than anything else. These skis did a good job of getting on their edges and holding a firm place, especially on the intermediate and beginner terrain. They were easy to shift edge to edge and were pretty light underfoot. They were a bit limited to speed and steepness of terrain, though. When traveling at high speeds on steeper terrain, the edge hold was somewhat sketchy, and I had to push into them to ensure I didn't go flying. Overall, I recommend the Reliance 88 to any rider who is less aggressive and looking to cruise on the groomers.

Product Specs

Age GroupAdult
GenderWomen's
Includes bindingsNo
Model year2023
Ski typeAll Mountain
Skill levelIntermediate, Advanced

Review Ratings

Turn Ease

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. I found the Armada Reliance skis to be very easy and effortless to get on edge and turn. I am pretty tall and normally ride a ski with a 100mm waist. Shifting to a narrower ski, I found it easier to turn edge to edge and carve with these skis. They do a lot of the work. This is a great ski for those still working on making turns and skiing parallel.

Playfulness

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. While the Armada Reliance is a front-side and groomer-oriented ski, it has a lightweight core, which makes it easy to play and pop with the ski. There is little camber and no tail rocker, so skiers will find the ski relatively stiff and hard to the ground. However, if they were to hop off a bump or snap their way through the trees, they'd find the ski easy to maneuver and weave with.

Durability

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. The Armada Reliance skis looked great even after a season of use. These skis have strong bases and edges to put up with park and big mountain riding. The topsheets were slightly scuffed and chipped on the edges, which won't impact performance.

High Speed Stability

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. I found the Armada Reliances to be pretty stable when skiing at higher speeds. They were easy to get on edge and hold well on the ice and crust. I did notice that they did get a little tip chatter when really charging hard on steeper terrain. Given that these skis would be great for beginner and intermediate riders. Advanced riders should keep in mind they have a speed limit.

Carving

5/5
 gave 5 of 5 stars. While they are not my go-to carving ski, I think the Armada Reliance 88C did great in the carving area. The 88mm waist makes it easy to get on edge, and the effective edge is fairly long, so skiers can easily get in and hold that turn. For an advanced rider, the skis have a speed limit on them, but if they are learning to ski in parallel and develop their carves, then these skis would be a great option.

Versatility

4/5
 gave 4 of 5 stars. If someone is a skier riding mostly groomers and staying on the trails, then the Armada Reliance would be perfect. The ski does great on moguls and gets on edge easily. However, the 88mm waist of the Reliance can be a bit limiting in fresh snow.

Flotation

3/5
 gave 3 of 5 stars. One of the main limitations I found with the Armada Reliance was flotation in the deeper and fresh snow. The skis do fine in a little bit of fresh, but anything over 6", and one will have a hard time staying afloat. These skis want to turn and go edge to edge but put them in the deeper snow, and they don't stay up as well.

FAQs

What do you love about this product?

I really liked how easy the Armada Reliance ski made it to carve and shift from edge to edge. For those learning how to carve and ski parallel, this would be a great ski to start out on.

What was your favorite moment with this gear?

My favorite moment with the Armada Reliances had to be when skiing down the intermediate groomers at Crystal. On the steeper stuff, these skis can get a little chatter. But on a less steep grade, they are easy to turn and dig into the snow.

Why did you choose this product?

I chose to try these skis as I am a big fan of Armada and wanted to see what they offered in the frontside, all-mountain department. I usually ride a pretty flexy ski, so riding a stiffer and narrower ski was a change.

What is the value for the money versus other options?

I think the value of this ski for the money is great for women getting into skiing. This ski is easy to learn on, but it has the potential of growing with the skier for a while, making it worth the cost so they don't have to get new gear right away.

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