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Armada ARG as touring ski?

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stinky_cheese
Posts: 1201 - Karma: 4,958
Does anyone know anything about these skis? i can't find info anywhere. Found a good deal on some mounted with frame bindings, skins included, but i just know nothing about these skis. Anyone have any experience? thanks
Jan 13 2016 1:10AM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
My roommate had those ski, i can't imagine skinning whit tho
Jan 13 2016 1:56AM
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Beast.coast
Posts: 71 - Karma: 289
Touring would be a struggle those are wide af
Jan 13 2016 1:31PM
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papermache
Posts: 1096 - Karma: 616
I don't know if you could pick a worse ski to tour on, but if you just love to suffer go for it
Jan 13 2016 7:01PM
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FunkyDunkyMonkey
Posts: 28 - Karma: 54
I was just talking to someone today who is selling theirs in order to get a ski that they can tour on. They love the ARG's but they said they're so heavy they'd be a total pain to tour with.
Jan 13 2016 11:28PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24322 - Karma: 26,802
Do they even make skins wide enough for those? I mean, jesus...
Aug 7 2016 12:44PM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1641 - Karma: 874
The width would cause issues in the skin track, unless you were happy to blaze trail. The real problem is the full rocker profile. Not having consistent traction is what would make those a sketchy touring ski.
Nov 10 2016 6:56PM
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patagonialuke
Posts: 1617 - Karma: 8,576
I haven't had these skis in hand, but their nearly-reverse sidecut might make edging on skin tracks difficult. The rocker wouldn't be too much of an issue (unless they're really ridiculously splayed, like I said, I haven't seen them in person).

Mostly, I just wouldn't want to drag the weight around. There are much better options out there for powder-oriented touring. If they're really that cheap, use the bindings and skins on something else and use the ARG's as your dedicated resort pow day ski.
Nov 11 2016 1:12PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3228 - Karma: 4,889
fuck all this noise! set them up with a touring binding and get yourself up the hill. it will be worth it for the down, and that's what it's all about.
sure rocker skis will have less contact on the skin track, but the wide mid section of the ski gives you plenty of surface area for traction. my kid brother used that ski for years in the backcountry around jackson wy and crushed.

don't be a pussy!

(there are way too many pussy comments in this forum)
Dec 16 2016 10:18AM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1641 - Karma: 874
snomasterfuck all this noise! set them up with a touring binding and get yourself up the hill. it will be worth it for the down, and that's what it's all about.
sure rocker skis will have less contact on the skin track, but the wide mid section of the ski gives you plenty of surface area for traction. my kid brother used that ski for years in the backcountry around jackson wy and crushed.

don't be a pussy!

(there are way too many pussy comments in this forum)



Ouch!!

But I completely agree with you.
Dec 16 2016 5:28PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
I don't know if anyone commenting has toured on these skis, or anything close .. or if they have ever toured at all in fact ...


I have been touring on a similar ski for over 5 years now. the Skevik Oda, and they are my go to ski for almost every day in the BC now. and yes, they make skins that fit skis this wide. I don't have any real difficulty on the ski track, and despite people's initial misconceptions they tour just fine.. yes, on a very steep and established skin tracks, finding your balance point over the skis is crucial .. but its crucial for everyone.... I slip in the same places people with more traditional shaped skis slip on the ski track..they are amazing at breaking trail, and even better for breaking trail in deep pow.

they will tour just fine... just keep in mind the additional weight of that ski with a fat skin. I moved from a frame binding to pins, and the weight reduction was an amazing improvement.
Dec 19 2016 10:55AM
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papermache
Posts: 1096 - Karma: 616
Hugh_Conway_jrI don't know if anyone commenting has toured on these skis, or anything close .. or if they have ever toured at all in fact ...


I have been touring on a similar ski for over 5 years now. the Skevik Oda, and they are my go to ski for almost every day in the BC now. and yes, they make skins that fit skis this wide. I don't have any real difficulty on the ski track, and despite people's initial misconceptions they tour just fine.. yes, on a very steep and established skin tracks, finding your balance point over the skis is crucial .. but its crucial for everyone.... I slip in the same places people with more traditional shaped skis slip on the ski track..they are amazing at breaking trail, and even better for breaking trail in deep pow.

they will tour just fine... just keep in mind the additional weight of that ski with a fat skin. I moved from a frame binding to pins, and the weight reduction was an amazing improvement.


I haven't toured with the ARG, but having ridden them plenty inbounds, I wouldn't want to.
Dec 19 2016 12:57PM
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God
Posts: 416 - Karma: 672
Anything is a touring ski if you're dedicated enough! I'd get the G3 scala skins though, there will be a lot of drag, especially when breaking trail.
Jan 16 2017 5:13PM
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D.B.
Posts: 299 - Karma: 1,168
Sounds like a sufferfest.

I would skip the heavy touring option and maybe consider something lighter. You will find it excruciatingly difficult on short ascents and grinding through xx-inches of powder with heavy touring gear. I know from experience.

The exact weight of my touring setup (including boots) Is 3.246kg per foot.
Jan 17 2017 3:14PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
D.B.Sounds like a sufferfest.

I would skip the heavy touring option and maybe consider something lighter. You will find it excruciatingly difficult on short ascents and grinding through xx-inches of powder with heavy touring gear. I know from experience.

The exact weight of my touring setup (including boots) Is 3.246kg per foot.


Sufferfest? excruciating?

I am going to go out on a limb and say you have never broken trail with a pair of reverse camber skis.... its actually their time to shine. They raise above the deep snow extremely easily and are far more efficient than a traditional camber ski.
Jan 17 2017 11:26PM
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papermache
Posts: 1096 - Karma: 616
Hugh_Conway_jrSufferfest? excruciating?

I am going to go out on a limb and say you have never broken trail with a pair of reverse camber skis.... its actually their time to shine. They raise above the deep snow extremely easily and are far more efficient than a traditional camber ski.


If you're always breaking a new track, I could see how a wider, reverse camber setup would be beneficial, but most skiers are usually going to be on a skin track thats already put in. In that respect, they're gonna suck. and If you're spring skiing on firm snow, they're also gonna suck. If you doing any booting, you're carrying more twice the weight in skis, so again they're gonna suck. You're basically advocating for a ski that will be great for conditions you'll encounter 5% of the time you tour.
Jan 18 2017 11:54PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
papermacheIf you're always breaking a new track, I could see how a wider, reverse camber setup would be beneficial, but most skiers are usually going to be on a skin track thats already put in. In that respect, they're gonna suck. and If you're spring skiing on firm snow, they're also gonna suck. If you doing any booting, you're carrying more twice the weight in skis, so again they're gonna suck. You're basically advocating for a ski that will be great for conditions you'll encounter 5% of the time you tour.


I am advocating for a ski that will be great for 100% of the conditions that you want to ski.

the additional weight of the ski is negligible. Consider mounting pins to reduce weight in the binding if you can get enough leg strength and stamina. ;)
Jan 24 2017 10:19AM
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papermache
Posts: 1096 - Karma: 616
Hugh_Conway_jrConsider mounting pins to reduce weight in the binding if you can get enough leg strength and stamina. ;)


Good Call, never thought of that.
Jan 24 2017 6:51PM
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-miKe-
Posts: 90 - Karma: 39
I tour on ARG's. They are the best ski in deep powder!! More weight, more excercise! Breaking trail is awesome and reverse camber Doesent hurt you that bad, most of your traction Comes from under your feet anyway.

Bad conditions? Do something else! Why would I go touring if there wasn't a foot of fresh at the top?

Pick your favorite ski and get it to the top.
Feb 20 2017 10:42PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24322 - Karma: 26,802
Yeah. I'd skip the ARG and just get something narrower and longer instead.

I float all day on 192 TST's mounted with Vipecs. Much more useable.
Jul 10 2017 3:57AM
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