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Armada worth it??

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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
So I've been skiing 2016 line chronics for the past couple years and it is time to get a new set of sticks. I was looking at the Edollo, Bdog Arv96 but I was wondering if I should really get Armada. I am questionable on durability. I want a somewhat buttery, wider park ski that I still can take off the trail to jib around on because I ride other things than just park when I take trips up north to Quebec or Vermont.
For reference I am 6 foot around 150 lbs. I am an aggressive skier.
Also I do not have a lot of money so I'd say my price range is under 500 for just the skis.
Apr 4 2018 3:00PM
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Cade2
Posts: 2124 - Karma: 2,704
Sounds like some 188 edollos are in order
Apr 4 2018 3:02PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
Cade2Sounds like some 188 edollos are in order


Would that be too long? I rode 164(Ik they are hella short but they were a good size when I got them). I was thinking 178 if I went with the Edollos
Apr 4 2018 3:07PM
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Cade2
Posts: 2124 - Karma: 2,704
Naw dude, your going to want the 188
Apr 4 2018 4:02PM
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plugs
Posts: 107 - Karma: 419
My friend that's 5'9 and 140 has a pair of 188 al dente zeros (slightly stiffer e dollo I'm pretty sure) and he loves them. If you're a good or aggressive skier they'll be no issue.
Apr 4 2018 6:04PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
MortbrokemyskisMy friend that's 5'9 and 140 has a pair of 188 al dente zeros (slightly stiffer e dollo I'm pretty sure) and he loves them. If you're a good or aggressive skier they'll be no issue.


The thing is I'm a good skier but pretty average in the park I still barley can get 2s off. I can't swap very good and my 3s are okay but a little sketchy
Apr 4 2018 6:19PM
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plugs
Posts: 107 - Karma: 419
MaimHelpThe thing is I'm a good skier but pretty average in the park I still barley can get 2s off. I can't swap very good and my 3s are okay but a little sketchy

If you want skis that will be easier to spin especially on rails a narrower ski would help. The bdog is narrower and only comes in like a 179 so that might be what you're after.
Apr 4 2018 6:50PM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
MortbrokemyskisIf you want skis that will be easier to spin especially on rails a narrower ski would help. The bdog is narrower and only comes in like a 179 so that might be what you're after.


Yeah. I want the wider ski because I wanted a wider ski than the chronic
Apr 4 2018 9:49PM
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FryingBiscuit
Posts: 27 - Karma: 178
I had 3 different skies from Armada's in the last few seasons and I'll never doubt their Durability. Two of them match your description being the Alpha x and the ARV 96. I'll not go much in detail about the Alpha xsince they don't produce them anymore.

I mostly used them for skiing park, but occasionally I rode them on a pow day. I've never had any trouble using them in the park. They felt really good on rails and did well on the jumps. In terms of off-piste ability I would score the alpha X a little bit higher, since it got more early rise then the ARV 96. But they both felt controllable in the powder, meaning there is no (big) need of leaning backwards while riding.

So from my point of view the ARV 96 will be one of the possible choices for your requirements.

(not sure if this is relevant but all the skis mentioned are mounted full center.)
Apr 5 2018 5:55AM
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Greeney
Posts: 168 - Karma: 148
Dude my armada arv 84s lasted me 20 days, don’t buy armadas. I love them, but their durability isn’t really good. Get something like magnuses, basically the same price as the edollos or bdogs or the arvs. You will like them wayyyyy more, perfect flex and could last you 3-4 seasons if you take good care of the them. (Also, the edges wont pull out)
Apr 5 2018 7:32AM
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lwgp
Posts: 167 - Karma: 325
GreeneyDude my armada arv 84s lasted me 20 days, don’t buy armadas. I love them, but their durability isn’t really good. Get something like magnuses, basically the same price as the edollos or bdogs or the arvs. You will like them wayyyyy more, perfect flex and could last you 3-4 seasons if you take good care of the them. (Also, the edges wont pull out)


The ARV 84 is their entry level ski. It's a full cap construction and has Armada's thinner edges that they use on most of their non-park skis. The rest of their park lineup has sidewall underfoot and thick edges to handle laps in the park. I'm on my fourth season with my T-Halls and they're still holding up great. The ARV 84 is not a good reflection of Armada's build quality across the higher end portion of their park lineup.
Apr 5 2018 11:20AM
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Greeney
Posts: 168 - Karma: 148
lwgpThe ARV 84 is their entry level ski. It's a full cap construction and has Armada's thinner edges that they use on most of their non-park skis. The rest of their park lineup has sidewall underfoot and thick edges to handle laps in the park. I'm on my fourth season with my T-Halls and they're still holding up great. The ARV 84 is not a good reflection of Armada's build quality across the higher end portion of their park lineup.

Ok, but my friend had the zeros for maybe 30 days and the sidewall game out lol. Don’t get me wrong, there fun skis.
Apr 5 2018 11:28AM
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MaimHelp
Posts: 1685 - Karma: 13,242
Thank you guys for the suggestions but I really am not looking at on3ps. They are too expensive and I know they ride well I feel like they would be not what I want. Any other suggestions for a ski that will last me a few years? Also what size if you read the comments above?
Apr 5 2018 10:27PM
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JahAndNicotene
Posts: 232 - Karma: 495
With the amount of rocker in the edollo, the ski is touching the snow only for about 160-170 cm of the base so they will feel very similar in length to your old chrons. But then in powder when you're going fast, the added length will really help.
Apr 5 2018 11:26PM
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matt_720
Posts: 345 - Karma: 515
Arv 86 or 96
Apr 5 2018 11:59PM
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scratchskier321
Posts: 2531 - Karma: 1,308
get the 96. more usable everywhere. henriks ski is very specialized.
Apr 6 2018 3:01AM
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WildEuro99
Posts: 48 - Karma: 45
MaimHelpThank you guys for the suggestions but I really am not looking at on3ps. They are too expensive and I know they ride well I feel like they would be not what I want. Any other suggestions for a ski that will last me a few years? Also what size if you read the comments above?


I'm using Faction C.T. 2.0 172cm and I'm 6 foot tall. They fit me perfectly, they butter really easily and, as far as I know, they last for long if well treated. They're wide tho, but they are a ski that fits me perfectly and I couldn't feel they were too wide. You might be able to get an offer tho. I'm an aggressive skier too and they hold up really good.
Apr 6 2018 6:50AM
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JakeDalBon
Posts: 191 - Karma: 331
my sidewall split after 12 days. Not covered under warrenty (bdogs). Other than that theyre nice skis, but they r prolly only good for another 20 days or so
Apr 6 2018 8:50AM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,861
I have probably 60 or 70 park days on my 2016 B dogs and I don't think I have a single edge crack in them. They seem to be the beefiest edges out of any park ski I have ever owned, and I don't know anyone who has owned them and complained about the durability so there's that. My 2014 Volkl walls exploded after a season and a half and I always had assumed the 2x4 skis were the most durable but I guess that's not true. Armadas are definitely worth it.
Apr 6 2018 9:19AM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 602 - Karma: 7,541
I just picked up some ARV96s in an end of season sale. Can’t wait to get em mounted and shred them. On durability, and this is why I’ve stayed with Armada, my old/current park sticks are the AR7s which aren’t wht you’re after but might be an indicator of durability. They’re bomb proof. Been skiing heaps of rails on them. Loads of dry slope on the UK and had em for a good 3 seasons and there’s not a single edge crack and the only real damage is to the top sheet but they’re holding up so well.
Apr 7 2018 4:22AM
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