The first thing to consider is what type of skier you are. Are you a freestyle skier, an all-mountain skier, a freeride skier, or a backcountry skier? Are you more of a traditional, directional skier or do you want/need something with a twin tip to ride switch and provide playful, freestyle performance.

Freestyle Skiers

Do you like jumps, rails, and/or doing tricks all over the mountain? Then you’re a freestyle skier. 

Whether you're skiing in or out of the park, freestyle skiers should look for skis with twin tips and somewhat softer flexes. Armada’s ARV & ARW Series and Signature Series skis (like the Edollo and the BDog) are skis with the attributes freestyle focused skiers are looking for. 

All-Mountain Skiers

Do you like to ski all over the mountain? Some groomers here, some tree stashes there? Frontside, backside, every side? You’re an all-mountain skier. 

All-mountain skiers should look for skis with versatile performance characteristics like a wide enough waist width to handle a bit of soft snow with a moderately stiffer flex and enough camber to hold an edge on hardpack. The Antimatter Series skis are a great choice for all-mountain skiers who prefer a directional ski with a focus on firm snow performance and carving, while ARV & ARW skis are ideal all-mountain skis for people who prefer a more playful riding style. 

Freeride Skiers

Are you into high speeds, big air, and off-trail big-mountain charging? You’re a freeride skier.

Freeride skiers need a ski that is stable at high speeds and handles variable conditions from powder to hardpack. These skis have stiffer flexes and often feature construction with metal layers to provide damping and stability. The Antimatter Series skis are purpose-built for more directional freeride and big-mountain skiing. The wider ARV/ARW Series Skis (106 and 112) and the Signature Series skis (like the Whitewalker 116) are great twin tip freeride skis with a more playful feel that retain enough stability for higher speeds.   

Backcountry Skiers

Do you like to earn your turns? Always seeking out deep stashes and steep lines outside the boundaries? You’re a backcountry skier. 

Backcountry skiers need skis with lightweight constructions that are efficient on the uphill. They also need versatile waist widths and enough rocker to handle everything from deep pow to sunbaked mank to refrozen hardpack. Armada’s Locator Series skis are made from an ultralight construction featuring Caruba and carbon for uphill performance with substantial rocker and a solid tail flex for dependable performance in mixed backcountry conditions. Some Signature Series and Zero Collection skis (like the Whitewalker 116 and ARV JJ UL 116) also excel as backcountry skis by balancing lightweight construction and a playful downhill disposition.  

What type of terrain do you ski, and in what conditions? Do you primarily ski off trail in deep snow? Do you ski the frontside, groomers, and primarily on hardpack? Maybe you ski a little bit of it all.

Powder

Powder skis feature wider waist widths and comparatively softer flexes for maximum flotation and maneuverability in deep conditions. Generally, the wider a ski is, the better it will perform in deep snow but the more limited it will be in variable or harder snow. Powder skis are typically 100 mm or more in width at the waist, and also feature more rocker (rise in the tip and sometimes tail) and less camber underfoot.

Armada skis designed for powder performance include wider ARV/ARW Series Skis (106 and 112), Antimatter Series Skis (108 and 114), and the Signature/Zero skis (Whitewalker 116/121 and ARV 116 JJ UL).

Frontside/Groomers

Narrower skis with more camber underfoot and comparatively stiffer constructions deliver the best frontside/groomer firm snow performance. Narrower skis are easier to get on edge and have stronger edge hold. Frontside skis often feature more camber underfoot and less dramatic rocker in the tip and tail, and sometimes have metal layers in construction for more vibration damping and stability while delivering optimal carving performance. Skis with waist widths in the low 90’s and below are best for firmer conditions. 

Skis like the Antimatter 100, 92, 88 and 82, are skis with strong frontside performance. Narrower ARV/ARW Series skis (like the ARV/ARW 88) also perform well on hardpack in a more playful/less directional package. 

All-Conditions

The jack-of-all-trades, one-ski-quiver, all-conditions skis aim for the sweet spot that allows them to perform well in varied conditions. The name of the game is versatility, which comes at the expense of performance on the extreme ends (in the deepest pow or on the firmest snow). These skis feature moderate waist widths (typically between 90-106mm), and a mixture of rocker and camber that allows for enough float to ski some fresh snow while maintaining enough firm snow performance to ski in between storms. 

All-conditions skis from Armada include mid-width ARV/ARW Series Skis (ARV/ARW 94, 100, and 106) for those seeking a more playful ride, and mid-width Antimatter Series and Zero Collection skis (Antimatter 92, Antimatter 100, Stranger) for those preferring more directional performance. 

Now that you’ve picked the right ski model based on your skiing style and the terrain/conditions you most frequently ski, you just need to pick the right length. The right length comes down to your height, weight, skill level, and personal preferences for how you want a ski to perform.

Now, consider the factors that would influence whether you may want to size up or down when choosing what length is right for you. It’s all about finding the balance of what performance characteristics matter most to you. 

You may want to size down to a shorter length if you are a beginner or intermediate skier who values maneuverability and ease of turning. You may also want to size down if you are a lighter weight skier or someone who doesn’t ski at very high speeds. 

You may want to size up to a longer length if you are a heavier or more aggressive skier who skis at high speeds. Longer skis provide more stability at the expense of maneuverability. 

If you have additional questions about what ski is right for you, please contact our customer service team.