2025-2026 Armada AR ONE 130 MV

Boot: 2025-2026 Armada AR ONE 130 MV

Stated Flex: 130

Available Sizes: 24–29.5 (24.5, 26.5, & 27.5 available in limited quantities during 24/25 season)

Stated Last (size 26.5): 100 mm

Size Tested: 26.5

Stated Boot Sole Length (size 26.5): 305 mm

Blister’s Measured Weight (size 26.5):

  • Shells, no Liners (left & right): 1651 & 1649 g
  • Liners, no Footbeds: 444 g & 444 g 
  • Shells + Liners = 2095 & 2093 g
  • Stock Insoles: 19 g each
  • Removable Spoilers: 40 g each

Additional Specs

Buckles: 1 "Slingshot" buckle & 2 micro-adjustable buckles

Power Strap: 50 mm elastic strap w/ cam-style closure

Shell Materials:

  • Cuff: PU (heat-moldable)
  • Lower Shell / Shoe: PU (heat-moldable)
  • Tongue: PU

Stated Forward Lean: 17° default; adjustable to 13° & 15°

Liner: "AR ONE Team" Liner (heat moldable) w/ adjustable tongue

Soles: GripWalk (ISO 23223)

Tech Fittings: toe-only

Binding Compatibility: GripWalk & “MN” bindings

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Blister reviews the Armada AR ONE 130 MV ski boot.
25/26 Armada AR ONE 130 MV
Review Navigation:  Specs //  First Look //  Flash Review

[Editor’s Note: Our “First Looks” are our way of getting you information sooner on some of the products we’re reviewing, including our measured specs and the details from the manufacturer. Once we’ve started testing a given product, we detail our on-snow impressions in our Flash Reviews and our annual Winter Buyer’s Guide. When we’re able to spend extensive time testing a given product, we publish our in-depth Full Reviews and Deep Dive comparisons.]

Intro

Armada recently announced that they’d launched their first-ever collection of ski boots. Dubbed the “AR ONE,” these new boots are available in limited sizes from certain retailers this season, with a full production run following in the fall of 2025. 

We recorded a conversation with Matt Rihm, Armada’s VP of Product, and Bransford Briggs, Armada’s Ski Boot Product Manager, which you can check out on our GEAR:30 podcast. In it, they fill us in on the backstory of this project, what sort of goals they were trying to achieve with this boot design, who it’s for, and more.

Right after we posted that conversation, we started spending time in the AR ONE 130 MV; BLISTER+ members and those with our Digital Access Pass can check out our Flash Review for our initial impressions. In the meantime, here are some of the key details for the new boot.

What Armada Says About the AR ONE 130 MV

"The AR ONE 130 is built to get rowdy. The Hybrid Cabrio Construction creates an unprecedented blend of comfort and performance backed by a powerful, smooth 130 flex. Premium features like the Team Liner, Team Elastic Cam 50mm Powerstrap, Kush Damping Bootboard, and 1⁄2 tech inserts make this a favorite of our hard-charging freeride athletes looking for an exceptional handling and versatile boot."

2025-2026 Armada AR ONE 130 MV

The AR ONE Series

The full AR ONE series includes five models, from a stated flex of 90 to 130, all of which are based on the same 100 mm last. Early-release models available this January include the 130 and 110 flex in sizes 24/.5, 26/.5, and 27/.5. Here’s the breakdown of the full series, which will be available in the fall of 2025:

  • AR ONE 130 MV (size 24–29.5)
  • AR ONE 120 MV (size 24–29.5)
  • AR ONE 110 MV (size 23–29.5)
  • AR ONE 100 MV (size 23–29.5)
  • AR ONE 90 MV (size 23–29.5)

Many materials and features are shared across the whole lineup, but the 100 and 90 models lack several of the higher-end features, such as the adjustable forward lean, “Kush” damping boot board, replaceable hardware, adjustable liner tongue, elastic power strap, and “Mid Grip” rubber under the arch.

Shell Design & Materials

The AR ONE 130, 120, and 110 all utilize a polyurethane shell, cuff, and tongue, and all AR ONE models are heat-moldable via the “Memory Fit” process, which is shared with Armada’s sibling, Atomic.

Armada labels the AR ONE as a “Hybrid Cabrio” boot. For reference, a traditional Cabrio or “3-piece” boot relies primarily on its tongue for the flex pattern of the boot. A traditional 2-piece boot lacks a tongue and instead relies on the connection of its upper cuff and lower shell for its flex pattern. To be clear: these are generalizations with exceptions — we’re primarily just trying to provide context for how Armada is positioning their boot. See our GEAR:30 podcast for a more nuanced discussion on these general categories.

The AR ONE utilizes a plastic tongue and lower shell with a pretty open throat design, akin to a traditional Cabrio boot, but the AR ONE has a more substantial upper cuff than many 3-piece boots. Overall, the AR ONE’s shell design is somewhat reminiscent of boots like the Scarpa Maestrale, Quattro XT, phaenom fs 01 120, and Dynafit Radical. Aside from the phaenom design, all of those are touring boots with walk mechanisms; in contrast, the AR ONE lacks a walk mechanism and is primarily designed for downhill performance.

Looking past currently available boots, the AR ONE looks somewhat reminiscent of the old Salomon SPK and Ghost boots, which haven’t been in production for many years but were loved by certain skiers.

Blister reviews the Armada AR ONE 130 MV
Armada AR ONE 130 MV: tongue, liner, & lower shell
Blister reviews the Armada AR ONE 130 MV
Armada AR ONE 130 MV: tongue & lower shell

Liner

The AR ONE 130 MV comes with Armada’s top-shelf “Team Liner,” as opposed to the “Pro Liner” in the other models. Here’s how Armada sums up the two:

“Both liners are heat moldable for a fully customizable fit, utilize an external PU Y-Band to reduce vertical shear with the shell, and feature pre-molded Anchor Fit Heel Pockets. The AR ONE TEAM LINER has an additional level of fit and finish with a repositionable tongue for instep volume adjustment and use premium face fabrics.”

Adjustable Forward Lean

The AR ONE 130, 120, and 110 all feature “Power Shift” on their rear spine, a feature borrowed from Atomic that allows you to switch them between 17°, 15°, and 13° forward lean (they reportedly come set stock at 17°, which is higher than average). The 100 and 90 models have a fixed forward lean of 15°.

Buckles / Closures

The standout feature here is the AR ONE’s “Slingshot” buckle, which wraps over the instep area and tensions in two directions, thanks to its split cable orientation. The goal here is to securely tighten the ankle and heel to keep it from lifting. 

Up top, the AR ONE has a more traditional cuff buckle and another buckle just aft of the toe box. 

Power Strap

The AR ONE 130 and 110 both get an elastic, 50mm-wide power strap with a cam closure. The other models come with a more traditional (static) 40 mm power strap with a velcro closure.

Soles

All of the AR ONE models come with replaceable GripWalk (ISO 23223) soles. The 130, 120, and 110 also get an additional rubber patch under the arch area, which Armada calls “Mid Grip.”

The 130-flex model also features tech fittings only at the toe, so you could potentially use it in bindings that only use a tech toe for uphill travel (e.g., Armada / Atomic / Salomon Shift2, Marker Duke PT, CAST Freetour, and ATK Hy Free).

Cuff Adjustment

The AR ONE 130, 120, and 110 all reportedly have cuff-alignment built into their cuff pivots; the system looks similar to what we’ve seen on boots from Atomic and Salomon. The AR ONE 100 and 90 have riveted cuffs.

Weight & Comparisons

At just shy of 2100 grams per boot, the AR ONE 130 MV isn’t wildly light or unusually heavy. In today’s market, it’s a tad heavier than average for a fixed-cuff, non-racing boot, but there are plenty of competitors coming in at similar weights.

Here are a number of our measured weights for some comparable boots. For our measured weights, we list the weights of each shell + the weights of each liner, then the total weight of the shells + liners.

K2 Recon 130 LV (26.5): 1276 & 1277 + 369 & 374 = 1645 & 1651 g
K2 Recon Pro (26.5): 1334 & 1328 + 426 & 434 = 1760 & 1762 g
Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S GW (26.5): 1375 & 1376 + 410 & 413 = 1785 & 1789 g
Salomon S/Pro Alpha (26.5): 1408 & 1417 + 399 & 400 = 1807 & 1817 g
Nordica Promachine 130 (26.5): 1428 & 1428 + 444 & 445 = 1872 & 1873 g
Dalbello Cabrio LV Free 130 3DWrap (26.5): 1640 & 1640 + 246 & 244 = 1886 & 1884 g
Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 Professional GW (26.5): 1411 & 1415 + 548 & 546 = 1948 & 1961 g
K2 Mindbender 130 BOA (26.5): 1520 & 1531 + 408 & 413 = 1954 & 1968 g
Tecnica Mach1 LV 130 TD (26.5): 1518 & 1518 + 447 & 450 = 1965 & 1968 g
Lange Shadow 130 LV (26.5): 1560 & 1560 + 415 & 419 = 1975 & 1979 g
Kästle K130P LV (26.5) 1635 & 1635 + 361 & 368 = 1996 & 2003 g
Fischer RC4 Pro LV GW ZF CFC (26.5): 1438 & 1440 + 586 & 586 = 2024 & 2026 g
Head Formula 130 (26.5): 1557 & 1558 + 468 & 470 = 2027 g & 2029 g
Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 TD (26.5): 1541 & 1539 + 491 & 501 = 2032 g & 2040 g
Head Formula RS 130 (26.5): 1587 & 1588 + 466 & 466 = 2052 g & 2053 g
Rossignol Hi-Speed Elite 130 (26.5): 1610 & 1607 + 442 & 446 = 2052 & 2053 g
Phaenom FS 01 120 (26): 1517 & 1512 + 536 & 545 = 2053 & 2057 g
Armada AR ONE 130 MV (26.5): 1649 & 1651 + 444 & 444 = 2093 & 2095 g
Lange RX 130 LV (26.5): 1676 & 1678 + 430 & 430 = 2106 & 2108 g
Lange RS 130 LV (26.5): 1634 & 1634 + 481 & 489 = 2115 & 2123 g
Fischer RC4 Pro MV GW BOA ZF CFC (26.5): 1554 & 1555 + 605 & 603 = 2170 & 2170 g
Atomic Redster CS 130 (26.5): 1773 & 1778 + 435 & 434 = 2208 & 2212 g
Nordica Dobermann 5 S (26.5) 1811 & 1816 + 491 & 490 = 2302 & 2306 g
Head Raptor WCR 140S (26.5): 1852 & 1849 + 507 & 511 = 2359 & 2360 g

Bottom Line (For Now)

The Armada AR ONE 130 MV is an interesting addition to the market — in part because it’s the first boot ever produced by the brand, and because it seems to blur the lines a bit between traditional 2-piece and 3-piece boots. We’ve started spending time on it and will post any updates below.

Get More Info: Our Flash Reviews & Winter Buyer’s Guide

BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out the Flash Review below to read our initial on-snow impressions. Don’t have access? Get our Digital Access Pass to read all of our Flash Reviews and Deep Dive comparisons. Or, even better, become a BLISTER+ member to get that + the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, access to our annual Winter Buyer’s Guide, and much more.

On that note, you can also get our thoughts on 300+ skis, 60+ boots, and tons of other products in our 2024-2025 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide. BLISTER+ members already have access, or you can purchase the guide on its own to get the the print copy + digital version at no extra cost, or the digital-only edition.

Blister reviews the Armada AR ONE 130 MV
Flash Reviews - Skiing

Flash Review: 25/26 Armada AR ONE 130 MV

We just got our first laps in Armada’s first boots, the AR ONE 130 — here are some of the things that have stood out so far.

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The 10th Anniversary of the Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide: Why We Started It, How It’s Evolved, & What’s in the Latest One (Ep.310)
24/25 Digital Winter Buyer's Guide

2024-2025 Blister Digital Winter Buyer’s Guide

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2025-2026 Armada AR ONE 130 MV

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