Ski Reviews

2023-2024 Armada ARG II UL, 187 cm

Reviewer Username: LukeKoppa

Reviewer Height: 5’8″

Reviewer Weight: 155 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Expert

DAYS USED: 1 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Crested Butte Mountain Resort, CO

TEST TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Trees

TEST CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 7/10

FORGIVENESS: 6/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 10/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 8/10

STABILITY: 5/10

SUSPENSION: 6/10

EDGE HOLD: 2/10

PLAYFULNESS: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

ultra surfy / loose and balanced, but not very lively

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (187 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Very steep off-piste terrain | Trees

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep)

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

This is a niche powder ski, so folks with a quiver who are able to justify a ski that will be used exclusively on pow days, and maybe even used only for the first few laps on a resort pow day, after which you’d switch to something more versatile in chop and firm snow. It’s for those who want an exceptionally surfy ski in fresh snow.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

I haven’t skied any other skis that are as reverse-cambered and as tapered as the ARG II UL, so it’s the surfiest, loosest, and best-floating ski I’ve probably ever been on. That said, there are tons of less-radical, narrower pow skis that are far more practical in non-pow conditions.

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

Overall, my first day on the ARG II UL was really fun. It’s incredibly loose and easy to slash in soft snow, and its flotation is exceptional. It’s also more intuitive than I expected — I actually got along with it quite well in soft chop and even just slightly soft moguls. On groomers, it requires careful balance and that you almost always keep it sliding slightly sideways on edge, but it wasn’t as scary as I expected in non-pow conditions.