That is my evaluation of Armada ARV 116 JJ. In my view, it’s a succesful, efficient powder ski that caters to those that prefer to get artistic and have enjoyable whereas exploring recent snow.
With ample waist width and a light-weight construct, they provide you the whole lot you’d wish to deal with deep snow. They aren’t a really useful all-mountain possibility because of some limits in versatility, however they work properly for powder hunters who ski onerous.
Preserve studying to study extra in regards to the execs and cons of this ski, who it’s best for, and different related alternate options to contemplate.
Fast Abstract
The place to purchase: Amazon, The HouseBest for: Skiers on the prowl for powder whereas on the lookout for a playful and responsive possibility to assist them discover recent traces. Professionals: Glorious powder ski with loads of flex and a surfy, enjoyable really feel. Gentle and flexy for a powder ski. That makes them further playful and permits for creativity whereas snowboarding. Cons: Not all that versatile in different circumstances exterior of deep, recent snow. Not a really useful newbie ski. Options: Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Icelantic Nomad 115, Armada ARV 106
Can the Armada ARV 116 JJ be used as a touring ski?
Any ski can technically be used as a touring ski, however a large and huge possibility just like the JJ might be on the heavy aspect for any severe ski tour. You’ll get wonderful powder efficiency, clearly, however they are going to be quite a bit to deal with on the best way uphill.
Are these an excellent powder ski for inexperienced persons?
Sure and no. For those who’ve by no means skied powder earlier than, I’d recommend attempting out a smaller ski as a result of wider choices is usually a lot to deal with. When you have some expertise with powder and are able to take issues to the following stage, these is usually a good possibility.
Why Belief Me
I’ve been snowboarding virtually so long as I’ve been in a position to stroll. I’ve skied all around the world and have a long time of expertise snowboarding on, testing, and reviewing totally different skis and snowboarding gear. I carried out in-depth analysis into the Armada ARV 116 JJ skis by taking a look at its on-snow traits and different options. I additionally spoke to some skilled skiers with expertise using them. Under is my detailed evaluation.
Detailed Assessment of Armada ARV 116 JJ
Powder hungry skiers demand gear that can present them when high-end efficiency when the proper circumstances current themselves. The Armada ARV 116 JJ is one such ski that may present all the float and deep snow efficiency it’s good to benefit from each inch of recent snow. They’re additionally a bit extra playful than another related powder ski choices.
Powder Efficiency
We’ll begin the evaluation off by diving straight into what these skis are totally meant for – powder. The ARV 116 JJ is a succesful and efficient powder hunter that offers you high-end efficiency when the snow actually begins to stack up. The 116 waist and wider tip and tail present loads of float. That means that you can slash and carve your approach down an untracked line, grinning like a child the whole approach.
One factor that actually distinguishes these skis from related choices is how playful they’re in deep snow. I do know you’re most likely pondering {that a} powder day at all times feels such as you’re on the playground, however these skis take issues to a different stage. For those who’re a artistic skier who actually likes to have enjoyable, these planks will give you the liberty to do no matter you need.
That very same playfulness and fast response does come at a little bit of a value when it comes to aggressiveness. The skis aren’t the most suitable choice for busting by means of crud or different circumstances when it hasn’t snowed for some time. For those who’re a straight line bomber sort of skier with a necessity for velocity, they most likely received’t reside as much as your requirements. For those who like to play and roam down a giant powder bowl, they’re among the many finest choices round.
All-Round Attributes
Regardless that the ARV 116 JJ’s are totally meant for powder days, you’re more than likely not going to get to take pleasure in deep snow day by day. Whereas these will get you by in different areas of the mountain, they’re just a little too vast and flexy to be really useful as an on a regular basis all-mountain decide. They’re an excessive amount of ski to be efficient throughout rapidly altering circumstances and are higher left within the storage if it hasn’t snowed shortly.
That mentioned, when you have some leftover mushy snow and even slush, they will give you a strong snowboarding expertise away from recent powder. The identical attributes that give them wonderful powder efficiency can help you eat up spring slush later within the season. They’ve loads of pop and surf in these circumstances, and their playful nature comes into impact there as properly. Plowing by means of crust and crud is a distinct story, however in slush you’ll be high-quality.
Nevertheless, these skis aren’t going to offer wherever close to peak efficiency on groomers or hardpack. They merely aren’t designed for that. They’re an virtually solely powder targeted possibility that can are inclined to chatter and really feel unstable for those who attempt to flip up the throttle on onerous snow. They’ll get you down the hill, however you higher stay in management and engaged whereas doing so or the velocity wobbles and rocker chatter will catch up rapidly.
Development and Model
The Armada ARV 116 JJ options the model’s AR Freestyle Rocker profile that places loads of floaty rocker into the tip in tail. That’s a key design side that provides to the wonderful powder efficiency and turns out to be useful once you wish to mess around. Armada nonetheless retains a little bit of camber underfoot to present you response and pop once you want it. It’s delicate, however nonetheless manages to do the job in deep snow. Simply don’t anticipate the identical efficiency on onerous snow.
A singular side of the form of the tip and tail is the Smear Tech 3D beveled base. The design supposedly helps to make the skis a bit extra versatile and limits binding up in cruddy snow. Whereas I wouldn’t say the function iis fully efficient within the crud division, the progressive form provides to the ski’s playfulness.
The skis function a core consisting of each poplar and ash. That mixture makes them versatile and provides a personality that furthers their playful nature. It additionally retains them robust and highly effective sufficient to reside as much as demanding powder circumstances. The perimeters and base are additionally fabricated from sturdy supplies, and the skis function a strong development that makes them long-lasting even underneath regular use.
The highest sheet graphics are additionally fairly dang cool. They function a skeleton and fowl in a tub that’s delicate, however bizarre sufficient to catch the passing eye. It is perhaps just a little an excessive amount of for skiers who like a plain set of planks, however I are inclined to take pleasure in some distinctive artwork. Armada at all times does an excellent job in that division.
Worth and Worth
The Armada ARV 116 JJ is reasonably priced within the huge, vast, and highly effective powder ski division. Whereas they’re superb in powder, they do lack some versatility. With that in thoughts, I give these skis an excellent worth ranking as a result of, whereas they received’t break the financial institution, you have to to nonetheless produce other setup skis in your arsenal for days when there isn’t a number of powder or recent snow round.
What I Like
I like powder. As such, I like an excellent powder ski. These are a reasonably distinctive and progressive tackle powder skis, however there’s nonetheless quite a bit to love. The playful nature is especially nice. Many powder skis are agency and floaty. Whereas high-quality, that doesn’t offer you a lot room to play. That’s not the case right here. The JJ is playful irrespective of the way you prefer to trip.
I additionally just like the ski’s profile form and the versatile nature that makes them each fast to reply and provides you adequate pop to remain in management at a second’s discover. All trendy powder skis are going to have heavy rocker to maintain you on high of the snow, however these mix that with sufficient camber underfoot to remain planted within the driver’s seat even once you wish to lay again and let the traces come naturally.
These similar attributes come into play in slushy circumstances, which is one other space the place the skis ship. You’ll wish to be sure you have them waxed up for hotter circumstances within the spring, however they’ll plow by means of softer snow and can help you make the most of all of their playfulness because the season involves an finish.
What I Don’t Like
Whereas these skis are nice in powder, they don’t supply another strong efficiency attributes in different circumstances except for slush. That lack of versatility is to be considerably anticipated with a devoted powder ski, but it surely actually limits their capabilities for those who don’t have a number of recent and mushy snow to discover. If you need the flexibility of an all-mountain ski, there are different powder targeted choices on the market.
Whereas I benefit from the JJ’s playful nature, another skiers might want one thing that’s extra aggressive and highly effective. For those who prefer to bomb down bowls and desire a ski that’s robust and environment friendly for that process, these will go away you hanging. They aren’t meant for that hard-charging aggressive snowboarding fashion, and that might be rapidly obvious once you actually put them underneath the gun.
Just like their lack of versatility is the skis’ incapacity to actually carry out properly on something aside from mushy snow. I don’t like utilizing them and groomers or onerous pack. For those who’re an skilled skier, you aren’t going to love them in these circumstances both.
The Options
For those who’re trying to find a distinct possibility than the Armada ARV 116 JJ, check out these different really useful skies that supply related, however barely totally different attributes:
Atomic Bent Chetler 120 – That is one other one in all my favourite powder skis presently obtainable. They will simply eat up deep snow and have all the surf and pop you need out of a powder devoted possibility. They’re wider and never as playful because the ARV 116 JJ, however they’re just a little extra versatile whereas nonetheless providing you with countless potentialities in deep snow. Learn my detailed evaluation to study extra.Icelantic Nomad 115 – The Nomad is all about versatility. The 115 is an superior all-mountain, powder targeted possibility that can can help you make the most of each powder day with out sacrificing efficiency in different circumstances. It hits the candy spot of playful-but-aggressive.Armada ARV 106 – These aren’t a real powder ski, however they’ll nonetheless offer you loads of efficiency within the deep stuff and can help you simply sort out each different situation that comes your approach. They make for an ideal one-ski quiver possibility that may roam by means of all circumstances all through the course of the ski season. Enjoyable and playful whereas offering loads of energy and motion alongside the best way. Learn my detailed evaluation to study extra.
Closing Verdict
The Armada ARV 116 JJ is a strong alternative for the powder skier who desires to have plenty of enjoyable and be artistic on the mountain. They lack versatility and don’t have an aggressive nature, which could preserve them from being a really useful best choice, however if you’d like an progressive powder ski in your lineup and are a fan of different Armada choices, these are an excellent decide.
