2023 Armada Declivity 102 Ti

Back for its third season, the Declivity 102 Ti remains unchanged with the exception of just a snazzy new topsheet graphic. The Declivity line (and women’s Reliance) is home to easily the best directional resort skis Armada has ever produced. While the company is known more for their twin tip models, their experience manufacturing directional skis is starting to show and the Declivity 102 Ti can hang with popular skis from more established brands in the not-skiing-backwards community. A lightweight Caruba wood core is paired with Armada’s proprietary Articulated TItanal Banding technology. They use vertical slits in the metal laminate in the forebody of the ski, allowing for less torsional stiffness just in that portion of the ski and thus better articulation, which results in smoother, more intuitive turn initiation. The 102 sets itself apart from narrower Declivity models with noticeably longer rocker, especially in the tail. That increases soft snow performance and should give the ski easier edge release compared to skis like the Declivity 92 Ti.

Jeff Neagle tested the 180 cm length in the Declivity 102 Ti, which he described as skiing true to size and a good length for him personally. Jeff’s highest marks were for overall impression and versatility, both at 5 out of 5. Only forgiveness dropped to 3 out of 5, with all our other criteria rounding out at 4 out of 5. Those scores are indicative of a very well-rounded ski. “What a fantastic ski! East, west, just about anyone could enjoy these. In true Armada fashion, their skis just feel more playful than their competitors. When I ski the Declivity 102, I think about it being like more of a playful Enforcer 100. There are other skis that are good comparisons too, but the Enforcer just feels like a good benchmark for comparison these days. The Declivity isn't quite as strong from tip to tail, but that also means it's looser in the tips and tails, so easier to pivot, smear, slash, butter, etc. You can still rip around at high speeds on this ski and generate high edge angles, which I think a lot of skiers look for in this width range with metal, it's just not as demanding as a lot of skis, which is refreshing.” Brad Schauerman also tested that 180 cm length and had a similar reaction to Jeff. Brad’s scores were even more consistent: straight 4 out of 5 scores for all criteria. “Very fun all mountain ski easy to make a variety of turn shapes good in deeper sugar snow also holds an edge well on the hard pack. Super fun and super versatile.”

Zach Mooney was a late addition to our team of testers this season, but boy we were glad to have him to test skis like the Declivity 102 Ti. With a strong race background, he can really push a ski to its limits. “The articulated titanal banding in the tip is what makes this ski stand out. The tip is incredibly smooth through every condition of snow, while still having power underfoot. The versatility is unmatched.” Zach’s scores matched his written feedback with almost full perfect marks! Only quickness/maneuverability and forgiveness dropped to 4 out of 5, which are still solid scores. It’s clear Zach loved the blend of playfulness and power. The 188 cm length he tested allowed him to ski to his full potential, while still remaining maneuverable, playful, and fun. Dana Allen opted for the 180 cm length for his test runs, and similar to Brad and Zach, didn’t give it a single score below 4 out of 5. Lots of 5 out of 5 marks, with just quickness/maneuverability, playfulness, torsional stiffness/edge grip, and overall impression coming in at 4. “Surprisingly very very stable. With two sheets of metal, one full width and one with cut outs, this ski was both easy to turn and super stable at speed. Definitely a good candidate for a daily driver. Playful and versatile, had very good edge hold on hard snow. Definitely a surprise. Thought it was going to be more of a party and turned out to be a definite all mountain skis.”

The Declivity 102 Ti has impressed at our Ski Test for 3 years in a row now. Interestingly, you still don’t see a ton of them on the mountain. If you’re shopping in the 100 mm width range and want a combination of power and playfulness, the Declivity 102 Ti is easily one of the best choices out there. Maybe third try is the charm and after one more round of positive feedback, you’ll start to see more of these at your local resort. They are certainly deserving.