2023 Armada Declivity 92 Ti

The Armada Declivity 92 Ti emerged on the scene a few years ago and marked a somewhat unexpected entry into this category for Armada. While they previously had some directional skis, the Declivity line displayed a new commitment for the brand to high performance, all-mountain, non-twin-tip skis. It’s proven to be a solid competitor in a field of heavy hitter skis, and does so with its own Armada flair and feel. Armada uses a lightweight Caruba core in these skis, which is enhanced with their Articulated Titanal Banding technology. The top sheet of two sheets of metal features longitudinal slits in the forebody of the ski, allowing the ski to twist or articulate more just in the shovel, which allows for easier and smoother turn initiation and a better connection to the snow. In the 92, we get noticeable longer tip rocker than tail rocker, giving the ski versatility for different snow conditions while retaining the ability to finish a clean carving turn with power. We’ve had a lot of tester on the Declivity 92 Ti over the past few seasons and the ski continues to impress, so much so that it’s made its way into the personal quivers of some of our staff.

Jeff Neagle has been skiing the 180 cm Declivity 92 Ti for quite a while now, having picked up a pair after their initial launch. Despite owning a pair, he seems to get on them in our test situations quite often. Jeff awarded the Declivity 92 Ti 5 out of 5 scores for both versatility and overall impression, perhaps the two most important criteria for an all-mountain ski. Flotation and playfulness did drop to 3 out of 5, which isn’t terribly surprising, and all of our other criteria came in at 4 out of 5. “While I didn't give it 5 out of 5 for stability or edge grip, the Declivity 92 Ti is among the strongest skis in the ~90 mm all-mountain range. Yes, there are stronger and more powerful skis (Brahma, Enforcer 88, Kendo 88, Stance 90), the Declivity 92 isn't far behind and does it with a little bit of a counter-culture attitude. There's some playfulness built into this ski in the form of slight rocker and taper, more pronounced in the tip than the tail. The construction also reduces torsional stiffness in the tip, so the ski isn't as punishing in technical terrain. It also rolls into a carving turn really nicely. It doesn't require as much skier input as some skis, but once you're in that turn, it holds really well. Edge release is slightly easier than those stiffer, more powerful skis I listed too, which provides more forgiveness in bumps, trees, etc. A very well-rounded all-mountain ski that's appropriate for a big range of skiers. East, west, doesn't matter. Just about anyone can find something to love about the Declivity 92.”

A stark contrast to Jeff, Jamie O’Brien had never skied the Declivity 92 Ti entering this year’s Ski Test. Lots of 4 out of 5 scores from Jamie, with flotation dropping to 3 out of 5 and stability rising to 5 out of 5. Jamie opted for the 180 cm length, which he thought skied true to size. “What a fun ski! Really surprised me from a brand I only knew to be a free ride brand. Lots of fun, versatile, and forgiving.” If you’re still thinking of Armada as just a twin tip manufacturer, hop on a pair of Declivity 92 Ti and we guarantee you’ll have the same reaction as Jamie. Ryan Daniel brings his strong race background to our Ski Test each year and we’re always very happy to have his feedback. He opted for the 188 cm length in the Declivity 92 Ti, which he thought was “perfect” for his size and ability. Ryan almost awarded it full perfect scores, with only playfulness dropping to a 4 out of 5. That’s darn impressive, especially from a skier like Ryan. “This ski rips. Love to be sent hard and fast. Grip on hard pack was great. Lots of energy. I would not recommend as a bump ski. This ski can do it all, but it is stiff so not supper forgiving. This ski will enjoy all terrain.” We wonder if the long length Ryan tested had anything to do with his mention of not performing well in bumps. Some of our other testers on shorter lengths seemed to do just fine in moguls and other similarly demanding terrain. Keep that in mind if you’re choosing this ski and will be skiing some bumps, you might not want to go long if you’re deciding between two lengths.

The Declivity 92 Ti continues to bring a more playful, fun-loving approach to the somewhat saturated “~90 mm all-mountain skis with metal” category. It provides an alternative option to more established skis from bigger brands and does a great job competing with those models. Strong, stable, and grippy, but there’s some Armada flavor to it too. If you’re looking for a high-end all-mountain ski, but want to be a little different and not match everyone in the lift line, it’s a great choice.