2023 Armada Reliance 88 C

Adding to the success of the Reliance series, Armada continues to impress us with their progressive, all-mountain skis with a freeride flare. Similarly built with consistent construction and shape, the Reliance 88 is designed with a Caruba wood core, giving it that light weight feel and maneuverability, adding in fiberglass laminate and carbon stringers for pop and liveliness. With an 88 mm waist width, skiers will experience easy turn initiation and effortless edge to edge transfer, thanks to the overall shape and profile. The generous sidecut combined with the slight early rise in the tip invites fluidity in and out of turns, whether it is amidst soft snow or firm hardpack. If spending the day in the bumps and trees speaks to you, this is where the 88s shine, thanks to the weight and uniform flex. What you’ll notice the most when comparing to the other reliance models is the lack of metal, which gives it less dominance without sacrificing reliability. The perfect ski to approach as an intermediate skier looking for a fun and enjoyable experience without intimidation, or for a more advanced skier desiring a nimble, snappy ski for energetic responsiveness.

Carly Monahan skied the 168 and found it to be just right. Receiving a score of 4 across the board, with the one exception being a 5 for playfulness, it’s apparent that Carly had a blast ripping around on these skis. She found it to be “A peppy ski that lays into a nice arc when given the space, or happily hop some shorter, more skidded turns in softer snow. A pleasure to ski! Could be a great one-ski quiver for an east coaster or someone who skis mostly groomed terrain out west. Advanced (or more laid-back expert) skiers will get the most out of this ski, but it still felt forgiving enough and easy enough to initiate & release turns for someone progressing from an intermediate level into advanced.” Covering all bases here, Carly nailed the hammer on the head by speaking to this ski’s capabilities as far as having the range to accommodate a variety of skiers. Noting similar scores, Alli Ruschp also skied the 168 and noted that it was true to size and a whole lot of fun. She went as far as to say, “my new favorite (I have many) but pleasantly surprised by this ski. Handled the mix of conditions, ice, crud, slush with a smooth stable ride. Perfect daily ski that will be great for a wide range of ladies, not overall aggressive but can handle a strong skier. Again. I loved this ski!!!”

Lexi Hildreth took the 160s out and found that it was a good length for her. Scoring mostly 4s accompanied by a couple of 3s, her overall impression spoke to the versatility, maneuverability, and performance of the 88s. Though stability and edge grip felt lacking, she stated, “great, very fun! Nice and light, performed well in softer snow. A great all-mountain ski that is approachable, but advanced skiers can also enjoy. Very relaxing!” It’s clear that each of our testers found that this ski was approachable, capable and very fun. To classify this ski as an all-mountain daily driver would be fitting, especially if you spend the majority of your time on the east coast ripping up bumps and glades.

Take it from the words of our reviewers, the Armada Reliance 88 C goes above and beyond in the sense that it delivers energy and edge hold for a relatively lightweight ski. Not only is this the perfect tool for enhancing skills and gaining confidence but it also behaves as a nimble, playful ski for the more advanced skier looking for dynamic power and vigor. It deserves the recognition it so evidently has received and we hope the entire Reliance line continues to as well.