2025 Armada ARW 88

As the narrowest and most park-oriented of the ARW series, the Armada ARW 88 is back for another season with the same successful recipe with the exception of a new wood core and updated graphics. In plain sight, it’s easy to see what this ski is designed for but don’t let that surprise you-this ski can take on more than just the park. With a highly versatile waist width, freestyle-inspired shape and all-mountain capabilities, the 88 appeals to both the competitive freestyle skier and the lightweight, playful skier who wants an accessible twin tip. Durable, responsive and approachable, there is a lot to love about this ski and its wide range of capabilities.

We see the same construction attributes as the previous year, with caruba moving to poplar for the foundation but otherwise unchanged. This is great news as it delivers a more robust feel, with enhanced strength and thicker core to stand up to the demands of hard landings and rail slides. Keeping the soft flex pattern and playful nature, the fore and aft of the ski remain unencumbered while the ash binding insert incorporates firmness and stability underfoot. Highly predictable and smooth throughout, Armada really strikes that ideal balance between poppy and reliable, which is great for its intended use. W3dgewall technology re-enters the conversation and goes a long way in delivering enhanced durability through the process of fusing the sidewall material into the wood core, creating a mechanical bond that can withstand hard impacts like no other. An exceptionally strong carver, the 88 can hold an impressive edge and feels stable at speed, making them just as capable on-piste as they are in the park. This is great for those who want to excel in the park but do not have to sacrifice all-mountain capabilities. Weighing in at 1550 grams in the 171 cm length, they are light enough to maneuver with ease but capable of holding up to the demands of aggressive skiers.

Designed with freestyle applications in mind, the 88 features a symmetrical shape with an 88 mm waist width and 16-meter turn radius in the 171 cm length. Where this ARW strays from the rest of the family is in the profile with not a lot of rocker and long camber. This provides great ski-to-snow contact, as well as energetic pop both on and off the snow. While its certainly aimed to dominate in the park, the high-quality construction and versatile all-mountain capabilities allow those who don’t want to step foot in the park a competitive avenue. For Heidi Noonan, the ARW 88 was an “All mountain ski, great for groomers. Midlevel to expert with a stiffer flex”. When a freestyle-oriented ski checks the boxes like that, it means Armada knows what they’re doing when it comes to versatility.

The ARW 88 certainly knows where it belongs on the mountain and when put in its designated realm, it is tough to compete with. From competitive freestyle skiers to lighter weight, skilled skiers looking for a versatile twin tip, the 88 appeals to a wide variety. We love to see more durable twin tip skis venture into the all-mountain category and when it comes to this particular ski, it’s well deserved. Strong and capable, with a high level of durability and energetic pop for effortless maneuverability, the ARW 88 brings you the best of both worlds, blending just the right amount of stiffness with agility.