2027 Armada AntiMatter 82 W

The 2027 Armada AntiMatter 82 W is a quick, agile ski for front side ripping and beyond. We don't see a whole lot of skis in this narrow all-mountain range that come flat these days so it's important to note that these are now somewhat unique in their status. With an even flex and an accessible character, the AntiMatter 82 W is a fun-loving ski that can rip some round turns while holding some versatility at the same time.

Built with a light caruba wood core, the AntiMatter 82 W is quite mobile and maneuverable. They use carbon strips in front of and behind the binding zone to add spring and pop to the mix without adding much weight. The shovel is on the flexible side, and that makes for easy turn initiation and a quarrel-free mentality. It's a bit stiffer underfoot and through the tail to provide increased grip and electricity. They use a full sidewall but a relatively thin core profile, and this keeps the weight down to 1375 g/ski in the 158 cm length. Tester Havilah Stewart notes that "This ski and I were instant friends. They felt familiar from the beginning. They are reliable in challenging conditions and responsive to different types of turns and quick changes. The AntiMatter is well-rounded skin that can make a variety of sized turns. I liked the ability to release the tail and make quick directional changes when needed."

In terms of shape and profile, this is more of a front side/all-mountain footprint, but since it comes flat with no system binding, we are seeing more versatility and potential here as a well-rounded ski that can be used in bumps, trees, and light powder. When you take it off-trail, you'll be rewarded with easy turning in tighter and more technical spaces, but it's not going to be a great floater or be able to bust through crud, chop, or other variable snow conditions. We get a 14.9-meter turn radius in the 158, and a lot of that is from a fully cambered profile with a long effective edge. This gives the skis a smooth and confident feel on groomers. Tester Fiona Reed states that "These felt a little bit slow both in terms of acceleration as well as their edge-to-edge quickness. Pretty stable and alright edge hold on ice but not a ski that you can really rail a carve on so much. Might be more enjoyable on something other than a firm groomer. It was ok on groomers, definitely can trust on ice, but didn’t feel that that terrain is where this really shines. Would be interested to try it in slushy bumps or something more slarvy."

We think this ski is going to make a great option for progressing skiers who want a narrow all-mountain ski that they trust and that will give them confidence on groomers. It is not a limiting ski, either, in terms of versatility, so if you want to become more adventurous and seek out bumps and trees, it's going to hold up very well in those spots, too.