Armada Locator 96 Ski

Good things come to those who look for them. Just beyond that peak, or maybe just over that ridge, the Armada Locator 96 is ready to spend all day finding the goodies—and rewarding you for the effort. The 96 mm-waisted option is versatile to go anywhere and send anything. Armada kept weight down in the construction for the new Locator series with caruba wood and carbon stringers, and a titanal binding platform adds strength underfoot for binding retention and power transfer. The result is a stiff and powerful ski that's perfectly balanced between hard-charging and technically precise while still being lightweight for touring uphill. Positive camber underfoot with minimal tail rocker lets you carve sweeping turns and hold an edge in no-fall zones with confidence. The flat tail means more surface area for your climbing skins on steep ascents, and the minimal sidecut is a great shape for touring because wide shovels and tails can be a nuisance on the skin track. Tip rocker and taper keep you afloat when things get deep—and the profile and shape up front also help improve turn initiation to make the Locator super maneuverable—read sliding sideways on a dime. At 1350 grams in the 178 size, the Locator 96 makes a great dedicated backcountry ski, or you can set it up with a hybrid touring binding and use it in the resort too.

• 96 mm waist is versatile to handle any terrain
• AR Bat Tail groove in the ski's tail elegantly secures climbing skin clips
• AR75 Sidewall keeps the tip and tail light while enabling power transfer through the effective edge
• Winter 2023/24 model