Armada Antimatter 88 — Review

For 26-27 Armada retires the Declivity name in favour of the new Antimatter line. The Antimatter 88 is the former Declivity 88 C, structurally unchanged — new name and graphics, same ski underneath. That matters: this model was already Armada's deliberate counterpoint to the titanal-dominated 88 mm class — a metal-free poplar-and-carbon build for genuine 50/50 frontside and off-piste use. It comes in four lengths from 160 to 184 cm and, at 1450-1800 g per ski, is notably light for a resort all-mountain ski of this width.

On paper, this is the quick, energetic member of the 88 class. The All-Mtn Rocker profile — slight tip rocker, camber underfoot, subtle tail rocker — points to easy turn initiation with proper cambered edge grip, and radii of 16.2 m at 160 cm up to 17.7 m at 184 cm sit in the versatile middle ground between slalom-tight and freeride-long. Carbon reinforcement adds rebound without titanal's damping mass, so the character skews lively and forgiving rather than glued to the snow. The honest trade-off: at very high speed on hard, scraped snow, it will not feel as planted as the titanal 88s it competes with. Elsewhere the low weight works for you: quick edge changes, low swing weight in bumps and trees, less fatigue late in the day.

Armada builds the Antimatter 88 around a 100% Poplar Core with Carbon Reinforcement — no titanal sheet anywhere in the layup. The AR100 full-length sidewall backs the edge, the sintered Comp Series Base holds wax and speed, and the All Mountain Edge is dimensioned for daily resort use. Dimensions are 131/88/112 mm at 176 cm (128/88/110 at 160, 130/88/111 at 168, 132/88/113.4 at 184), with weights of 1450/1575/1675/1800 g per ski across the four lengths. That weight also makes the occasional touring day plausible — rare for an 88 mm resort ski.

It suits intermediate to advanced all-mountain skiers splitting time between groomers and soft snow, valuing agility and easy handling over raw stability. If you know the Armada Declivity 88 c: it is the identical ski in the previous graphics, so buy on price and availability. Among the titanal competition, the Head Kore 88 Ti is the closest rival — light for a metal ski, yet heavier than the Antimatter at comparable lengths and noticeably damper. The Nordica Enforcer 88 sits at the opposite pole: several hundred grams more per ski, more planted at speed and more demanding, with a similar mid-range radius. Strong, heavy or very fast skiers are better served there; lighter, finesse-oriented skiers by the Armada.

Pros

• Notably light for an 88 mm resort ski: 1450-1800 g per ski depending on length.
• Lively, forgiving character from the metal-free poplar-carbon build.
• All-Mtn Rocker with camber underfoot promises easy initiation and real edge grip.
• Low swing weight also makes it a plausible occasional-touring crossover.

Cons

• Less planted at very high speed on hard snow than titanal 88s.
• Metal-free build damps less in chopped or refrozen snow.
• Longest length is 184 cm — limiting for very tall or heavy experts.
• Stability-first chargers should look elsewhere in the class.

Verdict: The Antimatter 88 is the proven Declivity 88 C under a new name: a light, energetic, metal-free all-mountain 88 that trades some high-speed composure for agility, forgiveness and low weight. For 50/50 skiers who don't need titanal ballast, it is one of the most sensible picks in the class.