By Ava Mitchell
Armada Locator 88
Overview
The Locator 88 is an ultralight touring ski built for uphill efficiency without sacrificing confident downhill behavior. With an 88 mm waist and EST All‑Mountain Rocker — a rockered, early‑rise tip with camber underfoot — it strikes a balance between float in soft snow and edge hold on firmer groomers. Available in 152–182 cm lengths, shorter skis favor quick, agile turns while longer skis add stability at speed. If your priorities are packable weight and capable descents, this model is worth attention.
Construction and Key Specs
Construction focuses on saving grams while maintaining usable downhill performance. The Caruba core is an ultra‑light wood that reduces weight but preserves torsional stiffness. The 1.7 mm steel edges are lightweight yet durable; the Comp Series base is serviceable and easy to maintain. The partial sidewall with sandwich elements gives a compromise between light touring construction and decent edge response. A Ti binding dampener is included to improve vibration control. Key dimensions (tip/waist/tail: 114–118/88/107–110 mm) and turn radius explain turning behavior and stability.
On‑Snow Performance
On snow the Locator 88 skis playful yet composed. The rockered tip offers forgiveness and helps the ski initiate turns in variable or softer snow, while camber underfoot provides bite and rebound for carving on firm snow. The 88 mm waist keeps the ski nimble in tighter turns and sufficiently supportive on groomers or mixed off‑piste lines. Low weight makes the uphill approach easier and more economical energy‑wise, but compared with heavier, metal‑laminate skis you may notice less high‑speed damping and absolute stability in aggressive carves.
Who Should Buy and Comparisons
Who should consider this ski? Backcountry and ski‑touring enthusiasts who want a true uphill tool that remains competent on the descent. Against other ultralight 85–90 mm touring skis, the Locator stands out for pairing low mass with thoughtful downhill features like the Ti dampener and AR Bat Tail skin clip, but it compromises a bit compared to heavier all‑mountain skis that use more metal for vibration absorption. The flat mounting interface adds versatility for binding choice.
Pros, Cons and Verdict
Verdict: The Locator 88 delivers impressive downhill manners for its weight class — easy to carry, playful on turns and confident enough for varied skiing. Highlights include very low weight, an effective rocker/camber profile, skin‑friendly AR Bat Tail, and straightforward mounting options. Limitations are reduced damping at very high speeds and a relatively narrow waist for deep‑powder specialists. Overall, it’s an excellent pick for skiers prioritizing light touring performance with capable descents.
Loading images...
Community Opinions
Missing a hand while carrying ski gear?
A friend of mine created Clipstic, the easy way to attach your poles to your skis! Using this link you get 10% off as well as support for Pick-a-ski!
Check it out!