Armada AntiMatter Skis 2027 Review: A Freeride Take on All-Mountain Skiing
If you've been paying attention to skis over the last five years, you've probably noticed something.
The all-mountain category has become incredibly good.
It's also become incredibly crowded.
Most brands eventually arrived at a similar formula: directional shapes, metal laminates, moderate rocker profiles, and a focus on stability over playfulness. Some did it better than others, but many of the skis started chasing the same skier.
Armada's Declivity series was one of the standouts. In fact, we've repeatedly called the Declivity 92 one of the most underrated skis we've ever tested. It carved hard, gripped on ice, and had a level of versatility that never got the recognition it deserved. The Declivity X 102 was excellent, and the 108 developed a loyal following of skiers who wanted a powerful ski that could still break loose when asked.
The problem wasn't the Declivity.
The problem was that eventually everyone started building something similar.
Ironically, Armada was one of the brands that helped create this trend. When the Declivity collection launched, it was a radical departure from what Armada had traditionally been known for. Instead of loose, freestyle-inspired skis like the ARV series, Armada introduced a lineup of directional all-mountain skis that loved to carve, charge, and ski aggressively.
For 2027, Armada decided it was time to head back toward its roots.
Rather than building another directional all-mountain ski, Armada set out to create a collection of freeride skis that happen to be exceptionally good all-mountain skis. The result is the new AntiMatter collection—a lineup that maintains much of the confidence, edge hold, and stability that made the Declivity series successful while adding more playfulness, maneuverability, and freeride character.
That's what makes the AntiMatter collection so interesting. It doesn't abandon what worked. It simply brings some Armada back into Armada.
What Changed?
The easiest way to explain the AntiMatter lineup is this:
The Declivity series leaned all-mountain.
The AntiMatter series leans freeride.
That doesn't mean Armada abandoned carving performance, edge hold, or stability. Those traits are still very much alive. What changed is how the skis achieve it.
Armada developed a new construction called Speed Metal, which places metal where it's most effective underfoot while allowing the tips and tails to remain more playful and forgiving. The result is a ski that still feels composed at speed but is dramatically easier to pivot, slash, smear, and maneuver when terrain gets technical.
In other words, less railroad-track carving machine.
More ski-the-whole-mountain machine.
Armada Antimatter 114
The AntiMatter 114 is the flagship of the collection and arguably the ski that best represents where Armada is heading.
This is an entirely new ski developed alongside Max Palm and tested extensively on the Freeride World Tour by athletes like Ben Richards. The shape, construction, rocker profile, and flex pattern are all new.
What's impressive about the AntiMatter 114 is how it blends two personalities that typically don't coexist very well.
The metal underfoot provides stability, suspension, and confidence when conditions get rough or speeds increase. Meanwhile, the tapered Speed Metal construction allows the ski to remain playful and maneuverable when you're navigating technical terrain or looking to get creative.
The shape is directional, but the rocker profile feels much closer to what you'd expect from a twin tip. It pivots easily, releases naturally, and doesn't require constant forward pressure to come alive.
For skiers looking for a powder ski that doesn't feel like a handful when conditions aren't perfect, the AntiMatter 114 is going to have a lot of appeal.
Armada Antimatter 108
The AntiMatter 108 receives fewer changes than some of the other skis in the collection, but that's because Armada got a lot right the first time.
The shape remains very similar to the outgoing Declivity 108. However, Armada updated the core profile to mirror what they developed in the AntiMatter 114.
Interestingly, the old Declivity 108 was already closer to the new AntiMatter philosophy than many people realized. The rocker lines, shape, and overall personality shared a surprising amount of DNA with the new flagship.
The result is a ski that continues to offer excellent stability for its width while gaining some of the smoother, more playful characteristics found throughout the AntiMatter collection.
If you loved the Declivity 108, you'll likely love this ski too.
Armada Antimatter 100
If there's a ski that perfectly captures what Armada was trying to accomplish with the AntiMatter collection, it's probably the AntiMatter 100.
This isn't a renamed Declivity. It's an entirely new ski.
New shape. New mold. New rocker profile. New mount point. New construction.
Think of it as a scaled-down AntiMatter 114.
The goal was ambitious: create the most playful freeride ski in the 100 mm category while still delivering the grip, confidence, and composure skiers expect from a true all-mountain ski.
Most skis in the 100 mm category force you to choose.
Do you want playful?
Or do you want stable?
The AntiMatter 100 attempts to give you both.
The mount point moves slightly forward compared to the old Declivity series, creating a more balanced feel underfoot. The rocker profile encourages pivots and slashes while the Speed Metal construction keeps the ski composed when it's time to open things up.
It's one of the most interesting skis we've tested in this category because it doesn't really fit neatly into a single box.
Shop: Armada Antimatter 100
Armada Antimatter 92
The AntiMatter 92 may look familiar because it shares its shape and mold with the outgoing Declivity 92.
That said, this isn't simply a graphics update.
Armada redesigned the construction using lessons learned during development of the AntiMatter 100. The ski now uses Speed Metal construction along with a more playful flex pattern.
The result is a ski that maintains the excellent edge hold and confidence that made the Declivity 92 so popular while becoming noticeably easier to pivot, release, and maneuver.
If you were worried that Armada ruined one of the best skis in the category, don't be.
The AntiMatter 92 still rips on firm snow.
It just has a bigger sweet spot and a little more personality now.
Shop: Armada Antimatter 92
Armada Antimatter 88
The AntiMatter 88 is the simplest story in the collection.
Formerly known as the Declivity 88 C, this ski receives a new name and graphics but remains structurally unchanged.
That's perfectly fine because it was already one of our favorite lightweight frontside-oriented all-mountain skis.
Quick edge-to-edge, easy to ski, energetic, and surprisingly versatile, the AntiMatter 88 continues to be a fantastic option for skiers who spend most of their day on groomers but want something more playful and forgiving than a traditional frontside ski.
TL;DR
The AntiMatter collection isn't just a rebrand.
It's Armada making a statement about where they think the all-mountain category should go.
Instead of chasing another directional metal ski that feels suspiciously similar to everything else on the wall, Armada leaned back into what made them unique in the first place.
Playfulness.
Creativity.
Freeride skiing.
The impressive part is they managed to do it without sacrificing the stability and edge hold that made the Declivity series successful.
The result is a collection that stands apart from an increasingly crowded category.
For skiers who want something that carves hard but doesn't feel boring, the AntiMatter collection might be exactly what you've been waiting for.