Armada ARV 116 JJ UL Skis 2027

The ARV 116 JJ UL is proof that some ski designs don't need to be reinvented. For 2027, it's the exact same ski as last season, and honestly, we're glad Armada left it alone.

The JJ has earned legendary status for a reason. It's one of the loosest, surfiest, and most intuitive powder skis ever made, and the UL version takes that iconic shape and trims enough weight to make it a legitimate backcountry tool without sacrificing the personality that made the original famous.

Built around a lightweight Caruba core, the JJ UL feels almost effortless in deep snow. It planes quickly, pivots on command, and encourages you to slash every drift, butter every rollover, and treat every pillow like a takeoff. Tight trees, technical lines, and playful terrain all feel easier because the ski never fights you. Instead, it seems to anticipate where you want to go next.

Despite the "UL" designation, this isn't a nervous or flimsy ski. There's still enough backbone to stomp landings, ski variable snow confidently, and keep things composed when the powder gets chopped up. It's simply a lighter version of one of the most iconic powder skis ever built.

Whether you're skinning for untouched lines or getting lucky with a 20-inch storm at the resort, the ARV 116 JJ UL remains one of the most fun powder skis money can buy. More than a decade after the JJ first changed what a powder ski could feel like, it still sets the benchmark for playful deep-snow performance.