Armada Locator 96 Ski 2024

Armada Locator 96 Ski 2024

Armada's Locator series skis are their first backcountry touring specific skis, a new direction for Armada, who made their reputation with backcountry freestyle and freeride skis.
Armada call these skis backcountry freeride skis, touring skis built with the emphasis on downhill performance in the enormous range of conditions found in the backcountry with float, stability and versatility at weights that won’t sap the energy needed to charge the descents.

The Locator 96 has a very useful 127-96-117 mm shape and weighs only 2.70 kg a pair (both 178 cm), similar to G3's excellent Findr 94; one of our favourite touring skis.
The Locator 96 has a slightly longer turning radius than many touring skis, so demands slightly more effort in tight terrain, but in open terrain the more "freeride" shape means these skis are more stable at speed.

Armada have done a very good job in keeping the weight of the Locators to a minimum, thanks to the Caruba wood core and cabon laminates. Caruba is light and offers a snappy flex, and also has the advantage of being very fast growing  - up to 5x faster than poplar.
Built for serious speeds in the backcountry, to maximize stability in all conditions Armada given the Locators "low and slow" rocker lines both tip and tail, the longer effective contact length providing excellent stability at speed. 

Sitting between the "Efficient" and "Free Rando" touring categories, the Locator 96 is light enough to let you climb effectively and has plenty of width for making the most of most backcountry conditions. 
A great choice for experienced tourers wanting a touring ski that's built for superior downhill performance the Locator 96 is sure to gain a loyal following this winter.

Armada Locator 96 Ski Features:

Core:
Caruba wood core for lightweight and a snappy flex. Caruba also has the advantage of being fast growing and more sustainable than poplar.
Rocker / Camber
Low camber giving grip in hard conditions  with a playful feel in softer snow. Short and low rocker length at the tip and tail for stability in all backcountry conditions.
Laminates
45° X-Ply carbon laminate provides torsional rigidity and lightweight strength. Titanal central reinforcement gives reliable binding mount.
Sidewall
AR75 Sidewall reduces weight at the extremities with maximum grip underfoot.
1.7 Lightweight Edge
Heat-treated 1.7 mm edges are light and strong.
Comp Series Base
Sintered UHMW polyethylene with added carbon increases wax absorption for speed and durability.
Ti Binding Dampener
A rubber/titanal/rubber laminate under the bindings dampens shocks and vibrations 
AR Bat Tail Self Center Tail Clip
The surf inspired tail shape allows skin clips to self center, making it impossible for a skin to slip off.