FIRST LOOK: 2027 Armada Antimatter 100 & 108

Armada has never been shy about making skis that they want to make and not really caring what you think of them. The new Antimatter line is here to continue that ethos, pairing new tech and eccentric shapes with a fast and focused attitude. 

The Antimatter family is picking up where the Declivity series left off, filling the powerful freeride portion of Armada’s catalogue. There are seven widths in the Antimatter line, going as narrow as 75mm underfoot, all the way up to the podium-topping 114. In between, the usual lengths from Declivity line are found, with the 82, 88, and 92 widths all returning. During the industry on-snow demo at Waterville Valley, I spent time with a few of the new skis, and today we’ll focus on two remaining widths in the lineup.

2027 Antimatter 100

First, the Antimatter 100, all new for 2027. Borrowing some radical shaping concepts from its cousin, the Whitewalker, it’s clear that the 100 is designed to be smeary and surfy. When clicking in, a funky pointed tip shape stares back at you, indicative of that floaty and slippery performance. 

While the 100 lets you surf and float, it also provides some serious power. That power is achieved through Armada’s introduction of a new performance technology called “Speedmetal.” Comprised of a partial laminate of metal, Speedmetal runs full width underfoot, then tapers in from the edges as you move away from the binding zone. It then finally tapers back to full width as you approach the tips and tails, then abruptly stops all together. Complicated to explain, simple in execution, as it aims to provide the edge grip and smooth power expected from a full sheet of metal without the weight. 

Armada mentioned that they wanted a loose tip and tail in the 100, so they didn’t want to extend Speedmetal too far down the length of the ski. By shortening it and incorporating unique shaping, it frees the tips and tails up a bit to provide surfy performance that Armada’s athletes desired and demanded.

Continuing the shaping discussion, there’s plenty of rocker in both tips and tails, allowing for easy edge release when you want to reduce speed or send it sideways. One thing the Declivity family always had as a shaping hallmark was underfoot camber, which has remained in the Antimatter 100. Plenty of energy to be found in your turns, but the 100 definitely felt more planted than lively. 

The Antimatter 100 is a strong yet surprisingly versatile option in the 100mm all-mountain/freeride category. They lean to the burly side, but don't commit you to lugging around a heavy set of planks. Armada states a weight of 1915 grams per ski in the tested 182 cm length, which felt about right. 130/100/121 sidecut dimensions paired with an 18m turn radius combines to give skiers a playful and powerful package here.  

Through chopped-up midday groomers, the 100 provided an energetic and robust platform. Not exceptionally precise, but engaging carves and energetic rebound when standing it on edge, despite uneven snow and terrain. The pointed tip shape provided unique turn initiation, which when coupled up with the strength from the Speedmetal, made for some crisp turns.

Overall, the Antimatter 100 is exactly what I would want for Armada's newest entry into the crowded 100mm category. Tons of options presents a challenge to stand out in this crowded group. Unique shaping, versatile performance, and a great topsheet thrusts the Antimatter 100 right into the forefront of this category for 2027. 

2027 Antimatter 108

Bump up the width and you bump up the performance with the Antimatter 108. A strong freeride ski that provides hard chargers an exceptionally stable platform to attack big lines and deep snow. 

The story for the 108 deviates from its narrower sibling a bit. Speedmetal, like in the 100, finds its way to the new 108. Speedmetal replaces the Articulated Titinal Banding X metal laminate found in the Declivity of the same width. The construction differences between the two stop there, aside from the new name and graphic. 

The shaping of the Declivity X 108 also carries through to the Antimatter 108. The sidecut in the tested Antimatter 108 in the 184 cm length is a 130mm tip, 108mm waist, and a 121mm tail. Couple that with a 24 meter turn radius, and you have a ski that wont hesitate to take you for a ride. Skiers should be seeking a ski with this long turn shape or, at the very least, be ready for it. It’s certainly not for everybody, and nor is it designed to be for everyone. The 108 will be quite demanding if you want to coerce it into shorter arcs or operate at low speeds a lot of the time.

I haven’t skied the previous Declivity X 108, but it was well known for being a thoroughbred freeride weapon. Stronger than most people would ever need, long turn shape, and preferential of higher speeds. All of those characterizations are applicable to Antimatter, too. At the Waterville on-snow demo day, we got five inches or so the night before. While the conditions were optimal, there’s not a ton of terrain at Waterville that’s truly appropriate for a ski like this, as fun as it is.

I got on the 108 towards the end of the day when the snow was manky and chewed up. The Antimatter 108 made mince meat out of pretty much everything, steamrolling chunky snow out from under me. Simply put, it wants to go fast and straight, almost ignoring whatever was unfortunate enough to get caught underneath me. It’s very willing to release its edge and slide sideways, but its carving radius is very long and doesn't want to deviate much from that 24m shape. Railing long carves through snow you normally have no business plowing through made for some of the most satisfying turns of the entire event for me.

The Antimatter 108 a sturdy and purpose-built ski, with much more broad appeal being found in the narrower widths of the Antimatter family. It’s a purebred fall-line missile, so if speed and stability are amongst your priorities in a wide ski, the Antimatter 108 is a great option. 

Rundown

Armada came to make a statement for the upcoming 2027 season, and Antimatter is the headline act for next years show. The 100 is a solid and funky choice for strong and creative skiers without asking too much from them. The 108 will rip with you through all the crud and chunder you can imagine and it simple will not flinch. Both represent Armada as a brand quite well, in my opinion: counter-culture cool without a care in the world.

The Antimatter collection will be on sale for the upcoming 2026/27 season, and is hoping to propel Armada and their counter culture into the all-mountain mainstream. I'm looking forward to spending more time with the Antimatter family going forward, and I believe Armada will find success in the direction these skis will take them.