Armada Antimatter 92W Review: A Smoother Take on a Proven All-Mountain Footprint

Introduction

The Armada Antimatter 92W is a women’s all-mountain ski that shares its footprint with the outgoing Reliance 92Ti, a ski widely respected for its on-trail performance. The key change is construction: Antimatter moves away from articulated Titanal banding and instead uses two narrower sheets of metal, known as Speed Metal, alongside a full poplar wood core. The result is a ski that keeps a strong central spine, plenty of damping, and real power, but feels smoother, more predictable, and more versatile than its predecessor.

The Reliance 92Ti sometimes felt a touch stiff and cumbersome. The Antimatter 92W opens up more versatility, especially in softer snow and more adventurous terrain, while giving up very little in the carved-turn grip that made the original footprint so well loved.

Who This Ski Is For

This is a ski for intermediate through expert skiers who want one ski to handle a variable day. At 92mm underfoot, it is a genuinely useful width for conditions that change throughout the day, working well on groomers and packed powder while still coping when the snow gets cut up or you head into the trees. It will not hold an edge like a narrower, front-side-oriented ski on super hard pack, but it is far more capable once conditions soften.

Solid skiers who tested it did not feel the need for much more ski, which says a lot about the range it covers.

Construction and On-Snow Feel

The construction changes are the story here. Rather than articulated Titanal banding, the Antimatter 92W uses two narrower metal sheets that provide a strong central spine and plenty of damping and power, just not quite as much as before. That makes the ski feel more approachable, especially in softer snow. It still has a pretty stiff flex overall, with slightly more approachable tips, while remaining strong underfoot and through the tail with a fairly thick sidewall. The tips and tails taper more toward true cap to lighten swing weight.

At 1,683g in the 164cm length, it is light enough to stay mobile and maneuverable while still feeling solid for aggressive skiing. Positive camber underfoot gives it energy and pep, and rocker is minimal, relying instead on a spoony tapered tip shape to stay afloat in mild powder. It floats well in anything up to around six inches; beyond that, it tops out. There is enough tail rocker to make the ski easy to release, but the slightly bulbous tail delivers incredible rebound and grip in a carved turn.

On snow, it really enjoys being set on a high edge angle, and you can feel the damping carry you through the turn. The 16.5m turn radius worked well in testing, though the ski can vary it easily: the build keeps it stable at speed, while the tail rocker and lighter weight allow shorter swing turns and quick skids. It is an intuitive ski that rewards getting to know it, staying smooth and composed from the first turn.

Tester feedback reflected that composure. One tester noted that everything clicked from the first run, feeling connected and one with the ski, with solid underfoot feel and unwavering absorption while skiing on ice on a very icy test day. Her verdict: a true all-mountain ski that can cut through the trees like cutting through butter.

Off-Piste and Soft Snow Performance

In powder and crud, the Antimatter 92W handled conditions beautifully. It is more of a cutter than a floater, a trait that has always defined this shape from Armada. Above 100mm underfoot, Armada’s skis take on a more swivelly feel; the 92W keeps a more front-side, traditional character while being extremely well-versed across that all-mountain range.

That makes it an easy recommendation for skiers who spend most of their day on groomed and packed terrain but want genuine capability when fresh snow falls or they venture into the woods.

Buying Advice

If you loved the Reliance 92Ti but found it occasionally stiff and cumbersome, the Antimatter 92W is the natural successor with a friendlier edge. It suits skiers from intermediate through expert who prioritize carving performance and composure but want more versatility in softer snow and adventurous terrain. It is a cutter rather than a floater, so skiers who want a dedicated powder-orientated platform should look higher in the width range.

For everyone else, this is one of the more complete 92mm-class all-mountain skis available, offering a learning curve that keeps paying off the longer you trust it.

Conclusion

The Armada Antimatter 92W refines a proven footprint rather than reinventing it. By softening the metal construction and lightening the swing weight, it becomes smoother, more predictable, and more versatile, especially in soft snow and trees, without sacrificing the grip, damping, and high-edge-angle confidence that made its predecessor a favorite. For a wide range of skiers, it is an easy ski to recommend as a one-ski quiver for variable days.