Armada ARV 100 vs Atomic Bent 100: Which 100mm Freestyle Ski Should You Buy?

Introduction

If you have paid attention to the 100mm freestyle all-mountain category lately, two skis keep coming up: the Armada ARV 100, brand new for this season, and the tried and true Atomic Bent 100. Both sit right in that sweet spot between park manners and all-mountain capability, and both are easy to love.

The key difference is one of personality. The Bent 100 is an all-mountain ski with a freestyle personality. The ARV 100 is a freestyle ski with an all-mountain personality. Neither is better across the board; they just prioritize different things.

Armada ARV 100: Freestyle First

Armada, the sister company of Atomic, built the ARV 100 as a response to the huge success of the Bent 100, but with a slightly more playful approach. It rides a bit looser in the tips and tails, closer to a traditional twin tip, and it is more buttery and more playful than the Bent.

It is not going to feel quite as stable as the Bent 100, but it trades some of that for better park performance. It rides switch better and stays snappy through the whole run.

If you are heading out for park laps specifically, the ARV 100 is the pick. It is not as stiff as the Bent 100, but it is more than stiff enough. There is never a moment ripping through the jump line where it feels nervous or like it is not enough.

Atomic Bent 100: All-Mountain With Freestyle Personality

The Bent 100 needs little introduction. It has been hugely successful over the last few years, and for good reason: it delivers genuine all-mountain capability while keeping the freestyle traits people love.

Where it pulls ahead is on hard snow. It carves better, feels a bit more confident and powerful, and offers stronger high-speed stability on firm pistes.

That freestyle personality is still intact, though. It is nice and snappy, and the kicked-up tail means you can still ride switch and do all the same tricks. You are not giving anything up; you are just prioritizing a different balance.

View more details for Atomic Bent 100

How They Compare

Both skis can do the same things: they ride switch, they butter, they handle jumps, and they ski the rest of the mountain. The differences show up in feel.

The ARV 100 is looser and more playful, with better park performance and switch riding. The Bent 100 is more stable, carves harder snow better, and feels more capable across the whole mountain at speed. If you know which style describes your skiing, the choice is fairly clear.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you have a more playful style, the Armada ARV 100 is the way to go. If you want that freestyle personality but also something that holds up on hard pack with high-speed stability, the Atomic Bent 100 is a bit more capable all-mountain.

Both are genuinely strong options, so it really comes down to what you prioritize on the snow.

Conclusion

The ARV 100 and the Bent 100 cover the same 100mm freestyle territory from two different angles. Go ARV 100 for playfulness and park, Bent 100 for all-mountain confidence with the same freestyle DNA.