Review: We Put Armada's New AR One 130 MV Boots To The Test

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Always the innovators, Armada Skis launched a brand-new line of ski boots this year, promising a radical rethinking of how we attach our feet to our skis. The result of the last few years of quiet development, Armada’s new AR ONE 130 MV boot is one of the most unique-looking boots we’ve ever seen. 

It falls somewhere between a traditional four-buckle overlap design and a more modern cabrio/tongue style boot, and is full of thoughtful features freestyle and freeride skiers will love. The boot is available in various flexes, from 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 to suit your needs. We tested the highest-end AR ONE 130 MV model, but fit remains the same throughout the line.

Armada AR One 130 MV Specs

• Size skied: 26.5
• Sizes available: 24.5-29.5 (more sizes to come in 2026)
• Stated Flex: 130
• Binding Compatibility: GripWalk, tech toe inserts
• Forward Lean: 13, 15, 17 degrees (default)
• Stated Last Width: 100mm

Fit:

It’s no real surprise that Armada launched their new boot line with a medium-volume fit first, since that’s going to fit the most feet right out of the box. In reality, despite being a medium-volume 100mm lasted boot, the forefoot is fairly narrow, and our tester required a punch to the pinky toe area.

Likewise, the instep volume isn’t particularly large, and we’d consider it a medium to low instep overall. In the back, there’s excellent heel hold–something that Armada Ski Boot Product Line Manager Bransford Briggs, said was one the main objectives: “to maximize heel hold while delivering a progressive flex and direct power transfer in a boot that is comfortable to wear all day, everyday.”

The hybrid construction makes it quite easy to get the boot on and off, similar to a cabrio style boot where you can pull the tongue forward and out of the way to slip your foot in and out. Some skiers might find that the calf area will be too roomy, but our tester (with small calves) found that with a high-volume 15mm Intuition Power Wrap liner, that space was taken up just fine and added some extra cushioning to the shin area.

Features:

On top of the generally friendly fit characteristics, there’s quite a few nifty features inside that greatly add to the boot’s performance. First off is the innovative cable/buckle combo Armada uses to tighten the instep and secure your ankle into the back of the boot. The cable pulls in two directions, centering the force over your instep and locking you into the heel pocket. It’s somewhat similar to what Salomon does on their Shift Alpha BOA 130 boot, but sans BOA, and in our opinion, it works better on the Armada. Up top, the 50mm elastic power strap does everything a Booster Strap would, better.

The top and forefoot buckles are also very well designed and offer super high leverage, requiring less force to close. No more sitting in the gondola trying to crank your boots before the top station! Inside, the rubber boot board is designed to take the edge of big landings, something freestyle and freeride skiers will really enjoy.

Finally, the boot comes with a tech insert in just the toe (bro boot!) that allows compatibility with hybrid freeride touring bindings like the Salomon/Atomic/Armada Shift, Marker Duke PT, CAST Freetour, and the new ATK HY bindings. There is no walk mode, so don’t expect excellent uphill performance here, but it’s nice to know there’s compatibility with these kinds of bindings out of the box.

Downhill Performance:

Unsurprisingly, this downhill-oriented boot is an excellent option for aggressive freeride skiers looking for their next boot. The 130 flex is stiff, but feels natural and very progressive for a cabrio-style boot. We found it to be on the stiffer end of the 130 flex spectrum, and it looks possible to make the boot even stiffer by adding a second bolt into the spine.

The precise fit, and super snug ankle lock translates to excellent power transfer in all kinds of snow conditions. It’s not quite as precise as a more traditional race-derived boot like the Tecnica Mach 1 LV, but should do the trick for freeride and freestyle skiers. Armada’s rubber Kush boot board does an impressive job taking the edge off hard landings, especially in the park, and we haven’t noticed a lack of power transfer compared to hard plastic bootboards.

Finally, it’s really nice to have a boot this powerful that’s this easy to take on and off. In an era of all the bells and whistles being added to boots like multiple BOAs and whatnot, it’s great to see a boot that doesn’t require advanced yoga moves to get in and out of.

What does the Armada AR ONE 130 MV’s ideal skier look like?

This might come off as a very specialized boot, but we’re convinced it will be a great option for many resort freeride skiers. Of course, the perfect skier would be a freeride skier looking for a bit of extra comfort without sacrificing stiffness and features. It’s possible to go on short tours, so this would also be a great option for skiers looking to do some mechanized backcountry ski touring, like sled skiing with a short skin to backcountry jump, pillow line, or the like, or those who frequent sidecountry zones like in Jackson Hole, Crystal Mountain, Kicking Horse, or the like.