Ski Gear Review: ARMADA, SALOMON | Edited by Yasushi Chiba

Let's hear impressions from riders about their favorite gear that they used extensively this winter.
This time, we'll hear from Yasushi Chiba, whose videos of him skiing down steep slopes in the mountains of Hokkaido have been quietly attracting attention and creating a buzz.

Chiba Yasushi's setup

Skis ①: ARMADA DeclivityX 185cm (137-115-130) '21-22 model
Skis ②: ARMADA Declivity108ti 182cm (136-108-126) '21-22 model
Boots: SALOMON SHIFT PRO 130 '20-21 model
Bindings: ARMADA N SHIFT MNC 13 '21-22 model

Ratings and reviews of each gear

Ski Review

①ARMADA DeclivityX

●Please rate the perceived stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★☆

●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★★
park: None
Moguls: None
Touring: ★★★☆☆

● Common usage conditions
and times: High season from December to March.
Location (slope, course, ski resort, mountain area, etc.) Hokkaido backcountry
conditions: From ice to hardpack to powder.

●Review
Features: These big mountain skis are supervised by Chamonix local Tof Henry. They excel on large slopes.
Handling & Ride: Compared to the Declivity 108ti, they are milder but heavier, requiring a certain level of leg strength. On large slopes, they allow the skier to freely manipulate the powder surface, carving long vertical turns or deep presses to create large sprays. On narrow, hardpacked lines, even at high speeds, skiers can drop the skis as vertically as possible, skiing with minimal chatter and maintaining stability. Recommended for skiers with a certain level of leg strength who want to ski with speed on large slopes, or for skiers with an alpine racing background.
Weight: At 2,250g per ski (185cm), these skis are completely focused on performance, going against the recent trend in backcountry skiing. In skiing, "weight is justice."
Favorite Points: I like their stability at high speeds and their reliability in hard conditions.
Graphics and other details: All of ARMADA's big mountain and touring skis are characterized by their understated and refined design, and the DeclivityX is no exception, boasting a wonderfully elegant finish befitting a flagship model.

②ARMADA Declivity 108ti

●Impression of stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Nose: ★★★★☆
Center: ★★★★☆
Tail: ★★★★★

●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
Powder: ★★★★☆
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard pack: ★★★★★
park: None
Moguls: None
Touring: ★★★★★

● Common usage conditions and
seasons: November, April-July (low snow and remaining snow seasons
) Location (slope, course, ski resort, mountain area, etc.): Hokkaido backcountry
Conditions: From ice to hardpack to light powder to granular snow

●Review
Features: Extremely rigid, with excellent stability at high speeds.
Handling & Ride Feel: Compared to the DeclivityX, it feels quicker. I mainly use it in spring, and even on hard, granular snow that hasn't fully softened, or on hard, north-facing slopes where the sun hasn't reached and the temperature hasn't risen much, the skis grip without being pushed around and allow you to ski down at high speeds, carving through the snow—a truly "lean and muscular" ski. It's also fun to ski down narrow chutes 4-5m wide using quick turns. Recommended for speed-oriented skiers who want to blast through the season with just this one ski, whether on the slopes or in the backcountry.
Weight: 1,975g (182cm), which is a bit heavy for a 108mm waist.
Favorite Points: I like its stability at high speeds and its reliability in hard conditions.
Graphics and other details: All of ARMADA's skis in the big mountain and touring categories are characterized by their understated and sophisticated design, and the Declivity 108ti is no exception, boasting an exceptionally cool finish. The simple design, based on black, features a "white rice" style graphic that never gets old no matter how many times you look at it.

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Boots Review

SALOMON SHIFT PRO 130

●Impression of stiffness on a 5-point scale (★1=soft ←→★5=hard)
Lower shell: ★★★★☆
Upper: ★★★★☆

●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★☆
Hard pack: ★★★★☆
Park: None
Moguls: None
Touring: ★★★★★

● Ease of use and operation of the walk mode function
: Switching between ski and hike modes is excellent. I have been using this system for about 7 years, since its predecessor, the MTN LAB 120, and I have never had a problem with the mode not switching. It is "reliable and proven" based on my own experience.
Ease of walking (range of motion): The range of motion is also wide for a freeride boot, and I have no complaints when climbing.

● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: All seasons
Location (slope, course, ski resort, mountain area, etc.): All backcountry areas of Hokkaido
Conditions: All conditions

●Review
Features: A touring boot suitable for freeride, with an emphasis on downhill skiing performance.
Handling: Outstanding power transmission and rigidity among touring boots, providing quick handling even on hard-packed snow.
Riding Feel: Provides a secure hold, allowing you to confidently attack even at high speeds.
Weight: While slightly heavier than lightweight touring boots, the stability of the skiing more than justifies the weight. Comfort:
I fasten the bottom three buckles when hiking to prevent blisters. While this may vary from person to person, I don't experience the cold toes often associated with touring boots, even in colder weather, making them comfortable. Favorite Features: The ability
to switch between hike and ski modes. Stability and power on downhill runs.

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Binding Review

ARMADA N SHIFT MNC 13

● Impression on a 5-point scale
: Power transmission: ★★★★☆
Reliability: ★★★★★
Ease of use: ★★★★☆
Lightweight feel: ★★★★☆
Ease of operation of climbing mode change: ★★★★★
Ease of operation of heel lifter: ★★★★★

●Suitable scenes on a 5-point scale
Powder: ★★★★★
Grooming: ★★★★★
Hard Pack: ★★★★★
Park: ★☆☆☆☆
Moguls: ★☆☆☆☆
Touring: ★★★★☆

●Comments on the usability of the Walk Mode function
: Ease of walking (range of motion): It provides stability not only when skiing but also when climbing. In particular, when traversing slopes with granular snow or hardpack, you often need to dig the uphill edge into the snow to prevent the skis from sliding down, but with Kingpin and other pin-tech bindings, they are weak against lateral forces and often release accidentally, in which case I had to reluctantly switch to crampons. With SHIFT, I can firmly dig the edge into the snow with force, expanding the range in which I can climb on skis with peace of mind.
The only and biggest drawback is that there is only one heel lifter. Currently, I am compensating for this drawback by attaching a pin heel-like part to my boots. A binding that is a little clumsy but strong, like a "Showa-era man".

● Common usage situations (season, location, conditions, etc.)
Season: All seasons
Location (slope, course, ski resort, mountain area, etc.): All backcountry areas of Hokkaido
Conditions: All conditions

●Review
Features: A hybrid type that can be used with the same system as alpine bindings when skiing (the toe piece is fixed by the welt instead of pins).
Operation: The heel lifter has a catch, so it can be operated intuitively with the tip of a pole, and releasing it is stress-free.
Riding feel: It is almost indistinguishable from alpine bindings, and holds the boots firmly even on hardpack or icy slopes. In particular, I was very surprised at how much more stable the SHIFT felt when switching from a pin-tech binding while skiing.
Weight: It is slightly heavier compared to other pin-tech bindings.
Fit: Compared to Kingpin and other pin-tech bindings, it is very easy to insert the pins into the boots when hiking.
Graphics and other: From the second season onwards, I started to notice a slight wobble in the toe piece when walking on flat forest roads. (Approximately 70 days of skiing with the 2020-2021 model, 95% of which was 2-6 hours of backcountry skiing) I don't notice any issues when climbing or skiing, and there are no accidental releases, but I think the binding mounting system is probably the cause.
Favorite points: Above all, the outstanding stability when skiing and the ease of attaching and detaching when hiking.

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