Ski Comparison: Armada Declivity 92 vs. Elan Ripstick Black 96
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- Опубликовано: 22 окт 2023
- Gear expert, George compares the 2024 Armada Declivity 92Ti and the Elan Ripstick 96 Black.
Purchase the Armada Declivity 92Ti here:
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Purchase the Elan Ripstick 96 Black here:
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I bought into the hype for the Ripstick 96 BE, and used them for two seasons before the new '24 Rustler 9 knocked it out of my quiver last spring. The tip/tail rocker, the metal and added weight of the Rustler 9s smooth out chopped up groomers and variable off-piste compared to the Ripsticks. I'd give the Ripsticks the slight edge on groomers for carving and light pow, while the Rustlers have a higher speed limit and are much quicker and pivoty in the bumps and trees. The Ripsticks' lack of metal and lightweight build allow them to get knocked around in variable conditions, while you can ski Rustler 9s more aggressively in variable conditions and through crud (at least in Tahoe).
@nashvegas631, Totally agree on the difference between the Ripstick 96 Black and Rustler 9. No metal in the Ripstick will keep things light, nimble, and effortless. You are right that the added metal in Rustler can definitely be nice to plow through some of that sierra cement.
Declivity is a great ski. Demoed at Keystone this season. But I feel inclined to make something clear. It does not have the top end of the mantra. I took them both to their top speeds. The declivity starts to get a little bit chattery at noticeably lower speeds. I clocked in at about sixty miles per hour on the mantra..... and I'm gonna be totally honest and say I never lost confidence in the skis. Stable... With the declivity, I started to get some chatter around 45 to fifty miles an hour. Just figured i'd throw some hard data in there. For anyone who's trying to make a decision.
For the record I would probably buy the declivity.
Agree. I have Dec 92, Brahma and Enf 88. Dec not as strong or damp as the other two, but fun in its own way.
@carterfan80, We totally agree that Mantra is going to have a higher speed limit when compared to Declivity and its also going to be more demanding.
@scollyutube, super fun, great ski!
As always, great reviews. I have the Rip Black 106 for the snowy/floaty days and I love it, but in search for the daily in groomer, crud and chopped up days and thinking maybe in the 85-95 range (?), would I see enough difference in the crud/chop with the Declivity 92 or do I need a stronger/heavier build?
How do these compare to the Fischer Ranger 90?
How are the Declivity 92’s for bounce/rebound out of the turns? Are they narrow enough or designed nicely to lay down the carving knee a bit more in the middle of the turn and get a strong bounce or rebound out to the other side? I’m looking for a versatile ski for variable conditions like described and with stability, strong carving through the entirety of the turn, and as much ability to play with leaning into turns and popping out of them, even being ‘thrown’ out of the turn into the next turn, for the fun of it.
The declivity’s have energy but I wouldn’t say it throws you out of the turn, they are easier to balance on than say a slalom ski which would throw you out of turn, comparatively
Where does the Rossignol Sender 94 Ti slot into these comparisons?
@user-vf5db1qx9u, The Sender 94 Ti is just a little less lively than both these skis. It's not going to perform as well as either ski on a groomer, and the Ripstick Black is better off-trail. If groomers are a priority, both the Ripstick Black and Declivity are better skis to carve on and precise despite the Ripstick Black being lighter and having no metal in it. If blasting through crud and chop is a priority, the Sender won't feel as powerful as the Declivity but can handle it. If you prioritize groomer performance go Declivity, if you're looking for a lighter-weight ski that punches above its weight class all over the mountain go Ripstick. The Sender 94 feels more like the Declivity but is more maneuverable, it's just a less energetic ski while also offering better soft snow performance.
For an intermediate taking lessons to improve - 95kg - would standard ripstick or black be better?
@hhhyyyjjj65, if you are looking to improve off trail and all over the mountain the Ripstick green is likely a better move. The green has bigger sweet spot and its easier to gain confidence all over the hill including off trail. Its just a bit easier to balance on. The black has more power and might be better for a skier that is really trying to improve on trail, specifically looking to feel better carving at high speed.
How does the Serpo compare to the declivity 92
@kendallslay4672, The Serpo and Declivity are very similar skis. This is one of the closest ski comparisons out there. The Serpo is going to feel slightly more maneuverable and agile. The Declivity is a bit more precise and powerful underfoot while offering a smooth feel. Both skis carve mean turns and offer great energy and grip. Both skis made it on our top tested list. Go Declivity if you want one of the best wider waisted carving skis out there and prioritize power and stability without being on a demanding ski. Go Serpo if you love groomers but want to maintain just enough maneuverability for quicker turns or more technical terrain.
How do these compare to the Rustler 9?
Ripstick Black and Declivity both feel slightly more stable and gripped in a carve than the Rustler. In terms of maneuverability and playfulness the Rustler and Ripstick Black are close, and both pivot more easily than the Declivity.
How do these skis compare to the 2024 Salomon Stance?
Both skis have more energy that the stance, but the declivity will be most similar. But the Stance is more damp feeling.
I owned the eighty eight rip stick. The overall reviews Lead me to believe the ski performed very similarly to to a ski with some metal. I personally did not agree with most of the industry "experts" I found it to be a bit soft. For me , I put it in the category of a soft snow ski. Now The reviews on the black edition seem to Indicate There's a substantial difference between the regular edition and the black.
If I wasn't crazy about the regular rip stick Do you think there's any chance I'll be happy with the black edition?
Why should I buy the black over a maverick ninety five? Mavericks got metal , probably weighs the same or less and I don't think you sacrifce much off trail...
Am I i way off?
I am judging all ski's through the lens of ny/vt skier. I'm used to skiing Kastles and fishers on trail. But I do appreciate skis that are much different. Love the mfree 99. Qsts and elan playmakers (just not atall on piste 😂😂)
@carterfan80, Its definitely true that you will feel more power and pop along with a smaller sweet spot when you look at the Ripstick Black that has 4 carbon rods compared to the 2 rods in the regular version. This makes them feel more demanding. And yes Ripstick Black has power when carving it up and engaging both edges. You are right that it will not feel as damp or as smooth when compared to other skis with metal in the construction, especially when they are getting slid through turns vs actually being carved or blasting through less than desirable snow.
You would go Ripstick Black over Mav 95 f you wanted a higher level of maneuverability and versatility. You would go Mav 95 if you wanted a more smooth feel over harsh terrain and were prioritizing grip and performance on groomers.
How do you size the Declivity? I'm 6'4" 195lb
@mbrady217, Since you are 193cm tall, it’s likely that you will pick the 188cm Declivity. You could honestly be between the 180 and 188 depending on your priorities. The shorter ski will feel more nimble and make tighter radius turns which can be great if you are buying these to carve up the groomers and make a bunch of turns. The 188 will feel more stable at speed and will have a higher speed limit. Go longer if you prioritize speed, longer turns, and stability.
@@TheSkiMonster I’m a 178 cm tall advanced skier, around 175 lbs. Would the declivity in size 180 be too much ski? Should I go for the 172?
I have the same doubts about the Ripstick 96 black.
@@Tazio_01 With your height and weight you could go either way on Declivity. If you are buying to go fast, feel stable at speed, and make longer radius turns on groomers its likely you will prefer the 180. The Declivity is real stable so if you prefer control, shorter radius turns and you want to feel more nimble off trail you could go with the 172. Since Ripstick Black has no metal and more rocker pick the 180 there.
Do Elan still do the weird left & right only skis, so you're constantly putting the wrong ski on the wrong foot?
@Benzknees, Yes Elan still makes left and right skis.
We’ve been to several factories, including Elan and the reason no one else does this because it’s really hard and very expensive.
Each ski is built with left-right specific ingredients, more reinforcement where you need it, less where you don’t. This is why their power to weight ratio is so insane and they grip so well for being so light.
I've spent a lot of time on Ripsticks and it's really not that hard to remember they are asymmetrical. They're clearly labeled, but if you're really worried you could always throw a more obvious sticker or sharpie Left/Right underfoot between the toe/heel of the bindings to make it much more blatant.
@@user-vf5db1qx9u - How much use is that when covered in snow?! I've skied off piste with Elan users & found they were always getting mixed up. And the killer for me is the inability to swop skis if you get rock damage to the metal edges.
@@Benzknees Not being able to swap a repaired edge for an outside edge is 1000% a concern, but as long as you make a mental note to look for the left/right indicator I have never found it a problem in any condition. YMMV
Never an issue, put a couple stickers middle of the bindings also. Love the left and right