THE GEAR PICKER
skis / compare
Head-to-head · freeride

Armada Declivity X 102 vs Elan Playmaker 101

The Declivity X 102 and the Playmaker 101 compared. The Declivity X 102 is 1 mm wider underfoot (102 vs 101 mm). The Declivity X 102 is 390 g heavier at the default length (2,075 vs 1,685 g). Turn radii are 18 m and 18.1 m.

Declivity X 102
$800 MSRP 3 lengths · 172, 180, 188 cm
Elan Playmaker 101 — topsheet
Playmaker 101
$750 MSRP 4 lengths · 164, 172, 180, 188 cm

Where each ski sits across every ski we carry

Declivity X 102
Playmaker 101
Waist
102 mm
101 mm
Narrower · firmer-snowWider · powder
Weight
2,075 g
1,685 g
Lighter · playfulHeavier · damp & planted
Tip taper
33 mm
31 mm
Straighter · grippyMore taper · loose
Turn radius
18.0 m
18.1 m
Shorter · quickLonger · stable

Head to head, by character

Each ski's own read, side by side — the same three things that define how it skis.
Turn & shape
A 18.0-meter radius draws medium-to-long turns and holds a line through them; a moderate taper keeps entry manageable without giving up much grip mid-arc.
A 18.1-meter radius draws medium-to-long turns and holds a line through them; a moderate taper keeps entry manageable without giving up much grip mid-arc.
Stability & dampness
Built without metal on a poplar wood core, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 2,075 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Built without metal on a tubelite woodcore, it's lighter and livelier underfoot — easy to release from a turn and quick edge to edge. At 1,685 g it stays light and maneuverable.
Float & width
At 102 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. Rocker at tip and tail lets it smear and release easily, while the camber underfoot keeps an edge.
At 101 mm it leans toward soft-snow float while keeping enough edge to hold when it firms up. Rocker at tip and tail lets it smear and release easily, while the camber underfoot keeps an edge.

Full spec comparison

SpecDeclivity X 102Playmaker 101
Waist 102 mm 101 mm
Sidecut 135·102·125 mm 132·101·122 mm
Weight @ default 2,075 g 1,685 g
Weight range 2,075 g 1,515–1,815 g
Turn radius 18.0 m full-length 18.1 m full-length
Metal None None
Core Poplar wood core Tubelite woodcore
Lengths 172–188 cm 164–188 cm
MSRP $800 $750