Interesting things are happening in the hardware sector of the alpine industry. At ISPO, Phaenom launched its freeride ski boot and now Armada has suddenly released its first alpine ski boots, also developed for the growing freeride scene.
Called AR One, the boots are a unique concept, says Armada, merging the comfort and easy handling of three-piece cabrio boots with the high-performance characteristics of traditional four-buckle overlap designs.
To give the skier the best ride feel and an opportunity to fine-tune the boot, Amrada has developed several special features. Progressive flex – as Armada calls Natty Flex for the AR One – is driven from the spine of the two-component cuff, while overlap in the cuff and forefoot work with the Slingshot buckle to wrap the forefoot and ankle, and comfortably lock the heel in place.
Developing a new alpine boot involves significant R&D investment. The boot shell molds alone cost $1 million to make. Add to that all the other costs, like test trips with team (so far, we’ve seen Armada athletes like Tanner Hall, Quinn Wolferman and Max Palm ride and evaluate the boot) and PR.
So it’s exciting to see Armada, and basically Amer Sports, invest heavily to take on other labeled boot brands in the alpine industry.
Like other projects before it, AR One started with industry research by the brand’s boot team. Armada identified most skiers’ key problems: poor heel hold, shin and toe bumps, liner discomfort, lack of direct and precise control, and the trade-off between performance and comfort.
“We wanted to make the boot that real skiers are looking for,” says Bransford Briggs, Ski Boot Product Line Manager at Armada, in a press release. “Our objectives were to maximize heel hold while delivering a progressive flex and direct power transfer in a boot that is comfortable to wear all day, every day. To do that we needed to develop a new concept, and that is what led us to create the AR One’s Hybrid Cabrio Construction.”
The AR One comes in five models distinguished by degree of flex, which ranges from 130 to 90.
The 130 and 110 models have just been released to selected retailers worldwide. The complete lineup – AR One 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130, in sizes 23.5 to 29.5 – will be available in fall 2025 at retailers and online.
The molds alone cost $1 million to make. It’s exciting to see Armada, and basically Amer Sports, invest to take on other labeled boot brands in the alpine industry.
