2026 Armada AR One 130 MV Ski Boots Review
By: Jordan Sunshine, Ski Buyer | Published: May 27th, 2025
The Lowdown
Armada has come roaring into the ski boot world with its introduction of a mid-volume AR ONE boots that are part traditional overlap, part cabrio design boot. Don't let the MV name fool you, these have great heel retention thanks to the one-of-a-kind Slingshot ankle buckle and a relatively narrow heel pocket. With no other feature overlooked, the 130 model comes packed with everything for a great fit with durable parts and even the ability to take it touring with a hybrid AT binding.
Shop Armada AR One 130 MV Ski Boots
Technical Details
There are many unique features to this boot with the flex being at the top. The cabrio 3-piece design allows for a progressive flex off the tongue and easy entry but since its still based on a 4-buckle overlap design, you get the full locked if feel and solid energy transmission. This is combined with the Slingshot buckle that uses a cable and 2-in-1 buckle to provide ankle retention like no other. With the 130 you also get tech toe inserts for touring compatibility with bindings like Shifts, Duke PT's, and Cast, a shock absorbing boot board, oversized elastic cam strap, and a top notch liner with unique PU Y-bands to aid with the ankle retention.
| Flex Rating | 130 (Very Stiff) |
| Last Width | 100mm |
| Shell / Cuff Material | Polyurethane (PU) |
| Liner | AR ONE Team Liner |
| Tongue | Adjustable Tongue |
| Forward Lean | 13° / 15° / 17° (default) |
| Ramp Angle | - |
| Outsole | GripWalk (ISO 23223) |
| Walk Mode | No |
| Tech Fittings | Tech Toe Only |
| Boot Sole Length (BSL) | 305mm (sz 26.5) |
| Weight | 2100g per boot (sz 26.5, with stock insoles) |
| Made In | - |
Ride Impressions
I have never found a cabrio boot that fit my feet well, often too roomy in the ankle or too tight in the forefoot. I generally ski in a low volume 98mm last boot and find that the Atomic Hawx Ultra is the perfect fit for me. The Armada AR ONE 130 MV, which is loosely designed off the Atomic Hawx Prime last solved this with the right amount of room in the forefoot, but still a nice narrow ankle pocket. In my Atomics I wear a 28.5 but with the custom shell mold and a little extra toe punch, was able to make the Armada 27.5 work well. The flex feels great, especially for jumping — it has a nice soft flex at first but then progressively gets stiffer with a ton of natural feeling rebound.
The ankle buckle is awesome for providing that locked in feel I need. I can really crank it down without feeling any pressure on the instep. I am overall impressed with many of the features on this boot, especially for being year 1 on the market. The liner is fantastic - I often run a Zipfit but this felt best with the stock liner. And I love a boot that comes with a shock absorbing footbed. Bring more of those back!
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Pros
Great ankle retention.
Best of both worlds: overlap and cabrio.
Great fit out of the box.
Cons
Flex may feel soft for some who are not used to 3-piece boots. Curious how the lower flex models feel.
Fit is on the relative narrow side for those with wider feet.
Your friends will be jealous of how sick your boots look.
Who Are They For?
With its progressive flex and features that provide great rebound and damping, the AR ONE 130 MV is perfect for the harder-charging skier who steers towards freeride or freestyle. If you've been skiing other cabrio-style boots for the performance but the fit doesn't match, this might be your ticket. And, if you're like me and tour every once in a while or travel with the potential to squeeze a tour in, its nice to have that tech toe adaptability.
The Bottom Line
This first introduction from Armada truly shows how many years of development went into the launch. They came out swinging with a boot that fits great, is super fun to ski in, and also provides something unique to a world already full of great boots. They solve many common boot problems, like ankle hold or needing to go to an LV boot when you have a mid to wide forefoot. It's one of the better feeling boots I have tried on out of the box, and while skiing they had an awesome natural feel that made me want to smash into every bump and jump off everything.
Shop Armada AR One 130 MV Ski Boots
About the Reviewer
Name: Jordan Sunshine
Age: 39
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180 lb
Size Reviewed: 27.5 cm
Location(s) & Conditions: Eldora & Steamboat, CO
Bindings: Armada Strive 14 GW
Riding Style & Ability Level: All of it: like to ski fast and catch airs, pow when I can find it, jib around and have fun on down days.