Armada Sicko 2027 Snowboard Review

An In Depth Breakdown Of How the Armada Sicko Rides Review by The Good Ride

• User Reviews
• Product Specs
• Product Images
• Questions?

Overview

How It Was Tested:

I borrowed the Armada Sicko for an extended demo and returned it.

Size: 157
Days: 4

Conditions: We had a really tough season. So the best I got after holding on to this board for a long time was two inches of thick, wet powder on top of firm snow.

The rest of it was good groomers to firm, but fun groomers to pretty firm groomers.

Riders: James (Size 9 E, 5’10”, 185-190lbs). I’ve tested and compared 850+ boards, 200+ bindings, and 120+ boots
Boots: Nitro Team BOA, Nitro Team TLS
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Force, Union Atlas Step On
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Skyline Fuse Jacket, Jones Mtn Surf Anorak
Pants: Skyline Fase 3L Bib Pant, Skyline Faze Pant, Jones Mountain Surf Pant
Helmet: Smith Method, Smith Scout
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag Low Bridge Fit
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Stance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +18/-9. Close to Reference on groomers and set all the way back in powder.

Similar Boards We Like (but not the same):

Korua Otto, Capita Black Snowboard Of Death, Jones Rally Cat, Cardiff Crane, Nitro Alternator, Telos DST, K2 Commonwealth, Ride Moderator, Never Summer Proto Type 3, Gnu Antigravity, United Shapes Horizon, Lib Tech Dynamo, Lib Tech DPR

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Sizing

How it Fits Me

They only had a 157, and that was fine because this better fits my stance width of 21 to 21.5 inches, with a reference stance of 21 inches.

And even though I’m at the higher end of the weight range, it handled me no problem, and I think it could go much higher.

But I could easily go 160 and get a little damper ride. It’s only a touch wider, so it really wouldn’t affect turn initiation too much either.

It might be something I’d like to try down the line in a 160.

How It Might Fit You

Sizing is highly subjective, and many factors come into play when choosing a board. I rarely use “all caps to emphasize something, but NEVER TRUST ANYONE who just references their height and weight. Here are all the factors to consider.

Boot Size

You should always start with your boot size first. If your board is too wide for your boots, you can’t turn it; if it’s too narrow, you get the dreaded toe and heel drag. This is the most important part of sizing a board, which is why so many snowboards come in widths like Narrow, Normal, Mid-Wide, Wide, and Ultra-Wide.

Most brands don’t include a recommended boot size because it’s very complicated and time-consuming.

Here is the sweet spot to turn easily with mid-response bindings/boots and not boot out. You can go wider if you carve really hard or have very responsive bindigns/boots. You can go a little narrower if you don’t carve hard or have a more duck stance, but don’t go too far, or you could boot out and get hurt.

152:7.5-8.5
155: 8-9
157: 8.5-9.5
160: 9-10
158w:10.5-11.5
162w:11-12

Weight

Your weight determines how the board flexes underfoot, giving you more or less pop, speed, etc. An easier-flexing board can also be easier to turn. Armada is pretty fair with its recommended weight range, but make sure you follow the weight in the specs, not the weight in the “Size Guide.” Also, make sure you fit your boot size first, then check the recommended weight range. If your boots can’t turn the board, it doesn’t matter if your weight matches the flex.

Height

The board’s length determines swing weight/control. If it’s short, it’s easy to spin, and if it’s longer, it floats better and can help with speed. This isn’t as important as boot size and weight, but it’s worth considering. Especially if you spend a lot or just like an easy board to skid a turn.

Boots and Bindings Response

Always factor in your boot and binding’s responsiveness to determine how well you will be able to turn/control a board. The Armada Sicko does not need a very responsive binding if sized correctly. Mid response and up will work great with this.

Stance Width

Check your stance width against their reference and/or the set-back stance to see if it fits you. I like how Armada sets up their stance range to match the reference stance, even if you set it all the way back, so try to find a size with a reference stance that matches your stance width.

Personal Preference

Some prefer control, so they match the boot size to the board width first, with weight second. Others prefer speed over control, so they size up to a wider/longer ride and have very responsive boots/bindings.

Design

Construction

The Armada Sicko doesn’t feel heavy, it doesn’t feel light, but it feels durable and well-made.

This was a demo sent to me, and even with all these people riding this board, there isn’t a lot of scarring around the inserts.

This just feels well-made and like it’s going to last a long time.

Shape & Setback

In terms of shape, this is tapered and directional. It’s only 5 to 6mm of taper.

You’re riding this pretty centered on board. You can set it back a little bit, but not much. The 20.9 reference stance on the 157 is set up for mini-disc bindings, but if you set it back for full-size discs, it almost matches the reference stance at 20.7″. So you have a very versatile stance range for those who like to ride near reference on groomer days and then set it back in powder.

Camber/On Snow Feel

When it comes to camber, you have a decent amount of camber going pretty much to the tail. Then you have a little bit of early rise before this nose that starts about this bump right here.

This feels more like traditional camber. It doesn’t feel as forgiving and easy as some directional camber boards.

So I’d say the Armada Sicko is more for advanced to expert riders and a committed intermediate willing to take some lumps, catch an edge, maybe accumulate a hospital bill or two, because you have to know how to skid a turn really well for this to not catch an edge.

But it’s very stable. Tracks really well. One-footing is really good, flat basing, and has the same consistent feel in all conditions.

Flex Personality

There’s a medium flex, just bordering on medium-stiff.

Here at the nose, it’s a little softer. The tail is considerably stiffer and more consistent with the flex between the feet.

It’s easier to butter in the nose because of this softer flex and a little bit of early rise to give you leverage on a butter.

The tail is a lot more work to butter, and the ollie on this is really easy. It just pops.

It’s a very dynamic, poppy board.

On Snow Performance

Edge Hold

When it comes to edge hold, they didn’t do anything special here in terms of disruption in the sidecut.

This board came to me detuned. So initially, in same-day comparisons against pretty much every other board, this Armada Sicko just let go of its edge so much faster than all the other boards out there.

When I did same-day tests, I sharpened the edge, and it did better.

But this is not a hard-to-icy snow specialist.

Uneven Snow

When it comes to uneven snow, in hard, uneven snow, I really felt that this had a level of dampness that many boards don’t for this kind of flex.

It absorbed chatter really well. It’s not all-time, but it’s very good.

When it comes to soft, uneven snow, I thought this did very well for its flex.

Yes, it can buck a little bit, but it quiets down really quick, and it doesn’t get out of control.

It’s an easy board to get to know.

Switch/Air/Park

When it comes to switch riding, this is very doable, especially if you’re close to reference.

It’s not perfect. You can do better with the Beatnik and the Tufty, but this isn’t bad for a tapered directional board at all.

In terms of jumps, if you want to go into the park and hit some big kickers, you can with this. Medium-sized kickers are fine, and small, tiny little jumps that I went off on the mountain, this tracked into, launched off, and landed very well.

If the edges are sharp, this won’t be a bad pipe board at all.

Not an ideal jib board. There are better boards for that.

Turning/Carving

Turn Initiation

When it comes to turn initiation, I found that the Armada Sicko turned quickly.

Carving/Committed Turns

Once I got it on edge, I felt that there was really good spring out of the turn.

And when I committed to a harder carve, this held well and popped out well.

I could front-foot, center-weight, or back-foot-weight turns, and it worked fine.

Turning Experience/Sidecut

I felt it turned across the groomer really well.

It’s not a perfect circle carver, but very doable making longer, drawn-out carves and down-the-line turns.

Speed

It’s okay for a straight line. There are better boards for this, but it’s not bad for what it is.

Base Glide

When it comes to base glide, this held up well.

It came well-waxed, and after four days of riding, it’s still holding its wax pretty well.

There are some marks here from me sharpening the edges, but this has great wax retention and pretty good base glide.

Not the best of the best, but definitely up there.

Powder

When it comes to powder float, I didn’t really get to stress test this because we had one of the worst seasons on record.

If you set this all the way back, and the whole stance range is usable, which I love, you’re not that far back on board.

But you’ve got a little early rise, longer nose than tail, and it should be pretty good for an all-mountain board.

A little behind some true freeride boards with more setback on board.

But overall, I think it’s a decent board for being mostly camber.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think the Armada Sicko is a very familiar shape with a familiar camber profile.

There’s nothing new or special about what Armada is doing in terms of design.

They just made a board that feels durable, reliable, it’s damp for the amount of pop it has, and it’s got a pretty fun turning experience.

I think it’s a pretty good all-mountain board.

And if what I said appeals to you, this might be your call.