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Armada Magic J vs Atomic Bent Chetler

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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226

Hey, looking for a new pow ski and Ive narrowed it down to these two... And it will definitely be one of the two. I'm 5' 10" 145lbs for sizes i thought 183 in the BC's and 180 in the J's but thats just me. I want to know which one will be best for all types of pow, charging in the open and technical in the trees.. it doesnt have to be good anywhere else as im getting this for pretty much a pow specific ski. but i just want to see if you guys have any experiences with either of them and could help guide me to the right one. I realize they are very similar, but im just being pickey now :P

Sep 8 2012 2:41PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
I would actually consider the 2012 hellbents just because my local shop has an insane deal on them if anyone can convince me to them over the other two
Sep 8 2012 3:40PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
Hellbents are awesome. Super playful and buttery. Some bigger guys think they are too soft but you are fairly light theyd be great. You should get the 179s.
Sep 8 2012 5:56PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
alright thanks, i can get em for about $400 here. i just kinda liked the technology the armadas and atomics haf
Sep 8 2012 6:09PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
alright thanks, i can get em for about $400 here. i just kinda liked the technology the armadas and atomics have. my only concern is do you think they will still be good in the technical backcountry even when they are that wide?
Sep 8 2012 6:11PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
they will be as effective as bentchetlers and majic js. thy aren't much wider
Sep 8 2012 6:37PM
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Austin69
Posts: 735 - Karma: 677
The hellbents are too soft for anything technical. You don't want those for anything technical. I'd go with the armadas
Sep 8 2012 7:05PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
but he's really light
Sep 8 2012 7:12PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
i do usually prefer a softer ski due to my weight just not soft to the point where ill be washing out on the tip or tail
Sep 8 2012 7:52PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226

how about the Nordic Radict.. they seem a lot like the Hellbents but stiffer.

Sep 8 2012 8:38PM
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Austin69
Posts: 735 - Karma: 677
That doesn't matter, those skis suck in anything other than bottomless powder. Radicts would definitely be a good choice
Sep 8 2012 10:22PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Everything you're looking at will fit the bill you describe. The skis are definitely all a little different, but unless you know that you like soft skis or stiffer skis, just choose whatever you like the most and go. Its hard to find a 'bad' ski nowadays anyways, go with what you want the most!
Sep 9 2012 1:37AM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
thanks man i think im gonna go with the radicts! and yeah with all the tech in the skus now theyre all pretty awesome
Sep 9 2012 2:27AM
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LolklonVolkls
Posts: 228 - Karma: 622
dude Charley Ager skis everything on hell bents, and hes a pretty big guy. He rips crazy technical lines on them.
Sep 9 2012 12:08PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,564
True but there are skis out there that are better suited to OPs needs
Sep 9 2012 12:26PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
Hey, just thought I'd put this here rather than start a whole new thread, but anyways, my local shop just got in a pair of used (pretty much brand new) 185cm armada jj's with atomic ffg 14 (could be 12 cant remember) bindings for $545, is this a decent price and also if anybody had any experience with this ski that would be great to hear. my main concerns are, i love a ski that floats effortlessly, semi playful, and good all around in the powder. i could care less about groomers.. i have another ski for that :P
Sep 10 2012 4:57PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 48
JJ's are a sick ski. If you were looking into the Magic J you won't regret saving the money and picking up jj's they are a bit more nimble and ski shorter. Any ski you mentioned thus far will be great! I picked up magic J's last week and can't wait to go out and find some pillows
Sep 10 2012 7:32PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
nice man, as it is right now its probably going to be either the Armada JJs or the Nordica Radicts oddly enough not even one of my original options. im leaning towards the JJs because of the shorter turning radius and theyre alot like the halos that i love. but will the difference between the 115 underfoot JJs and the 127 underfoot radicts be a huge difference in float? that is my main concern, if not i will go for the JJs
Sep 10 2012 7:45PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 48
You won't have a problem with the jj's floatation. I've ridden my buddies several times and I'm 5'10" 150 so pretty close to your size and the jj is one of my favorite skis. If you pick it up you'll love it to death. You might not ride your others skis haha
Sep 10 2012 7:52PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
haha that helped a lot man, ill probably pick them up this week some time. my plan was to make them my designated pow ski but now it sounds like its gonna be a 1 ski quiver :P thanks for the help
Sep 10 2012 8:03PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 48
They will be a great pow ski! But if you just take em out in groomers for a day they will blow your mind. They can do it all. And for 545 I would buy 2 pair I I could haha. Enjoy man!
Sep 10 2012 8:17PM
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Rayzor
Posts: 284 - Karma: 226
haha i will, and thats with bindings too! cant wait to try em all over the mountain. have a good one
Sep 10 2012 8:31PM
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MooreofAndrew
Posts: 29 - Karma: 52
Any body have any opinions on the new Bent Cheater's vs Magic J's? I'm looking at getting one or the other for the upcoming el niño season. 5'8" 165lbs. I've got the same reasons as the OP.
Dec 30 2015 10:02PM
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funkynuggz
Posts: 353 - Karma: 197
i had the jj in a 176 and loved them. they would perform like a hammock, the way they floated side to side. too me i felt like they rode shorter cause how easy it was to handle them in pow, but when i was on catwalks or groomers felt like a regular ski but much wider. i'd go with the jj, such a fun ski to shred around on, for me being 5'3 i could dip in and out of trees real easy.
Dec 31 2015 3:42PM
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Session
Posts: 5318 - Karma: 21,367
Having owned both. I ski'd the BC for half a whole season, I ski'd the Magic J for one day and sold it. Do the math. At this point I would buy neither
Jan 1 2016 4:51AM
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