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Bataleon Goliath 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Bataleon Goliath

  • Price: £510 / €600 / $600
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Sizes: 153, 156, 158w, 159, 161w, 164w
  • Flex: 6/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: Camber
  • 3D: Yes
  • Base: Sintered

Why we chose the Bataleon Goliath Snowboard: Because if you’re only gonna have one board to do it all, you don’t want to mess about. The Goliath is a bonafide classic.

Bataleon have been working in 3D longer than anyone and it shows in the performance of the class-leading Goliath. It boasts a winning mix of Triple Base, camber and top spec materials, together with a super versatile outline, that makes light work of groomers, park jumps and pow days. Sure, the shape isn’t as attention-grabbing as others on the market, but like a Porsche 911 the whole package has been subtly tweaked year after year to brush off any would-be challengers. David wouldn’t stand a chance against this bad boy.

“Bataleon have been working in 3D longer than anyone and it shows in the performance of the class-leading Goliath”

MORE INFO:
BATALEON.COM

Who Is The Bataleon Goliath For?

Experienced riders and seasonaires who know their onions will appreciate the technology that’s gone into this board. More importantly, they’ll appreciate the aggressive performance it offers anywhere on the hill. Why bother switching boards when you can dial in your skills on a trusty steed that will handle everything a full winter can throw at it – from icy pre-season to spring slush?

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

The Goliath is a directional twin. It’s essentially identical at either end but the inserts are set back a touch to help you drive through turns in your regular stance, and to encourage the nose to rise over bumps and deep snow. Switch riding is still a breeze though, making this the perfect weapon for tackling park laps and powder kickers.

Bataleon have equipped this model with their ‘Freestyle’ variation on 3BT, essentially a wider platform in the middle of the board (for extra stability) combined with subtle uplift at the edges and exaggerated ‘Sidekicks’ at the wide points. It’s a lovely balance that feels planted if you point it down the fall line but which offers super smooth edge transitions and a little extra float thanks to the hull-like tips.

There’s no whiff of rocker anywhere on the Goliath. Instead you get traditional camber between the nose and tail that delivers great pop and feels snappy to turn without ever suffering from twitchiness thanks to the 3BT, which mellows out the contact points.

“David wouldn’t stand a chance against this bad boy”

Construction and Materials

OK, they’ve not quite thrown the kitchen sink at this board (for full money-is-no-object board porn, check out the Jam) but they’ve certainly hurled a couple of taps in its direction. At the heart of the Goliath is an Ultra Light core made from 70% Swiss paulownia and 30% poplar – that’s just a smidgen less paulownia than their absurdly light 80/20 blend, and a touch stronger for it.

Into this premium piece of wood, Bataleon have milled six hollow carbon rods (which they call Dual Radial Super Tubes, or DRST). The rods are positioned parallel to the edges for maximum edge control without stiffening up the middle of the board too much. The carbon-fest continues with a pair of stringers included in the lay-up to reinforce the camber – though they don’t go as far as the nose and tail, which means butters and presses are, well… buttery.

A triax-laminate topsheet stiffens things up torsionally and will put a smile on the face of riders who like to go fast and send it off bigger hits. Oh, and speaking of fast, the Goliath is no slouch thanks to a Hyper Glide sintered base that’ll help you cruise easily down cat tracks on pow days and clear the gnarliest of knuckles.

“A triax-laminate topsheet stiffens things up torsionally and will put a smile on the face of riders who like to go fast and send it off bigger hits”

Roundup

The Goliath is all the snowboard an intermediate to advanced rider needs, without straying into the realms of stupidly expensive. It’s the kind of deck you can pull out every day during a winter in resort, safe in the knowledge that it’s up to the task. The versatile shape never feels boring thanks to its 3D profile, and with plenty of tech under the hood you will unlock even more performance as your skills improve. In fact we’re tempted to call it the ultimate box ticker.

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