Share

Snowboards

Bataleon BYND x MDLS 2019-2020 Snowboard Review

  • Sizes: 153, 156, 158W, 159
  • Flex: 6
  • Profile: Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Price: £429 / €490
  • BUY ONLINE

The Goliath with tits. Bataleon have teamed up with BYNDxMDLS Swedish shredders, Tor Lundström and Kevin Backstrom, to bring a limited design of the all-mountain freestyle classic.

Almost everything remains the same. You get the 99% twin shape, so the board will flex, ride and feel like a true twin, with a centimetre of extra length in the tip to help charge when the conditions get a little deep or dicey. They’ve only slightly eased off on the hollow carbon tube additives along the sidewalls. Only just, though. This thing’s still a complete beast.

The Freestyle 3BT is the most versatile in Bataleon’s line. You get a medium uplift in the nose and tail sidebases, making it glide over powder and jib on slush confusingly well for a full camber profile. The added Sidekick injects a further dose of forgiveness and float, with increased stability in turn initiation, too.

 “Underneath that stripped-down top-sheet, there’s a core that’s packed with performance”

[monetizer101 search=’bataleon byndxmdls’]

It’s a powerhouse. Underneath that stripped-down top-sheet, there’s a core that’s packed with performance. Two carbon stringers run to just beyond the inserts and the hollow carbon rods that have been milled into the core give the camber a kick up the arse when you rebound out of turns.

There’s still a bit of play in the nose and tail, however. Despite the more torsionally stiff and responsive triax fibreglass layers, the ends of the board have been kept additive-free for some easy spreadin’ organic butters.

For strong intermediate and up riders it’s hard to look too far beyond the Bataleon BYNDxMDLS. There’s the softer flexing, easier going option – the Whatever – or alternatively if the majority of your time is going to be spent in the park then the Boss might suit you better.

Tester’s Verdict

Rhys JonesTDC Snowboarding

I’ve ridden the Goliath a few times over the years and have always loved it, so I was super stoked to try out the BYND MDLS version, which is touted to be really similar, just a bit more playful. I strapped in with a pair of Switchback Halldor’s and was off. It felt really similar to the original on piste, a touch more mellow through the turns if anything. I did a few quick top to bottoms and was loving every minute, this board is fast, it’s explosive and it’s bags of fun.

“On the bigger features it was super stable on the in run, and solid on the landing”

Getting into more freestyle territory it’s got a really lively snap to it, you don’t have to load up to get some height, it wants to be in the air. This board seems to have a mind of its own, but in a really, really good way. It knows that you’re out to have fun and wants to lend a hand. It feels really stable and locked in when pressing and its lively through flatland. On the bigger features it was super stable on the in run, and solid on the landing, it seemed to really soak up the landings. I like the Triple Base because you can afford to be a little off with your landings and still get away with it, so for learning new tricks it’s perfect.

I even got a bit of sidecountry powder and it floated better than some powder boards I’ve ridden. I’d say this is a true seasonaires board- it’ll handle whatever you want it to and will leave you with a big fat smile on your face.

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production