Construction and Materials
Once you unpack the ingredients this thing’s cooking with you’ll soon begin to justify the price difference between the OG Goliath and the Plus. But this is also where we found the Goliath Plus to really excel. It’s been pumped full of some of the best Bataleon have to offer, but it’s not a wildly unmanageable snowboard for the average rider.
Instead of making it a super stiff cannon, the bods at Bataleon have focused on making it a more comfortable, faster and more reactive ride. Less effort, more response. Or, put another way — win:win.
The ‘Plus’ symbol obviously means there’s gonna be some clever engineering here, and, of course, a helluva lotta carbon. The carbon stringers that the OG Goliath uses have been extended further into the nose and tail and you’ll find three hollow carbon tubes running lengthwise down either edge. These increase the edge hold and performance through turns, whilst adding some explosive pop through the entire length of the board, without compromising on weight.
Additionally, the Goliath Plus uses a needle pushing sintered base, a super lightweight blend of wood in the core and Bataleon’s new AirRide tech to keep you speedy, poppy and damp no matter the terrain or conditions.
“So, why make the leap and buy the Goliath Plus? The same reason you’d buy any luxury item, because you’re not afraid to spend a little more to get the best”
Roundup
If you’ve ridden the Goliath before, you’ll know it’s about as versatile as they come, a board you can pull out the locker on pretty much any day of the season and still be guaranteed to have a blast.
So, why make the leap and buy the Goliath Plus? The same reason you’d buy any luxury item, because you’re not afraid to spend a little more to get the best. This probably isn’t for everyone, the price alone makes sure of that, but if you’ve got a little extra cash burning a hole in your pocket then you’ll find a premium all-mountain playmate here.
Pros:
- One of the lightest boards we got our hands on this season
- It’s got the versatile personality and ability perform anywhere on the mountain
Cons:
- It’s not the most budget friendly option, but what did you expect?
Tester’s Verdict
Rob McCreath – Editor, Whitelines
“D’you know, I think the first board I owned that wasn’t a rental, a hand-me-down, or a bargain find at the legendary ‘Cairngorm Ski Club Sale’ was the Bataleon Goliath. No doubt the decision was made as a result of trawling through the pages of the Whitelines Buyers’ Guide too!
As a result, I always feel a bit of nostalgia when strapping into one whenever I’m at a test event. The Goliath Plus is different though. Yes, it’s the same shape and profile, but you can just feel how much lighter, faster and more reactive that core is.
If you removed Triple Base from the equation, I actually think it’d be overkill for an all mountain snowboard. This kind of construction mixed with a full camber profile would be running into Jones Aviator 2.0 territory and really just a board for advanced level riders. But that easy going, forgiving feel that is so key to Bataleon’s character is ever present.
It’s for this reason that the Goliath Plus genuinely covers the spectrum of an intermediate to advanced level board, and, no surprises, it’ll suitably deliver everywhere on the mountain. You’ll just need to justify parting with the extra cash…”
Trade Secrets
Rubby Kiebert – Sales Director, Bataleon
“We took the acclaimed Bataleon Goliath and gave it the high-end treatment. Every part of this board has been upgraded from the woodcore to the base. It’s lighter, faster and better equipped for all-mountain freestyle riders who need more from their equipment. We wanted to build on almost 20 years of proven performance and offer people a board they knew they could count on in a premium version. If you’re looking for a surperior all-mountain board, the Goliath Plus is the board for you.”