About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.

My take

The Bataleon Evil Twin rips everywhere from groomers, park, to powder. This deck features 3BT™ technology, making it forgiving and responsive. I was surprised how well it floated in powder. The Evil Twin feels like an energizer bunny: super snappy and playful. This deck would be best suited towards intermediate to advanced level riders. Even a high-end beginner could get away with riding this board — I just wouldn’t recommend it for a newbie.

About the gear

• Model: 2022 Bataleon Evil Twin
• Size: 151 cm

About me

• Height: 5’5”
• Weight: 148 lbs
• Experience: 19 years

Test conditions

• When I bought these: October 2021
• Days tested: 13
• Boots: 2022 Burton Ritual Step On Boots
• Boot Size: U.S. Women’s 10
• Bindings: 2021 Burton Step On Bindings
• Where I’ve used it: Washington, Colorado, and Idaho
• Terrain: Epic pow days, spring slushy days, and icy days

How it performs

What I was looking for

I began my gear hunt looking for a true twin to add to my quiver. I was super intrigued by Bataleon’s 3BT (Triple Base Technology), and the Evil Twin is one of their most highly sought-after models.

Why I chose this gear

I decided to purchase this board because it checked all the boxes: true twin, versatile, medium flex, and I was very excited to test out 3BT on powder days! I considered a few other options and narrowed it down to the Evil Twin. The Never Summer Protosynthesis and Ride Twinpig were the two others I was deciding between. I chose Bataleon because I liked the idea of having a playful twin that was also equipped to handle deep powder days.

What I love about it

• Speed: The sintered base makes this board fly! As long as I keep up on regular waxings, the Evil Twin won’t disappoint.
• Edge hold: The Evil Twin wouldn’t be a top choice for east coast riders or anyone that encounters a lot of ice. It doesn’t feature any enhanced edge technology to grip better in rough conditions, although the uplifted contact points make it a bit more forgiving.
• Turns: The camber-dominant profile makes for quick, responsive turns. For park laps, the uplifted contact points made it more forgiving on jumps and rails.
• Groomers: The Evil Twin absolutely rips on groomers! The combination of the camber profile and Hyperglide sintered base helps keep speed on groomers. The board is stable at speed, but I wouldn’t recommend it for extremely deep powder days because it isn’t stiff enough for that type of riding.
• Powder: This board had me pleasantly surprised in the powder, and definitely has some additional float from its unique spoon shape. I would still choose my dedicated powder board if we got a foot of freshies.
• Park: Carbon stringers make this board incredibly poppy and precise edge to edge. It’s an ideal board for side hits, boxes, and rails.
• Weight: The weight on this board is unreal; it’s nice and light, which in turn makes it precise for landing switch and jibbing.
• Switch riding: This is a great choice for improving switch riding. The board is a true twin meaning it’ll ride the same either direction!

Issues I’ve encountered

• Trees: I’m used to riding a shorter, volume-shifted deck, so the Evil Twin doesn’t make quite as quick, responsive turns being 151cm in length. I personally prefer a bit shorter board for riding in the trees because it’s slightly easier to maneuver. I’ve been riding almost 20 years and I purchased the 151cm because I wanted the stability of a longer snowboard.
• Moguls: Maybe it’s the lightweight material Bataleon uses, but this board isn’t the best choice for moguls. The flex on the board makes moguls feel a bit choppy and the Evil Twin isn’t the most damp. I felt some chatter in this type of terrain riding at Copper Mountain. Personally, moguls are my least favorite terrain to ride, so I may be a bit biased here.
• Backcountry: I have taken this board off-piste on a few heavy-powder days. The float was there due to the 3BT shape. But being a more playful flex, it didn’t charge through the deep stuff like a stiffer board would.
• Durability: The board isn’t the most durable — maybe due to its lighter weight profile. Overall it has held up well with the conditions I’ve put it through, but has also gotten slightly banged up.
• Stability: This isn’t the dampest board and I will feel some chatter, but it doesn’t lack in playfulness.

Favorite moment with this gear

The Evil Twin definitely impressed me this past season! It’s a board that fully delivers on playfulness. I was surprised how much pop it had when I want to get it into the air for an ollie. I spent a weekend up at Copper with my homies this past season. I had an absolute blast hitting jumps and dipping into some pow stashes. This board has a level of energy that had me grinning from ear to ear — it absolutely delivers on good times!

Value for the money vs. other options

10/10 would buy this board again. I just wouldn’t recommend this for a first-year beginner; it’s definitely for a more experienced rider who loves the park and groomers. The price point is on the higher end but it has some premium features: carbon stringers, Hyperglide Sintered base, and Ultralight core. For east coast riders, I’d recommend a board with some edge technology like the Lib Tech Box Knife or Burton Process. They both have a similar price point but can handle icy days better!

Final verdict

For an all-mountain freestyle rider who is seeking a true twin, the Evil Twin is an epic choice. I’d recommend it to higher-end beginners as well as advanced riders. It's definitely not an entry level deck, but for those who have the passion and basic skill set, it's truly a blast of a board!