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 Spirit Snowboard is a great all-mountain, trails, and freestyle option for beginner to intermediate skill levels.

About the gear

• Model: 2022 Bataleon Spirit
• Size: 146cm

About me

• Height: 5’5”
• Weight: 128lbs
• Experience: I’ve been riding for 4 years

Test conditions

• When I bought this: October 2021
• Days tested : ~10
• Mount position: Goofy with a 6-degree binding angle
• Boots: 2022 Salomon Ivy BOA SJ
• Boot Size: 8
• Bindings: 2022 Burton Citizen
• Where I’ve used it: Colorado and New Hampshire
• Terrain: Fresh powder, all-mountain, ice, trails

How it performs

What I was looking for

I ride on ice a lot, so I was looking for something a little less expensive that I could ride hard with to shred through the icy trails. It turned out to be a great board that can ride through it all.

Why I chose this gear

The design caught my liking, and although it is beginner rated, it can be ridden by all levels. I was considering the Burton Feelgood, but I had heard great things about Bataleon, and the Spirit board really felt like it was the right option for me.

What I love about it

• Speed: I can pick up a lot of speed with this board. I have a lot of control and comfort. The soft flex, full camber profile, and 3BT design prevent any edge catching. It’s straight bombing down the mountain.
• Edge hold: There is no edge catch with this board. The 3BT design lifts the edges from the snow, avoiding a catch.
• Turns: Gradual turns are so smooth. Going fast and slow, I flow right into my turns without having the stress of catching that edge. The positive camber with sidekick tips that enhance the 3BT design result in a catch-free ride.
• Groomers: The Bataleon Spirit is awesome on groomers because of its shape and design, cruising with full confidence, control, and maneuverability.
• Powder: The board floats like I am on a cloud. It’s easy and comfortable to ride but difficult to carve in deep powder due to its full camber profile. It floats and rides smoothly, but it is difficult to float and carve well in deep fresh pow.
• Trees: This board is ideal for trees because of the soft flex and the camber profile. It is really fun flying through the trails. If one trusts the board, it will do whatever they ask it to do.
• Moguls: The soft flex makes it so easy to glide through moguls, which usually is not a fun place on the mountain for snowboarders.
• Park: This is definitely a board for the park. The super soft flex feel makes me feel really confident in my control.
• Carving: The Bataleon Spirit holds its own pretty well. Riding on ice while turning is a little difficult; I have to ride the edges hard to carve in.
• Weight: The Bataleon Spirit is super lightweight. It is so easy to carry around and hang off the lift. It does not weigh me down at all.
• Switch riding: Switch riding with this board is easy and so fun. The 3BT design with the lifted edges and camber profile is fast and easy to spin right into the other side with no edge catch. I can switch down groomers really easily.
• Stability: There is some pop but not much out of it. It's very responsive, which I really like.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Durability: There were some paint chippings and scratches on the top after my first couple of runs. That's normal wear and tear for a seasoned board but not something I expected to see on the first few rides.

Favorite moment with this gear

My trip out to Colorado was amazing. The conditions were a little gnarly some days. It was snowy and really windy, but the fresh pow was awesome to experience. I went in December with a group of 10, bombing and ripping through trees. The trails were nicely groomed with loads of space to really get some wide carving in. I was floating through so easily, with no edge catching or tightness in my turns. Smooth carving and hitting some boxes on the way down were also really fun. This board could keep up with everything I was pushing it to do.

Value for the money vs. other options

Honestly, I wouldn’t suggest another board. The only comparison I would use is the Salomon Lotus. It has a different profile design but holds the same abilities for beginners to intermediate. For me, the Bataleon Spirit drew me in with the coloring and vibe. I would say it's priced great for what one will get out of it. It's an all-level option to throw in the truck and send it without breaking the bank.

Final verdict

The Bataleon Spirit is the perfect option for someone who might be hesitant about purchasing an advanced riding board. The Spirit is forgiving, gives me the confidence and feel to excel in skills, and pushes me to do more because I can. The versatility this board brings to the table is awesome. I highly recommend the Bataleon Spirit board to anyone that is looking for that soft flex feel, all-mountain ability, and the confidence to do so.