Battalion Whatever 157 Review: A Forgiving Directional Twin With Real Freestyle Potential

Introduction

The Battalion Whatever 157 is billed as the brand’s best-selling all-mountain quiver killer, with a directional twin shape that Battalion says handles park laps, powder, and everything in between. Its defining trait is a soft flex, which shapes nearly everything about how it rides.

The “directional twin” label needs a little unpacking. Cut the board in half through the middle and it is essentially the same on both sides, with just a tiny cut-out on the tail that makes it directional rather than fully symmetrical. It also features what the brand calls triple base technology, something riders may need time to adjust to.

First Impressions

Right from the first run, the Whatever makes its character clear: it is forgiving to an almost remarkable degree. The soft flex makes it easy to ride and hard to punish, and even deliberate attempts to catch an edge failed to actually catch one. If edge-catching has been holding your progression back, this board actively works against it.

It is not a high-performance charger out of the gate, though. The flex is soft enough that it may not be ideal at high speed or for precision freestyle, and the board felt a little slow to reward immediately. More on that below.

Performance on the Slope

On piste, the soft flex cuts both ways. Once you get the board well over on edge and commit, it will rip a turn, but there is a noticeable lag getting to edge in the first place, and holding a solid, heavy edge takes a bit of strength and determination. On firm early-morning snow, the board felt a little washy, and holding an edge to test the grip proved difficult. It is also not overly poppy, though it does carry a bit of life in the flex.

That lag may partly be the triple base technology taking some adjustment. Two runs were not enough to fully get a handle on what the board has to offer, so riders drawn to it should ideally find a demo day and spend more time on it before committing. There is more in this board than a short test surfaces.

Everyday Fun and Forgiveness

Where the Whatever shines is in tight, slower situations. Weaving between trees and features, side hits, and lazy resort laps, it goes exactly where you want it to. It is playful in a way that stiffer boards rarely are, and the forgiving nature means mistakes are absorbed rather than punished.

Buttering is genuinely fun on this board. The soft flex makes presses and butters easy, and the board is enjoyable in a relaxed, creative way rather than a precise, aggressive one. Riders who want a fun, forgiving board to cruise the resort on will feel at home quickly.

Freestyle and Powder Potential

The soft flex makes jibbing a highlight, and there is a strong argument that this board belongs in freestyle backcountry territory. With the option to set it up to lean directional despite being a twin, powder could be a genuinely strong environment for it.

Deep slush is another natural habitat. The whole floaty, surfy feel that comes with a soft directional twin suggests this board would be a lot of fun when the snow gets heavy and soft, even if the on-piste edge performance suggests firmer conditions are not its strength.

Who Should Buy It

This board suits riders who generally ride softer boards, want maximum forgiveness, and value playfulness over speed and precision. It is also an excellent candidate for anyone who catches edges often, since the Whatever makes edge-catching nearly impossible.

Riders used to a stiffer, more standard all-mountain board should be ready for a slightly different experience. The lag to edge and softer flex will feel unfamiliar at first, and the board rewards patience, ideally through a longer demo than a couple of runs.

Conclusion

The Battalion Whatever 157 is a forgiving, playful directional twin with clear appeal for jibbing, side hits, and potentially powder. It trades high-speed precision and crisp edge hold for ease and creativity, and riders who want that trade will find a lot to like. If it appears at a demo, give it a whirl and see if it matches your style.