Great channel and appreciate the feedback. I've been riding an ORCA for past 5 years in a 159 due to it being a volume shifted board and have loved the sizing coming from typically 164+ boards over the years. Our specs are very similar as I'm 6'3" 195 with a 12 boot and have been very intrigued by this new version. I've just been bouncing back and forth between which size to get. Since I have the mid-season itch, I shopped and could only find the 160, so I just ordered and I'm hopeful this will become a daily driver for me. Have loved the ORCA, but I'm a gear geek and love to try new stuff. At 58 I'm always on the lookout for equipment that keeps me boarding and riding like I'm much younger even if it is for 3/4 of a day. Cheers!!

@Drift-Products

5 ай бұрын

160 should be a solid daily driver. I feel like the 164 is a little much except on the pow days.

@Batwing2465

5 ай бұрын

@@Drift-Products Cool. Thanks and appreciate your feedback

What a genuine honest review. I hate the white base especially with such a great looking board.

@Drift-Products

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

You can go the other way with the base, white shows how hard you've ridden the board. A full distressed look ;-)

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

I’m just way too OCD to think about it that way. 😂 I wish I could.

keep up the good work bro

@Drift-Products

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, will do!

Jeremy said the main reason for the oak topsheet is for dampening, so if it holds up then fantastic but if not maybe they should rethink it. I've seen other wooden topsheets that appear to be much more resistant to wear

@jeremykistler7267

7 ай бұрын

@victorystone1984 Oak Top sheet is on the Free Carver, this is different

@victorystone1984

7 ай бұрын

@@jeremykistler7267 right on, do you know what this one is

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

Good call this one is flax. @@jeremykistler7267

I have the older version from 4 years ago. 200lbs on a 160 for resort ripping and its such an amazing board. So good in fact i want this new version as a back up

@Drift-Products

5 ай бұрын

Heck ya. I actually never got to try the old one weirdly. But this one is awesome!

@MichalGolata

4 ай бұрын

What’s your height and boots ? I’m 200lbs 6’2 12US. Will 160 work for me well ?

@mikemackenzie3305

4 ай бұрын

@MichalGolata I'm 6' 205lbs and a size 13. You'll be perfect bud. Go pick one up

@MichalGolata

4 ай бұрын

@@mikemackenzie3305I just checked my weight again after 1 year and actualy gain another 20lbs 😅 but I guess still should be ok with the float ?

@mikemackenzie3305

4 ай бұрын

@MichalGolata you'll be fine buddy I was 230 lbs with it last year. I haven't noticed it ride or respond any differently this winter since I lost weight

Do you have any comparison with this board and the stratos from jones?

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

Haven’t ridden the Stratos sadly. Way too many boards to try! But I think the hovercraft is much more of a pow board and the Stratos is more of an all-rounder.

Nice one! I was thinking Surfer, Dart, HC２.0, Deros, or Japow for this season. Looks like you now got them all reviewed except the Dart (you are still only getting TF/PT from Korua this year right?). So with that said, 1 last request if you'd be so kind... How would you compare The HC 2.0 and the Surfer for Pow / trees / carving? I know you only have limited time on the HC so first impressions only is fine. Thanks!

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

Ya I debated the Dart for so long and still really want to get on it! Surfer vs. HC I’d say is actually pretty similar in terms of float and dancing in the trees. The main difference would be that the back end of the surfer feels a little more locked in with that long swallow tail and extended edge. It’s a deceivingly long tail. Surfer is also narrower underfoot so maybe a bit more nimble edge to edge but not much. Hard for me to say which one I’d recommend over the other, both very good. The HC is probably a touch more versatile. I guess for the price I’d have to say Hovercraft but it’s a close one. The Camel Two would be a very similar ride from Bataleon that would match more in price.

@bakamono7

7 ай бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, I actually was looking at the Camel 2 as Avran (A.S. YT) recommended it to me a few yrs back. However, when I asked Bataleon to measure the width at rear insert pack reference stance for the 161, they said it was only 26.8cm. That explains why this year Bataleon has 10 US as the max boot size on their website for the C2 161. Even the 156 Dart is ~27.7 width at rear insert pack reference stance. The Dart 160 is another big step up on width as well. I guess for the price in Japan and still good edge hold the Dart wins, for 3D the Surfer wins although pricey, and balancing 3D with edge hold and splitting the price, the HC wins. I just really really hate white bases. Any chance you could measure the rear insert pack width at reference stance on your Surfer 162? If not no worries, I am sure it will work as we both have the same boot size.@@Drift-Products

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

@@bakamono7 Ya I can measure that in a few minutes. That's the same reason I didn't get the Camel Two. My feet are too big. But my brother rides on and he loves it. He's a bit smaller than me. Stay tuned I'll go measure.

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

@@bakamono7 the surfer is about 26.8. I'd prefer a little more but it works okay for me with an 11.5 US boot.

@bakamono7

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking! 26.8... Hmmm that's a little disappointing. That is the same width as the Camel 2 161, according to Bataleon. Hard to justify the Surfer price over the Camel 2, if the rear inserts are about the same width. Except, did your brother mention if the tail of the C2 slips out in variable terrain? As in - similar to what you experienced with your Party Wave+ ? @@Drift-Products

I suspect this rides like a Bataleon Party Wave --- shape / width / characteristics look super similar.

@Drift-Products

5 ай бұрын

It’s narrower by a good bit and the 3D shaping is much more subtle, but ya, similar vibe.

I need to demo it before I buy this one.

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

Always a good idea if you can. Tell me more about why. I'm curious.

Better than the Flagship ?

@Drift-Products

7 ай бұрын

just depends on what you want. It's a better pow board and more surfy than the flagship, but probably not as good in steeps or nasty, firm snow. The flagship is a free ride board that does well in pow. This is a pow board that does well with some freeride. I guess that's how I'd put it.

@White1404

7 ай бұрын

That's as good an explanation as I have heard. Thank you. @@Drift-Products

I’ve only been on mine 2 or 3 days and not in great conditions yet I like it a lot 100% agree on the lame ass white base

@Drift-Products

5 ай бұрын

Hopefully you’ll benefit from some of these big storms! I’m anxious to ride it more, have had it out on a good pow day for weeks now.

@noahbyrne2402

5 ай бұрын

⁠@@Drift-Products I got it on a good day this week, and I still hate the white base…. But I Love everything else about this board. It does everything (except hard snow) well. Somehow it’s both very aggressive but also user friendly and easy to ride. It has multiple personality disorder in the very best way

@Drift-Products

5 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it! I got mine out this week too. Still like it!

How does she ride in tight trees?

@Drift-Products

3 ай бұрын

Good but not amazing. Sidecut is pretty wide but the 3D nose and tail make it pretty surfy. As long as you don’t go too big it’s solid.