Bataleon Blaster Asymwrap Review

Hello and welcome to my Bataleon Blaster Asymwrap (AW) review.

In this review I will take a look at the Blaster Asym as freestyle snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Blaster Asym a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freestyle bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Bataleon Blaster Asym

Price: $369 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freestyle/All-Mtn Freestyle

Flex Rating: Medium (6/10)

Flex Feel: Medium (5.5/10)

Rating Score: 88.8/100

Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Bindings

Overview of the Blaster Asym’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Blaster Asym’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who are the Blaster Asym Most Suited To?

The Blaster Asym are best suited to those looking for bindings that can compliment a versatile style of riding. Someone who needs their bindings to perform well for higher speed, harder charging but also be able to respond well to a lighter touch and for more playful riding. Even more suitable if you're looking for an combination great board feel and shock absorption. 

Not quite beginner friendly, IMO, but could work for beginners who are stronger/more athletic or bigger riders (i.e. able to physically apply more force to the bindings more easily). But certainly intermediate and up. 

Best matched to boards in the 3/10 to 6/10 flex range and even better for that 4.5/10 to 5.5/10 flex range, IMO. 

Test/review details for the Blaster Asym

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Blaster Asym are capable of.

Demo Info

Binding: Bataleon Blaster Asym, M/L

Date: March 15, 2024

Responsiveness

I found them to be a really good mix of being good for carves and higher speed riding, but also good for slower speeds and quick edge-to-edge turns. They have their limits in terms of how aggressively you can ride in them, but they are decent for higher speed, more aggressive riding, but do slightly favor more moderate speeds. 

Board Feel/Butterability

Really good board feel. They felt really natural and easy for initiating ollies, pressing into the tip/tail and just generally being able to manipulate the flex and feel of the board. 

Pop/Ollie Power

They were pretty typical here and I didn't notice any difference between these and my control bindings. 

Adjustability

Heel Cup: Yes - which is great for boot centering.

Stance Width: The Blaster Asym technically has a "mini-disc" but it's kind of between a full disc and a mini-disc. This means they can span 4cm for use on boards with insert packs that are set 4cm behind their main insert pack - and allows for a little more stance width tweaking. 

Highback Lean: Yes, and tool-less.

Ankle Strap Position: Yes. They have Bataleon's "Kink Ladders" which you can swap around, depending on whether you want a higher position for your ankle strap, for a more supportive feel or a lower position for a freer, more surfy feel. 

Toe Strap Position: Yes - 2 positions.

Ankle and toe strap length:  Yes, of course and tool-less. 

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Technically there isn't any actual extension - you can't make the footbed longer as such. But you can move it back and forward, so you could say that it has both toe and heel extension, but just that it doesn't get any longer. This helps to get your boots centered on the footbed. 

Highback Rotation: Yes

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | The Channel | 4 x 4

They do have what they call a mini-disc, but it has enough space to span 4cm, so its compatible with 4 x 4 and with boards that have insert packs that are separate from the main pack and have a 4cm gap between them. 

While not technically something that makes these bindings more adjustable, they also come with what they call "Never Miss A Day" which just means that the bindings come with spare parts, in case anything gets lost or breaks. This spare parts kit includes ladders, screws and washers.  

Shock Absorption

I found they did a great job of absorbing shock and chatter, which I find typical for Bataleon/Rome bindings. 

Entry/Exit

I didn't find anything that was specific to entry/exit with the Blaster Asym, but the ratchets were nice and smooth and easy to ratchet down and to release. 

Comfort

Overall I found them nice and comfortable. 

Ankle Strap: Conformed really nicely to my boots and no hot spots. 

Toe Strap: Same as with the ankle straps. 

Canted Footbed: No

Padded Footbed: I found it had some real nice padding with a good reboundy feel to the padding and overall absorbed shock and chatter really well. 

Highback: No real padding to speak of, except a little at the bottom, but that seems to be more for helping to grip the backs of the boots into the heel cup. But no calf-bite, which is the main thing. 

Ankle Support 

You can change these bindings from being higher on the ankle or lower down with their Kink Ladders. I had them set in the "up" position and I found they provided really good ankle support.  Would of course feel less supportive in the "down" position. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

The Blaster Asym are really impressive bindings. There aren't any weak areas with these bindings, that I could tell and they performed really well in all the areas we test for. From great shock absorption and board feel to great adjustability, they tick all the boxes for those needing mid-flex bindings to match their mid-soft to mid-flexing board.