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de de dee me and these Damn Burton Cartels

4K views 25 replies 16 participants last post by  multisample 
#1 ·
So I originally ordered some Union Force SL bindings off the internet. Turns out that the bindings were too large so I returned them for a smaller pair. In the process, the clerk over the phone recommended the 2011 Burton cartel bindings. He convinced me to get them instead because they are 50 dollars cheaper, a lot lighter and more responsive. I couldn't help but agree with him and chose to get the Cartel bindings with a 50 dollar refund... YAY was my original thought.

Today, these Cartels came in the mail and the first thing I said was WTF.... These things are 100 percent plastic. Sliding my finger over the heel cup scratched them and I was uber bummed out that these fucking things were plastic. Also, the foam on the base and highback seem like they are made of the shittiest foam out there. The foam feels like its going to rub off after 10 days of riding.

Does anyone have some good news to tell me about the Cartels and why they are plastic? Any experienced users of the Cartels have some good feedback for me? I am tempted to fork out 50 more dollars again and get the Unions but I honestly don't know what to do right now. Help me out por favor

Sincerely,

Boat Shredder
 
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#4 ·
All Burtons are all plastic. Same as K2 and Flux. Its not a bad thing. But Honestly I think the SL's are a better binding than the Cartels. I don't know why he said they were lighter, they shouldn't be. The foam is the same, EVA, but the Unions may be a "higher" quality EVA. You also have to take into consideration the stock forward lean of Burton.

I would say as far as performance, if you're going to be jibbing a fair amount the Cartels will be painfully annoying. If you're doing mostly freeriding, both will give you good performance but the Cartels might do a fair bit better.
 
#7 ·
The Cartels are without a doubt lighter. I am worries the EVA injected foam will rub into my pants. My last burton bindings did that and they destroyed my pants with black smears. I don't want that.

MY BIG QUESTION THOUGH IS:

Who will pay 50 more dollars for the Force SL's? Are the Force's worth the extra money?
 
#16 ·
I put 50+ days of hard shredding on my Cartels and the only thing I've had issues with is one of the ankle strap ratchets (bent mounting bracket from a nice wreck). Good binding IMO, I definitely enjoyed mine, but there are other options out there. Why not take a look at some Rome Targas or Ride Alphas? They're both comparable to the Cartel and Force SL.

Would I pay $50 more for the Unions? Probably not, I never jumped on the Union bandwagon. Would I choose the Cartels instead? Maybe, but not after looking at all my other options.
 
#18 ·
I love my Burton Snowboard, outerwear, and boots... but I hate Burton bindings. Cartels aren't bad, but they aren't worth the price in my honest opinion.

$230 you say?

Screw the Unions and Cartels. Hop on this:

Rome 390 Boss Snowboard Bindings 2011

If you don't hop on it, I'm not talking to you anymore since there is no hope for you. Mmmmm... Rome 390 straps... Mmmm... Canted footbeds (3 for each binder)... Freestyle flex.... Rome customer service.... Effin DEEEELISSH!
 
#19 ·
What about the Flux TT30's?


I currently have a pair of Cartel's that are about 4-5 years old, bought them off craigslist for $50. They seem to work good for me... but I don't have much to compare with. My previous bindings were over 10 years old, made by RED (Burton subsidiary) that doesn't even make bindings anymore.
 
#25 ·
I am not a Burton fan myself, but I can say that many of my instructor coworkers swear by their Cartels. There are super lightweight and that material is not as cheap plastic as it seems. It is a carbon fiber resin "thing" That they claim is actually stronger than the aluminum of other bindings.
I'll swear by my Cartels. In my 15+ years of snowboarding my 2010 Cartel EST (don't knock this until you try it) are probably one of the best feelings underfoot I've ever had.
 
#26 ·
I have some 09 Cartels and I think they are great minus one thing ..... the damned toe cap comes up/off the front boot after a while. Its a problem in a lot of bindings, not just Cartels though. Still, if it weren't for that I would have no complaints. They are just the right amount of stiffness to do all types of riding and plenty light. I usually keep 2 types of bindings around and the Cartels are my default. Of course, I didn't pay beginning of the year price on them either :) Now if I could find a way to make the toe cap a little more reliable ...
 
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