carvebeast

Ok, I’ll make this as short and sweet as possible while providing the info needed. I am not a binding noob, but I have ridden my current bindings for 3 or 4 seasons without so much as even glancing at any companies offerings during that time period so I am somewhat out of the loop when it comes to the new technologies and setups companies have out for 10/11 (maybe that makes me a reborn noob?!? )…unfortunately I think one too many thrashings has created an unrepairable stress crack in my highback and I have been looking for an excuse to move to something a little less stiff for some time so this seems like a good time to grab some new binders.

6ft 170 pounds, I ride all over the mountain and need responsiveness for steeps and pow, but almost every lap I make involves the park. I currently ride a 2010 lib trs 157 with ride cad bindings (07?). Ideally I would like to find bindings that give me a little more flex, but still keep the response I need for all mountain riding. in summary, looking for all mountain freestyle/park performance with more flex than my cads. So far 390 bosses and union forces have peaked my interest. Similar Ride or flux offerings I should be checking out? Any others?

I have heard the 390s have a smaller highback and the forces have some ratcheting problems, both are concerns I would like you guys to address if possible. How are the straps/ratchets on both bindings? Comfort level? Responsiveness? Either one too flexy for my style of riding? I definitely also NEED a toecap that won’t slip since this is what I have become accustomed to with my cads. Thanks in advance for any direction given!

SHREDDER97

it seem that burton cartels are the right bindings for you. I have rome 2011 rome 390s and i love them but i think cartels are more all mountain .

carvebeast

i am much more "all mountain freestyle" than i am "all mountain". thanks for the suggestion, but you're gonna have to sell me a little better than that to make me commit to cartels. currently leaning towards the 390 bosses, just want some confirmation that the highback will provide enough support when i hit some steeps. im just as likely to spend an entire day jibbing or lapping a park jump as i am to look for steeps and drops on the mountain so i need something that can handle it all...the cads gave me great response, but i felt limited in the park at times by just how stiff the makeup of the binding was (specifically in tweaked grabs and butters/jibs).

Digger

Just go with the boss! I have this years boss and this years force and I love the boss! More comfy and the can't pads are great. They are not as stiff as the force but you can hardly notice a difference. You will be happy if you get them. I hear tomes customer service is awesome! So that's yet another plus

graybox

i have the 390 boss on my lib t. rice. awesome binding. cant find a bad thing about them, beside the paint chipping so easily and early. not a huge deal cause i dont really give a shit, but its annoying at times. super sturdy on the steeper trails ive ridden. really soft and forgiving in the park, especially with the canting pads. just extra comfort. they have the all black ones on dogfunk.com also if the split color way bothers you. go for em man.

Nivek

Imma throw a curveball at you and suggest Flow M9's. My Quattro's are my favorite park binding so far and I rode the M9's on an Era, Infinite, and Verve and they were solid on all of them. Super comfy and as responsive as anything else.

If not those my second favorite for that type of riding is Flux DS45's. The urethane highback was solid for edge to edge and matched up will with the Coda but they really let me get into butters and helped with that since I rode a bigger size than I really wanted in that board. They are my favorite Flux.

Second curve ball. Forum Shaka's. Good Vibes does nothing, but they were a really comfy, damp, and responsive binding. They did still match up well with the Scallywag, meaning they will still be fun in the park.

Slider. Salomon Chiefs. The asym frame gives you power through a turn with it being a little more forgiving in the park. Salomon makes a good no frills binding that just does its job.

Also try K2 Auto Uprise. Basically it's a Formula with auto, but by adding auto they soften up a bit. So they aren't quite the hard charging binding that K2 made the Formula's into this year.

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binarypie

I'm going to second the Cartels.


The Cartels are a stiffer binding.
They aren't going to be the easy going butter/park binding you may actually be looking for.

However, base on what you've told us.
I would suggest them because of how well they will handle everything your deepest powder day to fast carves on the groomers.

If you are feeling like you want to play more, relax the forward lean and adjust the highback down some.
If you are doing more freeriding throw it back up to get some response.

I'll never understand why people refuse to adjust their lean, setback, angles, stance width, etc... depending on what they are doing.

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carvebeast

^i definitely agree to a certain extent and love tweaking and adjusting from time to time based on what i'll be primarily riding for the day, but there's also something to be sad for a low maintenance setup that you don't need to make the adjustments on unless it is a very specific style of riding for the day (deep powder or jib sesh). either way, thanks for all the suggestions guys i will be doing more research on all the aforementioned bindings before making a final decision...

might as well throw this out there if i decide to go with the romes; for the 390 boss owners, i have a size 9 boot which puts me in the dreaded in between category for binding size. anyone with a similar boot size have some direction for choosing medium or large? thanks again

Extremo

I ride the Force...ratchet issues were resolved with last years model. Super good binding but I would recomend them to you if you were a park ride who occasionally rode the mountian.

I would suggest the Flux SF45...they're similar to the Force but with a stiffer base that will give you the response you're looking for. And no binding will have the comfort that this binding offers with its straps. Their ratchets are also the best I've ever encountered. Hope you'll consider them...you won't be dissapointed.

binarypie

The maintenance part really depends on how varying your terrain is.

For me I could be dropping cliffs and doing powder runs in the morning and riding park in the afternoon.
So I probably change my stance almost every day out.
Now back when I was growing up the mountain didn't really change much so it was much more of a set it and forget it experience.

All that being said. Once I get a second board I'll set my v-rocker up for freestyle/park and second board for powder/freeride.
Having two boards will give me more of that set it and forget it experience. Except that I have to stop and trade boards. haha.

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