Salomon Relay xlt - Snowboarding Forum

02-06-2008, 06:49 PM

Has anyone used this binding? Could anybody post a review? It looks like a great binding
Rickenfan.

tonicusa · 03-08-2008, 06:41 PM

These bindings are amazing. The soft heelcup and tension system put them ahead of everything else out there. Once you ride them you won't go back to rigid plastic injection molded bindings. I'm so surprised they haven't caught on quicker, could be the price point(or the fact they don't give them away to every pro). I got rid of my Rome 390s and Union Force they couldn't hold a candle to the relays. Definately one of those tech advancements that makes riding easier, more expressive, and more comfortable.

Gnarly · 03-12-2008, 03:51 PM

Does the lack of a solid heelcup make doing heelside turns more difficult? It would seem that it would take away some of the feedback while HS.

tonicusa · 03-12-2008, 04:01 PM

No it doesn't diminish heelside turns, in fact I think it transfers energy more effectively especially if you ride correctly (feet/ankles)and aren't one of those people who initiates heelside turns by railing on your highbacks. I have Rome targas on one of my boards and I'm going to replace all of my setups with the different Relay models Pro/XLT/Thruster.

Gnarly · 03-12-2008, 04:13 PM

From what it looks like, the system is somewhat like the flow bindings (minus the whole folding down highback)...Is that correct?

**killclimbz** · 03-12-2008, 04:46 PM

The Relay system is a traditional strap system. Nothing like Flow binders that I can think of. The big difference is the soft heelcup. You can literally squeeze it together. So it's supposed to give you more flexibility when in the air etc. Yet performs like a regular binding. I put a pair on my splitboard for backcountry riding. Not so much that I am doing spinny flippy tricks, but because the Relay Pros were nice and light. Less weight on the way up equals more turns going down. Performance wise, they are great. No issues with response and they are more comfortable than a binding with a rigid cup. Ground breaking? Not so sure, maybe the park rates will say more. It works fine and it is a quality binder.

Gnarly · 03-12-2008, 04:57 PM

I guess I was referring to the fact that they both used metal cable instead of a hard heelcup. Just trying to get some ground to relate to them since I've ridden flow bindings before.

**killclimbz** · 03-12-2008, 05:11 PM

That might be about the only similarity. Feel, use, and such are completely different. I see where you're going now.

tonicusa · 03-12-2008, 05:15 PM

Just get a pair. I guarantee if anything you will be pissed you didn't spend the money to try them before. I ride alot of park and they are awesome primarily because they are so comfortable and secondarily because they allow more movement of your ankles etc without giving up board control. You won't look back.

03-12-2008, 06:38 PM

Does anyone know the basic differences between all of the bindings?

Some of the site I've gone to call the Thruster a soft freestyle binding and the XLT a stiff freeride binding.

02-06-2008, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
rickenfan Guest Posts: n/a	Salomon Relay xlt Has anyone used this binding? Could anybody post a review? It looks like a great binding Rickenfan.

03-08-2008, 06:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
tonicusa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 118	Relay XLT/Pro These bindings are amazing. The soft heelcup and tension system put them ahead of everything else out there. Once you ride them you won't go back to rigid plastic injection molded bindings. I'm so surprised they haven't caught on quicker, could be the price point(or the fact they don't give them away to every pro). I got rid of my Rome 390s and Union Force they couldn't hold a candle to the relays. Definately one of those tech advancements that makes riding easier, more expressive, and more comfortable.

03-12-2008, 04:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
tonicusa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 118	Salomon Relay No it doesn't diminish heelside turns, in fact I think it transfers energy more effectively especially if you ride correctly (feet/ankles)and aren't one of those people who initiates heelside turns by railing on your highbacks. I have Rome targas on one of my boards and I'm going to replace all of my setups with the different Relay models Pro/XLT/Thruster.

03-12-2008, 06:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
BoJacks Guest Posts: n/a	Differences b/t XLT, Thrusters, Pro, etc. Does anyone know the basic differences between all of the bindings? Some of the site I've gone to call the Thruster a soft freestyle binding and the XLT a stiff freeride binding.

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03-12-2008, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gnarly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 552	Does the lack of a solid heelcup make doing heelside turns more difficult? It would seem that it would take away some of the feedback while HS.

03-12-2008, 04:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gnarly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 552	From what it looks like, the system is somewhat like the flow bindings (minus the whole folding down highback)...Is that correct?

03-12-2008, 04:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,173	The Relay system is a traditional strap system. Nothing like Flow binders that I can think of. The big difference is the soft heelcup. You can literally squeeze it together. So it's supposed to give you more flexibility when in the air etc. Yet performs like a regular binding. I put a pair on my splitboard for backcountry riding. Not so much that I am doing spinny flippy tricks, but because the Relay Pros were nice and light. Less weight on the way up equals more turns going down. Performance wise, they are great. No issues with response and they are more comfortable than a binding with a rigid cup. Ground breaking? Not so sure, maybe the park rates will say more. It works fine and it is a quality binder.

03-12-2008, 04:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gnarly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 552	I guess I was referring to the fact that they both used metal cable instead of a hard heelcup. Just trying to get some ground to relate to them since I've ridden flow bindings before.

03-12-2008, 05:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,173	That might be about the only similarity. Feel, use, and such are completely different. I see where you're going now.

03-12-2008, 05:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
tonicusa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 118	Just get a pair. I guarantee if anything you will be pissed you didn't spend the money to try them before. I ride alot of park and they are awesome primarily because they are so comfortable and secondarily because they allow more movement of your ankles etc without giving up board control. You won't look back.