Burton Cartel Binders

[Condro]

A short while ago my 05/06 Burton Mission Binding had to be sent back on warranty with a cracked base plate. The guys down at the shop recommended that I send back both bindings just in case they didn't have the parts to fix my old set, they would just send out some new ones. I kept my fingers crossed, and wouldn't you know, when they came back they were a shiny new set of 06/07 Missions. Overall I was pretty pleased with my Missions, but I have wanted to try out Cartels for awhile, so I asked up the guys at the shops if it was cool to make an upgrade. 30 bucks later I walked with a new set of binders.



I didn't know it from the catalog or website, but I saw them on a friends board in mis-match black and white fade, and immediately fell in love. There are tons of cool styling throughout these fastners from the anodized red ratches to the black and white plaid straps with custom interior. Straight up, these this just look sweet.

Fashion isn't the only thing that you are going to get out of one of Burtons most responsive and popular set of tiedowns though. The new upgraded Hi-Back Adjustment is one lever: flip it open, pull the block out, slide to prefered spot, flip the lever closed. You could probably even pull it off in mits.

Along with no clog ratchets garrantied to run smooth all day, new convertable Grip Cap-Staps that brake down to whichever configuration your little heart disires, full base plate padding to keep constant contact with you base, as well as a huge gas pedal in the fron to help with those toeside slashers and a shock pad under your heel to suck up some inpact while your stompin' your moves.



I've been dying to get my grubby paws on a set so I'll keep you updated on what I think.

If you're already running 'em, drop some knowledge too.

[Nieto]

First impressions of the Burton Cartel, SICK. The Cartel is the number one binding of choice for Burton and non Burton pros alike(according to Burtons site). Burton has brought weight(lack of) and response together bringing you, the Cartel.

So far I've put in 12 days on these Black Cartel binders in all conditions, ice, powder, sierrra cement and slush and have found them to be the most responsive binding I have ridden so far. The toe cap(convertable to toe strap) keeps my toe glued to the (tool free)adjustable gas pedal, my heel jammed to the base plate and my calf snug against the Team Skyback(highest in the Burton line up) giving me excellent control through out my cornering and weight transfers.

The rachets have prooved themselves in each condition they have been subject to, I haven't suffered from any slippage, from them packing with snow or even freezing on sub-zero side country excursions.

The only problem I've encountered so far has been that the back of the foam padding on the high back has gotten a bit mangled and ripped due to the low chair height on summit six at Alpine Meadows, other than that just the standard scrapes and scuffs.

whos that behind them?

These bad boys are going to set you back $219 but with the W48 waranty policy, the life time waranty on the base plates, and a solid product, Burton has done it again.

At the end of the day, I would recommend these binders to anyone wheather you a park only jibbernot, a piste carver or a pouder hound who just loves to huck your meat.

AS

[nirvana]

First impressions of the Burton Cartel, SICK. The Cartel is the number one binding of choice for Burton and non Burton pros alike(according to Burtons site). Burton has brought weight(lack of) and response together bringing you, the Cartel.

So far I've put in 12 days on these Black Cartel binders in all conditions, ice, powder, sierrra cement and slush and have found them to be the most responsive binding I have ridden so far. The toe cap(convertable to toe strap) keeps my toe glued to the (tool free)adjustable gas pedal, my heel jammed to the base plate and my calf snug against the Team Skyback(highest in the Burton line up) giving me excellent control through out my cornering and weight transfers..

The rachets have prooved themselves in each condition they have been subject to, I haven't suffered from any slippage, from them packing with snow or even freezing on sub-zero side country excursions.

The only problem I've encountered so far has been that the back of the foam padding on the high back has gotten a bit mangled and ripped due to the low chair height on summit six at Alpine Meadows, other than that just the standard scrapes and scuffs.

whos that behind them?

These bad boys are going to set you back $219 but with the W48 waranty policy, the life time waranty on the base plates, and a solid product, Burton has done it again.

At the end of the day, I would recommend these binders to anyone wheather you a park only jibbernot, a piste carver or a pouder hound who just loves to huck your meat.

AS

uhm that very nice , i love it, how much price ?

[NoKnees]

You guys sound like a couple Burton rep's with all that love being shared.... ;)

They do look pretty solid. How's the stiffness of the baseplate through healcup? I've always been a bit aluminum baseplate/heelcup fan (Ride), and would like to see what else is out there. My past Burton bindings have always had a little more flex than I like. However, I haven't had any new ones in a couple years... Last ones I really put the beat down on were the Burton CFX's, which at the time were supposed to be light and stiff. Well, they were light...

[Nieto]

According to Burton, the CO2 and the C60s are the only other bindings in their line that are more responsive than the Cartels. I haven't noticed any excessive lateral flex in the base plate (even during nose and tail presses) that has been unwanted. After coming off a pair of Drakes with aluminum base plates, I don't feel that I've lost much of the stiffness or response with the plastic, I'd have to say that most likley comes from the toe cap and the skyback.

[NoKnees]

That's good to know... When I wear out my current Ride Migs and Teams, I might have to give them a shot. The pricing for the CO2 and C60s is just nuts, and they are hard to get a good deal on. Just have trouble spending as much on the bindings as I do on a new board... Luckily I should be okay for another season or so... Maybe longer if this lack of snow holds up... ;)

Ah well, still doing my snow dance, as it hasn't exactly been piling up in Tahoe yet...

[Condro]

I'm pretty confident that in the range of Burton binders the Cartel is the perfect cross section of function and cash thrown down. You're going to get a light, responsive, durable set of straps. Some of the bindings in the upper range of Burton's line up seem to be full of bells and whistles, but the prices sky rocket and I doubt the performace does the same. Overall the Cartels have much stiffer base plates than my previous Missions, as well as a stiffer Highback.
Cartels transcend the styles of riding, from rails to AK ridges. Maybe not the best at everything, but definitely capable of anything.

[Nieto]

I'd like to try the P1s, they seem to be a bit stiffer and have a "better" toe cap which isn't convertable yet is suppost to be their best yet.

[NoKnees]

Do you have a hookup for these? Even the best street price for these I've seen is pretty nutty... But yes, they are something I'd like to demo... Supposedly a nice little step up from the c60's. I'll just have to take people's word for it.

[Condro]

I have put in some hours now on the Cartels so I can spill the beans on what they actually ride like.

They set up very well on my Se7en Deck, like most other Burton boards the Se7en has a three bolt pattern insted of the standard four bolt. The Cartels come with two sets of mounting plates, one stardard and one specific for a three bolt, and the three bolt has seamless padding making the whole footbed of the binding flush. The foam has awesome traction aswell. Which is good and bad. When your foot is possitioned right and you strape in you are really locked in, but if your boot hasn't made it all the back against the heel cup the straps will tighten you down right where you are and you'll slip into place sometime on the descent. This also leads into my next observation. I run last years ThirtyTwo 305 boots, the heel and backs of these are very square, which doesn't work great with the contour of the Cartel's highback. I found that I had to lessen my forward lean so that my boot would fit better. I would be currious to run some Burton boots in these to see how they line up.
As I said before though, set up is super easy. As I was figuring out what I needed to change it was easy to make changes. Strap adjustments are tooless and that makes it easy to make sure they line up right on you boot once they've been tightened down. I found that the dedicated cap strap works a little better than some convertible ones. The Cartel's new Grip Cap Strap hasn't slipped once, where as I have pretty much given up on running my Unions as a cap strap. Another thing the Cartels, and most other Burton binding, have going for them are how well the straps stay organized. The straps have a limited range of rotation on thier mounts so they are always pretty much in the range of where they need to be. If you think that ones a bit wierd, ride a set with straps that mount on the outside and that are free to roam, they can be anywhere; under the board, crossed, anywhere.

Once strapped in the Cartels definitely rip with the best of 'em and out perform the rest of them. Solid and responsive are what you get with when you combine the great straps and stiff highbacks. Great edge control gives you a new level of confidence on ice and in the park. I rode these from the powder to the park run after run off Cornice 6 at Kirkwood run after run and found comfort in every circumstance.

Bottom Line- If you have been looking for a pretty lightweight binder with great response and adjustability the Burton Cartels are an awesome option. They definitely work with all boots, but I suspect they might lash up a bit better around some Burton boots.

[manus]

I've always been a bit aluminum baseplate/heelcup fan (Ride), and would like to see what else is out there. My past Burton bindings have always had a little more flex than I like. However, I haven't had any new ones in a couple years.

[MARK]

Just look to see what the glass content in them is if listed. The higher (more than 15%) the stiffer. Of course carbon, etc. will be stiffer yet.