BINDINGS

[eleveneightnate]

Does anyone have a comparison of Rome Katanas and Bataleon Astros (fullwrap)? Specifically, are they significantly more powerful to warrant a purchase?
Lobster Halldor pro = Bataleon Astro but cheaper and currently 50% off on the Lobster site. I'm tempted to buy but not if they are only marginally different from the Katanas I already have.

I had the Katanas and the Blaster fullwraps last season. I didn't feel like the fullwrap was that much more responsive, honestly. If it was, it was very subtle. I did notice the fullwrap definitely restricts lateral flex more, though. Katanas had better under foot cushioning for what it's worth.

[Kevington]

Does anyone have a comparison of Rome Katanas and Bataleon Astros (fullwrap)? Specifically, are they significantly more powerful to warrant a purchase?
Lobster Halldor pro = Bataleon Astro but cheaper and currently 50% off on the Lobster site. I'm tempted to buy but not if they are only marginally different from the Katanas I already have.

I had the Katanas and the Blaster fullwraps last season. I didn't feel like the fullwrap was that much more responsive, honestly. If it was, it was very subtle. I did notice the fullwrap definitely restricts lateral flex more, though. Katanas had better under foot cushioning for what it's worth.

Thanks for confirming that. I guess the only difference is one small piece of metal on the lateral side. I've given up on Now bindings so I might try the Bent Metal Transfer, they felt great when demoing the Banked Country and the Katanas feel a bit lacking on it. Wait, I'm a Mervin guy now?!

[eleveneightnate]

Thanks for confirming that. I guess the only difference is one small piece of metal on the lateral side. I've given up on Now bindings so I might try the Bent Metal Transfer, they felt great when demoing the Banked Country and the Katanas feel a bit lacking on it. Wait, I'm a Mervin guy now?!

I've never tried any Bent Metals. I'll have to get them on the list. I gave up on Now, too. I just hate their buckles and having to replace half the binding to make them usable, especially when SkateTech is so subtle. Also, Rome/Bataleon/Lobster bindings just have too many moving parts and little screws keeping things in place. I'm always paranoid that they'll come apart.

I love my Holograms, but Salomon can't make a toe strap that stays on my boot for some reason. I just ordered some Burtons since I've always had good success with them and rock Burton boots.

[michaelangelo]

I had a bit of the opposite experience - I found the Katana a little doughy underfoot, got on a pair of DODs and really liked them. A bit more feedback from the board underfoot and felt like you can get more energy into the board due to fullwrap. I don’t really like cushy bindings like the Strata or the Katana’s boost-style footbed, I also don’t like something as stiff underfoot as the Atlas though. Bindings can be so objective on paper and then you ride them and ????

[C.Fuzzy]

Ride Prestons For Lyfe! FTW.

[Kevington]

Ride Prestons For Lyfe! FTW.

All metal everything.

[C.Fuzzy]

Ride Prestons For Lyfe! FTW.

All metal everything.

Back then brands weren't putting glass in a lot of the bindings, certainly not most or all of the low end bindings and they broke so easily. They'd often split at the mold seams, especially brands that put the mold seam on the back of the heelcup or other high stress points. HIghbacks were a little better bc they'd be one piece, but there was a tradeoff with stiffness of hard plastic being brittle and softer plastic not bending to easily. Equipment was a lot of garbage. Ride made metal bindings and from my pov were the best option simply bc I knew the baseplate wasn't going to break. I don't think I ever had a Preston strap break either. But These days, idk what the advantage of metal would be. I understand why Union does the metal heelcup. But I don't quite understand why bentmetal bindings exist. Is there an upside here I'm just not seeing?

[Dave T]

Thanks for confirming that. I guess the only difference is one small piece of metal on the lateral side. I've given up on Now bindings so I might try the Bent Metal Transfer, they felt great when demoing the Banked Country and the Katanas feel a bit lacking on it. Wait, I'm a Mervin guy now?!

I've never tried any Bent Metals. I'll have to get them on the list. I gave up on Now, too. I just hate their buckles and having to replace half the binding to make them usable, especially when SkateTech is so subtle. Also, Rome/Bataleon/Lobster bindings just have too many moving parts and little screws keeping things in place. I'm always paranoid that they'll come apart.

I love my Holograms, but Salomon can't make a toe strap that stays on my boot for some reason. I just ordered some Burtons since I've always had good success with them and rock Burton boots.

Agree with everything you said. Have been curious about Salomon’s and K2s. You have both, correct? Any feedback on the k2 from this season?

[eleveneightnate]

Agree with everything you said. Have been curious about Salomon’s and K2s. You have both, correct? Any feedback on the k2 from this season?

Yessir! The new K2 bindings are actually awesome. I had the Editions for the first half of the season and they were solid all around. SUPER damp... they have tons of foam and a full rubber pad on the bottom where it contacts the board. The toe straps were great and fit my adidas and burtons, the ankle straps weren't too noticeable which I guess is a good thing. Highback was tweaky. My favorite thing is the sizing, because with my 11s I wasn't right on the lower fringe of the larges like other brands. I probably should've kept them haha.

I tried the Bonds, too. One thing to note is that even though they're cheaper and have a worse toe strap than the Editions, they're actually stiffer because of the highback.

For Salomons, I've had Holograms, Highlanders, and the old Defenders. My current Holograms are my cruiser bindings when I feel like buttering, hitting the park, and just generally fucking around. I love ShadowFit, personally, I just hate these stupid basketball toe straps Salomon has been using for years. They don't fit any of my boots and always fall down. The new Holograms have a new (maybe better?) toe strap, but they also got rid of all the gas pedal foam and replaced it with hard plastic that I'm not stoked on. I like last season's better.

[coleslawed]

Ride Prestons For Lyfe! FTW.

All metal everything.

Back then brands weren't putting glass in a lot of the bindings, certainly not most or all of the low end bindings and they broke so easily. They'd often split at the mold seams, especially brands that put the mold seam on the back of the heelcup or other high stress points. HIghbacks were a little better bc they'd be one piece, but there was a tradeoff with stiffness of hard plastic being brittle and softer plastic not bending to easily. Equipment was a lot of garbage. Ride made metal bindings and from my pov were the best option simply bc I knew the baseplate wasn't going to break. I don't think I ever had a Preston strap break either. But These days, idk what the advantage of metal would be. I understand why Union does the metal heelcup. But I don't quite understand why bentmetal bindings exist. Is there an upside here I'm just not seeing?

mostly just to keep Lib/Gnu riders within the Mervin eco-system for bindings, same as Arbor. not really bringing much new to the table.

I guess Bent Metal has the changeable footbeds, but I've never once even talked with someone on the salesfloor about that.