BINDINGS

[eleveneightnate]

I really want to try a set of Union T-Rice bindings... The Mini disc really has piqued my interest.

Thoughts?

I haven't ridden the newly redesigned '25 Falcors, but I've had a few pairs of the previous generations as well as the Stratas and Ultras (which use the same mini disc). Big fan of the board flex/feel Union's mini disc gives. It can make a planky board feel a little more playful and helps counteract the super locked in feeling of the metal heelcup. My '23 Falcors felt like they had an identity crisis... the carbon part of the highback was too stiff for me and made it uncomfortable driving heelside, but the rest of the binding felt pretty tweakable and loose. I've read that the '25s feel a lot smoother and more comfortable. They've always felt ultra damp to me, too.

[coleslawed]

I've had two sets of Falcors over the years, quite like them. nice combo of playfulness and response. the bushing is a little more dense than on the Strata (same overall baseplate design, just different under padding), so it's not as cushy of a ride, but still provides some nose-tail play, which I quite like, and the highback is responsive with the carbon fork, without feeling too aggressive on your calves. If I had to choose one binding from Union for everything, it'd probably be the Falcor. my newer pair (2021 or 2022's?) have travelled the most across my quiver. they've been on my US Horizon, Lib Terrain Wrecker, Storm Chaser, and Hometown Hero, which are all wider waist widths (263-277), and the mini disk has no problem with leverage, which I sometimes ran into with the Strata's on wider boards.

not sure how I feel about the look of the new ones with the supersized gasket.

[pow_hnd]

The mini disc and being able to micro adjust your stance highly intrigues me.

My last set of Unions though were by far the single worst “modern’ bindings I’ve ever owned.

I know they have made improvements. My best Baldface partner rode the new T-Rices at the lodge last year and loved them enough to buy a set on the spot.

Thing is, I still absolutely love NOWs.

But I so want to play with the mini disc.

[eleveneightnate]

You should give the Falcors a go. They have good resale value if you end up not liking them. Or, you can find last year’s Strata new for ~$150 to try out the mini disc. They are definitely no slouch and can power most boards IMO.

[michaelangelo]

Haven’t ridden Union in a couple years, but I loved the combo of Falcor base and Team Force high back.

[Oldhead]

I have been on Burton Cartels forever. I just picked up a set of 2024 Cartel X. One of the selling points for me was the heel hammock. Anybody have some experience with the durability of this? I assumed it was fixed to the highback, but the lower portion is floating until you boot pushes it into position. Lots of edges that look like they could get caught on the boot when entering the binder.

[Spenser]

I have been on Burton Cartels forever. I just picked up a set of 2024 Cartel X. One of the selling points for me was the heel hammock. Anybody have some experience with the durability of this? I assumed it was fixed to the highback, but the lower portion is floating until you boot pushes it into position. Lots of edges that look like they could get caught on the boot when entering the binder.

Edit: I see they changed the hammock a lot, so who knows. I thought I was looking at the wrong binding at first. However, having used the old style with much larger "floating" hammock:

I put >100 days each on 2 sets of malavita highbacks without failure, but they didn't "look" new. They were from 15 & 16 I think. Your mileage may vary..

[casjcade]

I have been on Burton Cartels forever. I just picked up a set of 2024 Cartel X. One of the selling points for me was the heel hammock. Anybody have some experience with the durability of this? I assumed it was fixed to the highback, but the lower portion is floating until you boot pushes it into position. Lots of edges that look like they could get caught on the boot when entering the binder.

If you don't kick them, it's fine. The good news is they work fine without.

[bboytommy]

The new hammock on those cartelX are great. I think much more durable that the full hammock on the malavitas, which get eaten up.

The lightness of those cartelX are also nice. But the regular gas pedal (compared to the autocant on the vitas) strains my arches...but that might just be me.

[scrub]

The lightness of those cartelX are also nice. But the regular gas pedal (compared to the autocant on the vitas) strains my arches...but that might just be me.

The lack of auto cant I think would be a deal breaker for me. I mostly run Cartel/Malavita hybrids.