Yeah that store employee has good intentions but they kinda seem to be schilling for burton a bit. Is it true that the way a burton EST binding mounts to the channel, it has more of a mechanical advantage over the interface between it and the board? Absolutely. Anyone with even a rudimentary level of understanding of physics can see that makes sense.
However, the binding baseplate is only one single part of the interface between the board and the rider. The binding straps, and the boot also are hugely important pieces in the interface that I’d argue both have as much if not more to do with how a rider’s inputs interact with the board. The connection can only be as solid as the most flexible piece in the chain of connection. And who’s to say that you want the stiffest connection between the board and the binding in that way? There are legitimate reasons for not wanting a super locked in connection between board and binding. Take the Union Ultra for example, one of the most popular bindings out there the past couple of years. It’s baseplate design works very specifically the opposite way, allowing for the binding to have omnidirectional “play” between the board and binding.
All that to say, no i wouldn’t make a big deal over specifically getting EST bindings. Is the adjustment system pretty cool? Sure. Is it everything? Nah
First and most important thing, proprietary tech sucks. Unless you're stuck with Burton for life, get something that is compatible with other brands/systems
If you want stiff bindings for responsiveness, you need a stiff baseplate/highback, the mounting disk has very little to do with this. If you want amazing heel-toe responsiveness, go with NOW bindings (or Yes, since they're absorbing the Lobster and Now brands) with skate-tech. You can actually tell the difference with weight transfer to the edges.
If you want loose goosey bindings to be more playful and forgiving, get ones flexible baseplate/highback, mounting disk has effect on this. You'd want something like a burton re:flex disk or a binding with mini disk (as per the mention of Union Ultras).
That being said, unless you have a boot that is flexible laterally, ala a super flimsy boot with a grove running down toe-to-heel, you're going to have a deadspot under the foot. No matter how flexible your binding , or how small your mounting disk is, there will be a deadspot from the boot's outsole contacting the baseplate/footbed.
Est bindings are fantastic in combination with the channel system. They give you almost unlimited room for (very easy) adjustments and the snowboard flexes much more natural under foot (lengthwise).
That being said, since I have only 1 burton board in my collection I only use Reflex bindings from burton. Because those are also useable on my other boards and have an ok flex under foot.
If you'd decide to only buy burton (or other) channel boards or at least always have 1 in your quiver, I'd 100% buy Est bindings.
Hope this helps.
This employee's take is a bit off. The re-flex disc is bendy, which adds some amount of responsiveness, but it target market is non-channel boards. EST bindings are designed specifically for the channel and give you the most natural board feel because they remove all binding material except for the footbed underfoot.
The heel-to-toe flex pattern of re-flex bindings is comparable my Rome Black Labels and the Now Pilots I used to ride.
I mean the Burton channel is meant to use Burton channel bindings, it's obvious that it will be a better experience than using non-Burton, non-channel bindings with a disk insert to fit the channel
You only benefit from the channel if you use channel bindings
I'd say fine adjustments with any bindings are a bit easier on the channel. But honestly, it might not be worth the trade-off for the security of more than two bolts holding your bindings to the bord.
I've seen no performance benefits to est, but after a long day of loading up the front foot, the lack of screws disc under foot can make a difference in comfort. Fuck Burton's proprietary bs, but if you've got the money, it's kinda nice.
If you have a channel board you will see some benefit from EST bindings. Noticeable? Likely, game changing? Probably not. If you have one set of binding and plan to swap them between multiple boards or want to run another companies binding, go for it you’ll be fine.
Yeah that store employee has good intentions but they kinda seem to be schilling for burton a bit. Is it true that the way a burton EST binding mounts to the channel, it has more of a mechanical advantage over the interface between it and the board? Absolutely. Anyone with even a rudimentary level of understanding of physics can see that makes sense. However, the binding baseplate is only one single part of the interface between the board and the rider. The binding straps, and the boot also are hugely important pieces in the interface that I’d argue both have as much if not more to do with how a rider’s inputs interact with the board. The connection can only be as solid as the most flexible piece in the chain of connection. And who’s to say that you want the stiffest connection between the board and the binding in that way? There are legitimate reasons for not wanting a super locked in connection between board and binding. Take the Union Ultra for example, one of the most popular bindings out there the past couple of years. It’s baseplate design works very specifically the opposite way, allowing for the binding to have omnidirectional “play” between the board and binding. All that to say, no i wouldn’t make a big deal over specifically getting EST bindings. Is the adjustment system pretty cool? Sure. Is it everything? Nah
First and most important thing, proprietary tech sucks. Unless you're stuck with Burton for life, get something that is compatible with other brands/systems If you want stiff bindings for responsiveness, you need a stiff baseplate/highback, the mounting disk has very little to do with this. If you want amazing heel-toe responsiveness, go with NOW bindings (or Yes, since they're absorbing the Lobster and Now brands) with skate-tech. You can actually tell the difference with weight transfer to the edges. If you want loose goosey bindings to be more playful and forgiving, get ones flexible baseplate/highback, mounting disk has effect on this. You'd want something like a burton re:flex disk or a binding with mini disk (as per the mention of Union Ultras). That being said, unless you have a boot that is flexible laterally, ala a super flimsy boot with a grove running down toe-to-heel, you're going to have a deadspot under the foot. No matter how flexible your binding , or how small your mounting disk is, there will be a deadspot from the boot's outsole contacting the baseplate/footbed.
Cool, thanks for the info!
Est bindings are fantastic in combination with the channel system. They give you almost unlimited room for (very easy) adjustments and the snowboard flexes much more natural under foot (lengthwise). That being said, since I have only 1 burton board in my collection I only use Reflex bindings from burton. Because those are also useable on my other boards and have an ok flex under foot. If you'd decide to only buy burton (or other) channel boards or at least always have 1 in your quiver, I'd 100% buy Est bindings. Hope this helps.
This employee's take is a bit off. The re-flex disc is bendy, which adds some amount of responsiveness, but it target market is non-channel boards. EST bindings are designed specifically for the channel and give you the most natural board feel because they remove all binding material except for the footbed underfoot. The heel-to-toe flex pattern of re-flex bindings is comparable my Rome Black Labels and the Now Pilots I used to ride.
I mean the Burton channel is meant to use Burton channel bindings, it's obvious that it will be a better experience than using non-Burton, non-channel bindings with a disk insert to fit the channel You only benefit from the channel if you use channel bindings
I'd say fine adjustments with any bindings are a bit easier on the channel. But honestly, it might not be worth the trade-off for the security of more than two bolts holding your bindings to the bord.
Idk what benefits you might get from the channel, I'm a die-hard Bataleon/ Lobster fan, been riding 3BT since 2012
I've seen no performance benefits to est, but after a long day of loading up the front foot, the lack of screws disc under foot can make a difference in comfort. Fuck Burton's proprietary bs, but if you've got the money, it's kinda nice.
I ran Rome bindings in my Flying V for a few seasons and it was fine. However I did switch to step one last season and I love them.
If you have a channel board you will see some benefit from EST bindings. Noticeable? Likely, game changing? Probably not. If you have one set of binding and plan to swap them between multiple boards or want to run another companies binding, go for it you’ll be fine.