Binding Model: Salomon Quantum

Binding Size: Lg/XL

Stance and Angles: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boot Used: K2 Thraxis

Boot Size: 10

Board Used: K2 Cool Bean

Rider Weight: 195lbs

Location: Arapahoe Basin

Conditions: Puking snow, fresh light snow that slowly got a little heavier, cooler temps, some wind, and every kind of powder variable condition you can think of.

Binding Adjustability: Standard twist cams on the heel and toe straps to lengthen them. Adjustable toe ramps. Highback rotation. There is a push down placement for the toe strap.

Straps: The straps on the Quantum are the new age minimalist ones that don’t stretch. These things grip exceptionally well and hold you down. Their ability to contour to any boot shape is solid. You never notice any pinch points.

Ratchets: Here’s what I like and dislike with the ratchets. The way they’re designed they climb exceptionally well. You notice how little effort it takes for them to lock down. What I dislike is the strap is a push down release while the heel is a one finger quick release. But the way they’re designed makes them almost flawless.

Highbacks: The highbacks are stiffer which helps with the Shadowfit. This gives them more power and the ability to drive harder when pushed into.

Binding Flex: The overall flex is on the stiffer side of all mountain. You still do get that play from the Shadowfit that lets you micro manage your ankle movements in the heel cup. This gives you a little more play and changes the dynamics of how you engage turns and board flex.

Ride: The overall ride is super smooth. These are a very damp and mostly responsive binding. I still feel with Shadowfit you lose a little bit of the drive into the heel cup, but this bindings flex and stiffer highback mostly compensate for that.

Rider in Mind: Someone that wants a higher end all mountain binding with Shadowfit.

Personal Thoughts: I don’t know if I’ll ever be a Shadowfit proponent, but I will say the Quantum was solid. Sure there was a little play in the heel but that helped with slashy surf turns on the Cool Bean. I think in powder it makes a lot more sense than if you’re carving on a groomer. The stiffer highback and flex helps this board retain some power which was nice. The one good thing with this binding was that I never noticed the canted footbed, which with some companies they go a bit overboard, with Salomon it’s there, it adds a little bit to correcting knee and ankle placement but it’s not overkill.