Binding Model: Jones Apollo
Binding Size: Medium
Stance and Angles: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boot Used: K2 Thraxis
Boot Size: 10
Board Used: K2 Cool Bean
Rider Weight: 200lbs
Location: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, moderate to high winds, average temps, fresh corduroy, chunder, ice, a little dust on crust, and some heavy pow for good measure.
Binding Adjustability: Flip cams on the straps to lengthen or shorten them. Bushings you can swap out for soft, medium, or hard. Forward lean adjustment. And of course the Flip-It straps to go from surf to freeride based on how much flex you want to give them.
Straps: You have two options with the straps based on how much flex you want to give them which is always a good option. With that said they’re of that new style of minimalist design on the heel strap that gets rid of any excess material that can cause pinch points and just contour to the instep. The toe strap does a great job of fitting most boot shapes and keeps you locked down.
Ratchets: The ratchets climb well and stay locked in. I never noticed any slipping or had any issues with them when feeding the ladder in. The only thing I can really say that’s negative is that the toe ratchet doesn’t have a one finger quick release and instead you have to pull it from the front. It should have a quick release tab, but that’s me.
Highbacks: These are the stiffest highbacks in the Jones line of bindings and you feel it. When you drive in there’s a lot of power and it lets you know. The natural shape did cause a bit of calf bite for me but that’s my boot/preferences problem and not a dig on these.
Binding Flex: The overall flex is a bit more powerful just with the highback being the way it is. You’ll notice right away that there is some power in this binding and you can accentuate that with keeping the straps on the freeride setting. If you go with the surf setting on them you will get a bit more lateral play.
Ride: The ride is more powerful and precise than is counterparts. It’s a binding you can charge more aggressively with and feel that on the heel edge when you push into that highback.
Rider in Mind: All mountain freeride guy.
Personal Thoughts: This isn’t the binding for me and won’t ever be. I get that. I just don’t like that highback but that’s me. Now the big thing with this binding is that it’s just a bit stiffer than the Mercury and that’s due in part to the highback. If you want a binding that can rip a bit harder this is definitely an option.
Comparable Bindings: Ride C-10, Union Atlas, Flux XF
