Binding Model: Rome Crux
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: 205lbs
Location: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Overcast skies, low to moderate visibility, snow grapple snow falling at time, heavy pow off the groomers, creamy soft groomers, slush on the lower mountain, ice and chunder everywhere else.
Binding Adjustability: This binding is very minimal with how much adjustability it has. You have highback rotation, push pins for the toe ramp, forward lean adjustment, and flip cams for strength lengthening. You also have a toe ramp/cover plate that has the stupidest locking mechanism to keep it in place I’ve ever seen. Fuck that thing.
Straps: The heel strap is very rigid and minimalist in design. While it does contour to the instep I feel it lacks any real support and instead puts that burden on the boot. The toe strap has the largest cut out for a boot I’ve ever seen and in doing so while it will fit almost any boot shape it gives a sloppier fit.
Ratchets: These worked how you would want them to and did their job. They have a smooth climbing motion to them, never stuck, and released when needed to.
Highbacks: It did its job and had a lot of play to it. It’s very minimalist in design which is to be expected of a binding like this. The forward lean works easily enough and is pretty much idiot proof.
Binding Flex: This is a softer more freestyle oriented binding so there’s a fair amount of play to it. you get a bit more lateral flex on the outside of the binding due to the asym wrap heelcup but otherwise it’s pretty uniform in terms of its flex.
Ride: This is one of those minimalist bindings that takes away any creature comforts and gives you the most meat and potatoes ride you can get.
Rider in Mind: Budget conscious park rider.
Personal Thoughts: Ugh. Didn’t like this binding the last time I rode it, didn’t like it this time. The toe strap is too wide open to really secure most boot shapes, the heel strap leaves more to be desired, and fuck that cover plate lock down.
Comparable Bindings: K2 Indy, Burton Mission, Union STR
