"Awesome, underrated, innovative" - Review of Salomon Relay Pro Snowboard Binding

I own a pair of 08 CO2s-- and I'm ready to sell them because I don't need a pair of $330 back-up bindings. General gist of it: these bindings do not have a traditional rigid heelcup made of plastic or aluminum. Instead, they have a soft mesh heelcup with cables attached to rigid alloy rods in the baseplate. This does three things for you: 1.) Because the heelcup is not rigid, you get more natural give laterally, giving a super comfy, forgiving, surfy feel. 2.) The super stiff alloy rods underfoot still allow you maintain a good level of response. 3.) The way the bindings are constructed allows Salomon to put an INSANE amount of padding underfoot (probably second only to Burton's EST binders). At first these bindings will feel super weird since they are so different from anything else you've ridden in the past. They provide much less feedback than traditional bindings, which takes a bit of getting used to. However, after a few days on mine, I am absolutely sold. Comfy, responsive, and innovative up the wazoo. If you do buy a pair, be sure to invest in a pair of 08s and avoid the inangural 07s. There were some significant upgrades made, namely leaps and bounds of improvements in the FastFit toe strap, and much stronger, smoother releasing ratchets. They're on Union/Burton level smoothness on release, but a definitely big improvement. They're now a strength rather than a pretty glaring weakness (ratchets on the 07s were TERRIBLE). Also, even though these things were designed for Fusion Series boots, they fit immaculately with my Burton Ions. Soft heelcup really allows for a bit more give in terms of fit, though I would watch out if you have particularly bulky boots in the back (e.g. 32s, DCs, etc.). The only real complaint I have about them isn't even related to performance-- I think Salomon's done a terrible job of marketing these things. Probably the most innovative binding out on the market and a lot of people haven't even heard of them. Quite the shame. But all the better for those of us who bought in.
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