Location: Winter Park, CO
Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to softpacked to icy groomers.
Setup: I rode the Ride Fame bindings on the Ride Farah with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.
Time to set up the binding: Average time to set up the binding, nothing major to change and felt comfortable. I had one issue with the rear ankle strap coming loose while riding and I mentioned it to Ride at the demos. Sometimes that stuff happens on the early release of gear before the production releases come out.
Fit: I rode the women’s medium size which fit my size 8 boots snugly. The boot fit in the binding width with no extra gaps. The straps adjusted fine to my boots.
First Impression: Ride has introduced a new women’s binding for aggressive women riders and it responds to your needs and demands.
Appearance: I took out the Ride Fame’s in the coral colorway which has black ankle strap and toe strap but a coral color on the baseplate and highback. The coral wasn’t a bad color either, I actually liked the design and coloring how they did it.
Comfort: Super padded ankle strap on the fame’s and very comfortable overall on the binding. The basepads have EVA cushioning so you absorb the terrain when riding. The wedge 2.5 aligns your knees to a more comfortable position.
Functionality: The ride fames were your average binding for functionality. The fame featured forged aluminum micro-disc, built for 2×4 inserts but also can mount to a slot/channel board. Ankle and toe straps had quick adjust on them so you could adjust the straps on the fly. Ratchets were good with the exception of the rear ratchet issue as mentioned early (sometimes that stuff happens at the pre-production demos).
Flex: This was my first time trying out the new Ride slingback highback for women, it had good alignment for my boots but also offered up a stiffer highback flex for response on the mountain. The fame’s were definitely a step above the aggressive DVA’s for all aggressive riding on the mountain.
Response: My notes on the Fame/Farah combo mentioned that they were the most responsive combo and how together the bindings and board made for a quick aggressive women’s board that gave you quick response with no lag time. The baseplate and highback on the fame’s were stiffer, so any toe or heel movements gave you instant response.
Toe Strap: Hands down my favorite toe strap from any company. The 3D ThinGrip toe strap has the over molded rubber webbing that is snug on your boot and no slipping whatsoever. It’s my favorite to ride and I absolutely love the webbing, grips and is a secure ride on the mountain.
Overall Impression: The Fame’s are Ride’s newest womens binding for the high end freestyle charger. This is a hard charging aggressive binding with response and comfortable flex to match. Plus is comes with the technologies like wedge2.5 and 3D thin grip toe strap, giving it the extra boost it deserves.
Shay’s Honesty Box: For the females wanting an aggressive binding, Ride delivers. First with the DVA that I’ve recommended for years and now with the Fame’s. Responsive and comfortable but also aggressive and won’t let you down. The Fame’s were a breath of fresh air to a women’s binding market that generally skips past the aggressive women riders.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Ride Fame or shop their full line of Ride Bindings now.
On Snow Photos
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Ride Fame Description
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Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at the SIA on-snow. Please be aware bindings may change, this review was done in February 2011.
Gro
April 5, 2011 at 7:14 amHi =) First, awsome review, as always, I can always count on you to find info!=)
Sooo, I’m woundering if you could please please try to help me?? =) Do you like these more than the DVAs? I’ve had to pair of Ride Sigma(078 and 09\10), and one pair Ride Bandita(10\11). I’ve loved all of these(all though felt I lost some control on the toe section with contraband). So know I’m thinking of trying a DVA or a Fame. But not sure wich one, so who do you like bether? So far I’m thinking:
+\- WITH DVA: I LOVE the ankel strap on sigma, dva and bandita(the whole in them. and like that theyre not so cushy). But I can take the ankel strap from my sigmas over to the fame. Minus: high-end\agressive enough?!
+\- WITH FAME: I LOVE the grip toe straps, and the Fame has a pluss with an upgraded version. The binding it self look intresting with all the high end stuff and chassie and adjustmenst. Minus: Are they too stif for me?! I’ve loved sigma and bandita. I love every aspect of snowboarding, rail\box, jump, jibb, pow, pipe, speed, street, surf. But I do mostly and more tech on rail\box\jibb. but looove to ride and can ride agressive all the others too! PS: I have smokin vixen(one camber board and one camber-rocker-camber) and have magnatracion(witch give alot of respond, sometimes maybe too much?! so therfor I’m unsure of taking on bindings that respond alot too?!
Sincerly
Gro, Norway =)
Shay
April 7, 2011 at 6:21 pmGro, Heya! I love both in different ways, it’s been a while since I’ve ridden the DVA’s but always a good aggressive binding and the fame’s are a good choice to have as well. I loved the sigma’s as well (had an older pair like yours) and the fame’s were more aggressive responsive than the sigma’s. I love the grip toe straps as well. Maybe check them out in person at a store when they come out and see what you think about them in person. It’s up to you how responsive you want to go so hard to say if you’d like the fame’s when you might be better off with a mid range binding.
Gro
April 10, 2011 at 5:09 amThank you so much!! Yeah, I think I have to check them out and touch and feel in person:) The DVAs feel safe and similar to what I’m used to, but feels kinda borring buying the same. But bummer if I don’t like the Fame’s.. I have and like realy soft boots(forum glove(next years with tweaker), so I’d like some bindings that can stiffen up for my jump landings, but I still want them to be soft enough for tweaking and railing. Think I’ll head up to the office this week and check them out in person(I’m getting the next years samples(and then buy them again in right colorway maybe at fall again. I think).. haha.. Thank you! =)
2011-2012 Binding Review – Shayboarder.com
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