Binding Review: 11-12 Salomon Absolute Premium

Location: Winter Park, CO

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to softpacked to icy groomers.

Setup: I rode the Salomon Absolutes on the Salomon Salomonder with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Time to set up the binding: The bindings were quick to set up on the board.  In hindsight I thought the toe strap was centered and adjusted properly but with the slipping, who knows.

Fit: For the most part the binding fit my boot to perfection, good with the width on the baseplate, straps were centered and comfortable.

First Impression: The absolutes are a super comfortable binding for the freestyle to mountain female rider.

Appearance: If it wasn’t for the diamond and the writing it would have been tough to guess the gunmetal color of the absolute premiums was meant to be for the ladies.  I like the black on it but the gunmetal coloring is kind of bland for a women’s binding.  The binding rides better than it looks.

Comfort: The absolutes had comfort dialed.  The baseplate was padded and super comfortable ankle straps.  Full EVA padding on the binding which helped it absorb the really bumpy terrain at the end of the day.  I thought the bindings were the best for being most comfortable without losing the responsiveness.

Functionality: The Absolute Premium’s offer a range of features since they are the top end women’s binding from Salomon.  An all new canted footbed for added edge control and pop won me over.  Other features include a transfer baseplate, ADJ toe ramp, W drumframe highback, true grip toe strap, full EVA canted footbed for comfort and response, viper aluminum buckle and women’s specific geometry ankle straps.  Quick adjust on the bindings.

Flex: The absolute premium’s are on the stiffer end for a women’s binding but they offer up tons of response and go-to attitude.  I liked that the ankle strap was stiffer so in combination with the highback, I had a good mix of support while riding.  The baseplate held a lot of responsiveness and stability while riding.

Response: My first thought was wow good response on this binding.  It wasn’t overpowering but just enough response that I knew the bindings did most of the work when it came to riding the Salomonder.  It would have been fun to try the bindings on a board like Annie’s just to feel the difference.

Toe Strap: After the third turn into riding the bindings, I looked down and saw the toe strap had flipped off and was in front of my boot.  It wasn’t the first time that Salomon toe straps didn’t stay on for my Vans boots.  I cranked them down and it only took three more turns for them to slip off again.  I ended up riding with the toe straps over the top of my boot in hopes they would stay on.  It was a bummer and my only disappointment with the bindings.  I didn’t get the chance to figure out how to fix the problem since it was the last setup of the day but they were adjusted to my boot.

Overall Impression: The absolute premiums are the top of the line women’s bindings for Salomon.  They are a binding that can handle everything you give it on the mountain with comfort and response.  My only disappointment was the toe straps not working with my Vans boots.

Shay’s Honesty Box: The absolute premiums are the bindings I would ride from Salomon but the toe strap slipping on my Vans boot has always been an issue.  It’s not the first time it’s happened and the only way I made it down the hill was with the toe strap being over the boot and cranked down.  No matter how hard I cranked them down, it’d slip when I rocked it over the toe.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Salomon Absolute Premium or shop their full line of Salomon snowboard bindings

On Snow Photos

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Salomon Absolute Premium 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.