Co2 $369 Co2 Est $429 A Good Ride Favorite Advanced to Expert All Mountain Binding The Burton Co2 bindings came on the scene a few years ago, became an instant hit and started busting wallets across the world. While most reviews are very positive but we have heard about some issues with the build of these. Despite some complaints we have experienced a good time with these bindings and they perform well in almost any type of riding situation. The one thing is you must like stiff responsive bindings. We are really excited about the 2011 tech upgrades with the disc version and feel this is the way to go over EST. The new design of the base plate allows the board to flex better than a normal binding would. The tech is slightly different than our other favorite binding company Union but the result is similar. You get more response from your board when riding and you can ride any snowboard instead of just Burton's. In addition to the new base plate the ankle strap has been changed as well. It is now a bit asymmetrical so the inside part of the strap is slightly larger. We would recommend the disc version over the EST. We are also fans of the new toe strap over 2010's hybrid strap that just wasn't designed that well. The 2010 and below binding is still great but with all the tech change for 2011 we say go for the new tech. See the detailed review below.
The Burton Co2 and Co2 EST All Mountain Snowboard Binding Review
The Burton Co2 EST vs. Burton Co2
Days on the Bindings- 100+ days
Burton has had the Co2 series out for a few years now. People either love these bindings or hate them. For 2011 the Co2's really changed up the bindings game. They still have the same solid ride as the old bindings but have added some new tech we are big fans of. First off they added a much better asymmetrical ankle strap that really helps you bend the board longitudinally. In addition to the new ankle straps the disc in the base plate can flex with the board so you get even more longitudinal flex out of your board. Also there is much more padding in the toe and about the same in the ankle. The reduced plastic in the base plate also makes for a better torsional flex which makes for better turn initiation. From what we have heard through the grape vine is the one biggest complaint is the strength of the high back. It seems to break allot compared to other high backs in the line up. While we have never had a problem we have run into many people in lift lines with broken high backs and heard of many complaints. This is a great binding for people who live more on the freeride/all mountain side of things.
A Description of the 2011 Burton Co2 Re:Flex from the crappy video tech atThe Good Ride ;-)
Stiffness- This is one of if not the stiffest bindings Burton has. It's arguable if the C60 or Co2 is more stiff. It feels more flexy than the C60 in the shop but when you ride them they feel stiffer......huh!?? We don't know what to make out of that and not everyone might feel the same way. Comfort- Nothing comes close to these bindings. The living hinge High back rules the world of high backs. Its comfortable on the heel and very comfortable on the calf. The 2011 toe strap is better than the last 2 years models. It grips perfectly on the toe and can be used on the top if you want. The ankle strap is soft and cushy and has absolutely no pressure points even if you crank it down hard. The 2009/2010 and 2008/2009 toe straps seemed to come loose no matter how hard you tightened up the straps. Response- Edge to edge transitioning is easy with these bindings but it feels some times like its a bit more on the heel side than the toes side. This is changing all types of settings to make sure the toe is positioned perfectly in relation to the edge of the board. At times the heel side can be too responsive and over initiate a turn if you are use to softer bindings but we have seen this mellow out a bit with the 2011 binding. Many will not notice this and love these bindings but some of the picky people might see what we see. All in all the Co2's have a very smooth responsive feel that most riders are use to. Adjustability- Nothing touches this binding except for the P1, Triad, Cartel and C60. Get it every high end Burton binding owns the adjustability category. When you adjust the high back to your back side rail on your snowboard it has the best set up over any binding. Most have 3 holes but this has a sliding track so its very easy to adjust and lines up perfect. Most adjustments are toolless but keep a screwdriver around to get everything dialed. Dampening/Shock Absorption- The Co2's deal with chatter and high speed very well. The heel cup and now for 2011 the toe is all padding and gel with a rubber like bottom that connects to the base. Its new and incredibly smart for landing big jumps or riding at high speed. Board/Boot Integration- This makes every component in the ride one. The only issue with these binding is when you use a 4 screw insert for a non Burton board it doesn't have the padding that the 3 screw Burton insert does so its not flush with the toe and heel padding. If they had padding on the 4 screw this would integrate perfectly. It seems that Burton is doing everything they can to influence the rider to choose an all Burton ride. Don't know how I feel about that. With the 2010 models and up the bindings will have a flush top and you can put the 3 screw, channel screw or 4 screw below and still have the same comfort up top. A big thanks to Burton for not treating you like a red headed step child if you don't buy their board.
Our Take on Burton EST Bindings 1. We love the 100% shock absorbent foot pad that runs entirely across the board. We also like that it comes in different types of thickness. 2. The 2 screw channel system really allows the board to flex more naturally and creates much easier turn initiation than the standard 4 or 3 hole bindings. The only other binding manufacturer who captures the same feeling is Union. They have the same ability to create minimal contact with the board to allow it to flex a lot easier than it normally would. 3. We like how easy they are to adjust compared to 4 hole bindings.
Did we want to hate the EST set up? Yes because we aren't fan's of proprietary tech. However after riding and playing around with the new bindings we couldn't help but like them. Would we buy the EST set up? No because we ride too many boards and don't want a set of bindings only for Burton boards. We do have the 2 hole plates and they do a pretty good job but the EST bindings do have some advantages over the traditional Burton bindings.
A Good Ride Take on Binding Tech
Metal vs Plastic Bindings
This is a Goodride breakdown for all you that are having a tough time choosing your bindings and what to make of the material you are looking at. Most bindings are Metal, Plastic or some combo of the 2.
Metal Bindings have a lot of great aspects. Almost all-metal bindings are made from aluminum. Aluminum is great when it come to weight to stiffness ratio and also pretty durable. There is one key issue with metal/aluminum bindings; they transfer all the vibrations from the board right into your feet. This is the same principle that pelage “bass-less” bindings, your feet got totally tired or fatigued. The newer generations have much better/damp bases so this problem has been minimized and in some cases eliminated. There are some companies that make great bindings despite the vibration issue with Aluminum. Some that come to mind are Ride and Rome.
Plastic Bindings also have many great features but let’s address some technical stuff first. Most plastic bindings are really hardened glass plastic mix. The high-end stuff tends to have a more carbon, and carbon fiber added for extra stiffness and weight savings. Plastic bindings really dominate the market right now and most top bindings these days are mostly or all plastic. They can be really stiff and react well to your commands. The new bindings finally dialed in the carbon/ fiber integration to the point that the bindings will perform with the stiffness of metal and absorb more chatter. Most industry leaders have limited or completely eliminated metal from their bindings and we feel that with the materials used right now this is the future. Some mostly plastic companies that we feel rock are Burton, Flux and Union.
What kind of binding should you buy? It’s a tough call. Both Plastic and Metal bindings offer freestyle, freeride and all mountain styles. At this point we feel that plastic bindings are edging out metal bindings when it comes to the very high end $300+ category. However it is a tough call in the below $300 category as to which material has the advantage.
The Good Ride Take on Burton
Burton is huge. They have developed or acquired most of the technology that we use today. Burton is one of the only companies that can provide you with everything you need to snowboard from boards to beanies. Burton even owns arguably the best surfboard company Channel Islands because Jake likes to surf. They are like the Yankees of snowboarding because they can always outspend their competition to win.
The positives- Burton provides more products for each gear/clothing/accessory category than any other company. Burton has possibly the best customer service in the snowboarding industry. Burton continuously spends more money than almost any company to develop new tech or just make what they have better. Burton sponsors more pro’s and get’s more high level user feed back than any other company. They have some of the best boots, bindings and boards in the industry. They also have great clothing.
The Negatives- Because Burton spends so much money on sponsorship and tech they have to pass this cost along to the products they sell. They relentlessly continue to jack up the prices every year. You are almost always going to get a good product from Burton’s higher end line but some mid to low level products don’t stack up to the competition in the same price range. Just remember it’s not always good because it hast the Burton label on it.
NEW Re:Flex™ technology on the CO2™ gives you truer board flex and increased cushioning in a binding that’s compatible with any mounting system, including 4x4, 3D® and the latest generation of The Channel. Removing baseplate material and replacing it with EVA and B3 Gel results in more board feel and cushioning, with 20% less weight. Factor in the new Living Hinge™ disc and you’ll experience a 71% truer tip-to-tail board flex without sacrificing an ounce of edge-to-edge responsiveness.
Features
+ BASEPLATE: NEW 50:50 Carbon Fiber/Nylon Composite Spar with 30% Short-Glass Nylon Re:Flex Lower [20% Lighter Than Standard 3D®]
+ HI-BACK: Dual-Component Canted Living Hinge Real Mesh Hi-Back
+ STRAPS:NEW React Ankle Strap and NEW Gettagrip Capstrap™
+ BUCKLES: Dual-Component Smooth Glide™ Buckles
+ CUSHIONING: NEW Re:FlexFullBED Cushioning System with B3 Gel Heel Cushioning
+ Features Re-Ground Materials in Baseplate and Hi-Back to Reduce Waste
Colorways:
Black
Black / Silver
Sizes:
S
M
L
Response: 7
boots/bindings specs
Binding Type
Mens
Women
Freestyle Jr.
Binding Size
S
M
L
S
M
L
XS
Y
*
Men's Boots Size
6-8
8-11
10+
3-5
5-7
7-9
11C
2K-6K
*
Women's Boot Size
7-9
9-11
11+
4-6
6-8
8+
*
*
*
Euro Boot Size
36-41
41-44
43+
34-36.5
36.5-40
40+
28-32.5
33-38
*
UK Boot Size
5-7
7-10
9+
2.5-4
4-6
6+
10-13
1-5
*
Mondo Boot Size
22-26
26-29
28+
21-23
23-25
25+
17.5-20
20.5-24
*
Burton Co2 EST 2011
Burton
CO2 EST
Sixth sense meets sixth gear.
The high-end “sport-tuned” suspension that pros like Jussi Oksanen and Mads Jonsson rely on is now upgraded with B3 Gel bushings in the hi-back to all but eliminate vibrations and high-speed turbulence. The ultra-light carbon-blended fuselage joins forces with the spring-like cushioning of the SuperBED™ to dodge and deflect shrapnel with laser precision, while the NEW React ankle strap drops weight and improves wrap for zero lag between mind and mountain.
+ HI-BACK: Dual-Component Canted Living Hinge™ Real Mesh Hi-Back with NEW B3 Gel Bushings
+ STRAPS:NEW React Ankle Strap and Gettagrip Capstrap™
+ BUCKLES: Dual-Component Smooth Glide™ Buckles
+ CUSHIONING: Removable SuperBED Cushioning System with B3 Gel Heel Cushioning
+ Rides Exclusively with Burton Boards Featuring The Channel
+ Features Re-Ground Materials in Baseplate and Hi-Back to Reduce Waste
Colorways:
Oxide
White
Sizes:
S M L
Response: 8
boots/bindings
Binding Type
Mens
Women
Freestyle Jr.
Binding Size
S
M
L
S
M
L
XS
Y
*
Men's Boots Size
6-8
8-11
10+
3-5
5-7
7-9
11C
2K-6K
*
Women's Boot Size
7-9
9-11
11+
4-6
6-8
8+
*
*
*
Euro Boot Size
36-41
41-44
43+
34-36.5
36.5-40
40+
28-32.5
33-38
*
UK Boot Size
5-7
7-10
9+
2.5-4
4-6
6+
10-13
1-5
*
Mondo Boot Size
22-26
26-29
28+
21-23
23-25
25+
17.5-20
20.5-24
*
Burton Co2 2010
Put your boots behind the wheel of the ultimate freeride machine. From its style to its ride, everything about the CO2™ screams pedal-to-the-metal performance. For hair-trigger control, diamond-cutter strength, and reduced weight, we’ve combined a carbon-blended baseplate and canted Real Mesh hi-back. Minimized straps wrap your boots in our lightest, most comfortable restraints yet, while three separate cushioning components fully absorb high-speed vibrations.
Baseplates
30% Short-Glass Nylon Lower
A slightly higher amount of response and power without sacrificing mobility.
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50:50 Carbon Fiber/Nylon Composite Spar
The tank-like strength and power of carbon fiber meets a more forgiving flex for the final word in strength, response, and mobility.
pdetail-bind-base-50-50-carbon-nylon-spar.jpg
Dual Component Baseplate Construction
The CO2™, P1.1™, and NEW Infidel™ use a dual-component baseplate construction, which means the material underfoot is softer than the material alongside the lateral edges. This creates a ride that is softer underfoot, yet stiffer edge to edge for a perfect balance of response and board feel.
pdetail-bind-base-dual-component.jpg
Hi-Backs
Canted Living Hinge™
This exclusive technology eliminates excess hardware and weight, and even allows you to adjust your Forward Lean™ independent of your hi-back rotation. Set your hi-back rotation once, never touch it again, and still be able to adjust the Forward Lean any time.
Dual-component hi-backs let us modify the flex profile by interchanging the frames on the spine. The spine maintains the structural integrity and flex of the hi-back, while the frame acts independently to support the boot. By doing this we can offer more comfortable and supportive hi-backs while eliminating dreaded calf bite.
Real Mesh Hi-Back
Aerospace-grade Real Mesh shaves precious ounces off the hi-back and also allows the hi-back to perfectly mirror the shape of your boot's backstay for the ultimate fit. Go ahead, try and tear it. This shit is tough!
Cushioning
B3 Gel Heel Cushioning
The same cushioning found in our high-end boots, B3 Gel lets you stomp flat landings without self-detonating.
pdetail-bind-cushioning-b3-gel-heel-cush.jpg
NEW FullBED Cushioning System
Found on the C60™, C02™, Triad™, Cartel™, Escapade™, and Lexa™, NEW FullBED™ baseplate padding offers a full coverage, cushioned platform that maximizes comfort while minimizing fatigue.
Ultra-Minimized Capstrap™ Construction with True Wrap Toe Window
Conformable from Capstrap or Toe Strap
pdetail-bind-straps-ultra-capstrap.jpg
Buckles
Dual-Component
Dual-component hi-backs let us modify the flex profile by interchanging the frames on the spine. The spine maintains the structural integrity and flex of the hi-back, while the frame acts independently to support the boot. By doing this we can offer more comfortable and supportive hi-backs while eliminating dreaded calf bite.
Smooth Glide Buckle Technology
Buttery smooth entry and release, and unmatched strength are the trademarks of our Smooth Glide™ buckle technology. Polished, chrome-plated aluminum and lightweight polycarbonate levers give you season after season of premium ratcheting power. Best of all, our buckles are designed and built by us, not some shady supplier.
Every binding in our line rides differently. The best way to describe the type of ride is through our response rating. The response rating is based primarily on the construction, profile, and materials used in the baseplate, hi-back, cushioning system, and straps, as well as feedback we get from our team riders and product testers. Based only as a comparison between the bindings within our line, a rating of one is more relaxed while ten is more responsive.
