Burton: Men's Custom Snowboard Binding

If you were an Olympic gold medalist and television personality, you could ride any board and choose any binding, right? While 99.9% of us would probably opt for bindings made with the most expensive materials on the planet, Shaun White still picks this one--the Burton Custom. If you start doing the math and flipping through old Burton catalogs, you'll quickly realize that Mr. White is using a binding design that was created 13 years ago. What does he know that the rest of us are missing? He knows that the Burton Custom fits. Whether you're a new rider or Shaun White, Burton's classic all-mountain Custom Snowboard Binding gives you a seamless fit with minimal hassles--so you can focus on your ride or learning the basics. The Custom has a special padded and molded polycarbonate baseplate backed with a lifetime warranty, making it a light and comfortable fit for riders. You'll find plenty of padding along the Hi-Back and pre-curved triple-axis Luxstrap™. Burton's Luxstrap™ has been around for several years and remains a popular choice for a range of snowboarders--yeah, including Shaun White. This is a comfortable, full-wrap design with a telescoping construction so you can extend the strap to fit a range of boots, especially if you're checking out demos on the slopes. Like all Burton bindings, the Custom has a multiple strap location feature so you can modify the height of your ankle strap to optimize your boot/binding setup. This gives you the freedom to increase the response or support depending on your riding style and snow conditions. Up front the Capstrap has a 3D contoured shape that molds to your boot toe, pushing your heel back firmly into the binding while holding the foot down for better response. Because the Capstrap is ergonomic, you get a great fit without painful pressure points--and that's a big change from the days of cranking down conventional toe straps until your toes turn numb. The only differences in this year's Customs and the legends of yesteryear are strictly cosmetic. The hi-back has a cool metal inlay and you'll find a new translucent base in the white/clear colored binding. It's the sort of changes Shaun White would probably want--if he has say in the matter.

• Burton "response" rating: 5 on a scale of 1 to 9
• New cosmetic refinements include metal inlay on the hi-backs and a translucent baseplate if you choose the white/clear model
• Ultra-lightweight Hi-Back with True OTT EVA and QuickFLAD™ adjustment
• Lightweight molded polycarbonate baseplate with tool-free adjustable Gas Pedal™ padding
• Ergonomic, pre-curved, triple-axis telescoping Luxstrap™ with Capstrap up front
• Easy-fitting, Smooth Glide™ buckles with polished aluminum levers and quick release gates