TESTER’S VERDICT:
Ed Leigh – BBC

“I wasn’t a fan of Salomon’s ShadowFit tech at first – it was too soft for my taste when I tried it on the District, but I thought I’d revisit it with the more freeride-focused Salomon Defender.

The ride feels very sharp, with the toe ramps and heel cup working hard to strike a balance between direct feel and dampening. The straps are very easy to adjust by hand, and there is no heavy padding.

The baseplate and highback have done away with unnecessary materials and there is no forward lean adjuster, so they are very light.

The one downside is that it takes a while to set up forward lean using the same adjustment you would normally use to rotate the highback, but it’s not something you do every time you ride.

I have ridden some very light and responsive bindings, but I wouldn’t call any of them comfortable. Salomon have definitely found a formula here with the Defenders, though. They’re light, sharp and easy on the feet – well worth the price tag.”

“The ride feels very sharp, with the toe ramps and heel cup working hard to strike a balance between direct feel and dampening”