UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Burton Cartel here

A longtime favourite of Burton’s pro team, the Burton Cartel binding is a freestyle powerhouse. Given that it’s supportive enough for high speeds and serious landings, but stops just short of being unforgiving, that’s perhaps to be expected.

There’s obviously plenty of cushioning, some of it of the same kind that’s found in Burton’s boots, and the Cartel is one of only two models in the line to also feature enhanced EVA dampening tech in the baseplate.

It’ll all come in handy when you’re stomping the landing on an icy booter, or negotiating a bumpy pow booter run-in at maximum speed.

Forward lean is put entirely in your hands, as the highback has a neutral zero-degree position but can easily be tilted forward to suit the hard carvers out there. Finding the right setting for your needs is as easy as twisting the adjuster just above the heelcup.

Those highbacks are also built specifically to match up with your left and right calves, increasing comfort and reducing fatigue.

If you’re not afraid of airtime, then the Cartel is as worth a look now as it has been in its many years of service. The one seen here is the Re:Flex version, which features a standard baseplate with disc, but there’s also the EST model which is compatible with boards featuring Burton’s Channel system.