“I usually ride with Cartels, so the Malavita doesn’t feel too far from home for me. I’ve been a long-time fan of Burton bindings. They might not be as cool as Union, they may have less customising options than Rome, they may not have any tech as unique as NOW but, for me, they do exactly what I want a good pair of bindings to do – to feel like they don’t even exist.

The Malavita comes in just a smidgen softer than the Cartel which felt like a welcome change. I was so used to the snappy response of my own set, that I felt the Malavita’s offered so much more forgiveness for tweaking out grabs or slashing banks. Moving to the outer limits of the snowboard without feeling yourself being snapped back to the centre of the baseplate will appeal to a wide range of riding style and abilities.

“The highbacks are great. That hammock grabs a hold of you, so the boots and bindings can move more effectively in unison with each other”

The highbacks are great. That hammock grabs a hold of you, so the boots and bindings can move more effectively in unison with each other.

The straps are minimal, but for my money, I think Burton makes the best heel straps in the game. Even the new-ish toe strap grips a lot better than their previous incarnations.

The double-take buckles are a gimmick and one that Burton would do well to get rid of altogether. I’ve never found it fastens any quicker or holds my boots in place any better. Actually, I’ve found there are just more grooves for snow to build up in and occasionally prevent them from clicking tight. Also, the buckle is substantially bigger, no doubt adding to the overall weight, and just a bit of a brute I’d prefer not to have hitting off my top sheet when I’m strapping in.

It’s a small complaint, though. They still work fine and don’t overshadow what is a really versatile all-mountain binding. Soft enough to play around, stiff enough from heel to toe to charge, and comfy and durable enough to rack up hundreds of days’ riding on.”