UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2017/2018 Salomon Mirage here
- Price: £190
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Flex: 5
- Entry System: Classic
- SALOMON.COM
Whether you’re a street slayer like Desiree Melancon or an Annie Boulanger-esque freerider, the Salomon Mirage binding is one worth considering. Its medium flex makes it a great all-rounder, so no style of riding is off limits with this one.
It shares a lot in features with the Salomon Defender from the men’s range – the most significant of which is the ‘ShadowFit’ baseplate. A design unique to Salomon, it incorporates a soft heelcup rather than a rigid one. It’s far from fragile, however; the rubbery material is strengthened with a Kevlar wire. Once you’ve entered the binding and cranked the straps tight, the heelcup conforms to the shape of your boot, regardless of the size or shape. No gaps, no uncomfortable pressure points – just a perfect fit every time. Comfort is maximised while riding, and the wire ensures you still get plenty of edge-to-edge performance.
“The various bits and pieces of the Salomon Mirage have been designed specifically for a woman’s boot”
The various bits and pieces of the Salomon Mirage have been designed specifically for a woman’s boot. The highback is uniquely sized, as are the ankle straps. All of the same great tech that you find in the men’s ShadowFits is here, though; the highbacks are fully rotatable with integrated forward lean adjustment, and the footbed features plenty of shock-absorbing EVA.
The Mirage also has a comfier version of the ‘Lock-In’ toe strap, and features Salomon’s Integrated Mounting System that doesn’t require you to fully unscrew your bolts when adjusting your stance. Fidgeting with screws on the hill is never fun – and losing them is a ballache – so this is a useful feature for sure. The straps also can be altered quickly and precisely with no need for a tool, making this one of the easiest bindings to adjust.
All things considered, this is unquestionably a high-performance binding that has the potential to raise your game on the hill. Blast powder all morning, crank out some carves on the way to the park, then send it skywards until the lifts close; with the Salomon Mirage, it’s all good.
