Burton SI-X Bindings Pro’s and Con’s
Written: Feb 14 '01 (Updated Feb 14 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very convenient with great performance.
Cons: Affordable, but still on the expensive side.
The Bottom Line: Give these bindings a try if you’re looking for convenience and performance in a stylish design by a reputable company.
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| rodeo7's Full Review: Burton SI-X |
The SI-X step-in bindings are everything I would expect from the snowboarding industry’s pioneer, Burton. They are well made, very functional, and generally affordable. Like most snowboarding equipment, they have their good points and bad points depending on what you’re looking to get out of them.
The SI-X’s are constructed with long-fiber glass-filled resin, which equals very strong, but lightweight parts. Forward lean is easily adjusted with Burton’s Skyback highback system for responsive heelside turns, while adjustable toe ramps help out the toeside turns. The flexible baseplate provides flex and feel through to the sole of your boots. Side attaching latches grab the boot low to the baseplate, giving the boot to binding interface an almost conventional feel. Anatomically designed requiring no odd body movements needed to engage and release the boot from the binding make this a very comfortable design. As with all Burton bindings, there are millions of possible stances using their 3D baseplate disc design. And for added convenience, all adjustments can be made with a single Phillip’s head screwdriver.
It all sounds nice and hi-tech, but is it the binding for you? Without trying to get into a whole essay on “conventional vs. step-in”, it all really depends on what you’re looking for in a binding. Are you looking for performance or convenience? The SI-X’s have a nice balance between the two.
The SI-X’s perform very well for a step-in. In the early days of step-ins, the different retention mechanisms used took away from the binding’s performance. The side attaching, low to the sole placement give the SI-X’s a great soft soled boot binding’s feel. Pressure distribution over the foot can be directed through the binding with a good amount of precision. Torsional flex of the snowboard doesn’t seem to be affected very much by the metal latch plates. The highbacks and toe ramps work well, especially by their ability to be adjusted perfectly to what the rider wants. These bindings carve very nicely and work equally well in the park. Stomping big jumps are dampened by lack of metal to metal contact.
The SI-X combines its functionality with the convenience of a step-in. The dual engaging side latches allow you to step in first with the outside of your foot or the inside. As with stepping in, you can step out whichever side you are more comfortable with. The mechanisms themselves are very easily guided into the slots located in the sole of the boot. There are no random tries at stepping in like with old non-highback K2 Clickers.
So, now that I’ve given you the unbiased information on the parts, performance and convenience, here’s what I think. Right off, step-ins generally and ideally should be lighter than conventional bindings because conventional boots have no binding mechanisms within them. Step-ins have part of their mechanism located in the boots, so the binding alone should weigh less than a conventional binding with its two straps. The Burtons alone weight as much as my Drake F-50’s, so with the added weight of the plastics in the boots, the bindings are a little heavy. Their performance compared to conventionals is good, but I prefer conventional bindings. The flex and feel of high-end conventional bindings is just so much better. Things like the easy adjustments with a Phillips head, toe ramps, and precision highbacks are commonplace with high-end bindings. Don’t get me wrong. SI-X’s are incredible step-ins, but I prefer conventionals.
Although I prefer my conventional bindings, I do envy snowboarders that do own step-ins in general. Getting in and out of them is so easy. As soon as they’re off the lift, they’re in and riding. It only takes me a few more seconds to strap in, but those seconds, and having to bend over (or sit down) to strap in get annoying. I have never had or heard of anyone having problems getting into or out of the SI-X’s. More importantly, I have never heard of anyone getting disengaged from an SI-X while riding.
Being a snowboard instructor, I do wish I had a pair of step-ins to teach in. If I had a pair of step-ins, I would choose the Burton SI’s or K2 Clickers. Instructors have to get in and out of their boards a lot to help students. I find myself hiking back up or across the hill to get to a student that is having problems. Snowboarding Ski and Courtesy Patrol could use step-ins while on the job as well. This year’s models do look really cool. Good looks are a plus when you’re main concern is functionality. Although I would love to teach in step-ins, I would prefer strapped conventional bindings when freeriding off the clock
The Burton SI-X’s are great step-ins overall, but whether or not you want to purchase a pair depends on your riding style, what you want out of your bindings, and how much you’re willing to spend. With these babies running about $230 for a pair, at least a couple runs on a demo pair should be in order. It’s mainly their price which deters me from considering getting a pair for myself. My Drake F-50’s, which I prefer, were only $160. Go figure. I would rather save my money and lose that extra bit of convenience in exchange for more performance.
If you’re a novice and you have the cash, the SI-X’s are great bindings. Give them a try. For intermediate snowboarders looking for convenience with great performance, the SI-X’s might be your thing. If you’re a seasoned rider then… well if you’re a seasoned rider you probably already know what you want out of a pair of bindings. I hope what I’ve said in this Epinion helped. Keep on shreddin’.
If I were comparing the SI-X’s to only step-ins, they would get 5 stars.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rodeo7
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Member: Eddie
Location: Virginia, USA
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 71 members
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