Burton Cartel Bindings Review

Who are the Cartel Most Suited To?

The Cartel are best suited to anyone looking for a really good all-round mid-flexing binding that also comes in at a very reasonable price for what you're getting. 

Matches best with boards in that 4/10 to 7/10 range, but particularly good for the 5/10 to 6/10 range. 

Not for beginners, unless you're quite strong/athletic or a bigger person, but should be fine for anyone lower intermediate and up. 

The Cartel in More Detail

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 555mm (22”)

Board tested with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker

Boots tested with: Adidas Response ADV, size US9.5

Footbed length: 23.3cm (9.2”) 

Footbed Length Fully Extended: 24.9cm (9.8")

Baseplate Length (underside):  22.4cm (8.8")

Highback Height: 19.8cm (7.8”)

Weight: 860 grams (1lbs, 14oz)

* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 80 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models) I have weighed is 920 grams (2lbs). So the Cartel are pretty close to average on the scales, just a little lighter. On snow they felt pretty normal weight-wise. 

Flex

In Hand: A bit of twist, but not ultra twisty. Can twist easier than Malavita. Not heaps in it, but noticeable still. Straps are a little stiffer on the Cartel vs Malavita though. Toe straps on the Cartel feel about the same as on Malavita. 

On snow: Overall felt about the same as the Malavita (my control bindings), you can feel that they are a little stiffer in terms of connection with the board, than the Malavita, but they're softer in the highback. Very subtle though and overall they end up being a similar flex, but with a slightly different overall feel. If I had to say, I'd say these might have been a hair softer than the Malavita, but nothing in it really. 

Responsiveness

As you'd expect, the responsiveness feels fairly similar to the Malavita. But I would say these felt just a hair better for slow speed response and a hair worse for carving at higher speeds, but again, a very subtle difference. 

Board Feel/Butterability

I found the Cartel were really good in terms of board feel and pressability, but weren't quite as good as the Malavita. But again, there's so little in it. It's a subtle difference. 

Pop/Ollie Power

I found them very similar to the Malavita again and generally really good. Again, if I had to say, I'd say the Malavita were a little better, but a close thing. 

Adjustability

Heel Cup: No

Stance Width: Pretty limited. No real micro adjustments with the Re:Flex disc - you're limited to adjusting a full insert hole out or in (except when on the channel, of course).   

Highback Lean: Yes and toolless.

Ankle Strap Position: Yes, 2 different positions (previous Cartel's had 3 positions).

Toe Strap Position: Yes, 2 positions.

Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less.

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes, you can extend the toe ramp.

Highback Rotation: Yes and can rotate it quite a bit - about a 3.5cm range. 

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | The Channel

Shock Absorption

This is where I noticed some difference to the Malavita. The Cartel's shock absorption is really good, but it is a step down from the Malavita. 

Comfort

Again, a step down from Malavita, but still really comfortable overall. 

Ankle Strap: I found these conformed to my boots really well and no pressure points. 

Toe Strap: Ditto. 

Canted Footbed: Not that was obvious. If there is it must be very subtle. 

Padded Footbed: Decent padding in footbed.

Highback: Good amount of padding, but no hammock back on it or anything. But the main thing is no calf-bite at all. 

Ankle Support

Felt about the same as my Malavitas in terms of ankle support. Good support but nothing outstanding. Has 2 different ankle strap positions - but not the 3 that it used to have. 

Entry/Exit

The ankle strap was pretty smooth ratcheting up and removing, but not quite Malavita smooth. But all good. I found the toe strap to be a little sticky. Though, it didn't effect me releasing it to get out of bindings, so wasn't a big thing for me.  

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

The Cartel are the kind of binding that you'd expect to pay a little more for. They're a really good quality binding in a flex range that is typically priced a bit higher. 

They aren't outstanding in any one area, but they are good for everything and don't have any weaknesses that I could detect.