Burton Malavita EST Snowboard Bindings Review

Who is the Malavita EST Most Suited To?

The Malavita EST is a great option for anyone wanting a freestyle binding that's on the stiffer side for bigger features - still medium flex - but a bit more stiffness in there vs a lot of freestyle bindings. But still with great board feel and butterability. 

Also great as an all-mountain binding - particularly if you're looking for all-mountain with great board feel and if you incorporate a good bit of freestyle in your all-mountain array. 

Not for beginners but fine for intermediate riders - and up of course. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 560mm (22″)

Board demoed with: Burton Flight Attendant, 156

Baseplate Length: 24.3cm (9.57”)*

*measured on the top side of the footbed

Highback Height: 20.2cm (7.95”)*

* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback

Height from Bottom of Baseplate to top of Highback: 26.5cm (10.43") 

Testing Procedure

Usually I test everything on the same board (currently Rossignol One LF 2018) but since I can't test EST bindings on that, I had to get creative. 

I wanted to re-test the Flight Attendant, so I rode the Flight Attendant with my regular testing bindings (Malavita Re:Flex), to test that board (under normal testing procedures). Then, since I had just gotten the feel of the Malavita Re:Flex on the Flight Attendant, I then took the same Flight Attendant but rode the Malavita EST on it (and the Cartel EST after that). This gave me a good comparison against how the Malavita Re:Flex felt on the Flight Attendant. 

Flex

Burton simply rates them as medium, which is pretty accurate overall I would say, but doesn't paint the full picture. The overall feel is very much medium, but the highback is a little stiffer than medium. The baseplate is softer, which explains the overall medium feel.

Responsiveness

I rode the wingback version of the Malavita EST. Not sure if that had any effect on the response at all. But I did notice there was a touch more response than the Re:Flex model. Nothing drastic but just a bit more in there.  

Board Feel/Butterability

Vs the Re:Flex model, I felt noticeably better board feel and just easier to press. Getting that direct comparison to the Re:Flex model was great - and the ESTs had the best board feel that I've felt. I don't usually feel anything with better board feel than the Malavita Re:Flex (sometimes equal to, but never better) but the EST model has it over them (which is why I'm now going to have to downgrade the board feel on the Re:Flex model a little, when I update the review for that model). 

Pop/Ollie Power

Felt like it gave the same amount of pop as the Re:Flex model - which is pretty good overall for the Malavita. I've ridden some with better pop - but I'd say 4/5 for pop. 

Adjustability

EST bindings are highly adjustable - and have some advantages over the Re:Flex model (as well as a couple of disadvantages).  

Heel Cup: No

Stance Width: Infinite adjustments. EST bindings are the most adjustable going around in terms of stance width. 

Highback Lean: Yes - tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: No - this is something that the Re:Flex model does have, that the EST doesn't

Ankle and toe strap length: Yes, though I haven't met a binding that doesn't 

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes

Highback Rotation: Yes

Compatible with: Only the channel. So this is another way that it's not as good as the Re:Flex model - the EST version has to be used on a board with the Channel. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Shock Absorption

There's less padding in the footbed than there is with the Re:Flex version. It's not drastic, but there is certainly a bit of shock absorption sacrifice going on vs the Re:Flex model. Still decent and still has that B3 gel in the heel, but just down a notch. 

Entry/Exit

Same smooth Burton ratchets as you get on most of their line. 

Comfort

Overall a small drop in comfort vs the Re:Flex model, but still nice and comfortable.

Ankle Strap: Same, nicely conforming ankle strap as the Re:Flex model - didn't notice it on at all, which is a good thing. 

Toe Strap: The 2019 model saw a nice new toe strap and that continues with the 2020 model. 

Canted Footbed: Yes

Padded Footbed:  Not as padded as the Re:Flex model but still decent

Highback: It has that hammock back which really helps with calf-comfort. Didn't notice any kind of calf pressure from it, so that gets a tick from me. 

Ankle Support

The EST model doesn't have (not that I've ever been able to see) the ankle strap position options that the Re:Flex model has - so not quite as good in that sense - you can opt for a higher ankle strap position to get a bit more support there. But the support generally is pretty good, but just a little step down from the Re:Flex in that sense. 

This isn't something that I have in my ratings for freestyle bindings, but worth mentioning anyway.   

Price/Value for Money

They're not the cheapest on the market, and certainly pricier than the average in this category, but you get a lot of performance for that price - and they don't look as pricey when you match them against other's with a similar flex. The majority of the bindings I rate in this category have a softer flex and softer flex usually means cheaper price. 

Overall, the Malavita EST is a great binding for those who are pairing with a channel board and want a binding for all-mountain/freestyle riding that have as good as I've felt board feel/butterability. 

Vs the Re:Flex model, not as good for ankle support or shock absorption but better board feel, and just a touch more response.