Hiya and welcome to my Salomon District Professional bindings overview.
On this overview, I’ll check out the District Professional as all-mountain-freeride snowboard bindings.
As per custom right here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I’ll give the District Professional a rating out of 100 (primarily based on a number of elements) and see how they examine with different all-mountain-freeride bindings.
General Ranking
Who’s the District Professional Most Suited To?
The District Professional is greatest suited to somebody who desires a binding that is stiffer than medium, however not extremely stiff, however does not wish to or cannot pay the everyday worth for that a lot stiffness (stiffer usually means costlier).
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance Width: 555mm (22”)
Board examined with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Boots examined with: Adidas Response ADV, dimension US9.5
Footbed size: 25.7cm (10.1”)
Footbed Size Absolutely Prolonged: 27.3cm (10.8”)
Baseplate Size (underside): 24cm (9.5″)
Highback Peak: 17.9cm (7.1”)
Weight: 940 grams (2lbs, 1oz)
* for one binding, together with screws and disc. The typical weight of a small pattern dimension of round 80 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 fashions) I’ve weighed is 920 grams (2lbs). So, the District Professional are actually near common they usually felt regular weight on snow too.
Mounting and Boot Match
Observe that is relative to my boots – Adidas Response ADV dimension 9.5 and was within the Medium District Execs.
Highback lean: You possibly can alter it, however want a software. It isn’t tremendous handy, significantly if you wish to experiment with it. However no actual concern if you already know what you want as you will solely should set it as soon as.
Ankle straps: In my boots I used about ¾ of the size of the ankle strap.
Toe straps: About 3/5ths of strap size used. They match over my boot very well.
Footbed: I had the toe ramp/fuel pedal almost totally prolonged however not fairly. Fuel pedal/toe ramp ramps up fairly a bit – so that ought to assist with boot drag, for those who’re on a board that is borderline too slim.
I discovered I used to be in a position to get good boot-to-board centering with fairly even overhang.
Heel Cup Match: It was a bit tight getting the heel of my boot proper into heel cup. In my Malavitas I’ve had some boots with a wider heel than mine be a good slot in them however my present boots aren’t a good match within the Malavitas, however they have been within the District Professional. That may very well be an issue for wider 9.5s and 10s in these bindings, for those who have been to go Medium.
Mounting
When mounting the 4 screw connector was a bit awkward. When it really works it is good however could be a bit awkward.
Flex
In Hand: The highback twist flex on the District Professional was a bit stiffer than Salomon’s Hologram however not as stiff as on my management bindings (Burton Malavita). On a twist the District Execs highback was noticeably extra versatile on the medial (inside – i.e. proper facet of left binding and left facet of proper binding) facet than it was on the lateral facet.
There was some very refined give when pulling straight again on the highback however subsequent to nothing.
The ankle straps have been softer than they have been on the Hologram and Malavita, however very near the Hologram. The toe straps have been a bit stiffer than on the Hologram, however a bit softer than on my management bindings.
Observe that flex of straps and highback is not essentially telling to how stiff a binding would possibly really feel on snow, as this does not consider base plate flex, which in my expertise truly has probably the most affect on general flex really feel on snow.
On Snow: The District Professional felt proper round a 7/10 to me on snow. Definitely stiffer than each the Malavita and Hologram general, however nothing tremendous stiff. Proper in the midst of that mid-stiff bracket.
Responsiveness
I felt that I may get my board carving higher and extra steady at larger speeds on the District Professional than I may with the Malavita and Hologram. Which is not stunning as that is typical of stiffer bindings.
At slower speeds, they did not really feel nearly as good because the Malavita’s however have been about the identical because the Hologram.
Board Really feel/Butterability
Not dangerous board really feel in any respect. To not the extent of the Malavita’s or different bindings which have actually good board really feel, however nonetheless actually respectable. If I needed to say, then I might say the Hologram’s board really feel was a contact higher, however actually shut between them.
Pop/Ollie Energy
For whole energy felt about the identical because the Malavita and Hologram, however took a bit bit extra effort to load them up.
Adjustability
Heel Cup: No
Stance Width: You possibly can run disc horizontally and it has a full dimension disc, so there is a good quantity of stance width micro-adjustability.
Highback Lean: You possibly can alter the ahead lean, nevertheless it’s not apparent at first how one can do it. You need to loosen the bolts close to the bottom of the highback after which can alter ahead lean and highback rotation on the similar time. It isn’t tool-less although.
Ankle Strap Place: No
Toe Strap Place: No
Ankle and toe strap size: Instrument-less
Fuel pedal/toe ramp extension: Sure
Highback Rotation: Sure
Appropriate with: 2×4 | 4×4 | Channel
Shock Absorption
They absorbed shock and chatter very well. Similar to the Hologram. Not fairly nearly as good because the Malavita’s however not far off.
Entry/Exit
Ratchets launched simply when unstrapping on the transfer and general felt fairly clean. Not as clean because the Malavita’s, however they’ve a few of the smoother ratchets going round, in my expertise.
I discovered I needed to transfer the ankle strap behind the highback to get it out of method, when getting in or it tries to sneak beneath your foot. However that is simple – and it is the case for lots of bindings.
Consolation
General not fairly as snug as my management bindings, however nonetheless good and comfy.
Ankle Strap: Ankle straps conformed nicely to my boots and did not produce any stress factors.
Toe Strap: Toe straps match very well on my boots and once more no stress factors.
Canted Footbed: Sure. It isn’t apparent them or measuring them, however they’re speculated to have it. I’m wondering in the event that they obtain the canting via a softer cushioning on one facet – once more, I did not detect this, however they’re speculated to have a 2.5 diploma cant.
Padded Footbed: They’ve respectable padding within the footbed and most significantly on snow they did an honest job of absorbing shock and chatter.
Highback: Extra padding than I am used to seeing on a highback and coated a lot of the highback too. However most significantly I did not get any calf-bite.
Ankle Assist
Ankle assist felt good. Nothing kind of than what I’ve discovered to be typical. There is not a option to change the ankle strap place for for those who just like the strap larger or decrease in your ankle, however I preferred the texture of the place it was in.
Take a look at the breakdown of the rating within the desk beneath.
Whereas the District Professional did not wow me in any method and did not spur me into sprinting to the shop to purchase them, they’re the most affordable binding on this flex vary that we have examined – they usually’re truly fairly respectable throughout all of the elements we take a look at for.
So, for those who want this stage of flex however you do not have or aren’t prepared to spend the quantity that you simply’d usually should for this sort of stiffness, then the District Professional is likely to be an excellent wager for you.
