Location: Loveland, Colorado
Snow Conditions: Bluebird sunny skies and hardpacked groomed runs.
Setup: I rode the Burton Lexa EST on the Burton Custom with my Bonfire Geo boots size 8.
Time to set up the binding: Average time with the EST system, didn’t have to wait long and the staff had no problem setting it up.
Fit: The Lexas fit my boot just fine, at first I thought that toe strap wasn’t centered but that’s the design of it.
First Impression: I can always rely on the lexa’s as the everything binding, good midway point for women riders.
Appearance: The lexa’s are never really over the top in the design, simple and elegant with a friendly girly spark to it. I rode the white coral bindings and the color was just enough for me.
Comfort: The lexa’s have been a comfortable binding each time I ride them. The ankle strap has really good padding and cushioning and the toe strap grips the boot just right when riding. I’ve never had a pressure point with the lexas.
Functionality: The lexa EST’s work solely with the ICS snowboards allowing for unlimited stance options but since I rock +15, -15 that doesn’t matter to me as a binding. Both the ankle strap and the toe strap are tool-less adjustment which makes it great to adjust on the go without tools. I fixed my toe strap from the chairlift and it’s so nice being able to do it that quickly. When it comes to mounting the EST bindings to the ICS board, it’s really easy and simple to set up. If you have to pull out the toe ramp that can take longer but isn’t too difficult.
Flex: The highback was in the middle of the road for flex, it wasn’t a softer flexing highback but it wasn’t stiff either. I thought the flex was ideal for a mix of riding and barely noticeable in how it handled. The lateral flex in the binding was stiffer so I never felt like I had no control over the response when I needed it.
Response: The Lexa is the middle of the road when it comes to response, the highback flex isn’t overly responsive and has a good amount of forgiveness when riding. When you really lay over heelside carves, you can hold into them with the highback but it won’t force you into quick turns since it’s not super responsive. There’s a good amount of cushioning in the baseplate that absorb vibrations at higher speeds and give you added comfort on riding impacts.
Toe Strap: I thought that the toe strap might be an issue with my bonfire boots and the first run didn’t feel as snug so I adjusted the toe strap better and it felt more secure. It was easy to adjust to my boot and I encountered no problems with it after that.
Overall Impression: The lexa is the binding that you can ride anywhere at any level, it’s the do-it-all binding that won’t hinder or hurt your riding and give you enough response that you feel comfortable on it. It doesn’t push you like the escapade in the response level but it offers so much comfort and a forgiving flex that you just enjoy the ride.
Shay’s Honesty Box: I always ask for lexa’s during the demo days because I know they will remain constant for me when I’m trying out other boards and they won’t be so much that I have to break down seperately how the board and binding ride. It makes my life easier during demos to have such a constant factor in these bindings, they will always be comfortable and the perfect amount of flex/response that I want.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Burton Lexa EST or shop their full line of Burton snowboard bindings
On Snow Photos
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Burton Lexa EST Description
Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at a demo day.