Burton's most popular freestyle design has a lighter Skyback and a cushy Primo Capstrap up front.

What do freestyle pros really wear? Aside from the ones who have answer to their sponsor's dollars most will choose the boards bindings and boots that work best for them. That sort of explains why so many Burton and non-Burton pros opt for a pair of Burton Cartel bindings season after season. The Cartel remains one of the most responsive freestyle bindings available but the biggest difference between this binding and the rest is the comfort and fit. This season Burton stuck to this successful formula but lightened up the binding by 10% with a new Canted Living Hinge Team Skyback II with DialFLAD. Burton Living Hinge technology eliminates some of the extra (and weighty) adjustment hardware while still allowing you to fine-tune things like the Forward Lean separate from the hi-back rotation. The benefit is that you can set your hi-back rotation once and then tweak your Forward Lean depending on conditions or your mood. Another nice new change is the Primo Capstrap with Grip Fit. It's a simplified version of the Super Capstrap II but it still features a 3D Curved triple axis spine and Grip Fit with a 3D contoured shape that molds to your boot toe pushing your heel back firmly into the binding while holding the foot down for better response. The Grip Fit element also gives the Cartel an extra power and response element that's essential for discerning and competitive riders. The Cartel's Primo Capstrap is a significant step up from the older Convertible Capstraps used by riders last year. This binding remains all about experts-oriented performance and still has more than twice the responsive feel of the Burton Freestyle binding. Whether you're a pro or a good intermediate looking for a more responsive binding with plenty of comfort features the Cartel is a step up from ordinary without a giant leap in price.