Intended Use: Snowboarding all-mountain use
Recommended for: any rider level looking for a freestyle focused, yet responsive binding for all-mountain use.
Review Date: December 2020 – March 2021 in Wyoming
Size: Large
MSRP: $299.95
Salomon Hologram Binding Specs:
- ShadowFit Baseplate
- Kevlar Quickwire
- Composite 45%
- Adjustable Toe Ramp
- Integrated Mounting System
- Optivibe Basepad
- Power Hook
- Hologram Highback
- Shadow Straps
- Locked-up Toes Strap
- Micro Max Strap Adjustments
- Canted Footbeds
- Flex rating 3 out of 5
Review:
Last year at Outdoor Retailer/SIA, we stopped by the Salomon booth and they ran us through their line. One thing that really stood out was their Shadow Fit bindings. The soft heel cup really blew our minds and I’ve been anxious to try them ever since.
The Salomon Hologram bindings are a mid-flex binding, designed for all-mountain riding. The Hologram features Salomon’s unique Shadow Fit baseplate. There are three pieces in the baseplate that work together to provide a better hold on your boot and allow lateral movement when needed. The heel cup is a soft material that you can bend with your hands. Yes, this is still pretty mind-blowing and goes against everything you’ve ever seen in a snowboard binding. There are kevlar stringers that run from the base of the toe area through the heel cup. These stringers tighten as you roll into toe and heel movements to increase response edge to edge. I found the Shadow Fit baseplate system to work really well and be very comfortable.
The Hologram highback has a large asymmetric cut out that allows for considerable lateral flex. When paired with the soft heel cup this really allows you to lean hard into presses or tweak airs with ease, never feeling like you are fighting the binding. The highback is stiff where you want it but still comfortable. The highback combined with the kevlar stringers in the heel cup really makes the binding feel like an extension of your boot.
The past few seasons Salomon has improved the footbed on the Hologram. Made from EVA foam, I found them to be very comfortable on impacts and absorb vibrations well. The footbed does have a few degrees of canting (2.5%), for a more natural knee/hip alignment. Some people really like this, others do not. I happen to be a rider that does. I’ve had multiple knee surgeries so any relief to my knees is welcome and this helped to relieve some pressure off my old joints.
The Shadow Strap locks down your ankles and was one of the more comfortable straps I used this season. The combination of material, shape and size make for a great fit and feel. The toe strap is made from a harder plastic and secures your boot pretty well. I did find I had to adjust the position of the toe strap to really crank it down and not have it slip. Both straps are easily adjusted with the Miro Max Strap Adjustments. I really liked these, as they are basically an easy to grip knob to loosen and adjust the position of the straps. Like most bindings, the Hologram use aluminum buckles that perform well and are smooth to operate.
There were a few things I didn’t like as much. I found the toe ramp was really difficult to adjust. It is supposed to pop and slide when you press it but I found it to be quite a chore to adjust. Unfortunately, forward lean is adjusted by screws on either side of the heel cup, so it’s not something that can be done quickly or easily while out on the mountain. I’m not a huge fan of this, as I like being able to easily adjust forward lean.
Overall Impressions:
The Salomon Hologram Binding with the unique Shadow Fit system provides a very responsive, comfortable ride. The soft heel cup allows you to flow and bend with ease, but the kevlar stringers and Hologram highback won’t let you down when laying down carves.
Pros:
- Shadow Fit System
- Shadow Strap (ankle) is very comfortable
- Flexible and playful highback
- Canted footbed
Cons:
- Toe ramp is difficult to operate
- Forward lean adjustment
| Price: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (4.4 / 5) |
| Design: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.3 / 5) |