This is my review of the Burton Malavita snowboard bindings.
I’m a certified snowboarding instructor, and I’ve been riding for most of my life. I’ve seen or used a large amount of gear and equipment over the years and know how to judge performance and quality of snowboard bindings accurately.
The Burton Malavita is another solid option from Burton that functions well as a freestyle binding for intermediate riders. The bindings earn good marks in comfort and adjustability but lack performance versatility and cost quite a bit.
In this post, I’ll provide you with an in-depth look at these bindings to give you an honest assessment of how they perform.
Let’s get going.
Contents
Burton Malavita Overview
You can’t go wrong with a Burton binding. The brand has a reputation for offering solid designs and performance. The Malativa falls right in line with many of the bindings in the lineup but doesn’t quite reach the heights of being a top-performer.
Let’s start with the positive aspects. These are built to be a freestyle binding with an extended range that can let you explore outside of the park as well. They have a standard design that will support your feet without holding you back.
With freestyle performance in mind, the bindings do a solid job. A medium flex gives you enough support to initiate turns and stay active while also giving you forgiving landings and room to maneuver.
They are capable on rails, in the halfpipe, and many other features in the park. You want a little give with a freestyle binding, and the Malavita provides you with a nice amount without being too loose and sloppy.
Outside of the park, the bindings leave something to be desired. You aren’t going to get high-end performance in any other sort of situation. They don’t do a lousy job, I just don’t think they reach the versatility mark needed for all-mountain exploration.
On the plus side, they are super comfortable and built to last. With plenty of cushioning and shock-absorbing features on your side, you can expect a foot-friendly experience when you have these mounted – no matter where you choose to ride.
Burton’s Re:Flex cushioning system is on full display here, and it’s an obvious advantage to any of the bindings in the lineup. They might not have the aggressive nature to tackle big lines outside the terrain park, but your feet will be happy at all times.
The bindings also have plenty of adjustable features that enhance comfort and help you have a customized experience. A Living Hinge hi-back allows you to adjust your forward lean quickly and easily without using tools.
The Malavita does come with a price tag that is similar to other high-end Burton models. I don’t think it entirely lives up to the price, and that lowers my value rating on these from good to OK. As a freestyle binding alone, they are pretty good.
Detailed Review
The Burton Malavita is a decent freestyle binding that will work well in the terrain park. It doesn’t give you a wide range of high performance in other situations, making it somewhat of a specialty binding. Still, it’s comfortable and effective when put into action.
Performance
Freestyle situations are where the Malavita holds its own. It’s a good choice for intermediate riders who love to play in the park or jib and butter as they ride the front side of the mountain. You’ll get solid performance all-around in these types of situations.
A medium flex provides you with enough response to get a quick response to make decisive turns as you approach a takeoff or feature. It’s also forgiving enough to help you stick landings and not turn your feet into mush.
If you want to push these bindings in situations other than freestyle, you’re going to notice they fall a little short. They don’t give you outstanding all-mountain performance and lack a bit of technical precision that I like when hitting challenging runs.
The Malavita can function as an all-mountain option if you need them to. They just aren’t going to stand out in that regard. You’ll get decent edge-to-edge response and board feel, but you’ll just struggle when you want to push things to the limit.
Inside the park, they can be a go-to choice, and I know plenty of riders who like to mount these on a freestyle board. They are durable and comfortable, with plenty of shock absorption to give you the necessary performance in the park.
Comfort
Overall, the Malavita is a very comfortable binding. They are well-constructed and feature some key design elements that Burton has created with the well-being of your feet and body in mind. You can expect a cushioned ride that doesn’t compromise board feel by doing so.
A Re:Flex cushioning system is at the heart of the comfort considerations included in the bindings. This system is built into many Burton binding models and uses a dual-density EVA foam and B3 gel to give you quality cushioning.
This is useful in the park when you are hitting big airs and coming back down to earth. A little extra shock absorption is essential to help spread out the force of impact, and these bindings go above and beyond with that in mind.
The hi-back is also comfortable, and the zero-lean canted design helps match the natural angles of your legs and ankles to help provide long-lasting comfort. This pays off inside the park and out – it’s an innovative feature that stands out.
The entire construction of the Malavita works together to provide plenty of comfort. They have a solid design that focuses on keeping your feet in good shape so you can ride harder and longer.
Adjustability
Adjustability is another area where the Malavita earns good marks. These bindings are adjustable in many ways, allowing you to dial in a customized experience that can be tweaked to your needs, preferences, or conditions you are riding in.
Living Hinge technology built into the hi-back allows you to adjust the rotation and forward-lean separately. This is a pretty unique feature for any binding and has the advantage of being adjustable without tools.
The heel hammock also provides another area of customized adjustability while also having attention given to performance. This feature uses a grippy rubber to wrap around your heel and keep it in place no matter how loose or tight you adjust the straps.
An Asym Hammockstrap pad gives you versatility by allowing you to change the amount of pressure on your foot. It will enable you to switch from a freestyle focus to more technical lines pretty quickly.
Value
The Malavita bindings are well-built and well designed to give you decent performance in the park. However, they also have a limited range outside of freestyle pursuits and come with a relatively high price tag.
With all of that in mind, they make for just an okay value. They are just as expensive as some other bindings that Burton offers without giving you the versatility or high-end performance of alternate models.
If you are looking to get a good freestyle setup going, these bindings are an excellent choice to pair with your favorite freestyle board. You’ll get effective park performance, and they will hold up well under heavy use.
If you want versatility or demand more specific performance considerations, I’d go with another option, especially if you are an advanced rider. You won’t find high value here if you need high levels of all-mountain performance.
The Alternatives
There are many options out there when choosing snowboard bindings, and it never hurts to shop around. Here are some good alternatives to the Burton Malavita for you to consider.
The Burton Genesis will give you increased versatility and a focus on all-mountain performance. These are one of my favorite options from Burton, and I think they make for a better value than the Malavita.
You get many of the same features that increase comfort: a B3 baseplate cushioning, an adjustable Hi-Back, and quality straps. These are well built and are a favorite option for many of my friends and fellow snowboarders.
==> Read our detailed Burton Genesis review for more.
These are some of my favorite freestyle bindings on the market. They give you equal or better performance in the park to the Malavita. They are also super comfortable and will let you go huge all day long without worrying about it.
The CP3 Duraflex baseplate helps increase shock absorption, while extruded 3D aluminum heel cups help hold your feet in place at all times. They also have super strong and durable construction built with grade 8.8 steel hardware.
==> Read our detailed review of Union Contact Pro to learn more.
These are a more budget-friendly freestyle binding that will still deliver in terms of performance and comfort in the park. They also make for a good beginner option because of their lower price and flexible nature.
The Trigger has solid shock-absorbing capabilities, especially for a cheaper binding, thanks to a Blaster Baseplate. The ergonomically designed hi-backs are padded to give you a lot of comfort and a natural forward lean, as well.
My Verdict
The Burton Malavita is a decent option for a freestyle or park binding if you want a dedicated set up to help you launch huge airs and hit the halfpipe. Outside of the park, it won’t provide you with high-end performance, which advanced riders will notice quickly.
The Malavita does excel in comfort and adjustability, with lots of innovation and design made possible by Burton’s constant attention to detail. Just know you can expect a higher price tag for these luxuries.
About Lorraine