Review: Plum Eterlou Splitboard Binding
What we liked
Super Solid
Firm Straps
Mounting System
What we didn’t
Don’t fold down flat for travelling
Not the lightest
Need additional mount for ski crampons
The Verdict
THE SHORT READ…
The Plum Eterlou softboot splitboard bindings, are possibly one of the best on the market, now I know that’s a bold claim, especially as they weigh 694 g per binding, but when riding them you’re so locked in you’ll not only think the Eterlou is a great splitboard binding, you’ll think it’s a great binding full stop!
Strong baseplates, meet a firm backplate, and excellent ratchet straps, making the ride so secure you’ll forget all about being on a splitboard and simply focus on enjoying your ride, including cranking it over on the piste too.
THE LONG READ …
I have to admit, many years ago I came across the Plum splitboard system in a small backcountry shop in the Savoie France (where they’re made), and I thought they looked a little complicated, but setting them up is only slightly harder than the Spark R&D puck system of mounting, and, having popped them on my board, I’ve completely changed my opinion and somewhat fallen in love.
There’s no jig used to set up the pucks, the first small piece simply sits directly opposite each other on each ski, the second piece sits within the first and dicatets to angle, and a third and fourth piece screw into the first two raising up a rounded triangle that then sits within the robust baseplate (trust me it’s all very simple).
One other thing, which is very cool, is that the pucks work with all Plum splitboard bindings, including their SOK hardboot ones, so if you like to switch it up depending on conditions you can without even having to turn a single screw.
The locking system is a metal lever that locks into place with a small, but seemingly reliable, clip. What’s ingenious with the Plum system is that it pulls the board together when locking the lever into place, rather than simply sliding over pucks like many systems.
I used the Eterlou’s in Georgia, both in the warm forest and the very cold high alpine, and on many transitions I didn’t experience any real problem putting the board back together again after touring. On one occasion I needed to scrape some ice from the top of the board, to allow the bindings to sit flat, but I never needed to clear out the pucks beyond a cursory brushing.
The backplate is high and adjustable, but annoyingly it doesn’t fold down totally onto the baseplate, as it’s a little too wide, making them a little bulky when putting in a snowboard bag for flying/train travel. But the plus side is that the ride and hold the binding has on your foot and leg is super solid, as perfect for slashing quick turns in the forest as it is for laying over some carves.
I really like the straps, the toe one when adjusted properly hugs the front and top of your boot while the larger strap is well padded and ratchets down good and tight.
When touring, the Eterlous use the same side lever to lock onto a bar, I was a little dubious of this but actually it worked really well.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the risers, as it was hard to put the small one up without first rising the higher one, then obviously having to put the high one back down again, but at least the risers were not on the underside of the binding baseplate like on the Spark R&D, I always find that a right royal pain in the arse.
One downside is the need to buy an additional piece, that screws into the the skinning bar, to allow you to use ski crampons, this should preferably be included as you’ll most likely need them unless you’re lucky enough to only skin in powder.
The base-plate, like the whole system, feels super engineered (Plum was a engineering firm long before it went into ski touring bindings and splitboard kit), everything is very strong and fits together perfectly without any unwanted movement. The Eterlou comes in Black, Red, and Yellow.
If you didn’t know, Tal who is co-founder of the Key Equipment hard boots, is the Splitboard designer at Plum, and excuse the slight French joke but he really knows his onions, and his diligence to the design of splitboartding kit should win him the Légion d'Honneur!
SUMMARY…
My new favorite softboot binding, super locked in riding is created by highly engineered design and construction, I’m honestly not sure I’d like to ride another system any time soon.