Snowboard Bindings

Snowboard Bindings

Snowboard bindings went through and interesting evolution to say the least.  In the beginning, there were no snowboard bindings.  You just rode on top of the snowboard and that was it.  Then came a scramble to create grip on the topsheet.  One of the first methods was via industrial staples.  Yup, a couple of row of staples were what gave the rider grip, but still no snowboard bindings.  Then there were dots... plastic dots.  Soon after companies were making plastic blocks with ripples for traction.  Still a far, far cry from modern snowboard bindings.  Snowboaders were starting to realize that, as boards got wider, a physical attachment to the snowboard was necessary. One could argue that the first legitimate snowboard bindings were the bungee cord.  The rider was attached to the snowboard via a bolted down bungee cord over the foot to work as snowboard bindings.  There were plenty more innovations that followed that created the evolution of snowboard bindings.  We’ll just fast forward and say they ended up as the snowboard bindings we all know and love today. 

Types of Snowboard Bindings

Freestyle Snowboard Bindings: Freestyle snowboard bindings are more forgiving with their softer flex.  The intention here is to give the rider unrestricted freedom over tweaking out their bag of tricks.  It’s all about the cushy straps and tweakable highbacks in these snowboard bindings.

All-Mountain Freestyle Snowboard Bindings: All-Mountain Freestyle snowboard bindings are typically medium to mid-stiff in flex.  The flex is versatile for all-around riding.  From park laps to tree runs, all-mountain freestyle snowboard bindings will deliver tweakability and responsiveness respectively.

All-Mountain Snowboard Bindings: All-Mountain snowboard bindings are your stiff of the stiff.  Stiff snowboard bindings are going to deliver maximum response.  You even think about an edge and you’ll get on it.  All-mountain snowboard bindings are ideal for the rider looking to charge the challenging lines.

Quick-Entry Snowboard Bindings: Quick-entry snowboard bindings are the rebels of the binding world.  The pioneer of this market is Flow.  However, there are several different brands doing their version of quick-entry snowboard bindings.  Flow’s snowboard bindings feature a highback that drops down, allowing you to kick your foot in.  You then pull the highback back up and lock it.  Flow has a unique cap style strap that minimizes pressure points.  K2 has their Cinch line which fuses Flow’s drop-down highback idea with traditional straps in snowboard bindings.  K2 also has an Auto line where the toe strap tightens as you ratchet your ankle strap.  GNU’s snowboard bindings are similar to K2’s Cinch line.  If quick-entry is your thing, you’re definitely not without options.

Mounting Types

4 Hole: This is the standard snowboard bindings mounting system.  The snowboarding binding mounts via 4 screws in a square pattern.

3D: The 3D mounting system is exclusive to Burton.  3D compatible snowboard bindings mount to the Burton snowboard via 3 screws in a triangle pattern.  Not all snowboard bindings are compatible with this system so make sure you double check.

The Channel: Another Burton exclusive mounting system that utilizes two screws that are found on the outside of a Burton EST binding.  This means NO binding except Burton EST snowboard bindings will fit on the snowboard.  This technology enables a very quick setup and eliminates the need for a baseplate.  The combination of Burton EST snowboard bindings along with one of their Channel snowboards gives the rider an unparalleled boardfeel.