Do you love the surge of adrenaline that floods through your body as you descend snow-clad slopes on your board? Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been shredding for years, having the right gear is essential to enjoying your sport while also ensuring your safety. Sure, the right snowboard is imperative. Goggles, a helmet, and protective clothing are all important. With that being said, your snowboard bindings play a critical role in both performance and protection. Finding the perfect snowboard bindings can be tough to do, though, so we decided to help you narrow down your options. Our list includes the 12 best snowboard bindings in a head-to-head comparison format. Then we’ll dive into snowboard binding reviews and end with a buying guide to point out some of the more important factors in your buying decision.
The Best Snowboard Bindings - Our Top Picks
Flow Alpha MTN Snowboard Bindings Upgraded LSR Ratchets
Flow is one of the perennial top performers in the snowboarding industry, and Flow bindings are used by beginners and professionals alike. The Alpha MTN Snowboard bindings are designed for men, and there is a binding size available to fit shoe sizes 7 through 14. Note that the MTN bindings offer Flow’s patented rear entry design that allows you to easily slip your snowboard boot into the bindings, ratchet the straps into place, and get on with your boarding.
These bindings feature the upgrades LSR ratchets that offer better performance and easier use. The highback and foot bed are also padded to help make your boarding more comfortable. The bindings feature an all-mountain design with mid-level flexibility to suit a wide range of riding styles.
System MTN Men’s Rear Entry Step In Style Snowboard Bindings
While they are not quite the same as Flow’s bindings (Flow’s system is patented), System does offer a rear entry, step-in style of snowboard binding. They’re actually high-performance gear, which puts them at second place on our list this year.
One of the best things about these particular snowboard bindings is the fact that they’re able to offer a universal fit thanks to the disc-based mounting system they use. That means they work just as well on a standard 4-hole mount board as they do on Burton Channel EST boards.
These bindings offer a 3D-molded ankle strap padded with polyurethane, full EVA padding on the highback and the foot bed, and there is a set to fit shoe sizes 6 through 14.
Burton Custom Snowboard Bindings
Burton has been a name to contend with in the industry for a long time, and these Custom snowboard bindings embody all that fans of Burton have come to expect. They offer medium plushness combined with a single-component highback that is canted forward. The ratchet straps feature Reactstrap® technology and use smooth-glide buckles.
The foot bed on these bindings is fully padded for improved comfort, and it is a mid-flex binding for all-mountain and freestyle riding. It is also compatible with all major mounting systems, not just Burton’s own systems.
Union Contact Pro Snowboard Bindings Men’s
Available in four different colors, the Union Contact Pro Snowboard Bindings are designed for men and they are completely new. They’re designed for a wide range of riding styles, including freeride, all-mountain, and freestyle.
The ratchets are made from aluminum for durability and performance, and these are rated as soft-flex bindings. In fact, they’re designed with a 5% binding to board contact area that allows the board’s inherent flex to shine. Note that they are only compatible with 4×2 and Burton Channel mounting systems.
Burton Smalls Snowboard Bindings for Kids
The Burton Smalls bindings are designed for the smallest boarders out there. They bring Burton’s step-in technology to the table, and offer a zero-lean highback with padding. These bindings use the new Hammockstrap 2.0 system with a convertible capstrap and smooth-glide buckles.
Note that Burton’s size chart should be used to ensure you get the right size bindings for your child. Sizes are available as small as toddler. Note that these bindings are also compatible with all major mounting systems, not just Burton’s.
Burton Stiletto Snowboard Binding Women’s
Featuring medium flex and responsiveness, the Burton Stiletto Snowboard Binding for women is available in three different colors to match your aesthetic. The base plate features good padding for plenty of comfort, but also allows the board’s flex to come through. The ratchets are made from aluminum and offer smooth performance, as well.
The ankle strap is 3D curved for a better fit, and overall these bindings are designed to deliver a laidback, relaxed cruise style of riding. Note that these bindings are only compatible with Burton’s Channel mounting system and will not work with any others.
Flow Fuse Hybrid Snowboard Bindings 2018 – Men’s
The second pair of Flow snowboard bindings on our list, the Fuse Hybrid bindings offer some important benefits that make them rank highly in our list. They feature a glass-filled nylon highback and base plate, with a Fusion PowerStrap as the first strap and a Hybrid Power Cap Strap as the second strap.
Note that these snowboard bindings deliver a mixture of flexibility and responsiveness that lends itself well to freestyle riding, but is also well suited to other types of riding.
5th Element Stealth 3 Snowboard Bindings
The 5th Element Stealth 3 offers high-end performance in a budget package. You’ll find them on offer in two colors, but both feature the same silver ratchets, as well as convertible toe straps, a nicely padded baseplate, and a single-component highback with a forward-lean adjuster so you can get the right stance more easily.
Note that these are designed to be higher flex bindings than some other options on the market. This allows them to be used to help you progress in your riding while using the same bindings. Note that these are only compatible with 4-hole mounting systems, though.
Burton Mission Snowboard Bindings
No surprise here, Burton has yet another entry on our list. The Mission is a stylish binding that is available in three different colors. It offers medium responsiveness and flex, making it a good mid-range binding for just about any riding style. The single-component highback is canted and features the company’s Living Hinge technology for easy entry.
The full bed padding helps provide comfort, and these bindings are compatible with all major mounting systems, not just Burton’s own. Note that the Mission bindings are technically unisex, and Burton offers a handy size chart to help you find the size you need.
Salomon Rhythm Snowboard Binding – Unisex Adult (12856)
The only Salomon bindings to make our list, the Rhythm bindings offer an HB filter with the highback, as well as coming with the Zone base plate, which features 30% composite materials. The baseplate offers full EVA padding for comfort, and is canted.
The ankle strap is called the 3D Supreme, and the toe strap locks in place. Note that these bindings do not offer quick entry, and are primarily made from plastic. They are designed for all-mountain use.
Rossignol Battle Black Snowboard Bindings Men’s
The Rossignol Battle Black bindings are stylish and designed to foster high performance. They’re minimalist in a number of ways, including the skeletal appearance of the ankle strap and the toe strap. The ratchets are made from plastic (AsymLight), with red plastic levers, and the foot bed delivers minimal padding.
The highback is padded, as well, but like the foot bed, it is relatively thin. The foot bed is canted 3 degrees, and the toe ramp is also angled. Bindings are available to fit shoe size 4 through 12+.
Burton Citizen Snowboard Bindings Women’s
The final entry on our list is, surprise, from Burton. The Citizen snowboard bindings are designed for women, and they incorporate a modern sensibility with a minimalist design to create something truly unique. One of those is the easy step in fit from the rear by lowering the highback.
The Citizen is a bit firmer than other women’s Burton bindings we’ve covered on this list. It offers a single-component highback, combined with Reactstrap® ankle straps, a convertible Cap Strap, and smooth-glide buckles. As with several other Burton snowboard bindings, these are compatible with all major mounting systems currently in use.
As you can see, there’s a snowboard binding for just about everyone. However, if you’re new to boarding, or you’re not quite sure what you should be looking for in bindings, it can be confusing to determine which will be right for you. We’ll explore that in our buying guide.
Buying Snowboard Bindings: Critical Considerations in Your Purchase
Whether you’re purchasing your first set of bindings or looking for a way to up your game on the slopes, finding the right pair can be challenging. As you can see, there are quite a few options on the market, and they’re not all the same. How do you choose the best snowboarding bindings for your needs, in that case? We’ll walk you through some of the most important considerations below.
What Are Snowboard Bindings?
This is perhaps the simplest question to answer. Snowboard bindings are what attach your boots to the surface of the board. The serve the same purpose as the bindings on skis, although they look a lot different. The primary reason for the difference in appearance is that some of the components found on snowboard bindings, such as the highback, are built into ski boots but not into snowboard boots.
Snowboard bindings are what help you stay tethered to your board, but they also provide you with the right stance and help you tackle whatever terrain you might face on your way down the slope.
Your Riding Style
The first thing to consider will be your riding style. Different types of snowboard bindings have different amounts of flex, and are suited for different riding styles because of that. There are three primary types of riding style today, although they often blur between one another.
Freestyle: Freestyle riding is also called park riding, and it’s similar to park and freestyle skiing. In this type of riding environment, you’ll want lots of flexibility to deal with things like jumps and manmade obstacles. However, it’s equally important that you have a board with lots of flex, too. Pairing a stiff board with freestyle bindings isn’t going to deliver the riding experience that you really want.
All-Mountain: All-mountain is sort of an all-around style that encompasses a little bit of everything, from freestyle to freeride to backcountry and beyond. These types of bindings offer a good mix of flex and control, hitting that Goldilocks zone of “just right” for most boarders. If you’re not sure what camp you fall into when buying snowboarding bindings, this would be the recommendation, at least until you’ve developed other preferences.
Freeride: Freeride boarders are those who like to get off the beaten track. These bindings are much stiffer than freestyle or even all-mountain because of the need for greater control. Freeride bindings are also more durable than other types when subjected to the intense rigors found with freeriding.
As you can see, most of your decision will be based on how, where, and when you want to ride. If you’re more interested in getting out into the untouched powder, then freeride/stiffer bindings are going to be for you. However, if you’re going to be focused on tricks or park riding, freestyle/relaxed/flexible bindings are the best option. For everyone else, all-mountain bindings make a great starting point.
Materials
If you take a look at the various snowboard bindings on the market, you’ll see a number of different materials in use. Some of these materials are high-end, and some are low-quality. The more advanced a material is, the better it will perform and the happier you’ll be over time. Low-quality materials, on the other hand, can have a negative impact on your performance and on your experience.
For instance, inferior snowboard binding material may not be as responsive as better quality materials. Your board’s inherent flex may not come through well, or you may find that your durability over time is compromised (premature breakage). One area where it really pays to look for quality materials is in the ratchets and straps.
Binding Strap and Entry System
Speaking of straps – we need to talk about the binding straps and entry system used for various snowboard bindings on the market. There are several different options used, and they’re hard to tell apart in some instances. We’ll touch on each of the major systems out there below:
- Rear Entry – Rear entry is one of the newer options on the market when it comes to binding straps and entry systems. Flow is the pioneer in this area, but several other brands have their own version of the technology. In this setup, you are able to get into your bindings very fast, with as little fuss and hassle as possible. They work in a surprisingly simple way: There’s a hinge built into the highback that allows you to drop it down and away, as you slide your foot and leg into the binding. It’s very simple and easy to use. However, the drawback is that there is some loss of performance.
- Clickers – Clickers, also called step-in bindings (not to be confused with strap-in), are rarely used any longer, but they can sometimes be found. None of the bindings we featured in our list uses this technique. Basically, these bindings only work with specific boots. You put on the boots, step into the bindings, and they click into place as the locks engage.
- Strap-In – Strap-in bindings are probably the most commonly found and are the traditional option. The two straps combined with the highback offer excellent support and control, and many experienced snowboarders will use nothing else. Basically, these bindings require you to open the two straps, insert your boot, and then ratchet the straps closed once more.
There are several variations on strap placement, too. All of them have an ankle strap, but some vary where the second strap is placed. On some bindings, it is over the toe, while others put it across the toe. The primary downside to strap-in bindings is that they are often cumbersome to get on and off, and you may find that you need to sit down to tighten your straps before starting a run.
There really isn’t one system that is better than another. They all have their pros and cons. Rear-entry bindings are often seen as the better choice because they are easier to get on and off, but strap-in bindings are just as good in their own way, such as improved performance and control.
Your Preferred Fit
Another important consideration when buying snowboard bindings is your preferred fit. What does that mean and how do you go about determining what your preferred fit might be? While there’s no way to really show you what your preferred fit might be within this guide, we can provide you with some tips to help make sure that you get the right one.
First, you’ll need to make sure you have the right size. In most cases, snowboard bindings come in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes. Those correlate to standard shoe sizes, but each manufacturer is slightly different. Always refer to the binding manufacturer’s size chart before making a purchase. Never assume that one binding will be the same as another in the same size rating.
Next, you need to physically match the bindings to your boots. This is where many people drop the ball. There is a good chance that while your boots might fit your foot, the exterior may be wider or narrower than what the bindings were intended for. To check the fit, you need to actually put your boots on, and then put your foot and leg into the binding, just like you were about to go boarding. There are a few things to watch for once your boot is in the binding, including:
- A loose heel fit
- A swaying boot
- A boot that will not flex
- Boots hanging off the binding
- Slack in the straps
Finally, and this has nothing to do with fit and everything to do with making sure that you’ve got the right bindings for your needs, you need to check that the bindings are compatible with your board. Just because a manufacturer states that their bindings will work with all major mounting systems does not mean that they do so without a hitch or two. For instance, some bindings are compatible with most boards, but they do not come with the disc needed.
Now that we have those out of the way, we can turn our attention to some fit-related terms that apply to your snowboard bindings.
Flexibility: We’ve discussed flex several times between the snowboard bindings reviews and our buying guide, but we need to touch on it once more. Many bindings have flex ratings between 1 and 10, similar to the flex ratings of snowboard boots. Other manufacturers state high, medium, or low flex. It’s important to understand that two medium flex bindings may feel very different when worn due to factors such as the boots and the board being used. Manufacturer flex ratings are really just a guide. In most cases, park riding will dictate going with more flex, while more rigorous conditions will require greater rigidity.
Baseplate: The baseplate is the portion of the binding that comes into contact with the board’s surface. This is essentially where the connection between the two is made. You’ll find that some baseplates allow lots of flex, while others are very strong. You’ll want to find the right combination of flex and strength for your riding style, as well as for your board and boots.
Butter: Butter is a strange term for some, but it applies to fit, enjoyment, and performance. Really, it’s a term that describes how much flex the board allows. For those attempting to do tricks, such as heel presses and spins, softer bindings will deliver better butter.
Style and Color
Ultimately, style and color have little or nothing to do with your overall riding experience or your performance. However, they are important for aesthetic reasons. From our list of the snowboarding bindings, you saw that many were available in multiple colors and color combinations, ranging from sleek black to bold white, and everything in between. Likewise, many manufacturers offer different stylistic takes on snowboard bindings, with some resembling fashion footwear and others resembling nothing so much as spiderwebs.
Conclusion
Ultimately, style and color have little or nothing to do with your overall riding experience or your performance. However, they are important for aesthetic reasons. From our list of the snowboarding bindings, you saw that many were available in multiple colors and color combinations, ranging from sleek black to bold white, and everything in between. Likewise, many manufacturers offer different stylistic takes on snowboard bindings, with some resembling fashion footwear and others resembling nothing so much as spiderwebs.