Hi, I’m Brittany assistant snowboard buyer bringing you the best snowboard bindings 2023. It’s hard to pin down what makes a good snowboard binding great.
The best snowboard bindings tend to be the ones you don’t even have to think about when you’re riding. When everything clicks your bindings should fully immerse you in feeling your board and the snow rather than bulky buckles loose straps or uncomfortable pressure points.
In this list, we’ve cast a wide net focusing on versatility over specialization. These bindings will cover most styles of riding hold up to plenty of abuse and be comfortable for all-day shredding. let’s check them out.
First out of the gate are the Union Strata snowboard bindings
Union Strata Bindings
Technology
| BASEPLATE | S6 Duraflex ST |
| BUSHING | OTE Fused Vaporlite |
| HEEL CUP | Extruded 3D Aluminum |
| HIGHBACK | Strata Duraflex ST |
| ANKLE STRAP | Forma Lab |
| TOE STRAP | TS 2.0 Hexgrip |
| RATCHETS | Aluminum |
| FLAD | Classic |
| HARDWARE | Grade 8.8 Steel |
| DISK COVER | Thermoformed EVA |
| CANTING | Yes |
| HARDWARE | RATCHETS |
Binding Performance:
| Freestyle | 10/10 |
| All-Mountain | 7/10 |
| Freeride | 5/10 |
| Binding Flex | 6/10 |
| Binding Weight | 830g |
Union Sizing
[wptb id=1458]Talk
The Union strata are a new binding in the collection for this year. We wanted to take a couple of our better-selling bindings and kind of combine their features of those to kind of come up with one all-new animal.
So, the strata are going to be built off of the same base plate as Falkor. It has the same Travis Rice base plate that’s on his pro model binding.
The only difference is we have a unique bushing story in the strata the bushing is actually an injected over-the-edge bushing.
So, the bushing comes up over the edge of the binding and allows the rider to have a little bit more lateral movement.
On its top sheet very similar to the ride of our contact pro. Then we also wanted to kind of just use the Falkor ankle straps and toe straps to kind of complete the strata and an all-new high back.
So, our all-new strata high back is going to be asymmetrical and shaped. So, it’s going to have a little bit of a wing on the outside.
It’s going to be a little bit more supportive in those freeride situations but it’s also going to have some removed areas. It’s also a very lightweight high back.
The strata also have a new tool for lean. It’s just a push button and twists to the tool are forward lean adjust this is going to be our new animal for 2023 so if you like the Falkor but don’t have the bucks and you like the contact pro for its freestyle ability check out the strata.
[wptb id=1462]Union Force Bindings
Binding Performance:
| Freestyle: | 7/10 |
| All-Mountain: | 10/10 |
| Freeride: | 7/10 |
| Binding Flex: | 7/10 |
| Binding Weight: | 840g |
Technology:
| BASEPLATE | Stage 4 Duraflex ST |
| BUSHING | Multi-Density Thermoformed EVA |
| HEEL CUP | Extruded 3D Aluminum |
| HIGHBACK | Force Duraflex ST |
| ANKLE STRAP | Exoframe 4.0 |
| TOE STRAP | TS 2.0 Rhombus |
| RATCHETS | Magnesium |
| FLAD | Tool-Less |
| HARDWARE | Grade 8.8 Steel |
| DISK COVER | Thermoformed EVA |
| CANTING | Yes |
| STRAP ADJUST | Tool-Less |
Union Sizing
[wptb id=1458]Talk
The force binding is our number one selling vining in the whole Union collection. It’s a workhorse. It was originally designed for the snowboarder.
It tries to get in a hundred days a year. So, the force is going to be a little bit more considered a freeride binding. It’s got a little bit of a stiffer baseplate in terms of what you guys carry.
I’d like to kind of point out that the force is. Made on our traditional disc so the traditional disc is going to be a little bit better for maybe a little freer riding because of the bigger disc.
It’s going to have a little bit more of a responsive baseplate and platform. The force is also going to have a dual-density bushing system around.
That disk area is underneath the base plate. The dual-density bushing is going to be great because it’s going to allow a lot of board flex underneath the foot.
It’s also going to provide a lot of dampening from the different vibrations that occur when you’re riding through variable snow conditions.
The force has an adjustable extruded aluminum heel loop. It’s made out of a direct Eileen. It has pre-curved ankle straps, a nice Ultra Grip, a toe strap, and features magnesium buckles.
All-union bindings have a lifetime warranty on our base plates they’re known to be ultra-durable. So come on out and see what all the hype is bout.
[wptb id=1479]BURTON Freestyle Snowboard Bindings
COMFORT & FIT
| Ankle Strap: Reactstrap ankle strap has a minimized construction that is ultra-responsive, conforming to any boot |
| Toe Strap: Supergrip Capstrap toe strap wraps over the toebox of the boot and is fully injected to reduce waste |
| Cushioning: Re: Flex FullBED cushioning system provides full underfoot cushioning, maximizing comfort while minimizing fatigue, and features a trap-door design for easy access to mounting hardware |
PERFORMANCE & RESPONSE
| Baseplate: Single-component baseplate construction features one material throughout, providing consistent response and feels while riding on any terrain Lightweight, bombproof polycarbonate baseplate construction is buttery and playful for laid-back, relaxed cruising |
| Mounting System: Re: Flex mounting system dramatically improves board flex and feel while also reducing weight |
| Hi-Back: Single-component canted hi-back construction provides immediate response and allows you to manipulate the overall flex profile of the board |
ADJUSTABILITY
| Forward Lean: MicroFLAD system uses a lever and sliding plate system to set the forward lean angle of the hi-back |
| Buckles: Smooth Glide buckles are easy to secure and feature aluminum levers and a steel base for durability |
| Mounting: Universally compatible with all current snowboard mounting systems, including 4×4, 3D®, and The Channel® |
BURTON SIZING CHART
[wptb id=1493]Talk
Burton freestyle snowboard bindings even though the name is freestyle they’re for all-mountain use for beginner to intermediate-level riders. Become three different colorways.
It’s a good place to start out. Especially if you’re just getting into snowboarding or you’ve already done it for a while and you want something that’s going to be really comfortable.
This year’s 2022 freestyle has quite a few upgrades and a great blocking of three different colorways. It’s going to be a little bit softer than your average style binding.
That’s kind of what makes a freestyle special even though I say they’re for beginner to intermediate-level riders if an advanced rider is looking to get on freestyle for cheap you can definitely do that which is great.
They come in only one style of baseplate though there’s no reflex option for the freestyle for a teen there’s only the reflex style option which means that the mounting hardware is directly under your foot with discs.
It comes with two different kinds of discs that are compatible with both the 2×4 or 4×4 inch and or system mounting patterns. You can basically put the freestyles on any board that’s in the creek marketplace.
One of the greatest things about this year’s freestyle in one of the upgrades is actually going to be this high back which pretty much comes from the infidel. But I can guarantee you that this is going to be this is a lot softer than infidel style high back.
This is a single component. It has micro-forward lean adjustment. It has a nice little crisp look to it. I think that is my favorite colorway out of the three.
Actually, this white one kind of has that stormtrooper-style look to it. The ankle strap is also an upgrade. This is a react strap. It’s 3d formed internal spines. A little bit of padding on the inside. Actually, quite a bit of support on the lateral side.
So, you don’t bend over the top of your nose or your tail too much the toe strap is the convertible cap strap you can wear it on the front of your toes.
[wptb id=1497]Arbor Cypress Snowboard Bindings 2023
Specs
| Style | All-Mountain-Freeride |
| Flex Rating | Medium-Stiff |
| Flex Feel | Medium-Stiff (7/10) |
| Rating Score | 83.0/100 |
| Weight | A little heavier than normal |
DETAILS
| Bindings angles: +15/-15 |
| Stance Width: 550mm |
| Board demoed with: Rossignol One 2018, 159cm |
| Baseplate Length: 24cm with toe ramp all the way in and 25cm when extended |
| Weight: 1000 grams (2lb, 3 oz) – including screws and discs. The heavier of those that I weighed. 860 grams was the average of 10 bindings that I weighed. But that’s a very small sample size |
| Flex: They’re not super stiff, but certainly stiffer than medium. I would say 7/10 in terms of flex. |
| Board Feel: The Cypress comes with a mini disc and this allows minimal contact with the board. Like other bindings with mini-discs, the Cypress provides a great natural board feel and makes it easy to butter. |
| Adjustability: You can adjust : The heel cup position (which I really like so it’s easier to center your toe and heel), : The ankle strap position : The toe strap position : The highback lean : Highback rotation |
| Pop/Ollie Power: They have a good spring to them and allow for a good amount of pop. You’ve got to put in a bit of effort to get that pop out of them, but when you do, they give back. 4/5. |
| Adjustability: You can adjust : The heel cup position (which I really like so it’s easier to center your toe and heel), : The ankle strap position : The toe strap position : The highback lean : Highback rotation |
Score Breakdown
[wptb id=1335]The Arbor Cypress-specific binding is actually marked as Carter’s pro model. So, as you can see, he has the Jess Mudget artwork on here that will match his pro model Clovis.
A few of the features that this has are the aluminum heel cup that can move in and out to help eliminate any toe drag and fit different-sizing boots.
You also have this bow strap ladder that has a curve on it so that your boot can go in and out of your binding without getting hung up on your ladder.
Also, these straps can be flipped and reversed to give a different feel so you can have it lower on your boot to give a little bit more play or you can have it higher on your boot. Which will suck it back up into this highback for a little bit more stiffness.
The Cypress is the highest-end binding that we offer. It’s a bit stiffer of a high back. So, this is going to be for an intermediate to advanced rider.
If you’re hard charging powerfully riding big terrain this is going to be binding for you and this is the cypress
[wptb id=1518]Flow Nexus Snowboard Bindings
Product Details
| Flex: Medium Flex – A balance of support and comfort makes for all-terrain versatility. |
| Baseplate: AXIS-Series – The AXIS-Series is a rockered glass-filled Nylon baseplate with an asymmetrical design for optimal energy transfer. Wider than the NX2 and the FUSE for greater stability and easier access with off-axis PowerBeams and offset cable attachments for direct and balanced power transfer. Power Triangle – The Flow high-tensile steel cable creates a structural triangle between the highback and baseplate for optimum energy transfer and quick, easy, and efficient turns. |
| Highback: Glass-Filled Nylon Asym AXIS-Series UniBack – Asym UniBacks are lightweight, supportive, and comfortable, with a perfect fit to follow boot contours and canted riding angles. The AXIS series has a supportive spine with a more forgiving lateral flex. Reclining Highback – The fully reclining highback is a pivotal part of Flow’s fast easy-in easy-out binding system. When opening the reclining highback, a simple system actively lifts up the strap and then tightens automatically when you close the highback. |
| Straps: Fusion PowerStrap – Fusion one-piece PowerStraps are 3D shaped for a great fit, and cover a larger area of your foot for more comfort and control. Offers the best easy-entry, set, and forget performance. |
| Buckles: Locking Slap Ratchet (LSR) – These innovative LSR buckles give you the option to easily get in and out of your bindings any way you like. Whether SpeedEntry or side entry like a dual strap, they lock down to secure your preferred footstrap tightness. |
| Additional Features: Nylon Offset MultiDisk – 4HP, 3HP, and Channel compatible. |
Specs
| Ability Level: Beginner-Intermediate |
| Flex Rating: Medium |
| Binding Style: Rear-Entry, Strap |
| Binding Mount Pattern: 2×4, 4×4, Burton 3D, Channel |
Talk
We are going to be going through the 2022-2023 Flow Nexus bindings and have two classic colorways. We have black and we have white and like the colorways the Flow Nexus, the beauty is in the simplicity.
So, this is a mid-soft flex kind of more entry-level binding that still doesn’t it doesn’t leave you short on performance, though none of the extra bells and whistles you don’t need.
It’s everything that you want if you’re just a beginner-intermediate rider. Getting into snowboarding or you just like really flexible bindings.
These are very soft and forgiving and free feelings. But like all the Flow bindings, they don’t skimp on performance with the reclining high back and easy entry.
It’s like every other Flow binding you kick your foot in. You’re riding fast, lock the high back in and we have all the power transferred from the back of your foot using the cable.
We call it the power triangle and that gives you a lot of extra heel-edge leverage on the board because you’re actually getting leverage from the back of your calf to the middle of the board.
The Flow Nexus is coming with the single-piece Fusion strap that is held on by some Locking Slap Ratchets so you can pop them open, slide them open bigger, crank them down tight, and lock them they’re going to stay in place on the inside.
We have a little bit more set-and-forget type of buckles with these guys. Just block in, set them, forget them, and they’re where you want them to be. Always.
The Flow Nexus is an amazing binding. This is great if you’re just getting into snowboarding. It is not short on performance whatsoever. It is super light and really simple. No extra stuff you don’t need.
We have a little bit of padding under the heels. The EVA foam pads.
Yeah, if you’re just somebody just getting into snowboarding or somebody that likes a lot freer flowing learning type riding or just likes really soft bindings.
These are great binding at an amazing price point that doesn’t skimp on performance.
This is the 2023 Flow Nexus.
[wptb id=1462]Salomon District Binding, 2023
Product Details
| Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10) |
| Bindings angles: +15/-9 |
| Highback: District Highback – Simple & solid freestyle highback featuring a special flex pattern and asymmetrical shape for comfort and tweak ability. Super easy to set up with a 2-in-1 forward lean and highback rotation system. 12° Pre-rotated Shape |
| Additional Features: Canted Footbeds – Instantly add pop power and extra edge control to your riding with 2.5° canted footbeds. Easy on the knees and no loss of board feel. |
| Shock Absorption: They have pretty nice shock absorption. This isn’t important for beginners (except where it pertains to comfort – see below) but it’s the reason why these are first and foremost freestyle bindings – shock absorption is very important for freestyle riding (IMHO). |
| Entry/Exit: The Districts are pretty easy to get in and out of. If you’re not used to how bindings work you’ll be able to figure out the Districts pretty quickly. They have a nice smooth ratchet system too so you can strap into them and unstrap them quickly as well as easily. |
SPECS
| Ability Level: | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Flex Rating: | Medium |
| Binding Style: | Strap |
| Binding Mount Pattern: | 2×4, 4×4 |
Talk
I’ve got here the 2022-23 Salomon district this is an all-mountain freestyle binding. Mid flexing too soft. It’s great for in a good all abilities binding on here.
District higher back gives you an asymmetrical higher back designed to be ergonomic lay correct and provide comfort and performance. Alongside that, you’ve got the free da sim Supreme ankle strap.
Its cushioned lightweight straps are designed to remove pressure points and increase support on the outside of the boot.
It’s good it’s a really comfortable strap here it’s going to fully encompass the boot and give you a nice all-day comfort on there.
You also got the locking toe strap polite strap with a Cu cut out to remove excess material gives you light. The ride really wraps the front of that boot for a snug fit for increased comfort and performance.
The best thing about this binding is you’ve got this shadow fit technology. This gives you a flexible heel cup with reinforced Kevlar quick wire. Along the side, this allows the board boot and binding to move as one delivers increased board feel comfort and energy transfer right to the edges of the board.
So, its quick responsiveness allows a softer binding to be incredibly quick, incredibly smooth, precise, and responsive on there. This is a great binding for all abilities, all-mountain designed, more for freestyle, and freeride because it is again it’s a little bit softer.
If you’re looking for those bigger lines hard-charge in front sides of backcountry lines you’re
Going to probably want something a little bit more responsive and a little bit stiffer underfoot on there.
So, that is the 2023 Salomon district binding.
All right. That’s all about the best snowboard bindings in 2023. If you have any questions leave them in the comment. Thanks.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do any pros use Burton Step On?
Yes, as of my last update in September 2022, some professional snowboarders were using Burton Step On bindings. However, the popularity and adoption of specific gear among pros may change over time.
What is the most common snowboard binding setup?
The most common snowboard binding setup features a traditional “duck stance,” where both bindings are angled outward, usually around 15 to 21 degrees, with the front foot pointing slightly forward and the back foot slightly backward. This setup provides versatility and comfort for various riding styles.
How do I know what bindings I need for my snowboard?
To determine the bindings you need for your snowboard, consider your riding style, skill level, and boot size. Choose bindings that match your boot size and provide the desired level of responsiveness and support. Consult with a snowboard expert or refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific board.
Do bindings really make a difference?
Yes, bindings can significantly impact performance and control in various activities. In sports, well-fitted bindings enhance stability and power transfer. In programming, language bindings enable efficient integration and utilization of external libraries, improving development speed and functionality.
Why is Burton Step On so expensive?
Burton Step On is expensive due to its innovative binding technology, which allows for easy and quick entry/exit without traditional straps. The research, development, and premium materials used contribute to its higher price compared to standard bindings.
Are step-ons better than normal bindings?
Step-on bindings can be more convenient and quicker to use, but traditional bindings may offer better customization and performance for advanced riders. Ultimately, it depends on individual preferences and skill levels.
