About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the bindings, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2022.

My take

The Now Brigada Bindings are a comfortable binding for any intermediate rider and higher who likes to focus on a freestyle style of riding and hit the park. They are extremely responsive due to the Skate Tech technology and are a softer to medium flex for great control while doing spins and butters.

About the gear

• Model: Now Brigada 2022
• Size: Medium
• Burton channel compatible: Yes
• Mini disc: No

About me

• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 130 lbs
• Experience: 23+ years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: February 2022
• Days tested: 2
• Board: Yes., Hel Yes., and Jones Airheart 2.0
• Boot: Ride Sage
• Where I’ve used it: Washington
• Terrain: Groomers, Ice, Trees

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was on the hunt for a responsive binding with good shock absorption underfoot and geared more towards the freestyle all-mountain style of riding. I wasn’t looking for a straight-up park setup, but I wanted something with a soft-medium flex that would be fun to play around on but could still hold speed.

Why I chose this gear

The Skate Tech that Now uses was very interesting to me. These were the first bindings by them I was ever able to try. I had heard that they were very responsive yet had a forgiving flex which I thought might be a great binding for what I was looking for. I also looked at the Salomon Mirage, the Ride CL-4, and CL-6. I really like the Shadow-Fit that Salomon uses, but in the end, I liked the Brigadas the best out of this mix due to the cushy ankle straps and the Flipit design of those straps, so I could make them more playful or more aggressive.

What I love about it

• Binding adjustability in boots: The straps are easy to adjust, toolless, and adjustable for length. I can also flip the ankle straps to provide a different amount of support. The heel cups are not adjustable, however, so the binding needs to be attached to the board where my foot needs to be. The highback lean is adjustable, and the highbacks are pre-rotated 10 degrees.
• Stance adjustability: I had no issues setting my stance how I wanted it to be. There is a lot of room to get my angle and width set how I prefer it. The pre-rotated highbacks start to be noticeable if I set my stance to about 12 degrees or higher, and those aren’t adjustable, but the highback is pretty flexible, so it didn’t bother me or dig into my calf at all.
• Comfort: I find these bindings so comfortable. The ankle strap is thick and comfortable, but being all one chunk of EVA polymer, it doesn’t have much stitching, so it still feels pretty lightweight. It is very comfortable while carving and gives great support, and the foam footbeds underfoot are cushy too. The highbacks are also pretty flexible and are slightly higher towards the inside to naturally conform to my leg, which is comfortable too.
• Shock absorption: These bindings rate very high for me in shock absorption. They have a thick footbed underfoot that creates a very damp ride, plus the Skate Tech design also absorbs a lot of shock. Even going over uneven terrain, I find that these bindings dampen any board I put them on.
• Responsiveness: The Brigadas are very responsive. The technology allows the baseplate to rock from toe to heel, capitalize on the energy put out, and respond quickly and efficiently. This design really cuts down on foot fatigue because I don’t have to put out as much energy to get the response I need to turn.
• Carving: Due to the responsiveness of these bindings, they carve better, in my opinion, than other bindings of the same softer flex. They are flexible for riding park and can still hold their own while carving. If one is focused on carving and speed, though, I would go up to the Condas for more of a freeride feel.
• Ease of turn initiation: The Brigadas are pretty quick to turn. They combine good response with a softer highback and overall flex, which leads to a playful feel that I can still turn on a dime which is cool. Again, if quick turns and moguls are someone’s thing, they may still want to go with their stiffer Conda bindings for even more response and support.
• Buttering: The softer flex of these highbacks is actually quite good for buttering. There are still easier bindings to butter with out there, but these are pretty fun.
• Straps: I love the straps that NOW uses. They are easy to adjust and very comfortable. I can flip the ankle straps to provide a more surfy or aggressive feel, and the toe straps are super grippy and conform around my toe for a really secure ride. The ankle strap doesn’t have the same crease that the Condas have to keep the ankle strap laying wide open to put my bindings on, but they still open pretty easily if I want to put my binding on standing up.
• Buckles: The buckles are great. They climb the ladders smoothly, and I’ve had no issues with them. They feel pretty lightweight and are quick to get on and off when getting to the lift.
• Durability: The Brigadas don’t have any problems with durability that I can see so far. They seem strong, and the coloring doesn’t seem to chip easily, which is cool.
• Weight: These feel average in weight. I didn’t feel weighed down at all riding them, but I also didn’t notice them being exceptionally lightweight.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Other: Actually, I wouldn’t say I encountered any issues with these bindings at all. Unless someone wants a binding for really charging hard and holding speed, I’d go with a stiffer binding.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with these was riding them on the Hel Yes. snowboard. I was so impressed with this setup because the Hel Yes. is a pretty stiff board, while these bindings are geared more towards freestyle riding. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this combo. The aggressiveness of the board with slightly softer yet responsive bindings was so fun to carve on and was even really fun in the park doing jumps. This combo is one of my favorite setups I have ridden in a while.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think these are a great deal and definitely worth the price. They are about $10 cheaper than the Mirages and $20 less than the Ride C-6 bindings. The technology used in the Brigadas is really special and unique, and I think they’re definitely worth the price.

Final verdict

These bindings are fantastic for any intermediate or advanced rider looking for a freestyle vibe. They would pair well with a slightly softer board or add an amount of playfulness to a stiffer board. They are extremely comfortable, responsive, and seem durable, so they’ll last for quite a while.