Expert Review: Ride C-6 Snowboard Bindings · 2022
All photos courtesy of Joseph Attwood
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard bindings, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.
My take
The Ride C-6 Snowboard Binding is an all-mountain-focused binding with top-tier performance in mind. It is one of the go-to and fan-favorite bindings that Ride makes.
About the bindings I own
- Model:** **2022 Ride C-6 Binding
- Size: Men Large
- Burton channel compatible: No
- Mini disc: No
About me
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 180lbs
- Experience: 10 years of snowboarding
Test conditions
- When I bought these: March 2022
- Days tested: 17
- Board: Ride burnout
- Boot: Adidas Lexicon
- Where I’ve used it: Tahoe, Brighton
- Terrain: All mountain, park, powder, and rails.
How they perform
What I was looking for
I was on the hunt for a top-tier, all-mountain binding; something I could ride anywhere on a resort and get the consentent performance and feedback regardless of where I was riding at. I was also on the lookout for something with good padding and shock absorption.
Why I chose this gear
I chose this binding because of the simple colorway that looks great on most boards. I also heard great things about it. I definitely did consider a few other valid choices, like the Union Forces, but had a friend that gave me the Rides. So I’m glad I got to try them first.
What I love about them
- Binding adjustability in boots: These bindings come with a heel cup and the strap adjustability is simple and easy to use.
- Stance adjustability: They have a super solid design for the baseplate and shows me the degrees I want for that stance angle.
- Comfort: The overall padding and boot fit make it a very comfy ride and feel. After a full day of riding, my feet still feel comfortable.
- Shock absorption: The glass-filled nylon base tray with strong padding makes a very sturdy, padded base. I notice the padding helps with big jumps as well.
- Responsiveness: There is top tier response in all conditions with the C- series performance chassis. It makes the board feel flickable within the tree runs.
- Straps: The straps do their job very well, keeping my ankles and toes locked in and snug.
- Buckles: The buckles are made with high-quality metal that is designed to work under very cold temps and last a long time.
- Durability: This C-series binding is known as one of Ride’s most durable bindings in the line-up. The full design holds up with tough riding for a long period of time. I can sense some of the wear and usage on my binding, but nothing has broken at any point.
- Weight: This is not the lightest binding on the market, but it’s also not too heavy. When considering the bang-for-the-buck price with the durability, it makes up for it. Weight does affect the way the board will feel and flex. C-6 has the balanced weight I want.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Carving: I think the carving feel could be a bit better. From heel to toe edge on a hard pack is more noticeable over other conditions.
- Ease of turn initiation: Getting into the turn feels nice, but first leaning into the turn could be a little faster. I notice this difference most on the ankle or side piece on the base plate. It affects the side-to-side lean feeling while in a turn.
- Buttering: This is a bit more on the stiffer side for a binding. Though I can still butter with it, it will just take extra effort and muscle.
Favorite moment with this gear
My best moment with this binding was in Tahoe building a jump not too far from a pass road. Nothing gets better than a sunny day in Tahoe while building a booter with the boys, then just throwing down on a mellow sesh off a good jump. When my bindings and gear feel great, so do I.
Value for the money vs. other options
This is a 100% bang-for-the-buck item, and it’s going to be a top-tier choice for a more mid-range budget buyer. In my opinion, it’s hard to find a better deal when it comes to a great all-mountain binding. These bindings hold up to the hardest riding. In a similar price range would be the Union Forces, which are slightly more expensive and are not as high-quality.
Final verdict
Overall, the Ride C-6 binding is a very solid binding with a ton to offer to the everyday ripper and someone seeking a fair price point on a binding that will truly just hold up against hard riding. I was impressed with the quality and board feel.
Ride C-6 Snowboard Bindings · 2022
- We price match
- Returnable