Expert Review: Ride C-6 Snowboard Bindings · 2022
Published on 11/19/2022 · 4 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the snowboard bindings, which I purchased with my own money in March of 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.
Toe Strap
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.
The High back
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.
The buckles
C-6 Heel cup
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.
Padding and Overall shot
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.
Base Plate Padding
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.
