Expert Review: Ride C-8 MD Black Snowboard Bindings
This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard bindings, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.
All photos courtesy of Ian S.
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard bindings, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.
My take
The Ride C-8 MD is a versatile binding for an intermediate or advanced rider who wants responsiveness and versatility to go pretty much anywhere on the mountain.
Eva footbed - they stay nice and clean, nowhere for snow to build up!
About the gear I own
- Model: Ride C-8 Binding
- Size: L
- Burton channel compatible: Yes
- Mini disc: Yes
About me
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 190lbs
- Experience: 25 years of snowboarding
Test conditions
- When I bought these: October 2021
- Days tested: 40
- Board: Salmon Dancehaul 157
- Boot: 32 TM-2
- Where I’ve used it: Tahoe, Utah
- Terrain: Trees, steeps, park, backcountry, groomers, ice
How they perform
What I was looking for
I was looking for a responsive binding that I could rely on, day-in, day-out, no matter the conditions or terrain.
Tool-free ankle strap - flip it over to make them stiffer or softer!
Why I chose this gear
After shopping for and demoing some different bindings, I loved the comfort and responsiveness. They are also very adjustable. One of my favorite features is the flip-over ankle strap. Without any tools, I can make it stiff or more relaxed, so I can charge hard in the morning and ride it a little easier in the afternoon.
I was strongly considering the Rome Katana. I have always loved the responsiveness and feel of aluminum, and the Katana is one of the most customizable bindings on the market. It was a close choice, but I decided to go with the Rides because of the tools-free adjustable stiffness on the ankle strap.
Flexible toe web wraps the boot and holds great!
Mini disc - can accommodate standard or IST boards
What I love about them
- Binding adjustability in boots: The heel cup can be moved forward and backward to accommodate different boot sizes and really dial in the fit. The straps also have tool-free adjustability to adjust the length.
- Stance adjustability: With high back rotation, these bindings work great at any angle.
- Comfort: The adjustable ankle strap makes these very versatile and can be stiffer or softer on the fly. The ankle strap does not have a lot of padding; however, if it starts to pinch near the end of the day, I can simply flip it over to make it a bit softer.
- Shock absorption: There is a good amount of dampening in the footbed thanks to a full-length cushion.
- Responsiveness: The bindings are super quick, particularly when riding with the stiffer side of the ankle strap.
- Carving: These bindings carve like a dream. The toes have just a touch of ramp, so even a bigger boot on a narrow board should not have any issues with toe or heel drag.
- Straps: The toe straps have a stretch webbing that really hugs the toes to hold them in. The ankle strap is a single piece of high-density polyurethane that molds to most boots, locking in tight for great responsiveness.
- Buckles: These are super easy to strap down or release with gloves or mittens. There was a break-in period of a few days. I have had no issues with them releasing or loosening unexpectedly.
- Weight: These are pretty lightweight. The composite construction and simple/minimalist design keep the weight down.
- Durability: The highback padding shows some wear and breakdown, but this shouldn’t affect performance. They should last a long time, and Ride has always been great for the availability of replacement parts.
Custom sizing - adjust the heelcup to your boot size to nail the fit
Issues I’ve encountered
- Buttering: These are stiffer bindings, so they are not the most comfortable for all-day buttering, but they can lock in pretty well from some quick/high-speed ground jibs.
Tool free forward lean adjustment
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite moment was dropping cliffs and pillows at Brighton. These can take to the air and handle some big landings while also being damp in rutted-out landings.
Value for the money vs. other options
These are a great value among top-of-the-line bindings on the market. The C-8s are at the lower end of the spectrum. I was between these and the Rome Katanas, but the C-8s cost a bit less.
Final verdict
The Ride C-8 MDs are one of the best daily bindings out there. They can handle freestyle, hard carving, and steeps. There’s just enough adjustability to get the perfect fit, and the adjustable ankle strap is a game changer for giving me flexibility on how I ride them, and I can change it up from run to run.
