Tl;dr: Snowboard bindings are one of the most important pieces of gear you’ll need to buy when snowboarding. However, while most bindings are made to fit almost any board, they are not universal. Characteristics like flex (stiffness), mounting style, and riding style all impact which bindings are best suited for which boards.

I got my first pair of bindings 12 years ago along with my first board. For me, it was a fairly simple endeavor. My local board shop had a deal on board and binding combos, so I took advantage. The staff essentially did the work for me, pairing a fairly intermediate, middle-of-the-road board with some intermediate-level bindings. However, over season after season of riding, I’ve become intimately acquainted with their mechanics and how they can impact the riding experience.

Today, choosing the right binding, while no less crucial, is more complex than ever. I mean, do you go with EST, Skate Tech, or Step Ons? And that’s before taking riding style and flex preference into consideration.

This guide will walk you through what to take into consideration when making your purchase,

But first, let’s get into exactly what a binding is and why they’re so important when snowboarding.

What Are Snowboard Bindings?

Snowboard bindings are essentially removable pieces of equipment that keep your feet attached to the snowboard. Made up of materials that range from plastic to carbon fiber to a composite of materials, they keep you attached to your board and are essential in helping you control it.

Whether you’re making basic turns or laying down big carves, doing anything but going straight on a snowboard requires riders to shift their weight and transfer their energy through their feet. To do this, all the individual parts that make up a binding have to work together. Here are the most important ones you should know and what they do:

• Disc: Starting with the most basic component, the disc is the main mounting component, which is screwed directly into the snowboard. The disc is adjustable for different stance widths.
• Baseplate: The baseplate goes around the mounting disc and is the component of the binding that houses your foot. The baseplate rotates around the mounting disc to allow for a variety of stance angles.
• Footbed: The footbed is a piece of foam or rubber material that sits above the binding baseplate. Thicker footbeds are good for absorbing the chatter of rough or icy terrain and the impact from big jumps. Thinner footbeds are better for increasing the board feel and energy transfer.
• Highback: The highback is the part of the binding that cups the rider’s calf and assists with transferring energy from the leg and foot to the heel edge of the board. Some bindings come with a forward lean adjuster, which allows riders to angle the highbacks forward, pre-bending the knees and allowing for more aggressive carves.
• Ankle Strap: The ankle strap is the part of the binding that locks a rider’s foot into the baseplate at the ankle. They can be made of foam, rubber, or a composite and should feel comfortable even when fully tightened.
• Toe Strap: The toe strap is the part of the binding that locks the toe into the baseplate. Like ankle straps, they can be made of foam, rubber, or a composite and can be tightened over the toe or on the front of the toe.
• Ratchet: Ratchets are the mechanism by which ankle and toe straps can be tightened or released.

What to Consider When Buying Bindings

Now that you know what the main components are that make up a pair of bindings, here are some things to consider before pulling the trigger on your purchase.

What Size Bindings Should I Buy?

Binding size loosely correlates to foot size. If you have a larger foot size, it will most likely mean a large binding size. However, it should be noted that bindings don’t come in true boot sizes but rather options of small, medium, and large. Your foot can fall somewhere in between sizes, which is why I always recommend trying the binding out before buying. This is doubly important because all snowboard boots and bindings are made differently.

Does Skill Level Matter When Buying Bindings?

Yes. Skill level is another important factor when purchasing bindings. Softer bindings have more flex, which means energy is transferred to the edge of the board gradually rather than all at once. This makes them a really good choice for beginners who are still learning the ropes as it makes for a more mellow ride.

Medium-flex bindings are great for the intermediate and advanced crowd who want snappier response times.

Finally, stiff bindings are usually the choice for advanced to expert riders. The occasional discomfort from the stiffness is a necessary tradeoff for more responsiveness that lets you tackle the most demanding terrain.

In my personal opinion, unless you envision spending very little time on the mountain, it’s always best to get a binding that is a little above your skill level as it will allow you to grow into it as you progress. This is especially true for beginner riders and kids as they tend to progress the fastest. Bindings can be an expensive investment, and it would be a shame to be back on the market shopping around again after only a season or two.

Which Bindings Are Best for My Riding Style?

Another important factor to consider when buying bindings is your riding style.

• Freestyle: If you ride a lot of park, a softer-flexing binding might be ideal regardless of skill level, as it will give you the range of motion and maneuverability to really tweak and set up your tricks.

• Freeride: Stiffer bindings are usually the binding of choice for freeriders who take their turns off-piste and on steep terrain. However, riders who like to get surfy with it and seek out powder may want a softer setup that lends itself to big, mellow powder turns.

• All-Mountain: For riders who do a little bit of everything, a medium flex is an excellent compromise. While not the most forgiving or responsive, these kinds of bindings will be reliable across the resort and are best paired with all-mountain boards and all-mountain boots.

Features to Consider When Buying Snowboard Bindings

We touched on this earlier, but while there is a fair bit of compatibility between bindings and boards made by different brands, you’ll want to pay attention to the mounting system used by the binding company and the insert pattern used by the board maker. The main systems/patterns are as follows:

• 4 x 4 Insert Pattern: The old standard of snowboard mounting systems. In this pattern, the insert holes are placed 4cm apart, which allows for modest customization of stance width on the board. Most binding companies offer models that fit this pattern.

• 4 x 2 Insert Pattern: The 4 x 2 pattern is a modern update to the 4 x 4, allowing for a greater amount of customization when it comes to stance width. Boards with a 4 x 2 pattern can accommodate most bindings. However, bindings that use a mini disc for their mounting setup can only be mounted using a 4 x 2 pattern.

• The Burton Channel System: While most snowboard brands offer boards with one of the above insert patterns, Burton has moved away from insert holes altogether. Instead, their boards use what’s known as The Channel System (a long groove under each foot that the binding is then secured to using two screws). This allows for the greatest amount of customization of stance angles and stance width.

Other factors to consider when buying bindings are things like forward lean and highback adjustability. Not every binding comes with these options and the ones that do tend to run a higher price. So consider whether you’ll need that level of adjustability or would prefer to save money and go for a more basic option.

Also, different binding companies utilize different proprietary technologies that, depending on your skill level and riding style, might impact your purchasing decision.

• NOW Skate Tech: NOW Bindings’ patented Skate Tech technology mimics the way a skateboard transfers energy to the board’s edges. The binding’s baseplate is constructed around a hinge called a hangar that allows a rider's foot to pivot back and forth in the binding, increasing the responsiveness of turns.

• Union Mini Disc: Union recently introduced their mini-disc mounting system, which gives riders increased feedback from their board, allowing them to make important adjustments in how they ride.

• Step-On/Step-In Bindings: Burton’s Step-On bindings or Clew’s Step-In bindings are alternatives to traditional ones that forego the ankle and toe straps in favor of a click-in system that allows riders to step in and out of their bindings quickly and easily. Keep in mind, though, that Step-On bindings require compatible boots for the system to function.

How to Choose the Right Binding

As you can see, choosing the right binding can be a complex task. So below, I’ve provided some personas to better illustrate how factors like riding style and experience level impact the buying decision.

Sergio

Sergio is just getting into the sport. After renting a few times last season, he’s decided that he’s ready to take snowboarding more seriously. While still too green to fully understand his riding style, he knows that he’ll be in the sport for the long run.

Sergio would benefit from:

• A medium-flex binding that might be a little above his skill level at first but will aid him as he progresses in the sport
• A softer-flexing, beginner-friendly binding that features premium construction and a forward-lean adjustment that allow him to dial up the response on carves as he gains skill

Binding examples: Salomon Pact, Nitro Rambler

Rob

Rob is a lifelong shredder who’s about to celebrate his 45th birthday. He’s happy laying down big euro carves on fresh corduroy so that he doesn’t reaggravate a knee injury.

Rob would benefit from:

• A soft-flexing binding with adjustable highbacks so that he can match his stance perfectly and not put unnecessary pressure on his knee
• Soft or medium flex Step-On/Step-In binding so that he can still get the top-notch performance he’s looking for without having to sit down to strap in

Binding examples: Flow Fenix, Burton Step-On Re:Flex

Alicia

Alicia averages around 40 days a season and likes to challenge herself on off-piste runs at her local resort. As she lives on the East Coast, she routinely finds herself in tight trees with icy conditions.

Alicia would benefit from:

• A stiff binding that gives her the responsiveness she needs to navigate tricky conditions
• A premium, high-percentage carbon fiber binding that doesn’t compromise responsiveness or durability.

Binding examples: Burton Lexa X, Ride CL-6

Find the Best Snowboard Binding for You

At the end of the day, the best binding for you is going to be the one that matches your riding ability, your mounting system, and your personal preferences. Our Curated Winter Sports Experts can not only help you wade through the different brands and tech offered in today’s saturated snowboarding market, but they can help you understand what you need and what you don’t need, saving you a pretty penny in the long run. Best of all, the advice is completely free.

So take advantage and get everything you need to make this the best season yet before you get to the mountain. Happy shredding!