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

My take

The K2 Formula is an affordable binding with a 6/10 flex. It is very responsive and ideal for an intermediate to advanced all-mountain rider looking for durability and reliability.

About the gear

• Model: 2021 K2 Formula Snowboard Bindings
• Size: Medium
• Burton channel compatible: Yes
• Mini disc: No

About me

• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 185 lbs
• Experience: 15 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: December 2022
• Days tested: 40 days
• Board: K2 Manifest
• Boot: K2 Darko
• Where I’ve used it: British Columbia
• Terrain: Pow, trees, groomers, side hits

How them perform

What I was looking for

I was looking for a durable pair of bindings that would get me down the mountain safely.

Why I chose this gear

These bindings came as a package with my K2 Manifest board. I eventually replaced them with the Union Contact Pro. Since I have had knee injuries in the past and I don’t really like to go full send anymore, I wanted something softer and more forgiving. Other options that are comparable to the K2 Formula in stiffness and response include the Arbor Cypress, Burton Custom X and Salomon Alibi Pro.

What I love about them

• Binding adjustability in boots: All of the adjustments on this binding are tool-less. This means I can fix most issues on the hill without any tools or other equipment. I did have one issue with the adjustment on the highback: both sides of the highback need to be set at the same notch or the binding may click when transitioning to the heel edge.
• Responsiveness: The stiffness of this binding gives it a very responsive board to binding feel. This was ideal for deep carving on groomers, or quick adjustments in the trees.
• Straps: The straps on this binding are super durable. After two seasons of being ridden really hard, the padding started to get pretty worn out, but that’s to be expected from most bindings on the market.
• Durability: The construction overall is pretty sturdy. Any issue I had was easily repaired and they never left me stranded on the mountain.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Buttering: I would prefer a softer, more forgiving binding for dialing in butters. Typically someone who is buttering prefers to ease back into the board. Too much responsiveness usually equals less steeze.
• Buckles: I found that these ratchets wore out more quickly (less that 30 days of riding) than I expected. I ended up replacing them with Union ratchets.
• Stance adjustability: Very standard adjustability. Nothing more, nothing less.
• Comfort: A lot of hard plastic on the binding makes it less cushy than other options in its category.

Value for the money vs. other options

K2 products are generally priced very affordably for the technology they are offering, and the Formula binding is no exception. The tool-less adjustment and durable construction make the binding well worth the money, but you’ll get more comfort and better ratchets from a Union, Arbor, or Burton binding.

Final verdict

These bindings served my needs quite well when I purchased them: they were affordable, durable, and never left me stranded at the top of a chairlift. Moving forward as an intermediate-advanced rider, I would prefer to spend a little more for extra comfort and more reliable ratchets.