Snowboard Bindings - What should I get?
Bindings are an essential piece of equipment that ensure your boots remain secured to the snowboard, allowing for optimal control.
Similar to other snowboarding gear, bindings vary in flex ratings from soft to stiff, which cater to different styles of riding. Bindings consist of multiple components, all of which serve a vital purpose in the binding’s overall functionality.
Highback – The highback is a vertical component situated at the rear of your bindings. It functions as a support and stabilizer for the backside of your boot, giving you added control and stability. During turns, the highback plays a crucial role in providing control as you twist and steer your snowboard.
Heelcup – The section of the binding that encircles the heel of your snowboard boots is referred to as the “heelcup.” Its primary function is to prevent you from slipping out of the bindings’ backside, and it also serves as the attachment point for the highback. Heelcups can be made from a variety of materials, with aluminum or magnesium metal and dense polycarbonate plastic being the most commonly utilized.
Forward Lean Adjuster – Forward lean refers to the degree of “forward angle” on the highback of a binding. Increasing the forward lean results in a more pronounced forward push on your calves, causing you to bend at the knees and adding power and precision to your heelside turns.
Footbed – The area your snowboard boot rests which varies in material, comfort and angles to release pressure on your knees.
Base Plate – The base plate is located under the footbed. It’s a disk used to attach the binding to the snowboard with screws. Ensure your Base Plates are compatible with your snowboard binding mounting system which could be a 4×4, 2×4, Burton’s 3-Hole System (discontinued) or Burton’s Channel system.
Toe Strap – The primary purpose of the toe strap is to secure the front of your boot firmly against the binding’s heelcup. Use the ladder and ratchet to tighten or loosen.
Ankle Strap – The ankle strap is a crucial component that secures your foot to the snowboard. It fastens from the inside to the outside of your boot, and its main purpose is to keep your foot in place. Use the ladder and ratchet to tighten or loosen.
TYPES OF BINDINGS
Bindings with Straps
Strap-in bindings are the traditional and popular option for snowboarders. They are user-friendly, dependable, and responsive, and have been the industry standard for many years. All you have to do is step into the bindings, tighten the straps, and you’re ready to ride. In stock at Oz Extreme.
Rear-Entry Bindings
Rear-entry bindings are identified by their highback that drops down backward, creating an opening for the boot to enter from the back. This type of binding is usually associated with the Flow snowboard brand, but other brands have also experimented with their own variations of rear-entry bindings over the years.
Step-On Bindings
Step-On bindings are a recent innovation in product design made by Burton. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, snowboard rentals at resorts often included step-in boots and bindings, however, they were criticised for their subpar performance and eventually disappeared. Burton’s Step-On bindings are a revitalised and vastly improved version of this once-obsolete binding type. Once you step onto the binding, your boot’s heel and toe will snap and lock into position, making them very user-friendly. These bindings are only compatible with Step On Boots. Coming to Oz Extreme in 2024.