Snowboard Bindings: Classic or Step On, and What Flex
The binding is the link between you and the board. An expensive board with a bad or wrong binding rides poorly, while an average board with a well-chosen binding rides well. Here we explain how to choose: classic binding or Burton Step On, what flex, and how it fits your boot and your board. The examples are from Bent Metal, Drake and Burton, which we have in stock.
Classic binding or Step On
A classic binding has two straps, one over the ankle and one over the toes. You step in, tighten the two straps with the ratchets and you are ready. It works with any snowboard boot and is the cheaper option. The downside is that every time you have to sit down or bend over.
The Burton Step On has no straps. The boot has metal points at the front and on the heel and clicks into the binding when you step into it. You get off the lift, step in and go, without sitting in the snow. To get out, you pull the lever on the side of the binding.
The catch is that Step On only works with Step On boots. The binding and the boot are bought together. We have the Burton Step On Re:Flex in men's and women's versions, the Burton Step On Genesis Re:Flex and the boots Burton Highshot Step On and Highshot X Step On.
Which one should you pick? If you ride with kids, if your knees do not enjoy sitting down and standing up twenty times a day, or if you simply want more time riding, Step On is worth it. If you already have boots that fit you well, a classic binding is the more sensible choice.
Binding flex
As with boards, flex runs from 1 to 10 and is listed for every binding on the site. Manufacturers also give the stiffness of the highback separately, for example 6/10 or 7/10.
A soft binding (4-5) is forgiving. It turns easily in the park and is pleasant for beginners. These are the Bent Metal Metta (women's) and the Bent Metal Joint, Beam and Bolt. For kids there is the Bent Metal BMX.
Medium (6-7) is for most riders, from the groomers to the whole mountain: the Bent Metal Anvil, Axtion 2 and the women's Bent Metal Stylist 2.
Stiff (8 and up) passes the board's power on right away. You need it for speed, carving and big jumps: the Bent Metal Transfer 2, the women's Bent Metal Forte 2 and the Drake Super Sport, which has a flex of 9 out of 10.
The binding has to match the board
The rule is simple: the binding should be about as stiff as the board. A stiff binding on a soft park board makes it nervous. A soft binding on a stiff carving board cannot press it onto the edge, and you lose what you paid for.
If your board has a flex of 5, look at bindings around 4-6. If it is 7-8, look at 7-8. Board flex is explained in the article how to choose a snowboard.
Mounting: 4x4, 3x3 and Channel
Boards have three kinds of mounting holes. Most are 4x4, four screws in a square. Older Burton boards are 3x3 (3D), and newer Burton boards use Channel, a track in which the screws slide.
The Bent Metal bindings in our stock come with a disk for 4x4 and Burton Channel. The Drake ones come with a disk for 4x4 and 3x3. The Bent Metal Transfer 2 has a small disk (Small Disk), and most other models a large one (Large Axis Disk). The smaller disk lets the board flex more freely under your foot.
If you do not know which kind of board you have, look at the holes or bring it to us.
Bent Metal or Drake
Bent Metal is from the same group as Lib Tech and GNU, and Drake is Northwave's binding brand. Both make bindings for every style. The difference is in feel and details: on Bent Metal the driveplate (the plate under your foot) is made of magnesium fiber, while on Drake the chassis is Delta Evo or Light Saber and the driveplate is Natural Cant Evo.
The best test is to try them with your boot. The binding should hold the boot snugly without it shifting back and forth, and the straps should sit across the middle of your toes and over the ankle without pressing.
The boot matters more than the binding
If your budget is limited, spend more on the boot. A boot that does not fit well will torment you with any binding.
Northwave has several closure systems: SLS is quick tightening with a handle, Spin is a dial, and Hybrid combines the two. The Northwave Decade Pro has classic laces plus SLS. HeelLicker is the system that holds the heel down so it does not lift in a heel-side turn.
For the Black-Line QuickSett system we have the QuickSett Origin 2.0 and its adapter rings, as well as an adapter for Step On, which is used together with a B2 ring. QuickSett does not fit every binding, so ask us before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Are Burton Step On bindings compatible with regular boots?
No. Step On bindings only work with Step On boots, so the binding and the boot are bought together. A classic two-strap binding fits any snowboard boot.
What binding flex for a board with a flex of 5?
Around 4-6. The binding should be about as stiff as the board. For a board with a flex of 7-8, look at a binding of 7-8.
What snowboard binding for a beginner?
Soft, with a flex of 4-5. It forgives mistakes and turns easily. These are the Bent Metal Joint, Beam and Bolt, the women's Bent Metal Metta, and for kids the Bent Metal BMX.
Do Bent Metal bindings fit a Burton board with Channel?
Yes. The Bent Metal bindings we carry come with a disk for 4x4 and for Burton Channel. The Drake ones come with a disk for 4x4 and 3x3.
Which matters more, the snowboard boot or the binding?
The boot. If your budget is limited, spend more on it, because a boot that does not fit well will torment you with any binding.
Not sure?
The easiest way to choose a binding is with your boot in hand. Bring your boots and your board to the shop at Golo Bardo 6A in Sofia. We will mount them, show you how to set the angles and stance, and you can try them on the spot. If you would rather ask first, call +359 887 800 575 or write to us.
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