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Strap down for a smooth day of riding

Snowboard Bindings are a vital piece of your snowboarding equipment as they complete the connection from your feet to your board. With the right bindings, you’ll get smooth and precise control and response from the energy transferred from your body. You want to make an informed decision when purchasing bindings, which is why this guide will cover fitting bindings, the main components, how your riding style factors in, binding types and snowboard compatibility. 

Only need info on a specific topic? Jump down to what you're looking for:
01. Binding Fit
02. Components
03. Riding Style
     -Ability Level
     -Flex
     -Best Use
04. Binding Type
05. Binding Compatibility

 

FIT
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The first thing you’ll notice in snowboard bindings is that they don’t come in a wide array of sizes like boots do. They are typically manufactured in general sizes that will fit a range of boot sizes such as Small, Medium, Large. On our product pages you’ll see that we include the boot sizes that correspond with each size of that particular model, however some boots are bulkier than others so trying on bindings with your boots is the best way to ensure a perfect fit.

A good binding to boot fit will be snug but not compromise your boot’s flex. Step into your binding as if you were to strap in and make sure your heel is well into the back of the binding, your boot shouldn’t hang off the binding excessively. Do up the straps so that your boot feels secure and doesn’t shift around but still allows your boot to flex freely. If you find the straps painfully tight or if you have a lot of overhanging strap when tightened, you may want to try a different binding.

WOMEN'S
Ladies’ bindings are made in smaller sizes to accommodate smaller boot sizes and will typically have highbacks designed to fit shorter and narrower calves.

 

COMPONENTS
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  • BUCKLES
    Most bindings feature a ratchet buckle on the ankle and toe straps respectively, made from a lightweight but durable material such as aluminum. Most manufacturers include a mechanism to make feeding the ladder strap easier and to allow a quick release.

    STRAPS
    Toe Cap Strap: Sits in front of the boot, wraps around the toe box and helps keep the boot locked in the heel cup. Generally offers better response and energy transfer.
    Traditional Toe Strap: Usually on less expensive bindings as it doesn’t perform as well as the toe cap. Sits over your boot to keep the toe in place.
    Ankle Strap: As its name implies, this strap sits just above the ankle and does most of the work keeping you strapped in. You’ll typically find more padding on these straps.
    One piece: Resembling a harness, one-piece straps are common on rear-entry bindings or youth bindings. It is essentially one large strap that covers your boot from ankle to toe.

HIGHBACKS
The highback is the vertical piece that extends from the heel cup up to the lower calf, cradling the back of the boot. A few key things to note about highbacks:
-It helps you control the heelside of your board
-A shorter/softer highback will benefit new riders and park riders who may require more flexibility.
-Stiffer/taller highbacks work well for more advanced riders looking for speed and control.
-Most bindings offer some forward lean adjustment for quick placement fixes on the go.

BASEPLATE
The baseplate is the pad between your foot and the board, here are a few things to consider when looking at baseplates:
-Cushioning on the baseplate will vary immensely. Some models add extra padding in the heel as a shock absorber and some focus primarily on enhancing power transmission for more aggressive riders.
-Like the cushioning, the materials used in the baseplate construction vary. Generally, as you go up in price, stronger materials are used to optimize board flex and power transmission.
-Some bindings have some level of canting – a slight tilt in the footbed- to give you a more natural stance.

RIDING STYLE
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The Bindings you pick out should match the kind of riding you prefer to do and your ability level. We’ll break down what to look for depending on your skill level, the flex of the binding and what terrain or riding style you prefer.

 

ABILITY
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  • BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE
    Like snowboards and snowboard boots, newer riders will benefit from softer more flexible bindings. Something with a slightly lower highback can also be helpful as it is more forgiving and will help you get the feel for linking your turns together.

 

  • ADVANCED/EXPERT
    If you’re already a strong rider and like to carve at high speeds or prefer more challenging terrain, a stiffer binding with a taller highback will offer better response and power transmission for quicker turns.

FLEX
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When it comes to selecting a binding, the flex is one of the most important components to consider. Most importantly, start by assessing how flexible your boots are. If you have very soft boots, it doesn’t make sense to get a very stiff binding, ideally they should be a pretty close match. In our product descriptions you’ll note that each binding has a flex rating ranging from 1-10, 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest.


  • VERY SOFT
    1-2 Flex Rating

  • SOFT
    3-4 Flex Rating

  • MEDIUM
    5-6 Flex Rating

  • STIFF
    7-8 Flex Rating

  • VERY STIFF
    9-10 Flex Rating

 

BEST USE
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Finally, your riding style or preferred terrain should also factor into your binding choice, here’s how you can narrow down your search:

  • ALL-MOUNTAIN
    If you’re looking for something versatile, this is it. All-Mountain bindings will do well on groomed snow, powder and park. Choose a binding with a flex that suits your skill level, typically something soft-medium. If you’re a racer or hard charging rider, pick something stiffer.

 

  • FREESTYLE
    With big jumps, rails and boxes in mind, freestyle bindings will usually have some kind of extra shock absorption in the baseplate. They are also softer flexing to aid in recovery from landing jumps and are easier to maneuver.

 

  • FREERIDE/POWDER
    This includes backcountry and unmarked terrain. For better control on unpredictable terrain and deep powder, stiff bindings are recommended with taller highbacks.

 

BINDING TYPE
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  • TRADITIONAL
    The majority of snowboard bindings will fall into this category. Traditional bindings are any model which require you to strap in with ratchet buckles. These offer the most adjustability, support and cushioning. They can, however, be difficult to fasten properly, especially when wearing gloves or in very cold weather.

     

 

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    SPEED ENTRY
    Speed Entry bindings include rear-entry where the highbacks recline to allow your boot to slip in and out easily. These bindings will usually keep the boot in place with a one-piece strap or harness that applies uniform pressure from ankle to toe. Because of the limited adjustability these are often preferred by casual riders. Step-In bindings also fall into this category. These bindings simply require the rider to step into the binding and a locking mechanism holds them in place without the use of any straps. While this sounds very convenient, these bindings only work with a boot designed specifically for the binding.

     

 

BINDING COMPATIBILITY
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A Binding’s baseplate will feature a disc or bolts to mount them to a snowboard. These are designed to be able to adjust your bindings to fit your preferred stance. When you’re picking out bindings, make sure they are compatible with the snowboard you have in mind. Typically, most manufacturer’s make universal discs or sell the bindings with multiple discs to ensure compatibility with more than one hole pattern. Each of our bindings are listed with its compatible hole patterns but if you’re unsure about compatibility, please give us a call.

  • 4X4 INSERTS

    -Refers to the spacing between the holes (cm)
    -Quite common for disc mounting
  • 2X4 INSERTS
    -Similar to 4x4 but offers more mounting options as the holes are closer together
    -Again, compatible with almost all boards

 

  • BURTON 3D

    -Burton specific
    -Other brands make bindings that are compatible with this hole pattern, however the mounting options are more restricted than the traditional 4x4 or 2x4
  • THE CHANNEL
    -Burton specific, the EST Burton bindings are designed for The Channel but most Burton bindings come with a compatible disc.
    -Some other brands offer a The Channel specific disc with their bindings or you can purchase one from the manufacturer

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Still have some questions? We've got an extremely knowledgeable and friendly team at Corbetts. Visit us at our retail location or give us a call and we'll help you find the perfect boots to fit your needs.

Need help with more snowboarding gear? Check out our other Snowboarding Buying & Sizing Guides.

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