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