What Kind of Snowboard Bindings Should You Buy?

Whether you’re a new snowboarder or someone who’s seen his/her fair share of hills, one issue will inevitably hit you as one you need to handle quickly:

Your snowboard bindings.

What are snowboard bindings?

They’re the part of the snowboard that encase your foot, allowing you to attach your boots and remain fastened to the board itself. Once you’ve purchased a board that suits your skills (finding the right length, style, and even design), the second part of the board you have to handle will always be the bindings.

There is more than one type of snowboard binding – make sure you peruse this list before you decide what’s best for you:

-Step-in Bindings:

Step-in Bindings are pretty self-explanatory, allowing you to “step in” to your bindings with maximum convenience. This is typically better for the beginner who isn’t necessarily looking for peak performance. Beginners or novices are usually looking for convenience over performance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a step-in binding won’t work for more advanced boarders, either. Make sure you shop around to find the step-in bindings that most closely meet your convenience and performance needs.

-Strap-on Bindings:

Strap-on Bindings look like shoes with Velcro laces – a back plate guides your boot in while two straps cover the base of your foot as well as the toes. These are typically used with “soft boots,” so make sure that you have the correct and optimal boots before you decide to opt for a strap-on binding. This type of binding will typically give you greater control over your board, making you more agile, but will take an extra moment to “lace up.”

-Plate and Lever Bindings:

These bindings, associated with hard boots, will give you the most direct control over your snowboard. With more control can come less comfort, particularly if you’re a novice snowboarder who doesn’t need that degree of control for your boarding attempts. But if you’re serious about snowboarding, these might be the right bindings for you, as they cut out on lost energy between your feet and the board, making the board more like an extension of your body than something you simply “ride on.”

This brief guide to the different types of snowboard bindings should help you get an idea of the different options available to you. If you’ve already got a snowboard bind that works well for you and gives you an adequate amount of control and safety, there’s no need to make any changes. But if you’re looking for an upgrade, you might want to explore one of these snowboard binding options.

Photo Credits: Ted Percival

Originally posted 2009-07-07 05:41:57.

This post involves:

bindings, plate and lever, step-in, strap-on, velcro laces

... and focuses on:

snowboard tips, snowboarding

Posted by Ski Snowboarder on February 25, 2010 in snowboard tips, snowboarding. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.