The Best Snowboard Bindings of 2024-2025

Park riders are going to love the ultralightweight feel of the Union Flite Pro ($180). As the name suggests, this freestyle binding is built for air: The light weight gives it a skateboard feel when putting lines together in the terrain park. Plus, the soft flex gives you the mobility to tweak tricks and make surfy turns.

Going big? No problem. The EVA bushings will soak up that shock if you overshoot a big jump. And the Duraflex construction and 3D aluminum heel cup allow it to take a beating.

So, you can keep trying to ride out that rainbow rail without worrying about your bindings breaking when you slide out and bail. And on the off chance that they do, the lifetime warranty on baseplates and heel cups of the Flite Pro has you covered.

If you’d rather step in quickly and get riding than having to fiddle with straps every time you get off the lift, System MTN Men’s Rear-Entry Step-In Bindings ($120) are a great choice.

Instead of strapping and unstrapping every time you want in and out of the bindings, these bindings feature highbacks that lay down so you can kick your feet in, then pull the binding back up to lock yourself into your board.

A rear cable locks the highback in and is designed to tighten as pressure increases. So, the harder you carve, the stiffer and more responsive the highback is. When you want out, flip the lever, pull your boot out, and wait for the chair lift to come around.

The Men’s Rear-Entry Step-In Bindings are a solid budget pick.

If you want one binding for every type of terrain, the Union Force ($330) is the way to go. The Italian company’s all-mountain workhorse is built for everything from double blacks to deep powder and everything in between.

The 2024-2025 model is the Union’s 20th iteration of the Force. This year, it added the Exoframe 2.0 ankle straps for added durability and response. The Duraflex baseplates and highbacks are designed to maintain consistent flex in a wide range of temperatures. This gives you a predictable ride, so you won’t be surprised by a snappier response when the weather gets cold.

For added versatility, the forward lean and strap adjustment of the Force let you make adjustments on the fly, so you’ll be prepared for whatever terrain you find. If you need one binding that will handle everything, the Force is the way to go.

Also, the Force’s magnesium ratchets are stronger and lighter than the more common aluminum ratchets.

Stout and limber in the right spots, there’s a reason why the Union Legacy Women’s Snowboard Bindings ($260) are among the most popular at our local snowboard shops. Not entry-barrel and not premium carbon — which is pricier and stronger but in some instances, less durable than plastic — these heels bring clout to the table. 

This saddle took us from deep pow and drops to cliffy bottlenecks and tight, moguled trees. While cruising all over the mountain, we noticed the Duraflex ST Highback is more rigid than flexy. Laterally, we found the most freedom-of-limb while our boots were longitudinally locked in. Lightweight and porous-patterned, the grippy straps married our feet pretty well. And the toe strap is multi-positional, so it rests across the top or front of the toe box. 

The Forma Lab ankle belt is responsive toward the lateral side while the medial side is ever-so-slightly pillowed — not much, but it counts. Backing you up, the highback is on the stiffer end of the spectrum, and it’s also fairly wide: a consistent 5-inch wrap while some of our other favorite women’s highbacks have an hourglass shape and a 4- to 4.5-inch width. 

Aluminum ratchets are sturdy and easy to click down. On the flipside, the release lever loftily reaches through the buckle frame, making it easy to grab but we often accidentally freed the binding after tightening her down. Fix your habits early! Finding happy ground, the mid-flex baseplate cruises anywhere on the mountain without going buck wild or folding. On top, the cover between the plate and your outsoles — dubbed the OTE Fused Vaporlite Bushing — provides a natural feel while dampening chatter. 

If you want to switch up the positioning and lengths of the straps, heelcup, highback, and overall stance, you can. But this design is more catered to a ‘set it and leave it’ approach: The too-free strap hardware needs to be pulled out to adjust the length. The baseplate cover is screwed in, as are the settings of the highback and heelcup. That’s one area of improvement we’d like to see.

Overall, the Legacy Women’s Snowboard Bindings are a steady investment for park, freestyle, or freeride snowboarders looking for a durable, lightweight, responsive jacket that’ll go anywhere on the mountain. 

It’s almost embarrassing to admit the beating that our women’s Yes Conda ($330) snowboard bindings have endured. Almost. Clearly these whips are built for prowess down every run at the resort. 

We first pulled on these freeride jewels in 2016, and the ship didn’t sink until seven seasons later. Rest assured, they lived well, charging hard from the Jackson Hole sidecountry to Gold Hill Chutes at Telluride Ski Resort. R.I.P., dear thrones.

La crème de la crème comfort and a flush fit dances with locked-in security. The Conda’s responsiveness sailed us through tight trees, sat with us off cliff drops, and coasted off jumps. A solid hold and flex served us well through speedy turns and corduroy sprints without feeling like a wood plank. We also love how easy the plush baseplate cushion flips up for quick adjustments or tightens. And those ratchets? Steadfast chompers. Only one needed to be replaced over the years.  

Now upgraded the take with an Asymmetrical FRS strap, Asymmetrical FM highback, and the Hanger 3.0 baseplate. While this dress has evolved over the years — the straps are less cushy and heel plate has more cut-outs making the package more lightweight — those rich genes are still swirling in the Conda. If you’re not riding the step-in or step-on train, and love exploring the untamed lanes at your local zone, toss your lasso around this pair and don’t look back. 

Step-on bindings have come a long way since they first came out — they were basically a metal plate that hooked into your boots’ soles, with no highback or baseplate. The Burton Step On ($300) is a showcase of the advancements that step-on bindings have made since then.

The traditional highback and baseplate give you the feel of your favorite strap-in bindings with the convenience and speed of your favorite set of step-in bindings.

Built specifically to work with step-on boots, these bindings offer three points of attachment to make sure you don’t kick a leg out in the middle of a turn. And the single-component highback of the Step On sports zero lean for a more laid-back feel but can be adjusted to your preference.

Read Review: Click On, Ride Down: Burton Step On Binding Review

Already one of the most responsive bindings we’ve seen, the newest version of the Union Atlas ($370) has been re-engineered to tighten down response and durability. This all-mountain rockstar is bolstered with high-density Vaporlite bushings that are stiffer and more responsive than traditional Vaporlite with the same damping ability.

The highback is a blend of Duraflex and carbon fiber for added stiffness and a drop in weight, while the steel hardware bumps up durability. All of this adds up to a setup that delivers instant response and solid board connection, so your board will feel like an extension of your body.

Coming up on unexpected terrain? No problem: The quick, tool-free adjustment of the Atlas lets you stop and tweak your settings for whatever style of terrain lies ahead. Plus, the baseplate and heel cup come with a lifetime warranty.

Comfort is king with the Burton Malavita EST ($280). The AutoCANT Full-bed cushioning system uses dual-density EVA foam to settle your boot into the perfect riding position. This reduces fatigue and provides better board control over a long day of riding.

Canted highbacks follow the natural contours of the leg, adding to the control and comfort, and the zero-forward lean offers a relaxed, playful feel on the mountain.

The single-component baseplate features one material throughout, giving you a consistent ride on varied terrain. The B3 gel cushioning in the footbed is made to resist hardening to keep your ride the same no matter how cold it gets. This also helps it resist breaking down over repeated impacts, so feel free to stomp all the kickers you want.

We still don’t recommend clearing the landing. Your bindings will survive, but your knees might not. Don’t hesitate to check out the Malavita EST.

One of the OGs of the Burton binding line, the Cartel upgrades to be lighter and more responsive with the Burton Cartel X EXT ($330) all-terrain binding. For park rats, the new rubber wings in the lower part of the highback keep your boot in place while you hit the tabletops. Also, the highback hinge flexes with your leg for increased foot roll, less pressure, and easier ollies.

For big-mountain riders, the chassis has been tweaked to be more responsive for steeper terrain. And the rotating dial on the highback lets you adjust the forward lean to accommodate whatever terrain you find.

The Hammock ankle strap and highback hold your boot securely and enhance response, while the zero forward lean lets you customize your stance. The SensoryBED cushioning in the baseplate of the Cartel X EXT adds control and comfort for long days on the mountain.

An all-arounder, the Rome Vice ($300) was built to give you a great ride whether you’re in the park or hitting some off-trail powder. This lightweight binding offers a supportive feel and plenty of adjustment, so you can tune them in perfectly for however you ride.

The PivotMount feature lets you adjust the strap position to dial in how responsive you want it to be: looser for park and powder, tighter for big mountains and groomers. The mid-stiff flex rides the line between going steep and fast, but it offers enough flexibility to tweak a grab.

This is due to the AsymWrap tech, which eliminates the outer wrap of the heel cup to add flexibility for tweaking in the park while still maintaining the support to provide carving power on steep lines. There’s a super-grippy toe strap that locks your boot in for extra security, too.

If you’re looking for a feathery load that still backs you up, pick up the Vice.

The super-stiff GNU Freedom ($330) is built for big-mountain dominance. Starting at the bottom, the baseplate is built with superlight aerospace aluminum for a solid response on sketchy slopes.

Boasting a stiff asymmetrical highback, that spine contours to your leg for added comfort and reduced fatigue. It’s stiff enough to respond immediately to pressure for quick adjustments on steep terrain or speedy tree runs.

And when those runs get choppy, the triple-damping wrap helps absorb those bumps, so your knees won’t have to. Micro-buckles offer tool-free adjustments, so you can dial in your fit on the fly.

This Freedom offers traditional strap-in entry to dial in the fit, as well as a quick rear entry and exit option, so you can run to the lodge to beat the lunch rush. There’s also a triple-damping wrap that soaks up bumps from choppy, icy runs.

For ladies, the Arbor Sequoia ($250) are built for every aspect of the mountain, from groomed trails to tree runs to hitting up the terrain park. The System X baseplate efficiently transfers and distributes a rider’s energy onto the snowboard for a quick response.

The outsole features a TPE-damping rubber to absorb shock on choppy trails and hard landings when you finally hit that kicker you’ve been eying on your last few runs.

These bindings feature low-mounted asymmetrical highbacks that add comfort and freedom of movement. The pre-curved straps swing out of the way for easy entry and exit, and the heel has a secure, locked-in feel.

And the aluminum heel and buckles add durability without extra weight. And the universal disc lets you mount the Sequoia on any board, making this a great binding for bargain hunters.

Another great bargain binding, the Arbor Spruce ($200) offers a lot of bang for your buck. The adjustable EVA footbed is canted at 2.5 degrees to encourage a natural foot position, minimizing fatigue and maximizing comfort.

The asymmetrical highbacks contour to the lower legs for more comfort. The baseplate in the newest model has been bolstered with double the fiberglass for a stiffer, more responsive feel.

In addition, the beefed-up outsole damps shock, and the laterally supportive highback gives you plenty of edge-to-edge response for high-speed carving. The ankle and toe straps of the Spruce can be adjusted without tools, so you can fine-tune your fit whenever you need to.