If you’re thinking about your snowboard bindings on the hill, chances are those thoughts aren’t positive. Finicky, unresponsive, uncomfortable, or unreliable bindings are the bane of any rider’s existence—a thorn in your side that, at best, leads to under-your-breath expletives while strapping in. At worst? They’ll send you to the ski patrol shack cradling a dislocated limb or leave you stranded miles deep in the backcountry.

On the other hand, high-quality, functional, trustworthy snowboard bindings, like the ones you’ll find below, don’t spawn temper tantrums or avoidable crashes. You won’t think about them for a millisecond. Instead, they’ll facilitate flow-state ripping—relaying predictable commands from your boots to board. If your current snowboard bindings are ready for retirement—or, perhaps, Facebook Marketplace—you can’t go wrong with the options below.

Check out all our picks for the best snowboards of 2025.

At A Glance

• Editor’s Choice: Union Atlas ($370)
• Best Women’s-Specific Binding: Union Trilogy ($330)
• Best Freestyle-Ready Flex: Union Ultra ($300)
• Best Big Mountain Binding: Rome Katana Pro ($450)
• Best Customizability: Rome Katana ($400)
• Best Bombproof Binding: Union Atlas Pro ($470)
• Best All-Mountain Bindings: Men’s Orion and Women’s Aurora Snowboard Bindings ($350)
• Best Lightweight Split Binding: Spark R&D Arc ST Pro ($619)
• Best Beginner Split Binding: Spark R&D Arc ST ($459)
• How to Choose Snowboard Bindings
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

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Editor’s Choice

Union Atlas

Size Range: S, M, L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent all-mountain and freeride performance
⊕ Reliability at high-speed
⊕ Durable
⊕ Decent dampening
⊕ Easier forward lean adjuster
⊕ More approachable highback for the masses
⊗ Not the most shock-absorbing binding
⊗ Softer highback than previous model

If you would rather blast through chop than daintily pick your way through it, Union’s updated Atlas binding is an all-mountain workhorse that can handle everything from hellish straightlines to heavy cliff drops. Thanks largely to a stiff, carbon-injected nylon baseplate and highback, it’s a lively, responsive binding that likes to go big and go fast. “You can put the pedal down at a moment’s notice,” reported John Lauer, a longtime tester, bootfitter, and snowboard buyer for local shop Tahoe SportsHub who’s primarily ridden the Atlas over the last couple of seasons.

For dampening, Union deploys high-density, vibration-reducing Vaporlite bushings between the board and baseplate. I found the bushings, which are made of a lacrosse ball-type rubber, to be firm. They might not absorb bigger impacts as well as a softer rubber or foam, but they provide moderate dampening and, more important for charging riders, immediate response.

The Atlas’ removable disc cover—referred to as “gas pedals” by the Italian binding maker’s marketing department—features a mix of firm, non-stick EVA foam and hard plastic, a combo that results in excellent energy transfer and decent dampening. There is an extra insert of softer foam that sits beneath the toe of the gas pedal, which testers reported offers welcome suspension on chundery traverses and flat landings.

Atlas aficionados will recognize that the highback is newly designed, with a slanted slot down the gut. The redesigned highback still offers edge-to-edge stiffness, but it’s noticeably more pliable laterally, making the new Atlas increasingly suited for all-mountain freestyle applications and more approachable for intermediate riders. A more aggressive tester and longtime Atlas lover was disheartened by the change, however. “It was perfect [the way it was.] It’s a little softer now, but that does make it better suited for the masses,” he lamented.

Other updates include an improved forward lean adjuster (the higher the angle of a binding’s highback, the more aggressive the stance), as Union nixed last year’s more streamlined but icing-prone integrated wheel for a bulkier, more standard, reliable pull-tab mechanism. Some advanced riders never touch forward lean, while others may tweak it based on the conditions or terrain at hand. For those folks, having a reliable, easy-to-use forward lean adjuster is subsequently valuable. “The highback is easily adjustable on the hill,” commented one such expert, snowboard instructor Nico Henss, who was appreciative of the new pull-tab style adjustor. “You tilt the highback a few degrees and it impacts the edge pressure insanely well.”

Henss also loved the updated straps, judging them highly responsive and comfortable without unnecessary bulk or bells and whistles. “They fit perfectly, [have] no pressure points, and are easy to adjust in any direction,” he said. One complaint? The toe strap can shift positions while unstrapped. Union designed the toe strap housing in the base plate for easy adjustments, allowing it to pop into a forward or back position based on rider boot size and preference, but the toe strap, unfortunately, doesn’t lock in place.

That didn’t detract from his love for the Atlas, though. “It fits so many riding styles and terrain—super versatile,” Henss gushed.

If you’re looking for an even more responsive option with similar specs, check out the Atlas Pro.

Best Women’s Binding

Union Trilogy

Size Range: S, M, L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent all-mountain performance
⊕ Extremely comfortable
⊕ Easily adjustable
⊗ Middle-of-the-road stiffness and flex

If this binding is good enough for the G.O.A.T., it’s good enough for you. Ridden by legend and hordes of savvy snowboarders around the world, Union’s best-selling Trilogy was our favorite women’s binding in test. It continues to be the go-to pick for all-mountain riders wanting a balance of high comfort and high performance.

“Any rider looking for a bread and butter binding for everyday riding should look no further than the Trilogy,” opined longtime snowboard instructor, discerning test veteran, and hard-charging Tahoe rider Anna Doucette. After testing the Trilogy while carving groomers, navigating tight trees, jumping off windlips, and sending steeps, Douccette appreciated the balance of cushioning and response thanks to the padded straps. “The straps are very ergonomic, and, like a good hug, hold the feet snugly,” she reported.

Comfort and dampening, testers reported, also stem from ergonomic canting and EVA padding, the latter of which graces the baseplate and highback. “Thanks to the foam baseplate padding, the Trilogy has a cush-yet-solid feel underfoot,” commented Doucette. Another Tahoe tester also appreciated the middle-of-the-park flex, calling it, “not too soft, not too stiff,” although she did crave more backbone during full-throttle freeride runs.

A Mammoth tester, Gela Malek Pour, chimed in, appreciating the Trilogy’s customizability, which includes slideable toe and ankle straps that can be easily adjusted without tools in the liftline. “These bindings offer a ton of adjustability options to create the perfect fit,” she raved. “The toe strap molds perfectly to any toecap shape, and the adjustable toe ramp placement makes finding the right fit even easier.”

Lastly, Doucette reported that she loved the extruded, 3D aluminum heel cup, calling it “indicative of the overall binding construction—solid.”

Best Freestyle-Ready Flex

Union Ultra

Size Range: S, M, L (men’s) S, M, L (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Super damp ride
⊕ No unnecessary bells and whistles
⊕ Freestyle-friendly flex
⊕ Top-tier torsional tweakability
⊗ No forward lean adjustor

Available in both men’s and women’s versions and built to comfortably crush freestyle features, Union’s Ultra is a smart pick for park riders and jibby all-mountain freestylers. The binding is exceptionally pliable and pressable for creative freestyle riding thanks to an overall mid-soft flex and asymmetrical, bare-bones baseplate that adds significant torsional range of motion. “The tweakability makes it a great binding for freestyle,” said snowboard instructor Nico Henss, who can be found lapping the park when he’s not giving lessons.

Park-ready, tester-approved dampening comes courtesy of a lightweight EVA bushing that cushions your boots, and a vibration-canceling, thermoplastic elastomer outsole that sits on the board. “The high-quality materials give you a safe feeling even when you’re hitting the pro jump line, and the broad baseplate and padding help cushion compressions when you land,” reported Henss. Sierra shredder and test veteran Chris Cloyd agreed: “The foot feel is classic Union—excellent. Durable, plush, no pinch points.”

While testers appreciated the simple design and clean, comfy, and smooth straps and ratchets, multiple riders lamented a lack of forward lean adjustment. If you don’t vibe with the six degrees of fixed forward lean in the Ultra’s Duraflex highback, these are definitely not for you. “They’re arguably the most tweakable bindings in the air, but they’re not the most tweakable bindings on the tuning bench,” joked one rider.

Best Big Mountain Binding

Rome Katana Pro

Size Range: M/L, L/XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Incredibly customizable
⊕ Stiffer, more responsive flex than the standard Katana
⊕ Great dampening
⊗ Durability concerns around AuxTech binding straps
⊗ Pricey
⊗ Only available in two sizes

Still glowing orange and red from the forge, the Rome Katana Pro is brand new this season. It’s the same Editor’s Choice-winning Katana our testers know and love from last year, just smithed from lighter, stiffer materials.

Much of the componentry is identical to the standard Katana. Both bindings sport the same boot-clutching, shock-absorbing, stretchy AuxTech straps, a tweakable-yet-stable asymmetrical aluminum chassis, a mind-bogglingly adjustable PivotMount ankle strap positioning system, and a cold-resistant, expanded thermoplastic polyurethane foam cushioning our testers dubbed best-in-class dampening.

So—why go Pro and spend the extra 50 dollars? Rome swapped out traditional fiberglass for carbon in the baseplate and highback, resulting in more weight savings, power, and responsiveness. The resulting ride is a “notch or two stiffer than the standard version,” according to an all-mountain Katana collector. That said, Rome smartly added a diagonal slit to the thin-yet-steely highback, which adds a smidgeon of torsional flex.

“If you’re an expert all-mountain rider or freerider who wants the same customizability of the Katana in a more aggressive, responsive package, the Pro is the way to go,” reported our Katana correspondent. His personal plan? Keep the standard Katana mounted on his all-mountain freestyle daily driver, and slap a Pro on his big-mountain freeride gun.

It is worth noting that a long-term test of the standard Katana resulted in a torn Aux Tech ankle strap. While we didn’t have any issues with this year’s Katana Pro, concerns did carry over as the strap tech mirrors the original Katana.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY BLAUER BOARD SHOP
Blauer Board Shop Union Falcor Bindings ($399.95)

Level up your riding this winter with Blauer Board Shop’s Union Falcor Bindings. Completely redesigned for 2025 by Travis Rice, these bindings use a new Asymmetrical Halo Base Frame for more board feel and increased side-to-side freestyle flex, while remaining exceptionally responsive heel to toe. The newly designed straps and highback are lightweight and durable, providing both comfort and control. Union Falcor Bindings are the ultimate combination of lively lateral flex, damp and smooth ride, increased board feel, and excellent response. While other bindings may specialize in one of these aspects, no other binding delivers them all in one package.

Best Customizability

Rome Katana

Size Range: S, M/L, L/XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Incredibly customizable
⊕ Best-in-class dampening
⊕ All-mountain, freestyle-meets-freeride flex
⊗ Durability concerns around AuxTech binding straps

If you like to tweak your bindings as much as you tweak your grabs, peep the Rome Katana. This high-performance binding is ultra-adjustable thanks to Rome’s PivotMounts—modifiable ankle strap mounting hardware that enables riders to swap between eight ankle strap positions per side, yielding a total of 64 possible configurations. Raising the ankle strap provides more rapid-fire responsiveness, while lowering the strap position translates to increased range of motion and a surfier ride. Additional adjustability comes courtesy of composite highbacks that pivot and cant for a more ergonomic, fine-tuned fit.

Personally, I’ve found that experimenting with different strap and highback configurations will enable you to find what works best for your riding style. And if you’re swapping one pair of bindings between multiple boards in your quiver, or you like to cruise one day and bomb everything in sight the next, the Katana allows you to make the most of your setup.

Adjustability wasn’t the only reason the Katana sliced through the competition. All-mountain riders appreciated its versatility—it proved responsive in technical lines yet playful in the air thanks to the mid-flexing highback and asymmetrical chassis. The board’s cold-resistant, closed-cell foam padding beneath the baseplate also offers unreal shock absorption.“Great dampening,” reported snowboard guide Andrew Alissandratos. “I took them to Mach 10 and had no chatter.” Additionally, testers loved the geometric-patterned toe and ankle straps, which expand as you tighten the binding, providing a fit one Katana convert called “damn-near vacuum-sealed.”

One ding we should mention: after a heavy spring of testing last year, one tester did rip through the patterned ankle strap early this winter, causing some durability concerns.

Best Bombproof Binding

Union Atlas Pro

Size Range: S, M, L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Ultra responsive
⊕ Speed demon
⊕ Forged carbon base plates
⊗ Forward lean adjustor can ice over
⊗ Not super damp
⊗ Expensive

The versatile, bombproof, all-mountain has been one of our all-time favorite bindings for years (hence the Editor’s Choice award this year), so when Union debuted the Atlas Pro in 2023, our testers were damn near salivating. This drool-worthy build sports the same carbon-injected nylon baseplate, Vaporlite bushings, and hard-wearing extruded aluminum heelcup as the OG Atlas. However, the Atlas Pro is more responsive thanks to an ultra-reactive, forged carbon footbed and a slightly stiffer, more aggressive highback.

This year, Atlas revamped the Pro with updated straps, including a responsive Hybrid 2.0 ankle strap and two-layer boot-hugging toe strap. “The straps were very comfortable and locked you in well,” reported snowboard guide and tester Andrew Allisandratos.

Not sure whether to splurge on the Pro or stick with the standard Atlas? You’re not alone. “The Atlas Pro is a bit stiffer and more responsive than the Atlas. Pair it with a big mountain board or beefy all-mountain shape and the carbon gas pedals let you approach light speed,” said a tester who spent much of the last few seasons swapping between the Atlas and Atlas Pro. His recommendation: “Intermediate and up all-mountain riders who appreciate a balance of comfort and performance will prefer the relative dampening of the Atlas, while aggressive freeriders and resort rippers who prioritize instantaneous response will fall in love with the streamlined, elite build of the Atlas Pro.”

A couple of testers voiced preference for the beefier, pull-tab forward lean adjustor of the standard Atlas, compared to the rollable wheel that’s integrated into the highback of the Atlas Pro. “It can ice up or just be tricky to operate in cold conditions with gloves on,” noted one rider.

Best All-Mountain Bindings

Jones Men’s Orion and Women’s Aurora Snowboard Bindings

Size Range: M, L (men’s) S, M (women’s)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Reliable progressive-flexing highback
⊕ Intermediate friendly
⊕ Efficient power transfer
⊕ Comfy padding and construction for all-day riding
⊕ Upgraded buckles and toe straps
⊗ Soft for some freeride applications

The Jones Orion (men’s) and Aurora (women’s) surfy, intermediate-friendly all-mountain bindings continue to be a major hit with our test team. They have the same construction, but the Aurora bindings have scaled down sizes and flexes. That said, advanced, cruisy riders will love these, bindings, too. While our testers hardly noticed any changes on the hill, both got minor upgrades for the 2024/2025 season beefier, stronger, faster buckles and minimalistic toestraps.

Both the Aurora’s and the Orion’s highbacks are stiffer at the heel cup and softer towards the calf, offering a great balance between performance and play. “When transitioning from edge to edge, the highback gives you all the support you need,” reported a rider who’s been enjoying the Orion since its debut a few seasons back. When you start playing with other directions—off-axis tweaks, contorted carves, nose or tail presses, et cetera—the softness toward the top of the highback lets you “twist like a yogi,” he said.

Edge-to-edge prowess also comes courtesy of the Canadian binding builder Now Snowboarding’s revolutionary SkateTech, which is at the core of all of Jones’ bindings. The baseplate pivots around the disc housing like a fulcrum, efficiently leveraging rider weight and transferring energy to four bushings at the corners of each binding. Not only does this system yield what our tester called “instantaneous response,” but the rubbery, dampening bushings also “absorb more chatter than the NSA.” Between the bushings and a thick EVA foam footbed, the Orion and Aura are so comfortable they fit the bill for first-to-last-chair riding.

If you like to customize your setup, the can be swapped out for a stiffer or softer ride (stiffer bushings are best for freeriding, and softer bushings are best for more freestyle/surfy riding). What’s more, the flexy-yet-supportive ankle straps are customizable, too: swap the left and right ankle straps to bounce between freeride and surf modes. Freeride-mode locks in the ankle for straight-lining steeps and tackling technical faces, while surf-mode frees up range of motion for slaying side hits and flowy pow days.

Best Lightweight Split Binding

Spark R&D Arc ST Pro

Size Range: XS-L
Weight: 1.25 lbs per binding (M)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Utilizes Spark’s lowest-weight, highest-end construction
⊕ Surfy
⊕ Smoother-than-ever uphill action
⊕ Easy to maintain interface
⊗ On the soft side for heavier riders or hard chargers (check out the Arc’s stiffer sibling, the , if that sounds like you)
⊗ Durability concerns
⊗ Pricey compared to the standard Arc ST
⊗ No dampening on baseplate (although it’s easy to add aftermarket padding)

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—we’re big fans of Spark’s splitboard bindings. They’re simple, solid, well-designed, and purpose-built for smooth skin track action and surfy descents, making them our go-to recommendation for the vast majority of splitboarders. $160 more than the baseline model, the ST Pro is a supercharged, lighter-weight rendition tailored to the wants and needs of tech-oriented gear nerds, skintrack slayers regularly putting in 5K-vert days, and anyone who wants to shed weight from their split without sacrificing performance.

Just like the standard Arc ST, the Pro utilizes Spark’s tried-and-true puck system—an interface our testers love for its low weight, few moving parts, easy setup at home, and reliability in the field. It also sports the same asymmetrical highback shape and easy-to-operate walk mode, cutout baseplates, and toe- and ankle-strap design, as well as Spark’s “Smooth Touring” (ST) tech that was introduced to critical acclaim a couple of years ago. Essentially, the engineers at Spark over-molded the bushings of the touring brackets and the metal wire of the Whammy Bar risers with thermoplastic to reduce unwanted friction while touring. After testing the tech for the past couple of years, testers report that the new brackets make for smoother, more painless, squeak-free climbing, while the improved Whammy Bars make engaging the risers easier and faster.

So what makes the Pro pricier and lighter? Mostly materials. The Pro uses a stronger 7075 aluminum for thinner, lighter heel loops, Pebax plastics—a common ingredient in ski boots—for the straps and ladders, lighter, stiffer, injection-molded carbon-infused nylon for the highbacks, and custom aluminum hardware instead of the stainless steel standard. The result shaves weight—a pair of standard Spark Arc STs weighs 2.77 pounds per pair compared to the Pro’s 2.5 pounds per pair—and provides a touch more responsiveness due to the carbon highbacks.

Whether the weight savings are worth it depends on your objectives. If you like to hit jumps and aren’t too concerned with weight on the uphill, go with the original Arc STs: they’re beefier. But if you’re regularly trying to keep up with fit skiers or accomplish bigger objectives, the carbon highbacks and weight savings of the Pro are a source of maximum stoke.

That said, testers have snapped two of the Pro’s aluminum screws over the last two years–once on an international expedition—leading them to appreciate the standard Arc, which have beefier, stainless steel hardware. Also, some heavier and hard-charging riders craved more stiffness and response out of the Arc, preferring .

Best Beginner Split Binding

Spark R&D Arc ST

Size range: XS-L
Weight: 1.4 lbs. per binding (M)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Smoother-than-ever uphill action
⊕ Spark’s tester-favorite interface is easy to setup, adjust, and maintain
⊕ Durable, reliable construction
⊕ Surfy yet dependable downhill performance
⊗ Soft for no-fall-zone riding or heavier splitboarders
⊗ Heavier than Pro version

We’ve been fans of Spark’s Arc for years thanks to its practical interface, surfy all-mountain ride, and touring chops. But according to one tester who put the Arc ST through the paces over the last couple of years, “Spark made a smooth binding smoother.”

ST stands for “smooth touring” and references a slew of significant updates like more robust touring risers and brackets over-molded with cold-resistant, self-lubricating thermoplastic. “The connection from the binding to the new touring brackets yields noticeably less friction,” said our tester. “But I was most stoked on the new touring risers.” Spark took the thin wire risers of years’ past and wrapped them in the same thermoplastic as the brackets, enlarging catch points and expediting engagement. “With the old models, sometimes you’d have to really crank on ‘em, wasting precious seconds on the skin track,” said this tester. “The new design is way easier to operate with a quick flick of the pole.”

Spark also improved downhill performance by adding asymmetry to their highbacks for a more ergonomic, natural stance. Whether you’re an entry-level splitter or an experienced backcountry traveler who has no need for a steely, ultra-stiff split binding, the Arc ST is the way to go. Looking for a stiffer, no-nonsense touring companion? Go with

It’s worth noting that as of 2023, Spark nixed its men’s and women’s lines in favor of a unisex, boot-length-based sizing system.

How to Choose Snowboard Bindings

Given the endless options and tech jargon at play, shopping for snowboard bindings can be a harrowing endeavor. However, it gets a little easier when you follow these simple tips.

Buy Your Boots First

Your boot size determines your binding size–not the other way around. Boots also determine what boards you should ride, so don’t jump the gun.

Consider Your Riding Style

Are you a park rat? An indiscriminate all-mountain rider? A pedal-to-the-metal freerider? Snowboard bindings are built and advertised toward specific snowboard riding styles. Once you figure out what kind of rider you are, you can easily narrow your search. And if you’re not sure what kind of rider you are, no worries–stick with all-mountain options, as they’re meant to handle anything and everything terrain-wise.

Consider Your Preferred Flex

Do you like stiff bindings or soft ones? Somewhere in the middle? Usually, brands list flex as a numeric rating, usually out of ten, with 10 being stiff as steel and one being soft as a wet noodle. Anything under a five is considered quite soft—that’ll be best for park riders, beginners and intermediates, or cruisy powderhounds. Five to eight tends to be all-mountain bindings that are meant to handle any terrain you can throw at ‘em. Eight and up are generally more freeride specific–stout, stiff bindings you can trust at high speeds in gnarly terrain.

Now, these numbers are subjective and vary from brand to brand. There’s no governing body doing a universal flex test (although that would be sincerely appreciated). Also, riders will inevitably stray from the stereotypes listed above—a freestyle rider who’s hitting the pipe may want a super stiff binding, while a freerider who has a surfy approach may want a softer flex. But they’re a good place to start.

Demo Religiously

If you’re having a hard time figuring out what bindings to buy, the single best thing you can do is demo. Be on the lookout for demo days and events at your local hill. Swap with shred buddies if they’re game. Branch out, trying bindings from different brands. Experiment with different flexes. The more bindings you ride, the more you’ll be able to pinpoint what works for you.

How We Test Snowboard Bindings

• Snowboard Bindings Tested This Year: 26
• Locations Tested: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Japan, Norway, France, Italy, Switzerland
• Highbacks Exploded: 3
• Straps Busted: 2
• Buckles Replaced: 2
• Screws Loose: Too many to count

We start our snowboard binding testing at our annual snowboard test, which took place in 2024 at Tahoe’s Diamond Peak Ski Resort. Conditions were perfect for testing—variable—ranging from windblown powder and pristine corduroy to sunny slush and refrozen mank. A crew of mostly local testers spent several bell-to-bell days testing a variety of boards. However, we encouraged riders to spend more time—a half-day, minimum, up to the full gear test week—testing bindings before filling out detailed review forms. This keeps our snowboard testing more legitimate (we don’t want to change too many variables at once). Plus, it gives riders more opportunity to tweak binding fit and get a feel for bindings across variable conditions.

As we wrap up our Diamond Peak test, we determined what bindings performed the best and should be considered for coverage and awards. We sent those bindings home with testers for long-term testing until the end of the season. When the dust settled, the chairlifts stopped cranking, and splitboarders waved the white flag and rolled out their mountain bikes, we asked those long-term testers to fill out review forms once again.

These review forms ask testers to score bindings quantitatively on categories like overall performance, responsiveness, tweakability, dampening, and durability. Testers also dive deeper on qualitative questions, among them: What terrain or conditions are these bindings best for? How’s the overall build, construction, and durability? How do you like the highbacks? Is the forward lean adjustment easy or a hassle? Finally, I (Drew Zieff, test director), sift through review forms and write the reviews you’ll find below.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

Zieff is a Tahoe-based freelance writer and a lifelong snowboarder who’s no stranger to breaking bindings. In addition to directing șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű’s snowboard test, a role he’s handled since 2016, he directs Backcountry Magazine’s splitboard coverage and nerds out on snowboard gear and travel for REI, Gear Junkie, and Forbes, among others. He spends his winters testing gear in his backyard backcountry zones or up at Palisades when he’s not chasing stories and storms around the globe.

Chris Cloyd

The only thing more eclectic than Chris Cloyd’s riding style is his resume. A former touring musician, former personal trainer, and still-holding-on endurance athlete who lives in June Lake, CA, Chris Cloyd spends his winters splitboard guiding, teaching AIARE courses, and handling radministrative duties for . In his free time, you can find him crushing couloirs deep in the Eastern Sierras or putting solid boards through their paces at June Mountain. A fan of strong coffee and heavy metal who often combines the two on his way to shred, Cloyd is not remotely gentle on his gear—he lives to thrash.

Jenna Shlachter

Truckee’s own Jenna Shlachter is as brilliant on the hill as she is off it–which is saying something, she’s a Doctor of Psychology, after all. When she’s not on the clock, she’s usually on her snowboard, ripping everything from park to powder. Her trophy shelf needs regular reinforcement, as every year she seems to add banked slalom trophies to her already impressive collection. Lucky for us, Shlachter is also an unabashed snowboard nerd, and she’s been a key contributor to our snowboard test for the last few seasons.

Anna Doucette

is a lifelong snowboarder who’s been a member of the American Association of Snowboard Instructors for two decades. She’s spent so many years articulating difficult-to-grasp movements to aspiring riders and fellow instructors that she’s a natural and extremely articulate gear reviewer, and she’s been a key contributor to our Tahoe testing.

The post The Best Snowboard Bindings of 2025 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

We tested a lot of snowboard gear last season. Over 30 testers put 100-plus products through the ringer over the course of the winter, plus a four day test-a-thon at Sugar Bowl in epic conditions. The best of the best ended up in our snowboards and snowboard accessories coverage in our 2023 Winter Gear Guide. But there were a lot of very, very good products that didn’t quite make it into those reviews. Here, we present you the best of the rest.

Snowboards

Arbor Westmark Camber ($550)

A few members of the park crew joined our test squad last winter, and they wouldn’t take their eyes–or bindings–off the Arbor Westmark. Designed with input from Quebecois street legend Frank April, the deck isn’t just easy to look at—it’s easy to rip, too. The twin shape sports a classic combo of trustworthy camber and a medium-flexing FSC-certified poplar and paulownia core, allowing intermediate riders to progress and advanced freestylers to throw tricks with confidence. A dramatically upturned nose and tail foster buttery presses, smooth fakie take-offs, and catch-free nollies. All told, the Westmark is a solid choice for riders who frequent the park, bring a freestyle approach to the entire resort, and may even dip into the streets.

Cabin Mountain Tools Northern Light ($699)

It’s hard to beat the surfy handling, reliable carving, and powder-gobbling buoyancy of Cabin Mountain Tools’ Northern Light splitboard at any price, but at $699, it’s damn near impossible. While the price is a bargain, Vermont’s Cabin doesn’t cut corners, but utilizes a direct-to-consumer business model, minimalistic graphics, and zero marketing BS. With a softer, rockered nose, tapering to a subtle, stiffer swallowtail, camber underfoot, and a progressive sidecut throughout, the Northern Light rails turns and floats through pow. It’s all sandwiched between a classy forest-green topsheet and a speedy sintered base for a well-executed iteration of “everything you need, nothing you don’t.” Whether you’re looking for your first split or a replacement for a well-loved steed, you can’t go wrong with the Northern Light.

Chimera Sceptre ($835)

The flagship splitboard from Chimera, a boutique, Wasatch-based board builder, the Sceptre is a quiver-killing, do-it-all split that advanced riders will appreciate across all conditions. Thanks to a blunt, rockered nose, minimal moontail, and flat, torsionally stiff body, the deck can hang in everything from deep and dreamy to steep and spicy. A Tahoe tester and hardcore freerider appreciated that stiffness, which is provided by an aspen and poplar core and a triaxial glass job. He gave it the highest possible compliment: “It rides just like a solid.” For big mountain crushers and splitters who tour regardless of conditions, pass the Sceptre.

Looking for more splitboards and splitboard gear? Check out the winners of our annual splitboard test.

Lib Tech BRD ($630)

Lib Tech’s BRD is the instrument of choice for PNW powderhound , an improvisational virtuoso who bounces through pillow fields like a tuned-up, red-faced trumpet player navigating thumping bass lines and purring snare drums. (If you haven’t seen his new film, “Blur,” take a detour from gear hunting and enjoy the backcountry jazz –it’s one of our favorite films of the year).

A plus-sized nose, stalwart tail, touch of taper, camber-dominant profile (with a mellow rocker zone between the feet), and Lib’s signature serrated edges give the board the chops in any conditions. But it really shines when freeriding fast. After slashing surfy windlips, snaking through a mogul field, tossing a three off a cat track, and straight-lining back to the chair, a breathless tester with an ear-to-ear grin reported, “It’s the exact combo of fun and trustworthy that I’m looking for.”

Jones Airheart 2.0 ($600)

A top choice amongst our contingent of all-terrain-slaying female testers, the Jones Airheart 2.0 is a directional twin that can ride switch, pop and spin with precision, all while still hanging off-piste. Switch skills come courtesy of a taper-free shape and classic camber underfoot, while a setback stance aids float in powder. A space-age Koroyd insert (made thermally molded co-polymer tubes) at the nose reduces weight and dampens chop. On groomers, crud, and powder alike, the three-dimensionally contoured nose and tail initiate turns with surfy fluidity. Powerful and confidence-inspiring, the Airheart 2.0 is a ticket all-mountain freestylers will happily take lap after lap.

Ride Shadowban ($500)

Ride’s new Shadowban is an all-mountain freestyle hog–and we’re not just saying that because the Harley-worthy spray job looks like it’s still dripping wet. It’s a directional twin that slays the switch game, while being soft and poppy, which makes it a dream to press, butter, and jib. That said, it’s still built to take a beatdown, with impact plates under the inserts to reduce snapping, precisely rolled edges to reduce chipping, and urethane sidewalls to absorb bumps in the road. It’s a park-ready ripper, but thanks to the quadratic sidecut, it still banks into turns well–more like a Moto Grand Prix race bike than an ape-hanger Harley.

Looking for more snowboards? Check out the winners of our annual snowboard test.

Snowboard Accessories

Aleck 006 ($130)

Designed to fit audio-compatible helmets, the Aleck 006 headphones sport intuitive, oversized controls, enabling riders to punch pause on the chair or hit play mid-run without slowing down or shedding gloves. The Aleck app was still a work in progress during our testing last spring, although the brand recently launched an update that’s currently available on the . While we haven’t had a chance to put it under the microscope, the app turns the headphones into walkie-talkies and even tracks friends via GPS, purportedly improving communication and chances of linking up on the slopes. That said, testers claimed audio quality was reason enough to rock the 006: the headphones deliver surprisingly primo sound through dual 40-millimeter titanium drivers, and audiophiles can adjust audio levels via the app’s built-in EQ controller.

KĂŒat Grip 6 ($498)

Forget stepping on seats and heel-hooking wheel wells to hoist boards onto the roof rack. KĂŒat’s Grip 6 is an innovative rack that multiple testers dubbed “revolutionary” thanks to its slide-out trays that make loading boards easier than getting on chairlifts. Sizeable handles facilitate breezy extension of the rack beyond the body of your vehicle, grippy rubber teeth lock boards in place without damaging topsheets and bases, and the rack easily accommodates four boards. Factor in an effortless locking mechanism and the striking white powdercoat and this rack is an all-time favorite that we’ll be rocking for years to come. Our only complaint? On heavy powder days, the slide-out mechanism can ice up.

GearDryer Wall Mount 12 ($899)

GearDryer’s Wall Mount 12 boot dryer has enough room to dry the whole family’s kit: This shop-grade beast hits up to twelve boots, gloves, or helmets with 200 CFM of heated or ambient air. It runs off a standard outlet, mounts easily to wall studs, and can be programmed for overnight use or shorter, pre-shred intervals down to 15 minutes.

Not enough real estate? Check out GearDryer’s latest launch: the ($2000), capable of drying damn near the whole neighborhood’s boots at once. Need a smaller solution? Grab one or two of the portable ($199), which can dry one pair of boots, a pair of gloves, and a helmet.

Rocky Talkie ($110)

A durable, compact, and capable lithium-ion radio, the Rocky Talkie is a smart addition to any backcountry kit. It sports a one- to five-mile range, straightforward interface, decent battery life in freezing temps, backup leash (with carabiner), and minimalist build that makes it more attractive than bulkier options. All told, these radios give splitboarders and backcountry boarders a chance to communicate on out-of-earshot approaches and descents, encouraging intelligent and potentially life-saving decision-making in avalanche terrain.

Arva Calgary 18 Reactor Airbag ($610)

A highly adjustable avalanche airbag stitched from rugged, recycled polyester, the Arva Calgary 18 is well-suited for sidecountry hikes, mechanized backcountry days, and quick-hit tours. Arva kept bulk to a minimum, incorporating traditionally cumbersome airbag storage into a flat heat-moldable back panel. The result? A pack that’s slim enough for pedal-to-the-metal freeriding that accommodates more gear than expected at this size. Factor in an ice axe loop and dual carry options (A-frame for ski mode and vertical carry for snowboard) and this lightweight airbag is ready to crush the bootpack. Note: Arva’s Reactor airbags require a compressed air cylinder for deployment, sold (from $75).

Arva Reactor 15 Vest ($710)

The low-profile yet feature-rich Reactor 15 Vest Airbag is our snowboard test director’s go-to for sidecountry riding. With 15 liters of packable volume partitioned between six front pockets and three rear compartments (the biggest of which stows shovel and probe in designated slots), a variety of ice axe and gear loops, plus a vertical snowboard carry system, the vest encourages smart on-the-hill organization. His favorite aspects, however, were the overall fit and weight. “The vest wraps around the body and adjusts easily. I can wear it on lifts without feeling like I’m going to fall off the chair, and throw tricks I might not try in a backpack,” he says. “For lift-accessed sidecountry, snowmobiling, cat-skiing, or heli days, this Arva vest is unbeatable.”

Now Bindings Select Pro X Kowalchuk ($400)

A collaboration with OG skate and snow illustrator Mark Kowalchuk, this special edition of Now’s best-selling, mid-stiff Select Pro is a functional work of art. The snow-white canvas of the highbacks is festooned with a slime-oozing heart and skull–unapologetic, heavy metal graphics for a binding built for heavy metal riding. Now’s proprietary SkateTech–a pivoting design that funnels energy from boots to bushings located at the board edges–provides stellar response and curtails ankle aches and foot exhaustion during bell-to-bell sessions. The hinging ankle and boot-locking toe straps balance comfort and performance, while the freestyle-friendly highback and canted foot pillow encourage tweaked grabs and gnarly cliff drops.

Salomon Echo Lace SJ BOA ($400)

Between a heel-wrapping BOA harness, good old-fashioned laces (a favorite of backcountry riders, since they’re fixable in the field), and a Velcro power strap across the cuff, Salomon’s new, all-mountain Echo Lace SJ BOA boot gives riders everything they need to fine-tune their boots and hit the gas. A rugged, lugged outsole provides in-bound hikers, sidecountry explorers, and backcountry bootpackers secure purchase on slippery scrambles. And unlike many boots that require a lengthy break-in, one tester reported that the mid-stiff Echo was immediately comfortable and ready to rip out of the box.

Looking for more boots, bindings, and accessories? Check out the top-rated essentials from our annual snowboard test.

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I’m lucky. I get to test all the best, most expensive gear. Lots of what I see is really, really good, but I also try to remind myself that I came from dirtbag roots (living out of a truck, river guiding) and always found a way to have fun no matter what gear I was using. The same goes for the rest of the șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű staff. Everyone here has a favorite new jacket, ski, or boot, but you’d be hard-pressed to get them to part with their basic, straightforward, nothing-fancy standby. Here’s a list of those items.

Red Ledge Thunderlight Full-Zip Rain Pants ($55)

I’ve spent the past seven summers working on a trail crew in Montana. It’s a tough gig, and we always keep working, no matter the weather. Everyone on the crew has their favorite rain shell, but for pants, almost all of us wear from Red Ledge. They aren’t made from fancy material and don’t breathe particularly well, but we like them for the full-zip side. They splay open and can be quickly slipped over work pants and boots. These pants are also light (eight ounces) and don’t take up much room in a pack. When they tear, which they do after a while, it’s not a huge expense to get a replacement pair. —Charlie Ebbers, editorial fellow

Rubbermaid 18-Gallon Storage Tote ($20)

As you might expect, I have a lot of gear. That means gear organization is key if I want to get out the door. My go-to: . Each activity—kayaking, surfing, skiing (resort and backcountry), trail running, backpacking, cycling (road and MTB)—gets its own bin in the garage so I can just pull, kit up, and go. I’ve also found that bins help with spontaneous trips. My wife and I will get an idea and actually follow through instead of getting bogged down when we can’t find our gear. Pro tip: be disciplined about cleaning, drying, and organizing your gear after your adventure. Even if it’s late on a Sunday and you’re exhausted, deal with everything so it’s ready the next time you head out. —Joe Jackson, columnist

Smartwool Socks ($21)

I grew up in Florida, but somehow my family still collectively owned four pairs of thick, midcalf, —year of production, size, and intended sex unknown, though my best guess is forever ago, small, and men’s. My mom gave them all to me when I left for college in Chicago, and I’ve grown more attached to these socks with each passing year. They’re with me for most every outdoor pursuit: low-motivation winter runs, camping trips, ski days. I sleep in them. I pad around my house in them (bare feet freak me out, maybe because I’ve grown so used to my Smartwooled feet). I wear two pairs at a time and pretend I didn’t buy hiking boots two sizes too big just because they were discounted. I really can’t explain how they’ve held up this long, considering that every other sock I own sprouts at least one hole within a year of use. All I know is that my Smartwools are a testament to the magic of truly well-made socks. —Erin Berger, associate editor

Spark R&D Splitboard Tool ($10)

Anyone whose binding hardware has ever gone slack mid-shralp understands the value of a part-specific multitool in the backcountry. Spark’s is, unsurprisingly, oriented toward its own line of bindings, but if that’s what you ride, this is the tool you need. There are exactly six heads, corresponding to the six bolts and screws used in Spark’s binding and puck-mount assemblies—all combined into a sturdy block no larger than a pad of Post-it Notes. Slide the drawer out of the housing, fold the tool you need forward, and then slide it back in. The shape seems weird until you realize it provides the leverage necessary to muscle a stubborn hex bolt into compliance—a design asset other pocket MacGyvers could benefit from. It has saved my ass everywhere from an icy exposed face deep in the San Juans to the parking lot of the humble local skin track. It’s the first thing I make sure is in my pack and the last thing you’ll pry from my cold, dead hands. —Sean Cooper, copy chief

Cotopaxi Libre Sweater ($100)

As I write this paragraph, I’m sitting here in my șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű office wearing the Cotopaxi sweater. I also wore it this morning on my bike commute to work and as a midlayer on the skin track last weekend. I’ll probably be wearing it on the plane tomorrow when I fly to Denver for the SIA trade show. It’s my favorite winter layer because it marries design and materials so well. The llama wool is warm, breathes, and wicks sweat as well as any material out there. But Cotopaxi made this sweater better than the rest with a couple smart tweaks. My favorite feature: the perforated back. Small holes knit into the fabric allows the Libre to dump extra heat so I’m not sopping wet when I ride into work or summit the ski area. The cuffs and hem have the perfect amount of stretch so they stay put under a shell but look great over a button-down shirt. And like everything Cotopaxi makes, the colors are beautiful. I currently have one model but can’t wait to get my hands on the rest when they drop in the spring. —Jakob Schiller, associate editor

Kinco Ski Gloves ($20)

I bought my first pair of when I was 14 because I thought skiers who wore leather gloves looked cool. That and I couldn’t afford a pair Hestras. Many years and many pairs of Hestra gloves later, I still find myself reaching for my Kincos when heading out to skin up the local mountain before work. The reinforced pigskin leather is tough, and the thermal lining is warm enough for most days on the slopes. These gloves are even waterproof when you rub them with Sno-Seal and bake them in the oven. My favorite part is that they’re only $20, so I don’t really mind when I leave them on the top of my car before driving home after a day on the mountain. —Ben Fox, editorial assistant

Therm-a-Rest Pad ($50)

Our car camping has become pretty cush—we own the Cadillac of sleeping pads, so big and plush that it feels like you’re blissfully adrift on a pool floatie. On a few lazy occasions, we have even toted an entire queen-size air mattress into the tent for a stupidly deluxe night of dispersement camping. But more often than not, we grab our decade-old, patched a thousand times Therm-a-Rest backpacking . They’re just over an inch thick, self-inflating, and pack down to nothing. They’re sturdy and uncomplicated, and I’ve yet to have a bad night on one. —Erin Ladd, marketing manager

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Now IPO Snowboard Bindings

SKATE INSPIRED

A pivoting baseplate on the creates a fulcrum-like motion at the ankle (think skateboard trucks), meaning less wasted energy when you lean and, in our experience, the smoothest ride yet.

Ride Revolt Snowboard Bindings

FIRST RESPONDER

The new urethane highback on Ride’s all-mountain absorbed vibration and flexed more fluidly than traditional plastic parts. Cushy footbeds and plush straps add to the all-around comfort.

Flow NX2 SE Snowboard Bindings

ALL ACCESS

In the past, Flow’s bindings were exclusively rear entry. For 2013, its at last lets you take the traditional route and strap in from the side.

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Never Summer SL Splitboard

A poplar, aspen, and carbon core makes Never Summer’s 7.8-pound among the lightest of the dozen splits we tested. But the board was still damping enough to suck up 25-foot cornice drops in the B.C. backcountry and stiff enough to power through a blissful 18-inch April dump in Colorado’s San Juans.

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH: Can’t afford a new splitboard setup with all the necessary backcountry fixings? A company called MTN Approach offers four-pound collapsible approach skis that, when you’re ready to board down, fold up into the size of a hardcover book and slide into your pack. They’re sold in a package with skins, shovel, probe, and poles for $950.

K2 Speed Link Poles

Collapsible (and therefore packable) poles are mandatory for the backcountry. K2’s four-piece Speed Links weigh just one pound and shrink from four feet to just one and a half.

Voile Climbing Skins

There’s nothing fancy about ; they’re just incredibly reliable, with steel tip loops that never break, water-resistant nylon bases that climb extremely well, and incredibly adhesive reusable glue. Make them extra secure with a set of Black Diamond split clips.

Black Diamond Equipment Split Clips

Unlike most ski skins, splitboard skins don’t come with tail clips—fine, until snow creeps under the unattached tail, saturating the glue and causing the skins to fall off your board. Avoid that problem with these , which can be affixed to any climbing skins on the market.

Karakoram SL Splitboard Bindings

Backcountry boarders owe Karakoram a debt of gratitude for its . They’re the first to feature a latch on the riser so the free heel can be locked down—like an AT binding—allowing boarders to skate, pole, or ski across low-angle terrain.

Patagonia PowSlayer Bibs

Bibs are better than pants in the backcountry, where the fundamental mission of every trip is to find powder higher than your waistline. Enter Patagonia’s —lightweight, three-layer Gore-Tex bibs with coverage to your nipples and gaiters around the ankles to keep snow out.

Deeluxe Spark XV Boots

Deeluxe’s 44-ounce snowboarding boot functions like a mountaineering-snowboarding hybrid. The features a Vibram lug sole that’s stiff enough to take crampons, a toe bumper burly enough to kick steps into the hardpack of couloirs, and heat-moldable linings that are soft enough to ride in.

Mammut Ride R.A.S. Pack

Mammut’s air-bag-compatible includes a four-pocket design with homes for all your traditional snow-safety gear—shovel, probe, first-aid kit. And at 30 liters, it still has room for extra layers, lunch, and a camera.

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Ride DVa Snowboard Park Bindngs

BEST FOR: PARK

Our testers raved about the great energy transfer the delivered, making it perfect for boards with lots of torsional flex like the Gnu. Credit the silicone-like straps, which mold to the boot for a flush, ultrasnug hold. Aluminum in the baseplate and heel cup made one tester exclaim that they were “the most durable women’s bindings I’ve ridden.”

Burton Escapade All Mountain Snowboard Bindings

BEST FOR: ALL MOUNTAIN

Although Olympian Hannah Teter rocks the in the park, our all-mountain testers found it rigid enough to rail high-speed carves on groomers and soft enough to surf knee-deep powder. A new design from Burton has an internal mesh highback sitting a quarter-inch in front of the hard plastic highback, which lent support to hop-turns on steeps.

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Jones Snowboards Mountain Twin

About a dozen companies make splitboards, but our favorite is the Jones Snowboards Mountain Twin for its buttery powder float and trustworthy turning ability—especially in the backcountry’s sometimes sketchy terrain.

Spark R&D Blaze Bindings

Of course, skinning up with the Jones Snowboards Mountain Twin split apart requires bindings that rotate 90 degrees and pivot freely, like Spark R&D’s Blaze. While they’ll work with almost any snowboard boots, they (not surprisingly) mate best with the Deeluxe Spark boots.

Deeluxe Spark Snowboard Boots

Spark R&D’s Blaze bindings mate best with the Deeluxe Spark boots, a backcountry-specific, Vibram-soled, crampon-compatible collaboration between Deeluxe and Spark R&D.

Gecko Mohair Splitboard Skins

The last critical piece of the hardware puzzle: skins. Gecko’s mohair splitboard skins are welterweight and stick to your board via silicone adhesive. Get dog hair or pine needles on ’em? You can stick them under the faucet, unlike most skins.

Black Diamond Compactor Poles

Oh, and poles. At a minimum, they need to collapse for storage. We like Black Diamond’s three-piece Compactor poles—they’re sturdy, quick to deploy, and lie flush against your pack (we like Burton’s AK31) on the way down.

Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride Gloves

Transforming all your gear requires dexterity, and Hestra’s weather-sealed and moderately warm Vertical Cut Freeride gloves fit so well it’s as if they were tailored to your hand.

Trew Pow Funk Jacket

Trew’s helmet-compatible Pow Funk jacket lets you dump heat through 16-inch pit zips as you schlep uphill.

Burton AK 3L Hover Pants

None of this will be fun, though, if you can’t regulate your temperature. Trew’s helmet-compatible Pow Funk jacket lets you dump heat through 16-inch pit zips as you schlep uphill, while Burton’s lightweight AK 3L Hover pants do the same thing down low with their thigh vents.

Helly Hansen Odin Insulator Jacket

Toss in Helly Hansen’s PrimaLoft-packed Odin Insulator. The hood is a lifesaver on windy ridges, it layers perfectly under a slightly loose-cut shell like the Pow Funk, and it takes up barely any space, scrunching down to the size of a grapefruit when you don’t need it.

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Arbor Swoon Board

Because pretty topsheets sell boards, we predict this one will be flying off the shelves. Luckily, it’s also gorgeous on snow. This forgiving, reverse-camber directional twin excelled on wide-open groomers and mellower off-piste slopes. While expert testers wanted more heft, -especially when charging through crud at high speeds, intermediate riders will likely find that it feels just right at slower (read: normal) speeds. arborcollective.com

TAGS: FORGIVING, BEGINNER-FRIENDLY

Union Milan

Testers appreciated Union’s back-to-basics approach with the Milan. There was just enough shock-absorbing cushioning in all the right places, torsional stiffness where you need it most (like in the asymmetrical highbacks), and no pressure points. Our only gripe: adjustments require a screwdriver.

TAGS: SIMPLE, STURDY

Burton Supreme Boots

The word “perfect” was scribbled across several testers’ review forms, leading us to believe the high price tag is justified. While a no-slip heel cup and out-of-the-box comfort are great in-bounds, the Supreme’s articulated cuff and moderate flex also make it plenty comfy for hiking or wearing with a split-board in the backcountry.

TAGS: CROSSOVER BOOT, LIGHTWEIGHT

Salomon Idol Board

This Idol is no one-hit wonder. With a hybrid profile—traditional camber
between the feet, rocker from the bindings out—and a tapered tip and tail, it confidently handled everything from ungroomed steeps to chopped-up powder. “It made me idolize myself,” reported one tester. Although it’s responsive and poppy enough for park riding, it lost points for getting squirrelly on hardpack.

TAGS: CONFIDENCE-BOOSTING, BIG MOUNTAIN

Ride Fame Bindings

All the glory here is in the park: the Fame was a clear favorite with our freestyle-oriented testers. Customizable canting inserts help align your knees and give you extra leverage for added pop. And then there’s all the padding—extra around the ankle strap and in the footbed—to help absorb impact. ridesnowboards.com

TAGS: SOFT LANDINGS, PARK-SPECIFIC

Vans Veil Boots

The top-shelf, all-mountain Veil gets an eco-friendly makeover thanks to Vans’s partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW). Recycled cork footbeds, water-based dyes, and proceeds that bene-fit POW shrink this boot’s footprint. The only thing that hasn’t changed is its performance. Two Boa dials and -moldable internal liners make customizing fit and flex a cinch.
Fits wider feet best.

TAGS: ECO-FRIENDLY, ALL MOUNTAIN

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Rossignol Krypto Magtek Snowboard

Testers were wowed by Rossi’s entire snowboard line this year, but the Krypto rose to the top. Both edges of this directional twin-shaped gun are rimmed with multi-radius sidecut, which allows for seven contact points instead of two, ensuring bear-trap grip on hard snow. It’s been seven years since this tech launched, and testers are still raving about its edge-to-edge response, predictability, and strong hold on short- and long-radius turns. Camber between the bindings and a rockered tip and tail blended seamlessly for light-as-air float and snappy transitions. One tester summed it up: “Smooth switch riding, nice poppy feel on rollers, and great torsional flex between bindings. This all-mountain board can be taken out any day in any conditions.” ‘Nuff said.

Responsiveness: 5 (out of 5)
Versatility: 4

Rome Mod Rocker Snowboard

THE SELL: A twin-shaped freestyle powerhouse with more energy than a pogo stick. THE TEST: Reverse-camber boards are quick and responsive, but they’re also generally devoid of pop off the tip and tail.  Until now. By inserting thin carbon tubes along the length of its thinned-out core, Rome upped this board’s longitudinal and torsional kick. In fact, every tester sounded off on the Mod Rocker’s ease ollieing. And the Kevlar impact plates beneath the bindings absorbed compression and increased response. All that snap didn’t trip us up, though, thanks to its less catchy rockered tip and tail. THE VERDICT: An energetic freestyle board with no vertical limit.

Responsiveness: 4.5
Versatility: 3

Venture Odin Snowboard

THE SELL: A big-mountain beast that can hold an edge. THE TEST: Handcrafted in Silverton, Colorado, and designed by freerider Johan Olofsson, the Odin is flat (no camber) between the bindings, with a rockered tip and tail. Even at high speeds, which was when it rode best, we never missed a turn, whether we were flossing through trees or slashing down steep faces. And with a 40mm setback stance and tapered shape from tail to tip, the Odin plowed through powder, chunder, and even the occasional rock pile—and emerged unscathed. It’s also available as a splitboard. THE VERDICT: This bomber, freeride-focused hard-charger likes room to roam.

Responsiveness: 4
Versatility: 3

Ride Berzerker Snowboard

THE SELL: Built for big-mountain powder-house Jake Blauvelt to dominate every type of terrain. THE TEST: The directional-shaped Berzerker features a setback stance and hybrid rocker-camber profile (rocker in the nose, microcamber from the front binding back), which provided float and kick exactly when testers needed them. Between the layers, carbon reinforcements laced edge to edge at the binding zones added snappy, precise control on everything from groomers and chopped-up pow to fresh lines in the steeps. Plus, testers could not find its speed limit. Available in wide for bigger feet. THE VERDICT: A responsive, crud-busting board for just about everyone.

Responsiveness: 5
Versatility: 4

Lib Tech Attack Banana EC2 Snowboard

THE SELL: A quiver-killing all-terrain freestyler. THE TEST: Lib’s latest design, EC2, puts rocker between your feet and progressively increases camber from the bindings out. It took some getting used to. The inverted-handlebar-mustache profile focuses most of the pressure underneath your stance, making for greater edging power and pop. The result was too much power for intermediate riders, but it paid big dividends for the more aggressive in our crew. One bummer: the ding-prone exposed nose and tail could use a metal edge wrap. THE VERDICT: A forceful freeride board for experts.

Responsiveness: 4.5
Versatility: 4

Burton Nug Directional Snowboard

THE SELL: A small dog with a big bite. THE TEST: The Nug is designed to be eight to ten centimeters shorter than your normal board, thanks to elongated contact points and shorter sidecut. The size suggests the park, but this thing thrives in the deep stuff, thanks to a shovel-shaped nose. It turned in powder like a shortboard on a Waikiki wave and, with added flex between the feet, ollied like a skateboard. Testers who had never surfed or skated weren’t sold on the Nug’s hull-shaped base, calling it squirrely, especially on scratchy hardpack. But surf and skate aficionados couldn’t get enough. THE VERDICT: Never mind the out-of-the-box shape—no board is more fun on a powder day.
Responsiveness: 4
Versatility: 3

Salomon Man’s Board Snowboard

THE SELL: A directional twin that’s solid, speedy, and ready to charge anything. THE TEST: This brawny board was stiff yet more responsive than expected, making for a predictable and lively ride in virtually all conditions. “The hybrid camber-rocker handled jumps and drops easily,” commented one reviewer. Even our biggest tester, a six-foot-five rider, found the Man’s Board “solid yet snappy.” It’s easier on the earth, too: a sustainably harvested aspen core with bamboo and basalt stringers and cork sidewalls collectively reduce the amount of resin, plastic, and fiberglass by up to 40 percent compared with a standard board. THE VERDICT: Best suited to aggressive riders who turn the entire mountain into a terrain park, though the stout, freeride-like flex is not optimal for butters, boxes, and rails.

Responsiveness: 4.5
Versatility: 4

K2 Company Snowboard Bindings

TEAM DRIVEN: K2’s riders wanted a sleek, lightweight two-strap binding. They got it with the Company, which features canted footbeds for added leverage on turns and ollies, extra damping material to minimize vibrations and fatigue, and cored-out toe straps and highbacks to save weight. The sum of these parts is a highly responsive, comfortable, medium-flexing all-mountain binding.

Rome The Mob Snowboard Bindings

MOB MENTALITY: Simplicity is a theme in bindings this year. Testers appreciated Rome’s one-piece plastic base plate because it’s light underfoot and enhanced board feel. The Mob offers adjustable highback canting, giving riders maximum leverage and comfort across all terrain.

Burton Diode EST Snowboard Bindings

MICROMANAGEMENT: Testers applauded Burton’s Diode EST for its ultralight and responsive characteristics, crediting a carbon-fiber-and-nylon-composite high-back and Burton’s infinite-stance Channel interface. We especially like that the heel loop and base plate move independently, which improves comfort and lateral flex.

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With a unique V-strap system that uses only one ratchet at the heel, the Contraband is a cinch to tighten. And the toe strap may look like a big rubber band, but it’s more secure than it appears.

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