I have 3 sets of bindings. Now drives, union falcors and step ons. All are amazing. The tech in the industry is so good from what it was years ago when I started riding. What a time to be alive Happy holidays everyone 🍷🏂
I remember bindings when we had To invent our own..effectively, its a good time To ride! But, ironically, i really EnjoY to go back to the roots, and go binding-less ! HappySurfyHolidays!
Took your suggestion and went with the Union Ultra. Boy was I not disappointed. Best bindings I have running on my Burton SK thus far! Never did I once think "I think I need some more forward lean" and it is smooth on all terrain. Wish I had it with me during my Japan trip riding champagne pow. The Flow fuse is taking a permanent back seat. Thank you. You guys rock!
Finally had a chance to use my new union ultras in 3-4ft of fresh pow and I loved them! I’m a die hard union strata guy.. but these are pretty amazing. Super light weight, good flex, surfy feel. Soaks up that vibration and chatter well. Glad I bought a pair!
@@chriskowerchuk7342 I think they are the best option in the Union line for all mountain bindings. That’s why they are my go to for all my riding. They preform great in all conditions. Never had any fail on me. Soak up almost everything.. and have a good flex. Also very comfortable on a full day of riding. The ultras are nice, but I would still choose the strata’s over the ultras.
I've had knee and back surgery and the only bad part of snowboarding was strapping in. After getting step ons this year, I'm so excited to get back on the slopes.
I had my doubts on the Jones bindings but got a set this year to ride and WOW what an amazing binding for me. They are so insanely comfortable and make riding feel multiple levels more smooth compared to my setup before. Despite all that comfort I never felt like my board wasn't responding and if anything felt much more confident in my moves. I am sold from now on.
Hey man! im thinking about getting the Jones Orions as well, but my worry is that they are too flexible, and that the surfing mechanic is chunky/clicky/cheap. after about 10 months since you posted your comment, how do you feel about them now, and does the skate tech feel cheap? And what do you think of the flex level? what do you think it is 1-10? thanks!
I’ve broken so many pairs of Burton Cartels and Malavitas over the years(I never broke any EST baseplates though), I’m amazed you guys would think they’re so strong. I’ve never broken a pair of Union or Rome bindings though, those have been absolutely bombproof in my experience
We have sold bindings for 30+ years now and do agree that union are the strongest - we also just don't see many Burton Baseplates breaking out our way ! maybe its all the powder riding we do :)
I've found the Jones/Now base trays to be kinda' wide for my Burton (smaller footprint) boot. Am I over-analyzing matching a snug-fitting binding base tray to my boot? I find that Nitro Team bindings, especially, work REALLY WELL with my Burton boots. Thanks for the adult snowboard reviews!
The 1st edition Now binding bases were critized for for being too narrow for many boots. They made the adjustment to widen a few years back. Not sure of your boot size. It could be possible your boot size is at the begining of the size match-up. ie size 7.5 in a medium binding, or size 10 in a large. Possibly try and size down next time you purchase a set of Now/Jones bindings. Cheers !
Honestly, that small adjustment in the highback is the difference between the highback slightly contouring your boot to FULLY contouring your boot. It's necessary and I'm thankful Union had it in there on the Atlas Pro's. The adjustability helped me totally engulf my boot within the binding and feel a type of control that was unmatched.
Amazing video! I'm wondering how Burton XEST bindings compare to Cartel X, and if that SpringBED is worth it? Could you please help me with a short comparison? I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Bought the Step Ons based off your feedback Photon/Genesis. One deep 20” day in so far and no regrets other than not trying them sooner. Riding since 1988 now 47 years old, felt like a bit of a poser at first but I agree there is a definite performance benefit to Step Ons.
The way you describe how the step ons lift the heel vs pulling the strap sounds like it addresses the number one thing I’ve always been fighting with. I always try to get the stiffest boot and set the strap high but I still seem to have heel lift and loss of power on toe side. I’m hoping the cartel x will help with the hammock and I’ve gone to a smaller size since I’m a between size boot. It’s too bad neither Burton nor DC fit my foot, seems Salomon are the only ones to feet my narrow and flat feet otherwise that sounds amazing to finally lock into the binding.
Big fan of the step-on bindings but the boots that are available just don't fit my feet so it meant I needed another step in solution. In the end I went for Nidecker Supermatics. No complaints whatsoever.
Was super bummed with step ons. Got them for Christmas did a full day in them and had a huge amount of play in the toe, like close to 2” of up and down movement within the clips. Took it to the burton shop and they were like wtf we’ve never seen it this bad. They tried to figure out what was wrong and couldn’t. Ended up swapping my boots and bindings for traditional set up instead. Was a sad day but glad the shop took good care of me.
I picked them a little too short and heat molded them, now everything is snug. But maybe the human feet differs to much to pick a good standard. They shoud add some attachable EVA patches to play around with. I had the same problem way back with the K2 click system, it was horrible.
I've fallen in love with the rome AUX tech straps and bindings. Just so much more comfortable imo than the standard/conventional binding straps. A lot less pains and they drive just as hard as conventional straps. I also feel rome bindings have a smaller footprint on my decks than say some of the other mfgs. No ...I am not a rome rep or fan boy....I ride all kinds of decks from several mfgs....even have bindings from several but nothing is more comfortable than that AUX tech.
I have to agree never ridden a better pair of straps no pressure points also a big fan of the D3O duracush you can charge hard all day and never get a hard impact on your feet rode a total of 12 hours 9am till 10 pm with only 2 breaks the other day and my feet didn’t bother me one bit I’ll be staying with Rome for now on just gotta make sure you keep you hardware tight
I agree. I was riding the Strata and Atlas for years and have been testing out the Katana. There is just something magical about that binding. I get this spring out of turns I've never felt with other bindings, Its surfy enough with that Asym wrap but still precise where you want it to be, adjustability through the roof, damp, shock absorbing, & the straps are the best in the game. I'm still interested in trying the Ultra on some of my softer boards. Union kind of did their version of the Asym wrap on the Ultra baseplate.
Mine with 3 sets of bindings, Union Atlas, Strata and Step On Genesis, All of them are great so far, you can use them anywhere, anytime at any condition.
@@0phishtube0 This year Step On stands out for its fast and easy clicks. Especially when I go with ski rider friends for a vacation. The only downside is that it loses a little with the high back after some time which is annoying.
But my all-time favorite is Atlas, this is a White 21/22 model with the best looking and performance. I paired them with a Nitro boot flex 7-9 which I enjoy riding everywhere.
I run 45 degrees on my front foot. I shared now you have to as well :) Now/jones have a version of the burton "free back" that you can get. also give the flux CV a shot if you can. its heel hoop is significantly higher and beefier than the now/jones bindings. truly a godsend for absurdly steep binding angles.
I really like the sound of the improvements on the new SO bindings, having the older ones makes me a little sad... but then I paid almost half what the new ones are going for so not that sad.
Thanks for a great channel! I saw your riding Burton Forager in one episode, did you enjoy it? I like mine and I think it carves really well but want more leverage when the surface is hard then I'm getting from my Cartels. I would really like to improve my carving. I'm considering Union Atlas, Now Drive or Cartel X among others ;-) My question is: would stepons work well for carving?
hey team! love the video, just thought i would let you know that the audio quality is pretty poor. i see you have some microphones attached to your shirt, but it is still pretty low. Just a heads up and something to look into. im going with the Cartel X!
I just picked up a GNU banked country and was going to pair it with some Union Ultras. Ive seen other recommendations to pair it with a stiffer binding like the Atlas. Any input?
I'm starting to build a quiver. Just picked up a Super DOA and grabbed some Union Falcors for it. I was debating b/w the Falcors or the Atlas'. Hoping I made a good call. I figured if I need something softer I can always put my Forces (on Orca) or Contact Pro's (on Skate Banana) on the SDOA. Any thoughts?
I want to get a set if unions, Im mostly going fast down groomers. Would the ultras be better or the atlas pros? Putting on a burton custom. Currently using burton genesis bindings
Really torn between the Ultras and Orions on my Super D.O.A. Looking for a nice mix of bombability with lots of flexibility for all mountain freestyle. This has been a really rough decision for me so I would appreciate any insight/advice.
Get the ultras, but id highly suggest also getting the carbon highbacks. You get the surfyness from the baseplate and minidisk, but the response from the back. You dont want a soft or medium flex binding with the doa...pair it with stiff bindings and boots to get the most out of the board. The flex in the tip and tail of the board is just the right amount of playfulness.
Surprised you chose the ultra pver the force. Seems like every other review i watch or read puts force as the #1 all mointain binding from union. Ive soent countless hours trying to figure out what binding to pair with the capita mercury i picked up. Still unsure.
Its SOOO peference driven. Some folks love super responsive, Thats union and burtons. If you like more forgiving , comfy and surfy, then the Now / Jones bindings.
Can we talk heel cups for those of us with big feet? I'm size 11.5 boot and I currently ride 2021/22 genesis re-flex bindings. The back of heel cup sticks out so far my foot is not centered to get equal overhang. The now heel cup on the jones looks like it has better clearance. How do you feel about the non adjustability for larger feet? Not even high back rotation? On the union does the heel cup get in the way on a big lean like a burton?
@@tributeboardshop thanks! That's nice to hear from people who have seen/used both. Question on union footbeds. Is the footbed length on the ultra or similair ok for a larger 11.5 boot? Or would you recommend an adjustable footbed? If union has those? So I plan to keep my genesis for a second board. What are your thoughts on the hammock highback. I feel I have to be at zero forward lean to get the boot back in the heel cup. But then it looks like the boot only make contact roughly half way up the high back. Which I perceive as loose. Would you have a highback to boot contact point recommendation for a hammock highback like this? I'm tempted to try and swap out this high back.
@@tributeboardshopwell hello again. I went into a shop today and found my boots actually sit really nice in the heel cup in a union force and the shadow fit salomon stuff. Couldn't find a now or jones to try. Question on adjusting the heel cup. This allows me to push the boot back towards toe side. On the force I can also move the footpad a little. But not all union bindings can move the foot pad. How do you guys feel about a binding like the ultra with an 11.5 boot? Any issue moving the heel cup in and excessive toe overhang? To be honest on bindings where my boot sits all the way back and minimum heel cup width I don't think I would need much adjustment to get centered.
Need help/advice. What to pair with the orca apex? I've gone through a few orcas using the genesis and genesis X. No complaints, except the toe cup slips off (ion boot) when riding aggressively. I am leaning towards pairing with either the Jones Orion or Jones Apollo, but I really don't know. My riding style is poppy / whatever I see either at resort or backcountry searching on a snowmobile. Looking for advice.
Thats an aggressive ride ! We love that Orca and rode it with the Union Atlas , very good pairing for your style of riding we would say . The Orion is a "surfier " option and really would come down to how much powder is in your zone!
@@tributeboardshop when you say aggressive, is that in context of unforgiving or responsive (i.e. stiff - tuned for racing, vs not so all-mountain esque)? I need a binding that can flex similar to the genesis x, but is also somewhat stiff to maintain responsiveness. Looking at the union atlas and atlas pro, the drawback is the entire foot is rubber, which feels like there's too much dampening. It's why I like what the Jones offers, where you can tune to dampening a bit. I also like the idea of adjusting the straps to not be as stiff through rotation. That's what has me - main drawback would be the footprint. I appreciate how the genesis can be tailored to support a bigger boot (size 12), but both Apollo/Orion and atlas cannot do this. The union series has an ability to resess the heel cup, but there are drawbacks to this (inordinate displacements). Ultimately, I wish the genesis cup didn't fail on me (three different genesis bindings and they all fall off Burton boots). Ultimately, I am just looking to pair a great board that's designed to have more pop (carbon orientated boards nail this) with a binding that can balance the pop with maneuverability, flow, and stability. I wish it was as easy in the past, but everything is different now because of options. I did buy the Orion, but on further research, I worry it might be "too soft" of a binding compared to what I need, so I ordered the Apollo to swap out following an obscene amount of further research. I've had my eye on this skate-tech for a while and want to try it out - just, I don't want to take a plunge and feel like I should have spent an extra $200 to get exactly what I needed vs. ...miss out on maybe the Orion being the right fit.
I use a Cartel from 2015 on my Ultra Mountain Twin from 2020. That binding unfortunately still works fine :D Thinking about buying a new one but I am not sure what I want... One thing: You said, it is tool-less but it looks like you need a screwdriver for the highback rotation don't you?
Yes, you need a Philips #2 screwdriver to rotate the highbacks, and a Philips #3 to mount the bindings on the board. Something that the two dudes in the video don't mention is that the Re:flex system doesn't allow for much adjustment of the binding on boards with 4x4 inserts. This means that you won't be able to center the boots on the board if your boot size is in the upper or lower end of the scale for any given binding size. For instance, I'm size US8 and with a size M Cartel binding the boots (which are Burton Imperials) end up on the heel side of the board. In other words: if you're between sizes the Burton bindings will only work on Burton boards with channel system.
I love burton cartels but I can't get over "no stance adjustablity" on their disks. They have flex in the baseplate but sacrificed the adjustment on the disk (all other companies have it and for good reasons!). They market infinite adjustability with their Channel system and then on the re-flex models you get NO adjustment beside what the inserts give you. I have to go 1 inch too wide or too narrow...not smart.
@@jessecrichton2943 its all business in the baseplate but the highback(21/22) has some give to it. I believe the newest highback is a bit stiffer on the Atlas. The Union Force would probably be a little more comparable to the Cartel... but they are completely redoing the Force for next year if you wanted to hold out for the new new.
Hi Marcus. The Gloden Orca is relative aggressive in response. Both bindings are high perfoming, the Orion being more surfy, and the Atlast pro very responsive. Depends on your most common riding style and usual conditions. Also boots. If you are running a stiff boot, stiff bindings and a responsive board, the whole set-up might be a bit twitchy, over turning etc. Most would say go with the Atlas pro for a proper match-up...but please ponder my above concept. I'd personally go with the Orion, as I like to run stiffer boots.
Thanks, Mark! That is very helpful. I am riding the Burton SLX and the Nitro Capital. So rather on the stiffer side, in particular the Nitro. Riding here in the Alps in all conditions but not much park. Want it to be a bit more playful but still be able to charge. Sounds like the Orion or Falcor would be the better options then ✌🏽 Let’s see if I can find a good Black Friday deal on either of them 😊 Thanks again for your input and have a great season!
Really Respect the info coming from this channel, but there is no way the union Ultra's are an all mountain binding. Maybe because you rode them for 1 day and they hadden't fully broken in but they are wayyyy too soft to be all mountain. Sorry but not sorry. Big thumbs down for that, not sure if paid by union to push that (or the less experienced rider forced it to be part of this list) but you are way off the mark calling out the ultras here.
One thing they should have mentioned about the Jones binding, no real adjustment capabilities. No highback rotation, no centering of the footbed, etc. Awesome bindings, but with zero adjustment I think the Rome line beats Jones.
Best snowboard gear channel.
Always good recomendations
Thanks for the Support Alex!
I have 3 sets of bindings. Now drives, union falcors and step ons. All are amazing. The tech in the industry is so good from what it was years ago when I started riding. What a time to be alive Happy holidays everyone 🍷🏂
that's a good 3 piece...
What's your favorite?
I remember binding before ratchet strap were invented 😂
I remember bindings when we had To invent our own..effectively, its a good time To ride! But, ironically, i really EnjoY to go back to the roots, and go binding-less !
HappySurfyHolidays!
I remember when bindings didn't exist :) Now I have a binding quiver too - this is the golden age for sure!
Took your suggestion and went with the Union Ultra. Boy was I not disappointed. Best bindings I have running on my Burton SK thus far! Never did I once think "I think I need some more forward lean" and it is smooth on all terrain. Wish I had it with me during my Japan trip riding champagne pow.
The Flow fuse is taking a permanent back seat. Thank you. You guys rock!
Great News! It Truly is one of the best bindings out there!!
Finally had a chance to use my new union ultras in 3-4ft of fresh pow and I loved them! I’m a die hard union strata guy.. but these are pretty amazing. Super light weight, good flex, surfy feel. Soaks up that vibration and chatter well. Glad I bought a pair!
I'm thinking of getting the strata. Currently use older Contacts. Are the Strata a good all mountain option in your opinion?
@@chriskowerchuk7342 I think they are the best option in the Union line for all mountain bindings. That’s why they are my go to for all my riding. They preform great in all conditions. Never had any fail on me. Soak up almost everything.. and have a good flex. Also very comfortable on a full day of riding. The ultras are nice, but I would still choose the strata’s over the ultras.
why stratas over ultras? thanks@@davewolf3751
I've had knee and back surgery and the only bad part of snowboarding was strapping in. After getting step ons this year, I'm so excited to get back on the slopes.
That sounds terrible, why'd you need back surgery?
@@cozytown5540 I had a vertebral defect that I was born with but only started causing problems when I got older.
@@viveksawhney5691 Sorry to hear man, hope you're doing better now
Excellent content guys, keep it coming! Ya got me thinking abt those step-ons!!
Anyone else have the stereo audio swapped for L-R?
It is Indeed a thing ! haha - fired our audio guy.....
@@tributeboardshop lol
Yeah, alot of their videos are like that. Lol
Also been riding step ons for 3 years and will never go back to a strap binding again! Love ‘em.
You missed Nitro has Step On boots too!
Thanks for the video!
I had my doubts on the Jones bindings but got a set this year to ride and WOW what an amazing binding for me. They are so insanely comfortable and make riding feel multiple levels more smooth compared to my setup before. Despite all that comfort I never felt like my board wasn't responding and if anything felt much more confident in my moves. I am sold from now on.
Hey man! im thinking about getting the Jones Orions as well, but my worry is that they are too flexible, and that the surfing mechanic is chunky/clicky/cheap. after about 10 months since you posted your comment, how do you feel about them now, and does the skate tech feel cheap? And what do you think of the flex level? what do you think it is 1-10?
thanks!
Kick ass video! Thanks for the great review videos!
I’ve broken so many pairs of Burton Cartels and Malavitas over the years(I never broke any EST baseplates though), I’m amazed you guys would think they’re so strong. I’ve never broken a pair of Union or Rome bindings though, those have been absolutely bombproof in my experience
We have sold bindings for 30+ years now and do agree that union are the strongest - we also just don't see many Burton Baseplates breaking out our way ! maybe its all the powder riding we do :)
I've found the Jones/Now base trays to be kinda' wide for my Burton (smaller footprint) boot. Am I over-analyzing matching a snug-fitting binding base tray to my boot? I find that Nitro Team bindings, especially, work REALLY WELL with my Burton boots. Thanks for the adult snowboard reviews!
The 1st edition Now binding bases were critized for for being too narrow for many boots. They made the adjustment to widen a few years back. Not sure of your boot size. It could be possible your boot size is at the begining of the size match-up. ie size 7.5 in a medium binding, or size 10 in a large. Possibly try and size down next time you purchase a set of Now/Jones bindings. Cheers !
I were a size 10 in the mediums and fit seems perfect in my adidas boots in case that helps
Loving that these videos are coming back
Honestly, that small adjustment in the highback is the difference between the highback slightly contouring your boot to FULLY contouring your boot. It's necessary and I'm thankful Union had it in there on the Atlas Pro's. The adjustability helped me totally engulf my boot within the binding and feel a type of control that was unmatched.
Amazing video! I'm wondering how Burton XEST bindings compare to Cartel X, and if that SpringBED is worth it? Could you please help me with a short comparison? I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Bought the Step Ons based off your feedback Photon/Genesis. One deep 20” day in so far and no regrets other than not trying them sooner. Riding since 1988 now 47 years old, felt like a bit of a poser at first but I agree there is a definite performance benefit to Step Ons.
So good to Hear!! Thx for the support
The way you describe how the step ons lift the heel vs pulling the strap sounds like it addresses the number one thing I’ve always been fighting with. I always try to get the stiffest boot and set the strap high but I still seem to have heel lift and loss of power on toe side. I’m hoping the cartel x will help with the hammock and I’ve gone to a smaller size since I’m a between size boot. It’s too bad neither Burton nor DC fit my foot, seems Salomon are the only ones to feet my narrow and flat feet otherwise that sounds amazing to finally lock into the binding.
Big fan of the step-on bindings but the boots that are available just don't fit my feet so it meant I needed another step in solution. In the end I went for Nidecker Supermatics. No complaints whatsoever.
Can you make a 101 video on centering of boots? Or recommend any videos?
Was super bummed with step ons. Got them for Christmas did a full day in them and had a huge amount of play in the toe, like close to 2” of up and down movement within the clips. Took it to the burton shop and they were like wtf we’ve never seen it this bad. They tried to figure out what was wrong and couldn’t. Ended up swapping my boots and bindings for traditional set up instead. Was a sad day but glad the shop took good care of me.
I picked them a little too short and heat molded them, now everything is snug. But maybe the human feet differs to much to pick a good standard. They shoud add some attachable EVA patches to play around with. I had the same problem way back with the K2 click system, it was horrible.
That's crazy. Why didn't they just replace the faulty boots or bindings and replace with new?
I've fallen in love with the rome AUX tech straps and bindings. Just so much more comfortable imo than the standard/conventional binding straps. A lot less pains and they drive just as hard as conventional straps. I also feel rome bindings have a smaller footprint on my decks than say some of the other mfgs. No ...I am not a rome rep or fan boy....I ride all kinds of decks from several mfgs....even have bindings from several but nothing is more comfortable than that AUX tech.
I have to agree never ridden a better pair of straps no pressure points also a big fan of the D3O duracush you can charge hard all day and never get a hard impact on your feet rode a total of 12 hours 9am till 10 pm with only 2 breaks the other day and my feet didn’t bother me one bit I’ll be staying with Rome for now on just gotta make sure you keep you hardware tight
I agree. I was riding the Strata and Atlas for years and have been testing out the Katana. There is just something magical about that binding. I get this spring out of turns I've never felt with other bindings, Its surfy enough with that Asym wrap but still precise where you want it to be, adjustability through the roof, damp, shock absorbing, & the straps are the best in the game. I'm still interested in trying the Ultra on some of my softer boards. Union kind of did their version of the Asym wrap on the Ultra baseplate.
Great reviews Guy ! Thank you !!!!
Mine with 3 sets of bindings, Union Atlas, Strata and Step On Genesis, All of them are great so far, you can use them anywhere, anytime at any condition.
whats your favorite of the three
@@0phishtube0 This year Step On stands out for its fast and easy clicks. Especially when I go with ski rider friends for a vacation. The only downside is that it loses a little with the high back after some time which is annoying.
But my all-time favorite is Atlas, this is a White 21/22 model with the best looking and performance. I paired them with a Nitro boot flex 7-9 which I enjoy riding everywhere.
I run 45 degrees on my front foot. I shared now you have to as well :) Now/jones have a version of the burton "free back" that you can get. also give the flux CV a shot if you can. its heel hoop is significantly higher and beefier than the now/jones bindings. truly a godsend for absurdly steep binding angles.
No forward lean adjustment on the Union hibacks? What angle from vertical did they decide fits everybody?
I’ve always been a Union fanboy and one day made the switch to Cartels and never going back
I really like the sound of the improvements on the new SO bindings, having the older ones makes me a little sad... but then I paid almost half what the new ones are going for so not that sad.
Thanks guys! Where are Fix Magnum on your chart? ;)
Man I’ve been riding the same setup for years and it’s time! But I know nothing about bindings so..
Does it makes sense to put Ultra's on a mind expander? or union strata or force might be a better fit?
only reason i didnt go with the ultras was because of the 6* forward lean.
Thanks for a great channel! I saw your riding Burton Forager in one episode, did you enjoy it? I like mine and I think it carves really well but want more leverage when the surface is hard then I'm getting from my Cartels. I would really like to improve my carving.
I'm considering Union Atlas, Now Drive or Cartel X among others ;-) My question is: would stepons work well for carving?
Union Atlas ...OR yes , step on is Great for carving!
Sizewise - I have US12 boots (IONs and TM-2 XLT) - which should I go with L for Cartel X and Union or size down to M? Any advice?
hey team! love the video, just thought i would let you know that the audio quality is pretty poor. i see you have some microphones attached to your shirt, but it is still pretty low. Just a heads up and something to look into.
im going with the Cartel X!
Yes - we had some issue with this last year :) - new episodes are much much better now
Trying to decide between Union Atlas or Ultras paired with a Cold Brew for riding in the Northeast. Any thoughts for an all mountain paring?
Atlas - you'll love it!
I just picked up a GNU banked country and was going to pair it with some Union Ultras. Ive seen other recommendations to pair it with a stiffer binding like the Atlas. Any input?
Shane has that exact set up - the ultras are a GREAT choice for that model!
I'm starting to build a quiver. Just picked up a Super DOA and grabbed some Union Falcors for it. I was debating b/w the Falcors or the Atlas'. Hoping I made a good call. I figured if I need something softer I can always put my Forces (on Orca) or Contact Pro's (on Skate Banana) on the SDOA. Any thoughts?
That's a dream set up man , great choice
I want to get a set if unions, Im mostly going fast down groomers. Would the ultras be better or the atlas pros? Putting on a burton custom. Currently using burton genesis bindings
What do you think about clew stepin bindings?
Really torn between the Ultras and Orions on my Super D.O.A. Looking for a nice mix of bombability with lots of flexibility for all mountain freestyle. This has been a really rough decision for me so I would appreciate any insight/advice.
Get the ultras, but id highly suggest also getting the carbon highbacks. You get the surfyness from the baseplate and minidisk, but the response from the back.
You dont want a soft or medium flex binding with the doa...pair it with stiff bindings and boots to get the most out of the board. The flex in the tip and tail of the board is just the right amount of playfulness.
Surprised you chose the ultra pver the force. Seems like every other review i watch or read puts force as the #1 all mointain binding from union. Ive soent countless hours trying to figure out what binding to pair with the capita mercury i picked up. Still unsure.
just look at what Longo has on his board ;)
@@tributeboardshop looked around. One video shows him riding the atlas, but something else I saw said he rides force 🤷♂️🤔
I’m looking for bindings for freestyle. I love jibs and some jumps. What bindings can you guys suggest? (My board is a sleepwalker(pretty soft))
Its SOOO peference driven. Some folks love super responsive, Thats union and burtons. If you like more forgiving , comfy and surfy, then the Now / Jones bindings.
Is there any canting on the union ultra's?
Can we talk heel cups for those of us with big feet?
I'm size 11.5 boot and I currently ride 2021/22 genesis re-flex bindings. The back of heel cup sticks out so far my foot is not centered to get equal overhang.
The now heel cup on the jones looks like it has better clearance. How do you feel about the non adjustability for larger feet? Not even high back rotation?
On the union does the heel cup get in the way on a big lean like a burton?
@@UncIe_Drew Go with union on this / we always advise anyone size 11 and up to go with an adjustible heel cup!
@@tributeboardshop thanks! That's nice to hear from people who have seen/used both. Question on union footbeds. Is the footbed length on the ultra or similair ok for a larger 11.5 boot? Or would you recommend an adjustable footbed? If union has those?
So I plan to keep my genesis for a second board. What are your thoughts on the hammock highback. I feel I have to be at zero forward lean to get the boot back in the heel cup. But then it looks like the boot only make contact roughly half way up the high back. Which I perceive as loose. Would you have a highback to boot contact point recommendation for a hammock highback like this? I'm tempted to try and swap out this high back.
@@tributeboardshopwell hello again.
I went into a shop today and found my boots actually sit really nice in the heel cup in a union force and the shadow fit salomon stuff. Couldn't find a now or jones to try.
Question on adjusting the heel cup. This allows me to push the boot back towards toe side. On the force I can also move the footpad a little. But not all union bindings can move the foot pad. How do you guys feel about a binding like the ultra with an 11.5 boot? Any issue moving the heel cup in and excessive toe overhang?
To be honest on bindings where my boot sits all the way back and minimum heel cup width I don't think I would need much adjustment to get centered.
What' s diferenciate the orion and the mercury
Need help/advice. What to pair with the orca apex?
I've gone through a few orcas using the genesis and genesis X. No complaints, except the toe cup slips off (ion boot) when riding aggressively.
I am leaning towards pairing with either the Jones Orion or Jones Apollo, but I really don't know. My riding style is poppy / whatever I see either at resort or backcountry searching on a snowmobile.
Looking for advice.
Thats an aggressive ride ! We love that Orca and rode it with the Union Atlas , very good pairing for your style of riding we would say . The Orion is a "surfier " option and really would come down to how much powder is in your zone!
@@tributeboardshop when you say aggressive, is that in context of unforgiving or responsive (i.e. stiff - tuned for racing, vs not so all-mountain esque)?
I need a binding that can flex similar to the genesis x, but is also somewhat stiff to maintain responsiveness.
Looking at the union atlas and atlas pro, the drawback is the entire foot is rubber, which feels like there's too much dampening. It's why I like what the Jones offers, where you can tune to dampening a bit.
I also like the idea of adjusting the straps to not be as stiff through rotation. That's what has me - main drawback would be the footprint. I appreciate how the genesis can be tailored to support a bigger boot (size 12), but both Apollo/Orion and atlas cannot do this.
The union series has an ability to resess the heel cup, but there are drawbacks to this (inordinate displacements). Ultimately, I wish the genesis cup didn't fail on me (three different genesis bindings and they all fall off Burton boots).
Ultimately, I am just looking to pair a great board that's designed to have more pop (carbon orientated boards nail this) with a binding that can balance the pop with maneuverability, flow, and stability.
I wish it was as easy in the past, but everything is different now because of options. I did buy the Orion, but on further research, I worry it might be "too soft" of a binding compared to what I need, so I ordered the Apollo to swap out following an obscene amount of further research.
I've had my eye on this skate-tech for a while and want to try it out - just, I don't want to take a plunge and feel like I should have spent an extra $200 to get exactly what I needed vs. ...miss out on maybe the Orion being the right fit.
Would you recommend the ultras or atlas for an all mountain/freestyle riding style paired with the super doa ?
Body Weight would make this decision - Both are great but if you have some power behind you - go ATLAS!
Was the other union binding the Atlas??
I use a Cartel from 2015 on my Ultra Mountain Twin from 2020. That binding unfortunately still works fine :D Thinking about buying a new one but I am not sure what I want...
One thing: You said, it is tool-less but it looks like you need a screwdriver for the highback rotation don't you?
Yes, you need a Philips #2 screwdriver to rotate the highbacks, and a Philips #3 to mount the bindings on the board. Something that the two dudes in the video don't mention is that the Re:flex system doesn't allow for much adjustment of the binding on boards with 4x4 inserts. This means that you won't be able to center the boots on the board if your boot size is in the upper or lower end of the scale for any given binding size. For instance, I'm size US8 and with a size M Cartel binding the boots (which are Burton Imperials) end up on the heel side of the board. In other words: if you're between sizes the Burton bindings will only work on Burton boards with channel system.
Kristian beat me to it. The basic, most common adjustments of the straps and highback Forward lean are toolless.
Rome katana
I wonder if the other Union was the atlas pro ..? Haha 😂😂
panning your voices so far left and right is a little strange haha
btw. it's inverted so if the right guy speaks the signal is panned to the left side
Yea
We
Blew it with the new gear :/ since the flood its been a learning curve with the new tech - wont happen again ! 🙏🏽
@@tributeboardshop oh shit sorry to hear about that flood ...
but no big problem and a good start into the season!
Union Atlas was the other one :)
Why do you run no high backs with powder?
Am I the only one who noticed that they've switched their left and right audio channels?
It was bugging me too
Trying to decide between the union strata and ultra for my super DOA. Im going for all mountain freestyle.
How important is Highback Adjustability? That may influence your choice!
Not a whole lot honestly. I think I can live without it. Just wanting to making sure it can hold its own with speed and carving yet freestyle focused.
I love burton cartels but I can't get over "no stance adjustablity" on their disks. They have flex in the baseplate but sacrificed the adjustment on the disk (all other companies have it and for good reasons!). They market infinite adjustability with their Channel system and then on the re-flex models you get NO adjustment beside what the inserts give you. I have to go 1 inch too wide or too narrow...not smart.
Try Union Atlas as an alternative.
@@markfawcett8142 aren’t they much stiffer? Genuinely curious because I’m trying to decide as well
@@jessecrichton2943 its all business in the baseplate but the highback(21/22) has some give to it. I believe the newest highback is a bit stiffer on the Atlas. The Union Force would probably be a little more comparable to the Cartel... but they are completely redoing the Force for next year if you wanted to hold out for the new new.
UNION FORCE BABYYYYYYY
it made the Top 10 of course!!!
Has anyone tried the Head FX binding ?
Orion a good match with a Golden Orca? Or better off with a Union Atlas Pro?
Hi Marcus. The Gloden Orca is relative aggressive in response. Both bindings are high perfoming, the Orion being more surfy, and the Atlast pro very responsive. Depends on your most common riding style and usual conditions. Also boots. If you are running a stiff boot, stiff bindings and a responsive board, the whole set-up might be a bit twitchy, over turning etc. Most would say go with the Atlas pro for a proper match-up...but please ponder my above concept. I'd personally go with the Orion, as I like to run stiffer boots.
Thanks, Mark! That is very helpful. I am riding the Burton SLX and the Nitro Capital. So rather on the stiffer side, in particular the Nitro. Riding here in the Alps in all conditions but not much park. Want it to be a bit more playful but still be able to charge. Sounds like the Orion or Falcor would be the better options then ✌🏽 Let’s see if I can find a good Black Friday deal on either of them 😊 Thanks again for your input and have a great season!
What about Flux Ds? 🤔🤔
I think the audio needs to be flipped directions. Guy on the right is coming from my left speaker.
thanks for the tech tip...we'll look into it ;). All new gear since the flood. Taking a while to get it all dialed in.
What's that front foot angle, Shane??
haha - all we know is , its more than 30 degrees ....
@@tributeboardshop I guess we're in the same club, then.
that the name of music in begin ?
I’ll stick with NOW bindings
The mic L and R panning is opposite and I can't focus lol
we couldnt fix in post either ..... never happened again thankfully!
The Stereo-Audio is switched
For me personally the top binding was in 2019: Burton Mala Vita, 2020: Clew, 2021: Clew, 2022: Clew and 2023 Clew 🤣
I guess fawcett knows a thing or two about bindings LOL
your intro music is like 10 db too loud
and you are not only panned way too hard, you are backwards. seriously, this is hard to watch
Really Respect the info coming from this channel, but there is no way the union Ultra's are an all mountain binding. Maybe because you rode them for 1 day and they hadden't fully broken in but they are wayyyy too soft to be all mountain. Sorry but not sorry. Big thumbs down for that, not sure if paid by union to push that (or the less experienced rider forced it to be part of this list) but you are way off the mark calling out the ultras here.
So what kind of riding would you say Arthur Longo is doing?
One year later, can confirm these Ultra's are the ideal all mtn freestyle binding!
One thing they should have mentioned about the Jones binding, no real adjustment capabilities. No highback rotation, no centering of the footbed, etc. Awesome bindings, but with zero adjustment I think the Rome line beats Jones.
So annoying, why wouldn't you say what the other Union binding is? Not very helpful to consumers.
ATLAS 🎉
@@tributeboardshop thank you, I love you.