NOW Snowboard Bindings / Skate-Tech Explained
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- Опубликовано: 17 ноя 2023
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I've been asked about my snowboard gear a lot. The questions about my binding choice are mostly the same. So I figured I'd explain what makes NOW bindings so different from any other snowboard binding design out there, and why this is the best snowboard binding for the way I want to ride.
The way the energy is transferred to the edges and vibrations are being absorbed makes NOW the best binding choice for carving. As much as NOW supports me as a rider and snowboard nerd, they did not ask for this video. It is simply my passion for the product that I've developed over the last eight seasons that I thought I needed to share to explain better why they work so well for me.
Enjoy!
Music: click.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io...
Thanks for your in-depth description of the now bindings. I always thought it was just a marketing gag. Now i have to test ride one of this bindings.
I'm glad to have found your channel, i don't know of any comparable snowboard channel on youtube. Your in-depth descriptions are worth their weight in gold.
For future content i'd like to see a tutorial on your carving technique. With the same level of detail as your tech-talks, that would be a great thing.
So long
Hi Gordy! You made my day!! Thank you so much for the kind words. I had been feeling the need for this sort of 'real' content for years.... So I figured, I just had to do it myself... :-) There's much more to come! I only just started. Stay tuned!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Hi Lars your content is great. You’re talking about snowboarding in a way that I’ve not seen anyone do ever. Really informative and clearly explained 👍🏼👊🏼
@@jaimepardo ......dang... Thank you so much! Yeah, it's my greatest passion in life! It goes so much further than the fashion aspect the industry promotes! It's all about 'cool' and which pro rides which board.... This is a sport that follows physics! When you look at it from that standpoint, the sky is the limit!! You can take it anywhere! The misconceptions out there are insane, and I can't believe that not many people before me have tried to clear up with that. So that's my mission! :-) Ha!
I should have listened to you so much earlier about NOW. I've told you before, but they are so damn good that I really feel like I wasted a lot of years not riding them. I never thought there could be a revelation in bindings, because as you point out, most companies utilize the same design. They're good. They work well. What else could be done? However, I was genuinely blown away within the first couple hundred feet when I borrowed my friend's drives 4 years ago. Rode them two days in a full range of conditions. When I went back to my personal bindings, which I had loved for years, I really hated them. They felt like bear traps, and they felt dead. I felt disconnected. Sold all my sets immediately and fully committed to drives... instantly, everything felt perfect again. Every day in them has been awesome. They've never felt weird, and I've never felt like I'm fighting anything or want them to feel any different. Skate tech is so often misunderstood (personally I think the term & comparison to trucks is a bit misleading) and I've seen many people say it doesn't actually do anything, but it absolutely works. I can't think of what binding design it would take for me to ride anything else but NOW.
Yeah Spenser, same here. I threw other bindings on boards I had only ever ridden with NOWs. Every time that changed the board's feel to such a large degree that I didn't even recognize it anymore... I'm glad you checked them out and found something that worked for you! 🙌
I've been riding NOW bindings since the orange and white 2013 Select. I didn't notice a huge difference when i got on them. I noticed when my ratchet broke and I switched back to my old bindings. It took more effort and was slower to get on edge compared to NOW. Despite breaking 2-3 ratchets a season I still rode NOW. I'm glad they finally fixed their hardware.
I use Jones alloy buckles (ratchet) on my 2023 select pro with Libtech toe strap ladders and upgraded Hyperfuse 2 ankle strap.
@@johnbartender3451 haha Frankenstein bindings. I've always wanted to mix and match a skate tech binding with something like the bataleon infinity heel strap.
@@homealone5087 😊 Do it, it’s fun. Happy New Year and happy shredding !
you managed to explan the technical advantage in a way, that the average casual rider understands. very well done
Thanks a bunch!
I picked up a pair of Jones Mercury bindings for my Jones Mountain twin and they also utilize Now Skatetech… I can’t wait to get out there and start ripping with them!
Yeah, it's essentially the same thing with Jones's own straps and highbacks. Jeremy was on the Drive before his brand adopted the design. They were actually called the NOW Jeremy Jones Drive. Both brands are somehow under the Nidecker umbrella and as far as I know Jeremy was shareholder in NOW or something like that... (not sure!!). I don't really like the politics behind functioning sporting goods. I wish capitalism didn't force small brands to give away or share their ideas to survive.
Anyhow, that design works! And it has been invented by NOW founder JF Pelchat, who really created something unique.
Hope you'll enjoy your bindings!
Totaly agree with your opinion on the NOW binding ! Keep the good stuff coming !
I've been riding most of my life so most of the info you said I already know, but you are able to say it in a way that I have never thought of before. Very informative!🤙
What a great compliment! Thank you, Chad!!
Great video! I picked up the jones orion this season and they use the same tech. Its been a slow snow season so far and I only been out a couple of days but I love the skate tech so far. I picked up the soft/medium bushings as well. cant wait to try them.
Awesome content man.. you have something more to offer than the hundreds of other gear review or riding content channels that already exist.
Thank you!! That was the goal!! :-) Glad it's coming across. Thanks for reaching out! Share the love... ;-)
Amazing video! heaps of great information I didn’t know about NOW bindings
Thanks! Very kind of you!!
Although I haven't watched this clip until today: I also came to all the focal points you have demonstrated with my new Jones Mercury binding and looking forward to all the assistance built into the system. I will also be explaining the finding on our channel can't wait to start using them!
Awesome!! Thanks for the support and keep doing what you’re doing!!
I have some Now Selects. Love them, it was a massive improvement when I got them.
This is better than any marketing video that NOW (or Jones) has ever produced. It covers everything I figured out through trial-and-error over ~10 years since the first year Drive. The flush heelcup design and the higher base tray are subtle design choices to the naked eye that make a huge difference on snow.
They erred with the “SkateTech” branding IMO. I understand the hanger + bushing inspiration, but “skate” connotes loose, e.g. “Skate Banana”, when it actually adds precision and comfort. Just gave the wrong idea to the typical consumer, especially since NOW never especially explained the tech well.
Any thoughts on the new Drive Pro? I had older Hanger 2 Drives and liked them other than that zero flex ankle strap. I’ve been on the Jones Mercury the past couple seasons.
Man.... so nice to read this!! Yeah, we're 100% on the same page. I've been telling them that the name 'Skate Tech' is misleading and that they're likely missing customers for about 7 years. I, too, agree with their inspiration and the origin of the name. But it doesn't convey the functional aspect of the binding very well.
Drive Pro is awesome! Hanger 3 has the chassis extended towards the edge by 3mm on each side, so you get a 6mm longer platform. More power to the edge. Is it mega noticeable? No! But it is a good thing, because... physics! 😎
The new highback is a hint taller and has more curve on both sides. I ride regular, double posi and used to rock two left highbcks so I get that curve on the inside of my backfoot as well. That is no longer needed! New highback is quite the cup! Love it!
Ankle strap feels great. Not 100% sure yet which one I like better. I did like the old ones a lot.
Thanks for your comment!! I really appreciate it!!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-ChannelYea Hanger 3.0 is the big reason I jumped over to the Jones Mercury when H3 dropped. Especially on wider boards, adds just a little bit more firepower on edge. Bonus: it increased base tray volume just enough that I can now center up my boots without adjusting toe-heel, so I can use the disc to preserve stance options.
Yeah, the name and marketing does such disservice to them, I also think.
Before snowboarding, as a kid, I skied and I do not skate or surf - and I really can not really imagine a board sport without the board being very firmly attached to my feet. 😂
Thus anything advertised as surfy, loose or skate-something makes me rather sceptical and think "probably not for me".
And as if that was not enough, there is that type of explanation that makes you think you would have a rocking chair between your boots and the board...
Yes i can confirm in all points. I am riding skatetech since 3 years, and before 30 years normal binding. I ride jones bindings, but the skatetech is the same.
Great video and nice channel! Subscribed!
Thank you so much!!
Hi Lars,
Appreciate all your insights and I have learned quite a lot from your channel.
I bought some Drive Pros this season after seeing this video and loved them.
I was wondering if you have ever tried the Burton Step Ons (Genesis or other).
They seem a bit less stiff than the Drive Pros, but the points of contact for the bindings sound like they mimic the lower fulcrum/point of energy transfer of skate tech.
Curious on your thoughts about the comparisons for performance and any other additional color
Cheers,
edit: I scrolled down a bit below and saw you had already responded to someone with a similar question.
Big shoutout to you Lars for your channel. The information is you give to us is top-notch, and i also love the fact that you bring arguments to sustain your opinions.
After watching this particular video i'm determined to give Now bindings a chance (currently on Rome Katana), and see for myself how skate tech feels, and putthe Drive or the Drive Pro on my Korua Dart & Otto.
Special thanks to @malcolmmoore for the recommendation.
Awesome! Thank you! Did Malcolm recommend the bindings?
Thank you for this detailed video! I was wondering which bushings you recommend and you enjoy most of the time, also for getting the best of the skate tech.. I recently purchased a pair of now drive pro and still hesitating between medium and hard bushings (my board is quite stiff). Thank you!
It might mostly depend on your weight. I'm 135 lbs, and I run medium bushings all the time. It's also preference! The stiffer the bushings, the more weight you need to actually feel what they do - or: the less you get the effect of Skate Tech... A bit up to you and easy to play with. Good luck!
Grabbed a pair based on your recommendation. This will be my 3rd pair of Nows, so hopefully the 3rd time is the charm. Had first year Drives and hated them. The old heelcup was way too narrow. Picked up some Select Pros a few years back and still couldn't get the feel for them. Currently riding Rome Cleavers and I really love the adjustability.
Hahahaha, way to put the pressure on me! ;-)
Hope they'll work out. I'm scared.... Hahaha! :-)
But jokes aside, not everyone has to like the bindings! Maybe you just don't vibe with that system!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel No pressure at all! I've been leaning that way for a while, this just pushed me over the top. I think it will work out this time.
I had been riding Burton and Union bindings with an stiff boot, but four seasons ago I swapped to a Burton Ion Step On setup and it's been amazing. Before i made this change, my next binding to try was going to be the Now Drive.
I'm curious if you've ridden a step on setup and can compare. With a step on, you're attached via cleats so you don't push the board over, more pull it. Its insanely fast and responsive because of this and the performance increase was amazing. See the Tribute Lounge videos about Step On for a better explanation than i could provide here.
Im still curious to try a Now Drive, but I'd need a new boot and binding so its an expensive proposition. After riding the step ons, im not interested in any other bindings out there except the Drives.
Step On is very direct, true! It is also harsh compared to NOW. I can't be in Burton boots for more than a minute, so back when I tried it there wasn't any other offering for boots, so I had a terrible day.
The biggest thing about Step On is the insanely thick heel cup!! I'm only a size 10.5 boot and ride 270mm waist widths, yet with Step On I boot out instantly on my heels. I can't properly describe what I all didn't like about the system, but it just didn't do anything for me. Couldn't get enough forward lean either. There's a lot of preference going into binding choice, since they change the 'feel' of a board. So there's no right or wrong. NOW just does the trick for me, and I can't see that change anytime soon. They're perfect. :-)
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel If the boots don't fit it's a nonstarter definitely. I've never had any trouble with boot out, but I'm in 8.5s. As far as forward lean, I think that's the biggest issue with the system for sure. Can't go past f3.
Thanks for some very good content!
I'm a relapsing snowboarder now in my fifties, the days of 540:s are gone and I now enjoy groomers and pow. Now I'm looking to get a binding specifically for carving to complement my Cartels. (with EST I can't go more posi than 25/+10 and I want to try larger angles)
I find the NOW Drives and Jones Mercury very interesting. Since you are also into carving, do you get by without canting, which James Cherry seems to like, and highback rotation which is crucial for some carvers.
Yes. No canting here. Rotation on the new Drive bindings is enough out of the box up to about 30° angle.
Wow. Great video. I have a few boards in my quiver and a few bindings too, but have been looking to get another set to keep me from having to move bindings between boards so often. My goto binding is the Rome Cleaver, but I've been looking and the Drive Pro and CX for a while.
Not sure if you'll see this comment, but how many cm do you get moving the bindings to inner most position? Wondering if you can get a 2-3cm narrower stance if you use the closest holes across two bindings?
Quite likely!
Nice explanation very helpful, i'm wondering if a medium size will fit with my nitro capital in 8 . Thanks 👍
Tough one....... Likely small is the better fit!! Very likely......
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channelthank you for your advice 👍
Hallo Lars, herzlichen Dank für Deine Tutorials, sind eine echte Inspiration für mich. Habe seit kurzem ein Korua Café Rider und arbeite heftig an meiner Carvingtechnik. Zwei Fragen zu den Now Drive Pro: der Heelback kann sicher auch rotiert werden? Geht die Winkeleinstellung posi - posi auch bei grösseren Winkeln problemlos? Gemäss einem Kollegen soll bei good ride stehen, das gehe nur schlecht. Beste Grüsse aus den Schweizer Alpen Andi
Highback rotiert nicht, ist dafür vorgeformt. Funktioniert gut bis ca. 33°. Darüber hinaus sind soft boots ohnehin seitlich zu flexibel. NOW Bindungen haben keine Probleme mit irgendwelchen Winkeln.
awesome revew on the bindings. ive been wanting to try out skate tech but my bootsize (US7) is on the border of their sizing and the lack of adjustability from their brand is steering me off. On the topic of lowest heelside drag, what is your opinion on Flow NX2? since they essentially have no heelcup.
Flow is king for heel drag, as you say.
With a US7 you need a NOW in a size small. That will be perfectly fine!
Hi Lars, love your videos very informative! I want to ask your opinion about the hangers because I am planning to get the Now Drive at my local store and they have a price difference of $40 if you get the 3.0 instead of the 2.0. Do you think its better to get the 3.0 version instead of 2.0 or save the extra bucks instead? Thanks so much!
Thanks for the kind words! For $40 more I'd personally go Hanger 3. But to be very honest, the difference is marginal. Not a deal breaker to go Hanger 2.
Thank you, Lars! Decided to go with the 3.0 instead!
Lars, first of all congratulations on this great channel. Watched almost every video, not because I was particularly looking for the information but because they are so well made! Your way of explaning stuff is miles ahead of comparable channels imo.
I'm an intermediate rider looking to get to the next level. Just bought a new board (Nidecker Thruster) and want to get a new pair of bindings as well. Currently I ride Flow Fuse bindings, which I love for quick step in but I think that another design might be better for my overall progression. (Also the colour does not match the board anymore :-D ) My focus is pretty much on riding, not into freestyle, so in general I'd say the Drive bindings would be a good choice.
Do you have thoughts on differences in riding performance with step-in bindings like the Flow bindings compared to the "regular" design?
Do you have a recommendation towards Drive vs. Drive Pro considering respective riding levels. Or is it more about the use cases?
Würde mich sehr über Antwort freuen! Schöne Grüße aus Deutschland!
First of all: Thank you very much for the kind words! I'll keep it English for other people to understand my answer... ;-)
This might be shocking to you, but technically the FLOW bindings have one great advantage... The heel cups are super tall - tallest in the industry - which gives tons of lateral stability. Some people actually find that too locked in, and I can understand that. Most of their bindings are really good for carving. I wouldn't like that amount of security for all mountain riding, to be honest.
Also, as a result of that design there's hardly any material sticking out behind the boot, which means more freedom to get the board high on edge.
The disadvantages that I see is the lack of high back rotation combined with high back shapes that used to be quite flat. At least with NOW bindings the high backs are very cupped. Then I personally don't like the entire idea of step in from the back... I find the whole mechanism quite clunky. Bit that is just me. It seemingly works, and the bindings aren't bad.
In regards to Drive / Pro: On the Thruster you can go either way. The difference is not super crazy and the board is not super stiff, asking for a stiff binding. Hanger 2 vs. 3 is a minor difference that I wasn't able to notice myself, and the high backs are almost identical. I'd say save the money and go with the standard Drive.
Or keep the FLOWs.... :-) There's really nothing wrong there. I never liked the fit of them, but they've come a long way over the years, and apparently you feel good in them.
Hope that helps!! Thanks for watching my stuff! :-)
Lars
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Thank you so much for the fast response and your thoughts!
You're absolutely right, I'm a little shocked regarding your feedback on the FLOW bindings. :D I rarely see them mentioned or recommended by more expert riders or YT channels and thought this might be due to clear disadvantages regarding riding performance.
As I said I like the faster and easy step in a lot. However, having learned more about correct binding setup in the meantime I also came across some problems. My boot size is quite in between two binding sizes and I opted for the bigger ones back then. Their size is not really optimal for my board width and also I cannot place the foot bed centered under the boot, maxed everything out already. Also I agree to your point on the highback, driving 21° in the front.
So...having seen your videos on the advantages of the NOWs I'm gonna sacrifice the step in comfort and give them a shot. My foot size is quite in the middle of the M sized bindings so I guess that would be another plus. Luckily I found the Pro version with a nice discount yesterday, though it seemed they were already sold out everywhere. I'm really looking forward testing them and hope they will help me improve my riding further!
Thank you a lot Lars! :-)
@@jackofalltrades-x Sounds like a good decision in your case! Enjoy the ride! 🙂
Hi Lars,
Came back yesterday from 3 days in Austria. I'm super happy with my the new board and especially with the NOW Drive Pro. I didn't have any foot fatigue, the comfort is very good (comparable or maybe eben better than my Flow bindings) while being so so well performing in regards to responsiveness etc. Just like you described it.
Had the chance to test the Nidecker Supermatic on Day 2. The step-in system is really nice, but also I was looking forward to go back to the NOWs already on that day. Just because they ride so well. Saw that Nidecker owns NOW. Who knows maybe they will come up with the perfect combination of both systems somewhen in the future 😅
Again, thank you very much for this great video. Probably wouldn’t have considered the Drive Pro without you, but now I'm super happy I have!
For carving, do you prefer this Pro model or the Drive CX? Thank you.
CX high backs have zero give. Too much for me.
Hey, Lars! Thanks for the review. Is the Jones Mercury any different to the Now Drives? Cheers!!!
Thanks for checking in, Alex! I don't really know. The straps and highbacks are different, and I prefer the more cupped shape of the Drive Pro's highback. The Skate Tech chassis is the same. It's a NOW binding with Jones straps/highbacks. I'd stick with the OG.
Jones Mercury are less stiff they are more like a select pro then a drive
Curious if you've experimented with the different bushings? I ride the vans verse boots (quite stiff) and the hardest bushings on the Select Pros (soft binding) with the mini high backs. I used to run the highbacks but noticed little difference when I switched to the short ones as I think most of my setup performance comes from my boot stiffness and the stiff bushings using skate tech. What are your thoughts on the mini highbacks? Do you think they negatively affect transitioning to heel edge performance? I suppose less response? Which is a good tradeoff for more maneuverability to me. The goal with my setup is to prioritize carving performance while still having the most lateral flex for freestyle. Loving getting nerdy about binding setups, great video. Cheers!
A lot of this is subjective. Some people rock lowbacks only on the front foot. Personally I can't ride hard snow without highbacks. I ride with a lot of forward lean, which is non existent and pointless on lowbacks. Bushings are more obvious: softer bushing, less responsive feel, therefore more cushion/dampening/surfy vibes. But to be honest, I don't feel a huge difference. It's rather minor. Rider weight plays a big role there, too. A heavy dude should probably ride stiff bushings. I ride medium bushings on any NOW binding I own.
I think you're confusing mobility with maneuverability. You're not getting more maneuverable by taking away response by going to lowbacks.
You only gain more mobility of the ankle!
For carving you need lateral support. I'm not sure how much of that you lose when going to lowbacks. NOW have tall heel cups that support well laterally. A good carving setup that is also a good freestyle setup is a bit difficult to achieve... Some of the required things simply contradict each other too much.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel I am a very light rider and think the stiffer boots are the reason I haven’t noticed much of a difference between high backs as I also ride little to no forward lean. I’ll give the soft or medium bushings a try this season and start back on the standard highbacks and see what I think. I think I do prefer more ankle mobility and a surfy ride so I my switch back to low backs. I’ll try one of each first. The low backs are also just convenient for strapping in and riding one footed haha. Thanks for the insight!
Awesome video. Got Jones bindings last season that also have skatetech. Loving it so far for the riding feel.
The only trouble I have is with the foot bed. It is quite forward and big by default and it sticks out of the edge in some boards. I am US9 and having a medium Hanger 3.0 bindings. Any solutions for that?
With a size 9 boot and medium bindings you must have the mounting disc in the wrong orientation. Look at my video again... at the end.....
Otherwise, are you sure it's a medium and not a large? For you this should not be an issue!
I understand that the disc can be used to offset the binding to the toe/heel edge. I have it centered because that centers my boot on the board. With that, the footbed can stick out from the toe edge by a bit on my narrower board (252 ww). I think somehow this binding will be great for people say US10 because they will probably move the binding back a bit, so that the footbed is centered.
At the end, this works for most of my board, and I am still happy with it. I just wish that the footbed can be adjusted. And yes my binding is medium.
@@ikboardlife aah! 252 waist. That makes sense. That is also quite narrow for your boot size. 258 is more appropriate. Good on you for centring your boot! Makes you part of the 5% 👌
I want to know which bindings would be a good match for a 2022 Salomon Dancehaul. I've been stuck between Now Select Pros, Union Stratas or Burton Cartels.
I run on Burton Speed Zone lacing boots size 9 mens. I am 5'8 and weigh 175lbs. The bindings that I am currently using is a 2019 Ride Revolt on my 2022 Salomon Dancehaul board. I want to upgrade my bindings. I used to cruise on a skateboard and that's what intrigued me with these bindings. I am currently on my 2nd season and I want to try some tricks soon.
Great video by the way. I appreciate if you get back to me. Thank you!! 🙏🏻
I’d steer away from the Cartels. The edges are not padded and dent the top sheet and make for a harsh ride. Union vs. NOW is a question of playfulness. Union with their low heel cup and all the foam underneath are less direct and give more room for lateral ankle movement. I hate that!! 😊 But that’s clearly preference.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel I appreciate your input! I'm gonna be looking for a good deal for Now Select Pros. Thank you!
What size of binding and boot do you have? Are you already centered on the board or do you use the sliding disk to have balanced toe/heel overhang? I’m a 10.5 and am always concerned about this, and unsure what size of Now binding would best fit my boot size.
I'm a size 10 in a Ride Insano. That's a 10.5 in just about any other boot company. I ride medium NOWs and slide them a tad back towards the heel. I'm perfectly centred across the board - as it should be. 🙂
Thanks! Is the Drive the go-to for all-mountain charging? I’ve been riding medium Cartels for pretty much decades.
@@lukedesaulniers5943 Drive and Cartel I somewhat for the same rider / riding style. Yes, it is my Go-To allmountain/freeride/carving binding. It's stiffer, but it's comfortably stiff. It's not gnarly stiff by any means.
I threw Burton Cartels onto a board I had only been riding with Drives for two season. It was one of my favourite boards of all times. With the cartels I didn't even recognize it anymore.... so harsh!! It's incredibly different when you've ridden NOW for a bit and then go back.
Hello. Great content! I have a question, I'm very new to snowboarding (8 days in total on the board) and I love it, but because I'm new and not privy to all the intricacies I might have messed up my first set a bit and the bindings I'm currently using might be a tad bit larger then what I need. My bindings at the moment are Union Force L size and my boots are Deeluxe DNA 27.5 (US 9.5: US-W 10: EU 42.5). I'm currently eyeing up a pair of NOW IPO 22/23 model (because they are on discount and my budget is limited atm), so my question is: If I go with the IPO's what size would you recommend, perhaps an M size would be best and just on the side note are the IPO's good bindings for a beginner, and would a beginner be able to tell the difference and harness the benefits of the SkateTech?
Cheers. Love your content!
You might not notice the difference, since you have too little experience to have a solid reference in your muscle memory... But you will still get the benefits, for sure!
Yes, medium is spot on, and the IPO is a great binding - clearly not just a beginner binding. Just a bit softer overall.
@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Much obligated for your answer. I was told that having softer board, boots and bindings is somewhat better for beginners, I would like to hear your opinion on this. But as it is I might just pull the trigger on those IPO before the discount goes away.
Keep up the content!
@@nemaemanema3940 Yes, that's true. You need to learn to move!!! In particular your ankles! Stiff boots don't help with that...
The IPO is great. Can't go wrong with those for your purpose. Some gnarly freerider/carver would likely want more bindnig. But then again, JF Pelchat, NOW owner and shred legend, supposedly rides the IPO as his main binding.
This is really something you shouldn't overthink!
Board choice is important!!! Buy something 'flat to early rise' or 'mild camber to early rise'. Don't buy a rocker board of any kind. The idea that they're beginner friendly because they're 'catch free' is utter insanity! It does not factor in that a beginner gains confidence out of STABILITY. Rocker boards are less stable than flat or lightly cambered boards and can often be more difficult to control than a soft flexing camber board (But don't buy full camber either!! A little bit of tip rocker (early rise) is perfect). Softer flex is key. But that is rider weight dependent....
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel Thank you very much! I already got a board and It might be exactly what you recommend just by accident. :) My weight is 70kg and I've got a Bataleon Blow (2023) 154W 26.3ww it has a flex rating of 4, Low Camber with a Twin outline and 3BT and it has a docent float. I chose the wide one for the extra stability on flats and the twin shape to eventually learn to ride switch.
hey lars, since the highbacks are pre curved, if you are riding on posi posi angles isn't the curve on the wrong side on the back foot?
Seems like manual adjustment would be better in this case
I run two left high backs on the old Drive. The new one is curved enough on both sides. Smart thought! Not many people go there! 👍🙌
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel haha not many people go there in terms of running two left high backs 😄thanks man 👍
@@KevinJames1933 I'm a hopeless nerd. Now professional nerd! Hahahahahaha....😅
How do you find the lack of high back rotation with double positive angles when you're getting up to 9/12/15 on the back foot?
Cheers,
Tom
With the new Drive Pro highbacks there's no issue. The pre curved shape is very pronounced and gives me plenty of highback. With the old Drive highbacks I was actually running two left highbacks as a regular rider. That gave me the little 'wing' on the inside of the back leg.
Do you think the absence of high back vertical adjustment will affect negatively your ride in carving? And, your binding angles is not small. How do you cope with it? Thanks mate!
What do you mean with vertical adjustment?
Great review of these bindings. I’m an intermediate snowboarder with a few seasons under my belt, getting there. I want to change my setup this year to something that feels more natural to me. I enjoy longboarding in the summers and I want to find a way to better mimic that skate feel in a snowboard. Would these bindings help me achieve this? Let me know what you think.
Hi Brian! This is difficult... I personally don't understand 'skate feel'. Can you describe any better?
To me when a setup feels like a skateboard, I won't touch it!
I get that feel from a short, torsionally soft board with a tight radius.... park boards! Terrible at speed, no edge grip and just there to butter around, which is entirely the opposite of what I do. If you can elaborate on hat you mean. I might be ale to come up with an answer 🙂
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel of course. I’m looking for bindings that are efficient at rolling from edge to edge with ease.
Okay, that makes sense. Yes, that is the NOW feel. Edge to edge feels 'softer / smoother', more like rolling onto the edge. This sensation is what makes people think the bindings are less responsive.... They're not! JF Pelchat simply surgically removed any harshness from his bindings ;-)
Only one way to find out!! :-)
The standard Drive is a great binding. Very much an all mountain do anything binding.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel I appreciate your insight, thank you!
@@brianrejman7150 you easily can play with the bushing for the response
Can you explain a little more how to adjust the power? I’d like to adjust where I want to have to give more pressure on my edges. Right now I’m skidding a bit
Not sure I understand...
I don’t think i can switch back to non-skatetech bindings
Lars, have you gotten your hands on the Drive CX yet? Looks even more hardcore
Yeah, too stiff of a highback for an allmountain binding.
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel it’s good to know that you set a limit for rigidity 😆
@@brohammer I need stiff boots to support my limited ankle flex so I don't tear my achilles.... :-) Otherwise I like everything somewhere around 7 to 8/10 stiffness. Boards are not quite straight forward, because it depends on where the stiffness is... ;-)
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel I have limited range in my ankles too. Thanks so much for replying. I really love the channel !!
What do you think of the Now drive CX vs the drive Pro?
CX is gnarly. There's no flex in the highback. If that's what you want, they're perfect. The Pro is stiff enough for me... no calf bite on long heel side traverses! 🙂
@@Justaride-Snowboard-ChannelThanks. Time to grab a pair... 💸💸 Already bought the cheater and Biru from seeing you ride with Malcolm and your cheater review. Perfect salesman 😂😂
So would this concept work even more effectively if the pivot was parallel with the length of the board? If you used a 0deg stance angle, this is the most leverage you can achieve? Obviously a 0deg front binding angle isnt ideal.
Yeah, I guess. But as you say……..
Regardless of your angles you’ll always move pressure from heel to toe. Skate Tech will always do its part to do this more efficiently.
Hi Bro!
I bought the Now Drive Pro . I would like testing skate tech . Now i have Flux XV , I 'm affraid , the Now Drive not as fast the Flux XV.🤔 What dou you think? What bushing starting the test? ;)
Never tried Flux. Heard good things about them. Personally too many moving parts and funky 'tool less adjustment options' on Flux, but that's just my opinion!!! NOW is seemingly a love or hate binding. I LOVE them... All subjective, and that's fine! :-)
If you're really heavy or want less of the NOW effect, go with the stiff bushings. Honestly, the difference is subtle!! It's not like a change of the bushings makes it a whole different binding.
Have fun testing!!
I have a Flux TMs mounted onto my Ejacknife and have now/Jones bindings on everything else. Flux are basically Japanese Burtons. Take out the stock mounting disc and put in the reflex mounting disc. This helped my Flux's performance in terms of movement between the bindings when you are flexing into a carve by allowing the binding and mounting disc to better flex with the power you put in.
I would have to say the Drives are definitively a more responsive and more comfortable binding. Customize the bushings to your feel. I made my bushing asymmetrical to fit the natural pressures of the foot. Your foot is naturally asymmetrical.
@@volcanaustin246What bushings use the most of time? 🙃
@@krisztiankovacs3577 on my Meteorites on my war pig and my drives on my wasteland?
I use the asymmetrical bushing pattern to meet the flex of the foot. Your foot's pressure is naturally asymmetrical when you take a step. Hard on the outside heel, medium on the outside toe, and inside heel. The big toe is really flexible so the softest bushings goes there.
Most bindings come stock with soft, medium or hard bushings. It's really is to your preference.
Lieber Lars, hast Du auch ein Tutorial zum Schleifen der Snowboardkanten? Beste Grüsse Andi
Kommt noch.
Just another thought....So when you tighten the straps, you're clamping your boot to the board, not the binding? Actually makes alot of sense when is comes to responsiveness, your not stacking you boot on the binding, then stacking that ontop on of your board, you clamping your foot directly to the board using the binding.
Do you think I can fit in size M Now bindings with 10,5 Fuses?
That's a Ride boot, eh?! They're pretty compact. I'd say the medium NOW will fit better than a large. 10.5 / 11 is cut off line for medium depending on boot volume/length. This is from my own 'testing' rather than from the NOW recommendation.
I ride US11 Ride Fuse with Now Select Pro size Medium(same chassis H3) Slides them toward the heel and perfectly centered across board
@@snowparkconstruction @Justaride-Snowboard-Channel thank you all. I currently ride size L Now Pilots but the disks are maxed out all the way to the toeside and the boots are still not centered. I'll give it a try with my new bindings.
I have a chance to purchase these but i have heard that they can be hard to center on board.
Same as every other binding. Read the manual. Disc orientation is important.
Are they compatible with 3D mounting system?
No. 😟
Good explanation. But he repeats the myth about leverage. Now bindings have exactly the same amount of leverage on the board as any other binding.
Hi Michael! Thanks for chiming in! I'm trying to understand what you're saying. Maybe I'm using the wrong term, 'leverage'. How does the fulcrum in the centre of the binding, which makes for an actively downwards moving part not change the 'leverage' as opposed to a flexing plastic disc?
Would you agree, though, that there is actually pressure being directed to the edges (in particular toe) in a better way than on a normal binding, and that the vibration absorption is much more effective?
Have you tried NOWs? I really love them and the feel is entirely different - which can mostly only be noticed once you go back to a different binding.
Thanks for taking the time!!
Lars
@@Justaride-Snowboard-ChannelBeen riding NOW this season , 2023 select pro. I did 7 days so far. I really love them. It’s subtle, but it almost feels like I’m riding a knife. 👌 When I put pressure on an edge, it really claw down into the snow, without what I would call, a delay. It’s fast.
Hi Lars,
Thank you for all the fantastic content! I'm looking forward to running posi/posi on my next trip and improving ze carve.
Question for you. I'm interested in trying one of the Skate Tech based bindings. Which model/size would you suggest would work best with my US size 12 Burton Ions and 157 Stranda Biru? Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers.
Hi and thanks!
Size large, the standard Drive is a great binding!! No need to go Drive Pro. Have fun!!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel awesome, thanks Lars!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel I went with the Now Drives and love them! The toe strap has come loose a few times, despite me centering it and strapping it tight. I wondered if it was due to flex in the bushing letting it have some room to move. Have you experienced this or heard anything about it?
@@bentaylor2362 I ride an aftermarket Burton over the toe strap. I hate cap straps. They add to boot length and don’t push down onto my toes like I want them to. So no idea about the OG now strap. Never ridden them once. Sorry!!
@@Justaride-Snowboard-Channel good to know. I've seen other suggestions about using the Jones Auxtech/3D Flex Fit toe straps, but going OG Burton over the toe also makes sense!