BINDINGS

[benjinyc]

Which part? I still hear there’s some play when riding down

[Spenser]

I've never had to do it on my solid union bindings

this is a bit of an outlier, historically

[g3greg]

I've never had to do it on my solid union bindings

this is a bit of an outlier, historically

Didn’t they have a whole screw gate thing happen a few years ago?

[Spenser]

I've never had to do it on my solid union bindings

this is a bit of an outlier, historically

Didn’t they have a whole screw gate thing happen a few years ago?

I think they had highback/ankle hardware issues from the beginning. Rode Union from 06/07 to 2014 and almost all of them loosened regularly, to different degrees. Starting 2010 I often ended up replacing those with a 7/8 skate bolt & nut.

I know it continued to be an issue for a while, but maybe it improved a few years ago? Can't remember the timeline. Never had issues with mounting hardware, but I've always used a driver with torque handle.

[Msteff]

I had the same issues during the same period as Spencer and utilized the same skate hardware solution. I’m still on unions exclusively and no longer have this issue at all. I can’t remember exactly when the update was made but it was right around 16 or 17ish. They added a little tab to the hardware that sits between the heel strap and heel strap ladder and the heel cup mounting holes. The tab prevents the screws from rotating and backing out.

[kimchi]

No issues with mounting hardware, but big reason I sold my Union Forces circa 2011 was because the damn heelcups wouldn’t stay in place. If memory serves they had a single screw and washer set that held both ankle strap and heelcup in place, and it would loosen up just enough that the heelcups would end up back at the largest position after less than a day of riding. Never lost a strap but it was very annoying.

[eleveneightnate]

The Ultra and Falcor have this new "Astro Washer" that keeps the heelcup from moving now:

Screenshot 2025-01-16 092833.png (138.09 KiB) Viewed 2608 times

The Force and Atlas have an extra bolt on each side to secure it:

Screenshot 2025-01-16 092954.png (76.21 KiB) Viewed 2608 times

It's a non-issue in these 4 models now.

[ad1105]

It took a long time for me to trust Union because of all the hardware and buckle problems. Straps coming loose, buckle springs breaking, heelcups slipping, etc.
Those same problems have been a non-issue for a while now, thankfully.

[Spenser]

Ah yes, floppy buckles.

My toe buckles across 3 bindings (2 solid, 1 split) are a mishmash of things that only get replaced when they fail entirely. I still have a few unions, and I think they're 2012 team atlas, and 2011 team force. Zero spring, but they still work. I've snapped two (lever itself), but I can't imagine how many times they've done their job. I carry a couple extra in my avy pack, which lives next to the lift daily

[C.Fuzzy]

Question of curiosity: the majority of bindings adjust the length at the toe end. With this the heel of the boot always sits on the baseplate the same, but the toe end can move out to accommodate a longer boot. In a sense there shouldn't be boot overhang on the heel or toe.

On unions you adjust the length with the heelcup. Since you can't adjust the tray towards the heel, there's going to be more heel overhang on the footbed as you move the heelcup back.

Does boot overhang really only matter on the toe edge then?

Is there any benefit to the heelcup adjustment vs. The tray adjustment that every other brand does?

I have a size foot that I never have to worry about this, so I genuinely don't know.