BINDINGS

[eleveneightnate]

Think we chatted about this but I had the oddest experience with Salomon Shadowfit. I had large Defenders I loved when I was running 10.5 Burton Imperials. Railing edge-to-edge response and funny legitimately surfy feel. I prefer more lateral support but they were comfortable.

I fell out of the size range when I went to size 10 Adidas, could not get the toe straps to hold. Couple years later I bought medium Defenders cheap off Snowboard Trader and HATED them. Rode half a day, could barely turn and immediately sold them without riding them ever again hated them. I didn't have the second pair long enough to really scrutinize, but something between the boot change and the size change completely changed the way they felt to me.

Thanks for the Ultra lowdown. That's about what I expected-- my interest was piqued because I was surprised to see glowing praise from two riders Id expect to be on a more supportive binding, Longo and the non-Fawcett Tribute guy.

Yeah, neither medium or large Highlanders worked with my Acerra 10.5s. That Salomon basketball toestrap and the adidas toe shape just don’t mesh, it would always slip down. By contrast, my 11 Imperials and these large Holograms fit together like a glove.

Longo probably likes the Ultras because he likes Unions in the first place. I think Union guys that enjoy the locked in heel feeling probably love these things for what they are, but they’re just not my thing.

[g3greg]

How'd the Ultras do?

I rode the Holograms today, too, and they had more response edge to edge while also giving me better tweakabilty for butters and slashing carves. Best of both worlds and I think they’re the keeper between the two for me.

I feel bummed for you but also at the same time validated lol.. what other unions have you tried in the current line up?

[eleveneightnate]

How'd the Ultras do?

I rode the Holograms today, too, and they had more response edge to edge while also giving me better tweakabilty for butters and slashing carves. Best of both worlds and I think they’re the keeper between the two for me.

I feel bummed for you but also at the same time validated lol.. what other unions have you tried in the current line up?

All good! I got them so cheap that I can almost certainly get my money back on them.

I’ve had ‘22 Stratas, ‘21 Falcors, and ‘20 Forces with team highbacks. I liked all those better than the Ultras.

[g3greg]

I rode the Holograms today, too, and they had more response edge to edge while also giving me better tweakabilty for butters and slashing carves. Best of both worlds and I think they’re the keeper between the two for me.

I feel bummed for you but also at the same time validated lol.. what other unions have you tried in the current line up?

All good! I got them so cheap that I can almost certainly get my money back on them.

I’ve had ‘22 Stratas, ‘21 Falcors, and ‘20 Forces with team highbacks. I liked all those better than the Ultras.

The strata for me feels like the perfect balance between tons of mobility and flex while still being pretty responsive. The atlas is my favorite but if It’s a day where I want to slow down and chill the Strata is a better binding for it.

[jota]

@jota that strap mod to accommodate Burton ratchets is super clever, but I break way too much shit to chance cutting into plastic. I'm sure 99.9% of people would be ok, but I have a magically extreme outlier ability to break shit. Brands should put me on rider testing, if I can't break something in ~50 days, the average consumer has nothing to worry about lol.

Thank you @kimchi:

The process was very subtle. But there are two options:
1/ what I did: I bought a second pair of straps (they were very cheap) to use the first one to test and apply the correct solution on the second one. But when I finished putting the ratchet on, I saw that it had been so easy that I no longer used the second strap. An option to make the hole wider without cuts or cracks is to open the walls with a file. I used a surgical cutter but only scratching the walls, not cutting plastic... but it could be safer by filing with a drill or by hand...
2/ alternative plan: make the metal piece of the ratchet narrower. I thought about it but I didn't do it since if I wanted to use the straps again later on B bindings I couldn't. It is easy to make by a craftsman.

The second question is what forces does the manipulated part support? The question is, could we slide with the strap and ratchet attached only by the screw? IMO the screw is the part that holds everything together and supports the joining force of the entire system. The other part only makes the ratchet “attached” to the strap, attached to it without moving. But without almost supporting forces or tensions. Think about… In any case, it is not my intention to convince, but rather to provide solutions.

On the other hand, a friend of mine who is a snowboard teacher and big mountain rider, always told me that the boards are made for “weekend riders”, and are not made for aggressive riders... If you were a tester, the hardgoods would last too long and the brands are not interested... you know...

I don't understand how Nidecker, which has been on the market for so many years, can make a ratchet that really sucks. I feel safer with the B's

[eleveneightnate]

I feel bummed for you but also at the same time validated lol.. what other unions have you tried in the current line up?

All good! I got them so cheap that I can almost certainly get my money back on them.

I’ve had ‘22 Stratas, ‘21 Falcors, and ‘20 Forces with team highbacks. I liked all those better than the Ultras.

The strata for me feels like the perfect balance between tons of mobility and flex while still being pretty responsive. The atlas is my favorite but if It’s a day where I want to slow down and chill the Strata is a better binding for it.

Yep, Stratas are my favorite Unions, too.

[kimchi]

NOW / Jones bushing arrangement idea a shop buddy gave me a few years back. Tried it yesterday and dug the feel.

Toe outside: Hard; Toe inside: Medium
Heel outside: Medium; Heel inside: Soft

DF5575AB-2F36-4125-ADF0-B1BE68E03BBD.jpeg (2.94 MiB) Viewed 1126 times

Basic idea is more power to toes and more cushion in heels + more support lateral and more play medial. I’ve been running the toe + heel differential the past few years but never layered on the inside / outside differential.

[Spenser]

Personally, I can't see why I would ever move away from hard bushings on all four. If anything, I want a stiffer highback on drives (Apollo HB seems good?) but can't say I have any complaints.

I always want to see these people ride, when they say "this thing" is just that good.

[C.Fuzzy]

I've played with the bushings for years doing this and that and I've yet to come away from a day of riding feeling like it made any noticeable difference to me. I still do it though.

Also, imo, the OG white ones are the softest of any made. The new soft ones don't seem nearly as soft to me.

[benjinyc]

I can't tell either, I think the material of my boots sole has a bigger effect than changing the bushings.