Hardgoods 24/25

[pow_hnd]

I don't understand how anyone that would go to Baldface would be interested in demoing a binding with mini disks, assuming that they are not familiar with the design. I'm only speaking for myself, but if I go to Baldface, I know what I'll be riding and I won't be wasting pow days on demos of anything.

I don’t demo shit when I’m there, I ride my go to pow setup.. but different strokes for different folks.

In regards to the mini disk… it was Unions idea to make the Baldface bindings with the mini disk. So if you were implying that the mini disk isn’t a great choice for riding Baldface terrain ( I’m not sure if you were ) it was Unions idea to make them like that, which once again, gives me pause as to think of how “great” the brand is or isn’t, leaning towards the isn’t.

Ok guys, I take back the “industry standard” remark, that sure ruffled a lot of feathers. I like Union, how bout that.
I’ve ridden them for many years and they work for me.

No feathers ruffled at all, just a differing opinion and pointed out some flaws that have been long talked about with the brand.

I think they are “popular” because they flow a shit load of people product.

Maybe they have changed, and improved, but I’ve had exactly one pair of Unions, a set of Baldface ones that Jeff gave me. They were the absolute worst single pair of modern bindings I’ve ever owned.

All I know is from what they said, and watching them tighten their hardware every third run or so, while I never once did shit to my bindings other than strap in.

[Supra]

I bought some Forces years and years ago and the loosening hardware made me sell them off quickly. I've kept a casual eye on them through the years and have always been surprised at the constantly changing toe straps (if it was a good design they'd keep it for a while) and just how cheap the straps look.
but then again, I ride Nows with the straps they came with.

[Vanni]

I rode Union Force for the majority of my snowboarding journey.
In the last years versions they were great bindings, very refined in each part, straps, ratchets, hardware.
The base were always bomb proof.
In the last few years they fixed the issue of the loosening hardware, that made the ankle straps came lose, and the heelcup, occasionally sliding out a little bit.
The toe straps are great, and the ankle straps, in the last years were in Burton's neighborhood.

I'm in my second year riding Now/Jones, I like the concept (skatetech, high heelcup, unibody), I like the ride (smoothness, response, dampness, etc) and I like the simplicity of the design, if you buy the right size they are very simple to setup.
I had a Now Drive 22/23, and the straps were shit. The ratchets were fine.
For this year I purchased a pair Jones Mercury, and you can ride them totally fine with standard straps, but the ratchets are not bombproof.

What I'm saying is that Union bindings, if you like the ride, are now very refined, and all the little issues were ironed out years ago.
They are definitely a top brand, not better and not worst than other brands that are in the market for a lot of time (Burton, Ride, Nitro, Rome, you name it).

Now/Jones right now seem like Union around 10 years ago: if you like the ride, you have to deal with little glitches here and there (straps, ratchets).
Here we can see how many Now/Jones users, got rid of the stock straps/ratchets, with other brand's parts.
This comes a little bit surprising to me, because Nidecker are making bindings for a lot of years with their own brand and for other brands, so I think right now they don't share the know-how through the different brands.
I'm sure they'll be able to fix everything in the next few season, with few more years of developement of the small parts.

[jota]

I rode Union Force for the majority of my snowboarding journey.
In the last years versions they were great bindings, very refined in each part, straps, ratchets, hardware.
The base were always bomb proof.
In the last few years they fixed the issue of the loosening hardware, that made the ankle straps came lose, and the heelcup, occasionally sliding out a little bit.
The toe straps are great, and the ankle straps, in the last years were in Burton's neighborhood.

I'm in my second year riding Now/Jones, I like the concept (skatetech, high heelcup, unibody), I like the ride (smoothness, response, dampness, etc) and I like the simplicity of the design, if you buy the right size they are very simple to setup.
I had a Now Drive 22/23, and the straps were shit. The ratchets were fine.
For this year I purchased a pair Jones Mercury, and you can ride them totally fine with standard straps, but the ratchets are not bombproof.

What I'm saying is that Union bindings, if you like the ride, are now very refined, and all the little issues were ironed out years ago.
They are definitely a top brand, not better and not worst than other brands that are in the market for a lot of time (Burton, Ride, Nitro, Rome, you name it).

Now/Jones right now seem like Union around 10 years ago: if you like the ride, you have to deal with little glitches here and there (straps, ratchets).
Here we can see how many Now/Jones users, got rid of the stock straps/ratchets, with other brand's parts.
This comes a little bit surprising to me, because Nidecker are making bindings for a lot of years with their own brand and for other brands, so I think right now they don't share the know-how through the different brands.
I'm sure they'll be able to fix everything in the next few season, with few more years of developement of the small parts.

Yes, I totally agree. I am with jones size S and rachets B. Making some better pieces has a small cost. and if you sell bindings for €350/400€ you are not going to lose customers by selling them for €370/420€/& with superior quality. I don't understand the philosophy Now / Jones. I also can't imagine Jeremy Jones on an extreme slope with his fragile pieces...

[pow_hnd]

I had a Now Drive 22/23, and the straps were shit.

Agreed.

all the little issues were ironed out years ago.

Disagree. I watched people tighten their mini disk hardware every 3rd-4th run for four days straight.

Here we can see how many Now/Jones users, got rid of the stock straps/ratchets, with other brand's parts.

100% agree.

But as much as I love NOWs, you don't see me calling them "industry standard" or even the best bindings on the market, they clearly aren't. I love them for my style of riding. but I'm not delusional about what they are.

While I don't ride them, I think Burton still by far, makes the best bindings on the market when you take everything into consideration.

[C.Fuzzy]

but then again, I ride Nows with the straps they came with.

*banned*

[C.Fuzzy]

I had a Now Drive 22/23, and the straps were shit.

Agreed.

all the little issues were ironed out years ago.

Disagree. I watched people tighten their mini disk hardware every 3rd-4th run for four days straight.

Here we can see how many Now/Jones users, got rid of the stock straps/ratchets, with other brand's parts.

100% agree.

But as much as I love NOWs, you don't see me calling them "industry standard" or even the best bindings on the market, they clearly aren't. I love them for my style of riding. but I'm not delusional about what they are.

While I don't ride them, I think Burton still by far, makes the best bindings on the market when you take everything into consideration.

I wonder how many more bindings than boards B sells. They're easily the most represented bindings I see on the hill, while board brands vary more.

I do wonder though, if the Now bindings + B straps is more an EL thing? If I see Nows with B straps in the wild I'm 100% going to be asking them their EL name.

[Blessed420]

I havent tightened my unions in ages only when i take them off when i wax the board, three pairs and maybe once in three years the have gone loose. 60-100 days per year and minidisk only.

[Vanni]

all the little issues were ironed out years ago.

Disagree. I watched people tighten their mini disk hardware every 3rd-4th run for four days straight.

That sounds a bit strange to me.
My experience with Forces (standard sized disk) was totally different, as far tightening disk HW.
I tighten the disk HW the night before riding (as suggested by every company, I think), but everything was usually fine.
I do the same with Jones bindings.
I don't know honestly if there are differencies as far as tightening screws on Union minidisk.
Or maybe I'm also not the rider that give the bindings that kind of input that can make the screws come loose.

I remember once my front foot Force came lose, but it was like the 8 day straight on the hill, without retightening HW in the evening.
And the board had the B channel, that didn't have a good reputation, in that regard.

[Vanni]

but then again, I ride Nows with the straps they came with.

*banned*