Unoin Force

Now this is a binding worth taking about! The Union Force snowboard binding has not been around all that long but you are seeing it pop up everywhere. I was really happy to get my hands on a set of these, so I strapped them into my skate banana and off we went.  The most noticeable thing about these bindings was the response you got out of them but they are still soooo flexible.  I was amazed with these, I liked them better than my Rome 390’s. Through the park these bindings were hardly noticeable, it felt like my feet were directly attached to the board, and there were no pressure points anywhere. I didn’t really find anything I didnt like about these union force’s, you should definitely try them or pick them up for your next set of bindings.  I am going to shred these this year instead of the 390.

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Medium – Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park/Street/All Mountain
Overall: A

Ride Contraband

Binding: Ride Contraband

Truly as advertised the Ride Contraband is a very light binding that is quick to strap into. I got to ride them for a few days but, this was all after a fairly lengthy and apparently “worth it time to set up”.  Overall I found the contrabands a little uncomfortable but just incomparable to the rome 390’s  or the union force’s. The extra maybe 15 seconds it takes to do up the second strap on other bindings is worth it. For shredding around the mountain and in the park I found them sloppy and well unresponsive. This is all after being stoked to try these bindings and then maybe the contraband was not for me, but I do know I am going to stick with my 390’s.

Grades:
Construction: B-
Flex: Medium
Weight: Light
Comfort: B-
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: All mountain / Park
Overall: B -

Rome Targa Black

The Rome Targa is a truly customizable binding; you get to choose how soft or firm the ankle strap can be. This is a handy binding if you find yourself riding everywhere on the mountain, from backcountry pow to the urban streets-this binding can do it all.  With the targa (over the 390) you get the extra AutoStrap on the toe strap, as well as more cushioning on the baseplate. The only downfall to this is that it makes it a little heavier, oh well! I liked this binding a lot. It was a very close call between these and the 390’s, but I liked the more cushion in the plush ankle strap and the weight of the 390’s better. One of my buddies liked the targa’s more… Bottom line: targa’s are sick!

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Stiff to Soft, you chose
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park / Streets / All mountain
Overall: A

Rome 390 Neon

Binding: Rome 390 (Neon)

A great park binding with enough response to throw off those kickers, and flexible enough to throw down on jibs.  I rode this binding as well as many others this season and this one was one of my personal favorites, hence why I bought a pair This binding is tough, yet light and is an amazing all-round park binding.  Although you could use it for an all mountain binding if you like a little more flex its home is really the park, and that’s where Rome designed it for.  It held up to over 25 days of constant park abuse, by yours truly and my shred buddy, and still works awesome; never replaced a part. I love the AutoStrap that Rome developed. It’s this piece of rubber that holds the ankle (and toe on the targa) away from the binding so its easier to get in.  The only downfall to the 390 is that its only on the ankle (damn targa’s).  These have become my perfect binding – for this season at least.

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Med-Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park/Streets with a little all mountain
Overall: A+ Great binding