Board Bindings: Strap vs. Rear-Entry
Choosing the right snowboard bindings is essential for comfort, control, and overall performance on the slopes. The two main types of bindings, strap bindings, and rear-entry bindings, each have unique features and advantages. Understanding how they work and their benefits can help you decide which is best suited to your riding style.
Strap Bindings: the most common and widely used snowboard bindings, known for their secure fit and versatility. They use multiple components to ensure your boots are firmly attached to the snowboard while allowing for customization and support.
Key Components
Baseplate: This is the foundation of the binding, mounted directly onto the snowboard. It provides a platform for the other binding components and helps transmit energy from your boots to the board.
High-Back: A vertical support piece behind your heel that helps control turns and transmit power to the snowboard. Most high-backs are adjustable for angle (and sometimes height), allowing riders to fine-tune their stance for different riding styles. The high-back has a range of flexibility forward and backward.
Ankle Strap: Designed to wrap around the top of your boot, this strap provides a snug and secure fit. It's typically padded for comfort and adjustable using ratcheting mechanisms or buckles.
Toe Strap: This strap secures the front of your boot, ensuring it stays firmly in place against the baseplate. Like the ankle strap, it can be adjusted for a precise fit.
How They Work
Entry: Position your boot into the binding, ensuring the toe aligns snugly with the baseplate and the ankle rests securely under the strap. Tighten the ankle and toe straps using the ratcheting mechanisms or buckles until your boot feels firmly secured.
Exit: To release, simply disengage the ratchets or buckles, loosening the straps. Once loosened, lift your boot out of the binding.
They’re highly customizable for a precise fit, allowing you to adjust both the ankle and toe straps to match your preferences; versatile and suitable for riders of all skill levels and riding styles, from park tricks to backcountry powder, and have excellent responsiveness and support, making them a favorite among advanced and high-performance riders.
Rear-Entry Bindings: designed for ease of use, offering a quicker and simpler way to strap in and out than traditional strap bindings. They feature a unique mechanism that allows you to slide your foot into the binding from the rear, making transitions more convenient.
Key Features
Hinged High-Back: The high-back of rear-entry bindings acts as both a support piece and an entry point. It hinges backward to create a wide opening for your boot.
Single Strap or Hybrid System: Some rear-entry bindings feature a single strap that combines the functionality of both ankle and toe straps, while others incorporate a hybrid system with traditional straps.
How They Work
Entry: Open the high-back by releasing a lever or mechanism at the rear of the binding. Step into the binding from behind, ensuring your boot is properly positioned. Close the high-back by pulling it forward until it locks securely in place.
Exit: Release the lever or mechanism to unlock the high-back, which swings backward to allow your boot to slide out easily.
They’re quick and convenient for entry and exit, reducing time spent strapping in, and ideal for beginners or riders who value ease of use, especially in busy or cold conditions.
However, they may lack the fine-tuning capabilities and responsiveness of traditional strap bindings, which can be a drawback for advanced or performance-focused riders, and the rear-entry mechanism may be less effective in deep powder, where snow can block the high-back hinge.
The choice between strap bindings and rear-entry bindings largely depends on your personal preferences, skill level, and riding style.
Try both to see which feels more comfortable and aligns with your riding goals. The right bindings will make your snowboarding experience smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.
Burton has a new Step On Binding
Watch this video to discover how it works, plus the pros & cons of the system:
Ride on!
