Hello and welcome to my NOW Select Pro bindings review.
In this review I will take a look at the Select Pro as all-mountain snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Select Pro a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain bindings.
NOTE: This review has only been updated to the 2024 model, as it was discontinued after the 2024 model. With NOW changing its branding to be under the YES umbrella, the new YES Airmaster is the closest equivalent (and for the 2025 model of the YES Airmaster, it's quite similar to this.
Overall Rating
Bindings: NOW Select Pro 2024
Price: $379 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium (6/10)
Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 86.6/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 25 men’s all-mountain bindings that I rated:
* this is based on 2023 ratings, which the Select Pro didn't come into as we hadn't tested the 2023 or prior models. This will be updated once all the 2024 scores are compiled.
Overview of the Select Pro’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Select Pro’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
STYLE:
ALL-MOUNTAIN
PRICE:
$379 - BUYING OPTIONS
$379 - BUYING OPTIONS
Ability Level:
flex:
weight:
Felt normal
Mounts to:
2x4 | 4x4 | Channel
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | MONDO |
|---|---|---|---|
S | 5-7.5 | 36.5-40 | 23.5-25.5 |
M | 7-10.5 | 39-43.5 | 25-28.5 |
L | 10-13 | 43-47 | 28-30.5 |
Who are the Select Pro Most Suited To?
The Select Pro are best suited to anyone looking for a mid-flexing binding that excels at both higher speed carves and slow speed turning. And even more ideal for someone who needs/wants a lot of shock/chatter absorption.
If you're looking for high-end board feel, then they're probably not for you, IMO, but for everything else, they are very capable and fun bindings.
Too stiff to be great for beginners, but definitely intermediate and up friendly.
Best matched to boards in that 4/10 to 7/10 flex range, and most ideally suited to 5/10 to 6/10 flex boards, IMO.
The Select Pro in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Select Pro are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: NOW Select Pro 2024, Medium
Date: April 13, 2023
Conditions
Overcast with occasional very light flurries of snow and occasional sun breaking through at other times.
Temperature was -3°C (27°F) and -8°C (18°F) with wind, in the morning apparently, but didn't feel that cold. -2°C (28°F) and -5°C (23°F) with wind, in the afternoon.
24 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
48 hour snow: 5" (13cm)
7 day snow: 32" (81cm)
On groomer: Soft packed with hard underneath higher up. Got a little slushy lower down, later in the day.
Off groomer: Decent higher up but icy/ crunchy lower down (slush from yesterday froze overnight, I'm guessing).
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance Width: 555mm (22”)
Board tested with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Boots tested with: Adidas Response ADV, size US9.5
Baseplate Length: 25.8cm (10.2”) – measured on the top of the footbed. 24.5cm (9.7") on the underside of the baseplate.
Highback Height: 20.2cm (8”)
Weight: 920 grams (2lbs)*
* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 80 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models) I have weighed is 920 grams (2lbs). So the Select Pro is bang on average and they felt normal on snow too.
Responsiveness
I felt like I could carve better with these bindings vs my control bindings (Malavita) but most surprisingly I found these were also better for slow speed turns - and I find the Malavita really good for slow speed turns.
Versus the NOW Drive Pro, which I also rode on the same day, they were noticeably better for slower speed riding. For higher speed carves, I felt they were a little step down, but subtly, versus the Drive Pro.
Board Feel/Butterability
I felt there's a dead spot/stiff spot laterally and medially which makes nose to tail board feel limited. Not as easy to press or ollie as my control bindings. Not terrible, but pretty average for board feel.
Pop/Ollie Power
I found it harder to extract pop from my board in these bindings, compared to my control bindings. Again, not terrible, but noticeable.
Adjustability
Heel Cup: No
Stance Width: Not a minidisc, but there’s a fairly narrow space where the screws go, so not a massive amount of stance width adjustment, but there's some.
Highback Lean: Yes - tool-less.
Ankle Strap Position: Yes, in a way, as you can swap the ankle straps between the bindings. One way up they provide more ankle support and the other way up, they give more freedom of movement.
Toe Strap Position: No
Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: None
Highback Rotation: No
Compatible with: 2x4 | 4x4 | Channel
In addition you can also change the bushings to stiffer or softer ones.
Shock Absorption
NOW are best in the business, IMO, when it comes to shock absorption and the Select Pro are no exception. Between thick, cush padding in the footbed, to the bushings and even the Skate Tech helps with shock, these bindings do a really good job absorbing shock and chatter.
Comfort
Overall nice and comfortable.
Ankle Strap: Briefly had a minor pressure point, but that went away quickly and overall very comfortable ankle strap that conformed well to my boots.
Toe Strap: No issues and felt nice and snug, but without any pressure.
Canted Footbed: Yes
Padded Footbed: Really good padding and shock absorption.
Highback: Some padding on high back and most importantly no calf-bite while riding.
Ankle Support
Felt good. Felt normal.
Entry/Exit
The ratchets were nice and smooth. All you’d ever need them to be. But I’d say just a hair not as smooth as the Jones’ bindings I had at the same time. Same as Drive Pros.
The most interesting addition, since I last rode NOW bindings was that both the ankle straps and toe straps have hinges which allow you to sort of "fold" them out, like with Burton's flex slider - except the Select Pro have them on both the ankle and toe straps. This helps to make it easier to get in without accidentally standing on the straps.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 15/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.6/100 |
The Select Pro are so much fun to turn and carve in and they have that NOW shock absorption that makes these a really damp/smooth ride.
They lack a little in board feel, but that would be my only complaint. Everything else about these bindings is right up there.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Select Pro, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Select Pro compares to other men’s all-mountain bindings or want to check out some other options in that category, check out the next link.
Hey Nate,
Do you know anything about the fridge masters? Are they the same as the airmasters?
Thanks!
Hi Andy, thanks for your message.
As far as I can tell the only difference with the Fridge Masters (apart from the colorway) is that you get additional bushings (hard and soft bushings) that you can swap out with the medium bushings that it comes with, if you wanted to experiment with those (the harder bushings are supposed to give you more response/precision and the softer ones more of a surfy feel/more playful and maybe a little more shock absorption, but YES (formerly NOW) bindings are so good with shock absorption, I don’t know how much difference it would make for shock absorption). The regular Airmaster just comes with the Medium bushings. Actually it might just be the colorway for the current model (24/25), I was looking at the 25/26 model. Looks like they both come with Hard and Medium bushings (but neither with soft) for the 24/25 model. They do sell the bushings separately as well (don’t think they cost too much), so if you were really wanting to experiment with all their bushings, you could get some separately.
Hope this helps
Wouldn’t the 2025 Yes select be the same and not the airmaster. Both are rated 6 out of 10 on yes’s website. Was wondering if the yes selects would be good fir carving like these
Hi Chris.
Yeah, you would think so, but the Airmaster, from what I can tell is the most similar. NOW had both a Select and Select Pro and only the Select was carried over to YES (by name), but the Airmaster is pretty close to the Select Pro (just by a different name). The main thing is the baseplate. The NOW Select Pro and Airmaster both have the Hangar 3.0 whereas the NOW Select and YES Select both have the Hangar 2.0. The NOW Select and Select Pro did have the Asym S Sense ankle strap that the YES Select has and the ankle strap is different on the Airmaster. And the post is 50% carbon fibre vs 30% Carbon fibre on the Select Pro (the Select has 50% glass fibre). So, Airmaster certainly not exactly Select Pro, but it’s still a closer equivalent to the Select Pro than the Select, in my eyes. But you could argue it the other way. The YES Select though is pretty much identical to the NOW Select (I think just the toe strap is different).
Hey Nate, hope you’re doing great!
Been doing a lot of research on bindings lately and still on the search!
I got the select pro’s but still unsure if to keep them or return..
I do mostly all-mtn/freestyle, smooth carving on groomers and hitting as most side hits and jumps as I can. I ride a Yes typo but will probably upgrade next season for something with more pop and a little more stable at speed, basically a step up of the typo because I really like how it rides.
One thing I noticed with the NOWs is the huge disc.. would you say the size of the disc is less important with now bindings due to the way they pivot on the board with the skate-tech?
Another thing is, next season I plan to put some focus on my freestyle and try to learn butters and spins off jumps, would you say that the skate-tech would make the landings feel more catchy (more prone to catch an edge off a spin)?
Im fairly consistent with my carving due to surfing background but when it comes to freestyle (butters/ jumps) im a beginner.. am i looking to the right binding?
Also I know its possible to change the footbeds between NOW and Jones bindings so if I stick with them, I might buy a stiffer and less cushy footbed to improve some board feel. you think it can make a difference?
Sorry for the long text and thank you for all the help you’ve been giving me!!
Hey José
Yeah even with Skate Tech that bigger disc makes for a bigger dead spot, particularly when you’re flexing nose to tail, likes with presses, butters, ollies etc. I’m not sure I’ve found landing spins more catchy with Skate Tech in particular, but in general I do find bindings with less board feel can make it more likely to catch an edge.
Having a thinner footbed with less cush typically helps with board feel, in my experience, so that would do something for sure. But I think ultimately something with better board feel would be preferable, if you’re focus is going to be on freestyle. They are great for carving and for their great slow speed response and how cushy and damp they feel. But don’t like them as much for buttering, ollying, spinning etc.
Hi again Nate!
appreciate your answer!
What about the jones meteorites? The only difference is the flrx of the straps and highback right?
It would be the same feeling for when it comes to jumping/buttering/spinning?
thank you
Hi José
I actually found the Jones Meteorite to have a little better board feel than other NOW/Jones bindings I’ve ridden in. Likely the overall softer flex of the Meteorites is the reason, but not so much because of highback or strap flex, but more baseplate flex – which has more impact on overall flex, in my experience, and board feel (which makes sense when you think about it) than the highback and strap flex. I actually found the Meteorite to have a stiffer highback and straps than some Jones/NOW bindings that were overall stiffer on snow. See the Flex section of the Meteorite review for more on that.
So yeah, I actually preferred the Meteorite for ollies, buttering and spinning. Still not as good a board feel as some bindings, but better than the other NOW/YES bindings I’ve tested.
How would you pick between the select pro and the now Drives on a Standard Uninc? I’m inclined to go with the Drives for something a little stiffer but the graphic on this shows they Clearly intended it to match the standard uninc. I’m more of a natural terrain, hard charger than anything else. I have some Jones Mercurys which I really like. I think they’re a bit more like the Drives than the Select pro.
Hi Brigham
Thanks for your message. Personally I would match the Standard with the Drives. I think they’re a better flex-match for the Standard Uninc. And yeah to me Mercury and Drive are very similar. And I felt them at the same flex as each other (7/10 by my feel). The Select Pros a little softer (6/10 by my feel). They wouldn’t be wrong on the Standard Uninc or anything. They would definitely work fine, IMO, but I think the Drive would be a little more optimal.
Hope this helps with your decision
Do you think it’s better to get the Burton Cartel or Genesis for an all around /jump binding instead of these and then get something more specific for a directional board/freeride board? It seems like the Burton’s are better all around but these Now Select Pro sacrifice some of that all around to get some carving in. Or would they both be good.
Hi Dustin
Thanks for your message.
I prefer Burton bindings in general (and the Cartel and Genesis specifically) for jumping vs the NOW Select Pro. Mostly because I like to have that extra board feel for extracting pop from the board. I find it easier to get pop out of the board for ollies or popping off drops, sidehits or jumps when there’s better board feel. The Select Pro aren’t bad, and they do provide a great carving feeling. So, there’s pluses and minuses going either way. But yeah, ideally, if you had a board you used for more freestyle stuff, then putting something like the Cartel/Genesis/Malavita is a good bet and then getting something else for your more directional/freeride board. Ideally this is the way to go – but does of course mean more cost to get two sets of bindings. But bindings can make a big difference to the feel of a ride, in my experience.
Hope this helps
Have you ever had pain/pressure on your forefoot from feeling part of the base plate through the foot pad? I know “The Good Ride” always complains about that when they review now/jones bindings. Just curios if you have ever experienced that.
Hey Colton
Haven’t noticed this myself. I do ride with some pretty cushy soled boots so maybe with a thinner/flatter soled boot, this could be a thing, but it’s not something I’ve noticed.
Didn’t notice, what boots and boot size you used for binding M size? I’m 10.5 usually (burton moto & ion) and have used with union contact pro L and burton cartelx L sizes earlier. Though in cartel’s there’s some additional extra empty room on the sides
Hey Martin
Thanks for your message.
I was in 9.5s in this case. And really low profile ones too (Adidas Response). For some boots I’m a 10 and I’ve had 10s in Medium NOW bindings no problem (all be it they were also low profile). Given you’re wearing low profile boots too, I think you’d likely be fine in the M, particularly as NOW says they can accommodate up to 10.5s – and that’s likely accounting for at least an average profile boot – and with Burton being lower than average profile, I’d say you should be fine. No guarantees, but my guess is that the M should work for you.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Great review as always. I have last year’s Select Pro which is pretty much the same as this years.
Two selling points for me, first is when you buy them brand new they come with three different pairs of bushings that you can swap out. The bushings have different hardnesses. The soft ones give a surfy feel and the hard ones are more responsive.
The second is the kingpin tool-less kit ($50) which allows you to swap out your bindings from one board to another on the fly. Switching boards with the kit is super easy compared to using a screw driver and mounting them on your other board. This is a cool feature because it allows me to take two boards with me to the slopes, usually park and pow/freeride board.
Cheers
Hey Sanjay
Great points. I haven’t used their Kingpin system, but it is a great idea, if you have a multi board quiver and one set of bindings, or even if you’re only wanting to take one pair of bindings with you but 2 boards.