Hello and welcome to my Flow Fenix-Plus review.
In this review I will take a look at the Fenix-Plus as all-mountain snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Fenix-Plus a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain bindings.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Flow Fenix-Plus
Price: $279 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium (5/10)
Flex Feel: Medium (5.5/10)
Rating Score: 80.6/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 24 men’s all-mountain bindings that I rated:
Overview of the Fenix-Plus’ Specs
Check out the tables for the Fenix-Plus’ specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain |
Price: | $279 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Weight: | Normal |
Mounts To: | 2 x 4 | 4x4 | 3 hole | Channel |
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
M | 4.5-8.5 | 36-41.5 | 3.5-7.5 |
L | 8.0-11.5 | 41-45 | 7.0-10.5 |
XL | 11.0-15.0 | 44.5-49.5 | 10.0-14.0 |
Who are the Fenix-Plus Most Suited To?
The Fenix-Plus is best suited to someone looking for a mid-flexing speed entry binding - someone who wants to be able to strap in fast and even on the go as they come off the list, but wants something not too stiff, and not too expensive.
Pairs best with boards in the 4/10 to 6/10 flex range.
The Fenix-Plus in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Fenix-Plus are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: Flow Fenix-Plus 2022, L
Date: January 20, 2022
Conditions
Overcast with patchy visibility. OK in some places and limited in others.
Temp: 36°F (2°C) and 28°F (-2°C) with wind chill. 9mph (15kph) winds.
24 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
48 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
7 day snow: 0" (0cm)
Snow conditions on groomer: Well groomed in places. Ungroomed and choppy and slushy elsewhere.
Snow conditions off groomer: A little crunchy in spots but mostly slushy.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 22″ (555mm)
Board tested with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Boots tested with: Adidas Tactical ADV, size US9.5
Baseplate Length: 9.7" (24.7cm)*
*measured on the top side of the footbed - note that part of the heel of the baseplate is raised a little bit.
Weight: 2lb 3oz (980g)
* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 45 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 models) I weighed, was 1lb 15oz (890 grams). The lightest was 1lb 8oz (680g) and the heaviest was 2lb 9oz (1,160g). So the Fenix-Plus are pretty close to average - just on the heavier side of average.
Flex
When testing the flex in hand, this binding was a real surprise. It felt like there was virtually no twist in the highback and no give when pulling back on it. The highback felt like it was a 9/10 flex! But the bindings were rated 5/10 flex, so I figured the baseplate must feel softer and overall flex riding must feel softer. And it did. It was surprising how they felt when riding after feeling the highback.
So, I would imagine, based on all that, that the baseplate is quite flexy. The strap was also quite flexy, so that would have also contributed to the overall flex feel.
Responsiveness
In terms of laying down a deep carve, they were decent without being epic. About the same as my control bindings in that respect (Burton Malavita).
For shorter/sharper turns at slower speeds, they were good in that respect. Again, very similar to my control bindings.
Board Feel/Butterability
Board feel was better than I thought. These bindings don't have anything like a mini-disc or anything else to suggest they'd have great board feel, but it was actually really decent. Not quite to the level of my control bindings, but not far off.
Pop/Ollie Power
Really similar to my control bindings - if anything just a little less pop.
Adjustability
Heel Cup: No
Stance Width: Good stance width adjustment – heaps of micro adjustability when you run disc horizontal.
Highback Lean: Tool-less adjustment. Didn't feel like it could go full zero lean though – and in the instructions it looks like it says 5 degrees is the minimum lean.
Ankle Strap Position: No
Toe Strap Position: Yes
Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: No
Highback Rotation: No
Compatible with: 2x4 | 4x4 | Burton 3D | Channel
Shock Absorption
Decent enough, without being super shock absorbing. Less shock absorbing than my control bindings, but I've definitely tested less shock absorbing bindings.
Entry/Exit
Easy entry and exit is one of the facets of these bindings that's important as it's part of their appeal. And they are really easy to get in and out of - and getting into them on the move is nice and easy too, if that's something that appeals to you.
It does take quite a bit of setup time to get the straps just right. It's easy to over tighten them - and then not be able to get in and out easily. Or to have them too loose so that they don't give you enough support, but are easy to get in and out of. But there is a sweet spot and once you find it, they are both easy to get in and out of and supportive.
I really liked the Hybrid strap - and I prefer the Hybrid strap personally to the Fusion strap. There is also a fusion strap version of this binding.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
Overall nice and comfortable.
Ankle Strap: I prefer a honeycomb or waffle style strap to a solid one, for the most part, so that's the only thing I didn't really like about the ankle strap. But it was flexy and squishy and conformed well to my boot, so was nice and comfy. No pressure points.
Toe Strap: Also conformed well and nice and flexy and no pressure points or anything.
Canted Footbed: Yes
Padded Footbed: There's a decent amount of padding in the footbed and shock and chatter absorption is decent, without being amazing.
Highback: Even though the highback felt very stiff in hand, it didn't produce any calf bite and that's the main thing with regards to comfort when it comes to the highback. There is some minimal padding on the highback but not a lot.
Ankle Support
Decent ankle support, without being spectacular. Felt a little less supportive than my control bindings. Felt like the ankle strap sat fairly low on the ankle, which is likely the biggest contributor to it not being better. But it certainly was nothing bad either.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 4.0 | 12/15 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.6/100 |
The Fenix-Plus are an affordable speed entry binding for those looking to get riding as soon as they're off the lift.
Not one for super aggressive riders with stiffer boards, but all round a really decent pair of bindings if you're looking for speed entry and a mid-flexing, do-it-all, affordable binding to match a mid-flexing board.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Fenix-Plus, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Fenix-Plus compares to other men’s all-mountain bindings or want to check out some other options in that category, check out the next link.
Used to use Flow bindings (not sure which model) but suffered when I crashed in powder as they needed taking apart to get out of. I know they changed the straps to a more ratchet design which would be easier. Any thoughts on this? They were always great at the snowdomes but I switched to conventional bindings for all mountain riding as the highback started to come undone while riding after a few years. A few trips to the dome and one holiday a year, so not heavy usage.
Hey Dave
Yeah, they are better for that now. You can use the straps as semi-regular straps (because the straps are attached, you have to open them both at the same time, but you can do that and get them on and off that way) or use the rear entry, so they’re more versatile like that. In deep snow you’re able to just undo the straps and use them that way now. I prefer the Hybrid strap to the Fusion one, because it feels and acts more like regular straps (they’re still joined but not as much as the Fusion straps). One thing I’ve found with them too, particularly when I had them in the past, is getting them set just right to be able to take advantage of the rear entry. If you don’t have them quite loose enough, then I found that the back of my boots would scrape on the highback and the bottom of my boots would scrape on the footbed. Completely wrecked a pair of boots when I had Flow bindings around 15 or so years ago. But the way they open up now, it’s easier to get in without damaging boots but still having them tight enough that they are snug when you pull the highback up. So yeah, definitely improved. Not by enough to make me a convert, but a lot better than they were for sure.
Control bindings?
Hi Joe
Thanks for your question. Before testing any bindings I always do my test laps in my “control bindings”. The control bindings I use are Burton Malavitas. So that I can get a fresh feel for those and a feel for those in the particular conditions on the day, before swapping over to the bindings I’m testing or the “test bindings” – in this case the Flow Fenix-Plus. When I ride the test bindings, every other variable remains the same (same board and boots that I rode with the control bindings). This way I can get an accurate comparison by having the only thing I changed be the thing that I’m testing. And I can compare them to the control bindings (Malavita). Like you would in a scientific experiment. Hope this explains it, but if you need further clarification, let me know.