Hello and welcome to my Flux DS bindings review.
This review rates how well, in my opinion, the DSs rate as all-mountain bindings. As per SnowboardingProfiles tradition I have given them a rating out of 100, which is broken down into several categories.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Flux DS
Price: $275
Smart rating score: 84.9/100
Flex: Medium (5 out of 10)
Compared to Other All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 19 men’s all mountain bindings that I rated:
- The average score was 77.7/100
- The highest score was 93.0/100
- The lowest score was 57.0/100
- The average price was $246
- The DS’s ranked 5th out of 19
Sizing
Check out the table below for the available sizes for the DS.
| Size | Fits Men’s US Boot Sizes | Euro Boot Sizes | UK Boot Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 4.5 - 7.5 | 36.0 - 40.0 | 3.5 - 6.5 |
| Medium | 7.0 - 10.0 | 39.0 - 43.0 | 6.0 - 9.0 |
| Large | 9.0 - 13.0 | 42.0 - 47.5 | 8.0 - 12.0 |
Who are these bindings most suitable for?
The DS’s are great for anyone looking for a bindings that can do a bit of everything. If you only want to have one pair of bindings then the DS’s are a great all round choice.
They wouldn’t be terrible for beginners but are really more for intermediate & up riders.
These bindings will match up with quite a wide range of boards too. I have used them on heaps of different boards now – as I own a pair and usually use them on boards that I demo – and they are suitable for a wide range from medium-soft flexing boards with a playgul feel all the way up to medium-stiff boards with an aggressive feel.
I’ve also used them in various conditions including hard packed trails and powder in the backcountry. And on various different types of terrain including steeps, chutes, through trees, bowls, moguls and in the park.
The DS in More Detail
With the Flux DS bindings on my old 2013 Flow EraO.k. let’s take a look at the DS in more detail
Demo Info
Bindings: Flux DS 2016, 2017 & 2018
Date: Multiple dates
Conditions: Various conditions
Bindings angles: Various binding angles
I own the 2016 versions of these bindings so I’ve ridden them a lot. These are the bindings I usually use to demo boards. I have also demoed the 2018 versions which are very similar but with the waffle ankle strap in place of the honeycomb strap.
Flex
Flux rate the DS’s stiffness as 3/5. Which out of 10 would translate to an 6/10 (in my books!). Other reviews I have read consider the flex to be soft to medium-soft – around 3 or 4 out of 10.
I wouldn’t say it’s as stiff as a 6/10 but I definitely wouldn’t consider them a medium-soft either. To me these bindings are completely mid-flex (5/10). Which is great for an all-mountain binding.
I think the confusion here lies in the fact that they have great response and boot support. You can really lock these bad boys in tight (without pressure points) but they still butter well and there is definitely some movement when you twist the high back.
So you get the response you might expect from stiffer bindings but the butterability of a softer binding – it’s this balance that makes these bindings so good for doing everything.
Board Feel/Butterability
As mentioned above these bindings butter and tweak more like a softer flexing binding – but without sacrificing response. They don’t seem to have anything special about the base plate or disc (like a mini disc or anything), but they still have great board feel.
Adjustability
As to be expected with Flux bindings the DS’s are super adjustable. You can adjust everything from the high-back, ankle strap, toe strap, toe ramp and heel ramp. And you can do it all tool-less which is always good.
You can basically set these up exactly how you want them. Get them in the right size and they’ll fit any foot and boot.
Learn More about the DSs in the Video Below
This video is for the 2018 model – the main difference with the new 2019 model is that it now has a new highback.
Shock Absorption
The biggest area for improvement for the DS’s is in the shock absorption. It’s not terrible but it’s nothing special either. Some more padding in the heel would be great.
Though some riders don’t mind this and some even prefer it, I definitely like a bit more shock absorption, especially for riding the park.
Entry/Exit
As always with Flux the ratchet system is easy and smooth which makes entry/exit easy.
When getting in I also find it really easy to push the ankle straps around the high-back so you can drop your foot in and not worry about standing on the ankle strap.
Comfort
Improved shock absorption would also improve the comfort of the DS’s but they are pretty darn comfortable anyway. A large reason for that is the awesome straps that lock down tight without producing any pressure points.
The high-back also conforms really well to boots.
Turn Initiation/Response
I am really impressed with the response I get out of the DS’s – especially considering the flex and butterability.
And you can really initiate those turns quickly – they feel great going through narrow tracks and trees but are also awesome for wider radius turns.
Ankle Support
As mentioned already, the ankle straps lock down tight but don’t produce any pressure points. They also sit high enough on the ankle to give your ankles some great support. If you like a lot of ankle support, the DSs are a great choice.
Changes from Past Models
The 2019 model got an all new higback called the resistor highback. As far as I’m aware that’s the only change.
The only change that I’m aware of between the 2017 and 2018 model is that the 2018 model now features Flux’s new Waffle strap. The 2016 and 2017 models had the honeycomb strap.
Previous Changes: The DS’s honeycomb ankle straps were new for the 2016 model. And they were a nice improvement. They were kept for the 2017 model and the 2018 model changed to the new waffle strap.
Final Verdict and Score
Check out the score breakdown for the DS’s below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Board Feel/Butterability: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Ankle Support: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 84.9/100 |
Overall the DS’s are one of the best all-mountain bindings going around in my opinion. And they’re reasonably priced too. Great performance but for about the average price for all-mountain bindings.
You could ride these bad boys as park-specific bindings, or never enter the park and purely use them on the trails, and they’d be just as good – or you could get the most out of them and use them for all of the above.
So it’s no surprise they made my top 5 all-mountain bindings list
More Info, Where to Buy & Availability
If you want to learn more about the DS, or are ready to buy or want to research availability and prices, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other all mountain binding options or compare the DS to other all mountain bindings check out the next link.
>>SnowboardingProfiles’ Top 5 All-Mountain Snowboard Bindings
ohh thats simple but great; i will just go with the xf… and if it s good, i can look aaround for an dsw. it s not that i dont wanna swap; even the color doesn‘t match at all… the reason is that
i thinked, that i will go with a less direct binding on the aviator, because more freestyle focus… and because i just like to change the setup ;-)…
actualy i dont except the aviator is great for doing a lot of butters… but the wings also could help for load up and pop off?
what you think about changing the mountain twin for the aviator? i will carve down the groomers and freestyle… i hope that the aviator catchs even less an edge than the mountain twin?… especialy for landings and rolls? and to improove my switch-skills.
Hi Rafael
In my experience, if you’re looking for a more freestyle compliment to your Flagship, I would usually say Mountain Twin over Aviator. The Aviator is a bit more aggressive, stiffer and has more camber. I would say more catchy vs the Mountain Twin, but still not overly catchy. A little more pop than the Mountain Twin – so it’s got that in it’s favor for jumps, ollies etc. Switch-wise, I would say about the same for riding switch vs the Mountain Twin.
did you also rode the DSW? there is the only difference the highback? flux rates the dsw as a 4/5, and the ds 3/5?
will they work with the jones aviator? which is pretty stiff board. and i will use pretty hard boots also. ride insanos.
at the moment i have the mountain twin. but thinking about changing into the aviator.
what you think about that?
Hi Rafael
I haven’t ridden the DSW unfortunately, but yeah looks like Flux rate them as stiffer. Assuming that Flex rating translates to around a 7/10 or 8/10, then it would be a good match flex-wise to the Aviator. The DSW is designed with that wing high-back to help with presses. Is that something you would be looking to do on your aviator? I remember in previous discussions you got the XF. That would be a great match for the Aviator. Any reason you don’t want to use those? Or do you want separate bindings for each board, so you don’t have to swap them over?
Do you think these would pair well with a Rome Gangplank riding 50/50 park and small east coast resort groomers? Also what size would you recommend for a Burton size 10 boot?
Hi Tyler
Thanks for your message.
I don’t currently test Rome gear, but based on the Flex, the DS should be a good match with that board.
Size-wise, Large is the safest bet. You would probably get in a medium with Burton 10s, but the Large are a safer bet for the DS. I own 2016 DS in large (with 10s as well – Vans) and I find them a good size. There’s a bit of room in there – so the Medium would be a snugger fit if you wanted to risk it, but there is some risk that they’d be too small. I haven’t put Burton boots into Medium flux bindings, so I couldn’t say for sure.
Hope this helps
Thanks man!
You’re very welcome Tyler. Hope you have an awesome season!
Hey Nate, just as a follow up… I ordered a pair 2019 Flux DS in large and medium to pair with my size 10 Burton boots. The large I just couldn’t get centered on the board and with the boot. Tried the medium and everything centered up much better. It’s a snug and nothing is maxed out but the toe ramp. It seems having shrink tech with some of these boots can make it hard to judge the best binding fit based on the manufacture recommendations. I think these bindings are just what I was looking for. Thank’s again for your help and all of your great reviews!
Hi Tyler
Thanks for the update. And good to know for others with a similar setup.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying your new bindings!
So far I am pleased with these bindings overall paired with the Burton Moto boots, but I don’t like the high back adjustment method. Other manufacturers use better systems than Flux, in my opinion. However, the straps are very comfortable (and I have the 2015 model).
Nate, do you think these are a good pairing with the 2016 Slash Brainstorm? I’m considering selling my 2016 Rome Tour for the Brainstorm.
Hey John
Thanks for the message.
Yeah they would definitely pair well with the Brainstorm. They both have a medium flex so they should go well together.