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 21 men’s all mountain bindings that I rated:
Overview of the DS’s Specs
Check out the tables for the DS’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain |
Price: | $275 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Edge-to-Edge: | Medium-Fast |
Weight: | Normal |
Mounts To: | 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 |
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
S | 4.5-7.5 | 36-40 | 3.5-6.5 |
M | 7-9.5 | 39-42.5 | 6-8.5 |
L | 9+ | 42+ | 8+ |
Who are the DS Most Suited To?
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
O.k. let’s take a look at the DS in more detail
Demo Info
Bindings: Flux DS 2016 & 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 used to 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.
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 2021 model looks to be exactly the same (bar new colorways) as the 2020 model as far as I can tell.
The 2020 model is essentially the same as the 2019 model as far as I can tell.
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.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 4.0 | 16/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 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.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
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.
Hi Nate. I have been using union atlas for my jones explorer but now I also got a mind expander and was thinking which bindings will be nicer on it… im in doubt between the flux ds or the jones mercury. Any inputs on that. Thanks.
Hi Alex
Thanks for your message.
Personally I would be leaning towards Flux DS for the Mind Expander. Just because they’re a little softer and a little more easy going and the Mind Expander is a surfy easy going ride – so I think that would be the better match. The Mercury is a little stiffer, more precise kind of binding. If it was the Ultra Mind Expander it would be the other way around – that board is a beast – shares part of the name with the Mind Expander but a vastly different personality!
Hope this helps
Hi Nate, just wondering what your opinion is, on the 2020 DS with Ride Superpig combo.
Thanks
Hi Jason
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t ridden the Superpig yet, but based on specs, I think that a slightly stiffer binding would be a more ideal match. The DS is quite responsive for it’s stiffness, something that Flux is good for, so it’s not way off, but ideally, I would go with something a little stiffer (assuming Ride’s flex rating on the Superpig is accurate enough). If you wanted to stay Flux, I think the XF would be the best choice – or the TT for something on the cheaper side, but still stiff enough. Or you could check out the following for some other mid-stiff options.
>>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings
Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision
Hi Nate,
Will these work with Yes! Standard 2018?
I’ve rode Union Force for the last season but M size turns out to be small for my Burton 10US while L is too big. Looking forward to sell Unions and looking for a new pair of bindings.
I wonder won’t Flux be too soft?
I don’t carve, mostly riding groomers, freeriding and a gonna try myself in park this season.
Hi Alex
I find Union Ms to be just right for my 10s – but I don’t test them in Burton boots.
I find Flux fine in L but again prefer them in M. But I like to have that snugger fit. But given how we differ on Union bindings I think L would be a better size for you for Flux.
The DS is probably just on the softer side to be ideal for the Standard. Since you don’t carve they would probably do the job, but generally, I would say the Flux XF would be a better match for the Standard. That’s likely what I would ride if I was to ride Flux bindings on the Standard. You could also check out:
>>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings
AND
>>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings
For more options. Or the Burton Malavita.
Hope this helps
Thanks, Nate.
I wonder what will be the downsides of having Flux DS with Standard. I mean how would my ride be different?
I am not an expert so don’t really now what happens if you set soft bindings together with stiff board.
Regarding the links, I did check them already and compared the options and their price points DS is the best bet. XF cost almost twice in the place where I live…
Hi Alex
The main things I notice with softer bindings in general is that I find that you can’t hold a carve as long or as deep on them – and I feel like stability at speed is impacted. In terms of matching a softer binding with a stiffer board, I find that the binding doesn’t have enough power to properly drive the board – which a. makes it harder to hold those carves deeper and longer and b. can make the board feel a little slower edge to edge.
With the DS/Standard combo though, if you felt any of that it’s likely to be subtle, given that the the DS isn’t super soft and the Standard isn’t super stiff. I would rate the DS 5/10 flex and the Standard 6/10 flex. So they’re a pretty good match flex-wise. If I was being fussy I would want 6/10 or 7/10 in the bindings on the Standard, but any of that soft bindings/stiffer board feeling is going to be very subtle between those two, and if you’re not driving the board really hard it’ll probably be unnoticeable.
Thanks a lot for the information. That is really informative.
At the same time my Burton AMB is 2 years old already and got a bit softer so that should also match bindings and looks like with my skill I won’t notice real difference.
You’re very welcome Alex. Hope you have an awesome season!
By the way, as you wrote – 2019 model got new highback. Have you tried that one or is it the same as 2018 model?
Hi Alex
The last model of the DS I rode was the 2018, so I’m not sure how much that effects the 2019 and 2020 models.
Okay, I found out what is the issue and decided to leave it here in case it will help someone one day or just for you Nate to consider in reviews.
Basically, my Burton AMB 10US doesn’t fit in any bindings size M because of the wide heel. I have tried Flux, Bent Metal, Union and even Union L size didn’t work for me.
I assume the only option to go with M bindings is to use Burton – but I will double check that this week in store.
Sorry, I know it’s pretty off topic but I wanted to share this information with you.
In case Burton bindings would work, do you prefer Malavita over Cartel or vise verse for Yes! Standard?
Hi Alex
Thanks for the info. Always good to get more info – and it prompted me to check the Burton boots I have with me currently (Imperial, Swath Boa, Ruler & Driver X) in my M Union Falcors. I found they fit in the heel, but they were certainly tight – and tighter than the other boots I tried to get in there. The Swath Boa was particularly tight – to a point, that it would be an effort every time to get them in – and overtime might cause damage to the boot, potentially. So, certainly Burton boots, seem wider in the heel – not just the AMBs. In saying that, the Swatch Boa were a squeeze in my Malavita Ms – just as much so. They fit for sure, but were a squeeze. I hadn’t noticed it with previous Burton boots, in the Malavitas, but if the AMBs are particularly wide, there’s no guarantees. Possible that the Cartel is a little wider in the heel? But yeah, see how you go when you try them out.
For the Standard both the Cartel and Malavita would work for sure. I would personally lean just that little bit towards the Cartel, just because they’re a closer flex match, IMO (6/10 vs the 5.5/10 of the Malavitas). But yeah, both really suitable for the job.
Hi Nate,
I absolutely agree with you. I did the same thing and tried a bunch of Burton boots with Cartel M in the shop. Swath turned out to be the widest ones for the newest seasons which makes sense cause as far as I know historically there was Ambush line then AMB and Swath is the latest. My AMB actually is even wider than Swath.
Anyway I bought myself a pair of Cartels cause it is much more easier to get in compared to Union M that I own and shouldn’t be that problem now. Also, from what I’ve checked – Burtons bindings are the widest in heel compared to Union, Bent Metal, Flux. The only wider option I found is GNU fast fastec.
Hi Alex
Thanks for the update. Good to hear you found a good fit for the AMB. Yeah that was the impression I go too – that the Swath was kind of a continuation of sorts of the AMB. Hope you enjoy your new setup and have an awesome season!
Well, i’ve just bought the bindings and i am a bit upset. It’s rated as 4/5 of flex by Flux and as 5/10 by you. But the DS’ highback is too soft, for real, it’s even softer than Than union contact’s one. And i was going to ride something mid-stiff like Salomon super 8 at this bindings. But i have some doubts it will feel good and can give enough response on the heel edge.
I am sorry Flux rated them as 3/5, but i can’t still aply it to highback
Hi Evgeny
As per my other message – the flex of a binding is part highback flex and part baseplate flex – and the flex of the DS is softer up the top of the high back, but it’s stiffer at the base of the highback. For more details, check out my first reply above.
Hi Evgeny
Thanks for your message and I understand your concern.
What I find with the DS is that it has a fair bit of flex in the top half of the highback, but the base of the highback is quite a bit stiffer. The other thing to consider is that the flex of binding is made up of the flex of the highback and the flex of the base plate. It’s not all about how much you can or can’t twist or flex the top of the high back. The DSs in my experience feel like a 5/10 on snow (which would be a 2.5/5, so a little softer than what Flux rates them). I always go off feel on snow, rather than what the highback feels like. I have always found the DS to feel more responsive than what the flex suggests too. Usually a 5/10 flexing binding would have around a mid-level response (around 3/10 for response) but the DS feel like they give more than that. Part of that is probably down to a stiffer baseplate and the way they wrap your foot really snug in the binding too (boot/ankle support is one of the big plusses with Flux bindings). But I go off feel mostly rather than specs, and I’ve always felt the DS to have good response for it’s flex.
That said, something like the Salomon Super 8 (which I rate as a flex feel of 7/10), might benefit from stiffer bindings. I think the DS would go fine on it, but you might get a bit more out of it with bindings with a rating more around that 7/10 flex mark.
Hope this helps
Thank you for such detailed reply, Nate! I appreciate it! Well, i haven’t rode it yet so i hope the binding gonna surprise me one the slopes. Have a good season!
You’re very welcome Evgeny – hope you have a great season too! Let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to ride with them
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.