Hello and welcome to my Flux RL bindings review. In this review I will rate the RLs as beginner bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the RLs a score out of 100 which represents how suitable I believe these bindings are for beginners.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Flux RL
Price: $234
Smart rating score: 84.5/100
Flex: Medium Soft (3 out of 10)
Style: Strap-In
Compared to Other Beginner Bindings
I analyzed 17 different beginner bindings and of those:
- The average score was 79.5/100
- The lowest score was 72/100
- The highest score was 88.5/100
- The average price was $216
- The RL’s ranked 2nd out of 17
Who are these Bindings Best Suited to?
If you are a beginner or early intermediate rider then these bindings are close to the perfect choice.
They are also great for riding freestyle.
If you are a more advanced rider and would prefer a more all-mountain binding then I think it’s worth paying just that little bit more for the Flux DS ($40 more).
However, if you are a beginner then the RL is going to be better for learning on than the DS.
Demo Conditions and setup
I rode the RLs on a fairly soft-packed day. I rode them with the Flow Era snowboard (medium-soft flex) which was a great match.
I rode with binding angles +15/-9.
Hint: I find a really easy way to install these bindings is to use the ladder of the ankle strap to prop up the disc cover whilst you are screwing or unscrewing the disc. This way you don’t have to hold up the cover whilst screwing. See image below.
The RL’s in Detail
Right let’s get into the thick of it.
Flex
The RL’s have a medium-soft flex bordering on soft. I’d rate them a 3/10 (with 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest). This is great for a beginner rider and offers plenty of forgiveness.
The RLs felt very smooth and easy going.
Adjustability
You can adjust the RLs practically any way you would ever need to including toe and heel ramp adjustments so you can get the perfect position on your board for the best possible leverage without risking toe or heel drag.
The toe and ankle straps are also highly adjustable for that perfect fit around your boots.
Everything you need to adjust is tool-less too. The only thing you need a screwdriver for is for installing the base onto your board.
Entry/Exit
Flux have a great ratchet system on all of their bindings. This really makes it easy and smooth for tightening and releasing the straps.
It’s also really easy with the RLs to tuck the ankle strap away behind the highback whilst you’re getting your foot in so there’s no risk of standing on it.
Whether you’re sitting down and strapping in or if you’ve mastered the stand-up strap in these bindings are pretty easy to get in and out of which is great for a beginner who is likely doing this a fair but on short beginner runs or not having enough speed on trails with uphill and flat sections.
Comfort
The RL’s are really comfortable. I didn’t notice any pressure points when strapping in tight and there was no soreness at the end of the day.
The straps are super-comfortable and their nice casual flex also helps their comfort levels. They’d get full marks if they just had a bit more shock absorption particularly in the heel.
Responsiveness
They’re not super responsive but they’re not too bad either especially considering their softer flex.
And responsiveness isn’t as important for beginners as other riders so they have more than enough responsiveness for a beginner.
Boot Support
You can get this bindings pretty tightly wrapped around your boots without pressure points.
I didn’t find the ankle strap was as nice as on other models like the DS but was certainly enough.
The RLs use the same toe strap as I think are on all Flux bindings so no complaints there at all.
Price
The RLs are slightly more expensive than the average price of beginner bindings – but not that much more. If you’ve got it it’s worth spending just that little bit extra for that lift in quality that the RLs provide.
Let’s put it this way – if the RLs were $40 cheaper I would have rated them as the # 1 beginner binding (and with a score of 90.5/100).
Final Verdict and Score
Check out the score breakdown below for a closer look at the where the RLs scored their points.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Adjustability: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Responsiveness: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Boot Support: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Price: | 3.5 | 14/20 |
| TOTAL | 84.5/100 |
Overall the RLs are one of the best beginner bindings going around for men. They’re slightly pricier than your average beginner binding but you get that little bit extra too.
Check out how they fit in with my top 5 beginner bindings
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