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Flux XF Snowboard Bindings Review

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 by Nate 44 Comments

Flux XF bindings review

Hello and welcome to my Flux XF bindings review.

In this review, I will take a look at the XFs as all-mountain-freeride snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the XFs a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain-freeride bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Flux XF

Price: $349 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain, Freeride

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (4/5)

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Rating Score: 93.1/100

Compared to other All-Mtn-Freeride Bindings

Out of the 17 men’s all-mountain-freeride bindings that I rated:

  • The average score was 84.8/100
  • The highest score was 93.1/100
  • The lowest score was 77.1/100
  • The average price was $353
  • The XF ranked 1st out of 17!

Overview of the XF’s Specs

Check out the tables for the XF’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Style:

All-Mountain-Freeride

Price: 

$349

Ability Level: 

Ability Level high intermediate to expert

Flex: 

Snowboard Flex 7

Edge-to-Edge: 

Fast

Weight: 

Normal

Mounts To: 

2 x 4 | 4 x 4

Sizing

SIZE 

US BOOT SIZE

EURO BOOT SIZE

UK BOOT SIZE

S

5-7.5

36.5-40

4-6.5

M

7-9.5

39-43

6-8.5

L

9-13

42-47.5

8-12

Who are the XF Most Suited To?

The XFs are great for anyone looking to match to a medium to medium stiff board. Great for that 6/10 to 8/10 flex range. 

In addition if you are looking for something with great ankle support, I found these very supportive of my ankles.

They are also very comfortable and highly adjustable - so you can them dialed in just right. If you're willing to sacrifice a little in terms of shock absorption, these bindings are one of the better going around, IMO. One of my all-time favorites. 

Not for beginners, but work for a high-end intermediate rider, assuming they suit their style of riding. 

The XF in More Detail

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the XFs are capable of.

Demo Info

Flux XF 2021 ReviewBindings: Flux XF 2021, Large

Date: March 8, 2020

Conditions: Well groomed and hard packed on groomer. Not super hard but quite firm for the most part. 

Off-groomer good. Nothing fresh, but still some old snow and nothing too crunchy or icy or anything. 

Colder than the day before. Part of that being here hour earlier because daylight saving. -11°C (12.2°F) and -14°C (6.8°F) with wind, but it felt even colder than that.

Cloudy but still at least 90% visibility. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 550 (21.7”)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF, 2018

Baseplate Length: 24.5cm (9.65″) – the toe ramp was slightly extended, so it goes a little shorter than that. And since the heel ramp and the toe ramp both adjust it can go a good bit longer than that.  I suspect they would go as short as 24cm or possibly even shorter and probably as long as 25.5cm. 

Highback Height: 20cm (7.87″)

Height from footbed to top of highback: 27cm (10.63″)

Flex

More twist in highback than I remember from the previous model, but not massive amount of twist. Trying to bend it back, there is zero movement. Solid as. Overall when riding felt like a 7/10. Stiffer than medium, but with a little forgiveness.  

Responsiveness

Just like I remembered it from previous models. Made my board feel more “carvy” – as in could carve harder and hold a carve deeper versus my test bindings (Burton Malavita). Almost felt to a point of being mildly twitchy on my board to start with, but I soon settled into that, and my board felt more alive than with most bindings. A really nice dynamic feel. And still really good maneuverability at slower speeds too. 

Board Feel/Butterability

Really good board feel – just like a remember it being from previous models. A little step down from my test bindings, but not by a lot. There’s no mini-disc or anything like reflex or pods or anything crazy in the baseplate, but it might be the minimal padding in the footbed that really helps with the board feel for these guys. 

Adjustability

Heel Cup: No

Stance Width: Can run disc horizontal or vertical, so good for stance width adjustments when running horizontal.   

Highback Lean: Yes, tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: Yes

Toe Strap Position: Yes

Ankle and toe strap length: Yes, tool-less

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes

Highback Rotation: Yes

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel

So, you can adjust these bindings in most ways. You can adjust the heel ramp too, which you can’t on most bindings, so that gives you some extra adjustment there, too. Really the only thing that stops it from getting 5/5 is no heel cup adjustment.

Shock Absorption

This is the one area where these bindings do lack. To be fair it didn’t bother me that much. But it might be something that bothered me if I was riding them everyday, but I’m not sure. If shock absorption isn’t that big a deal to you, these could be the perfect bindings (assuming you’re looking for something in this flex range). 

Check out the video for more tech info on the XF

The XF comes in at around 4:00 minutes in

Entry/Exit

Nice and smooth - as per usual with Flux.

Comfort

Despite that lack of padding in the foodbed, they really are quite comfortable overall. 

Ankle Strap:  Really like Flux's ankle straps and particularly so their waffle strap, so no complaints there. 

Toe Strap: Really nice as Flux toe straps tend to be 

Canted Footbed: No

Padded Footbed: Not a lot of padding there (see shock absorption)

Highback: A little padding there, which is nice - but the main thing really is calf-bite - and there was none of that, so all good, there. 

Ankle Support

Really, really good ankle support, as is again, typical of Flux. 

Changes for the 2023 Model

The 2023 model seems to be same as the 2022 model, except with some new colorways

Changes for the 2022 Model

The 2022 model seems to be identical to the 2021 model (even the black colorway is the same by the looks - but some different colorways too). 

Changes for the 2021 Model

The 2021 model is practically the same as the 2020 model. The one change won't change the feel, but does make them more convenient. They now come with a disc that is compatible with the Channel. So you no longer have to get a separate disc to put on a board that uses the channel. 

Changes for the 2020 Model

The biggest difference on the 2020 model vs the 2019 model, is the highback. The 2019 Model had Flux's "Axis" highback. The 2020 model now has a "Retro-Mod" highback.  The highback lean adjuster is also a little different, but that's a minor thing. Everything else seems to be the same - but of course, the highback is a major component, so it's a relatively significant change there. 

Changes for the 2019 Model

The toe strap has been tweaked (FTM ver5.0) which takes what was already an awesome toe strap and made it even better. I thought Flux had one of the best in the industry as it was, and this makes it that little bit better.

They may have done some other tweaks for the 2019 model but as far as I can tell it’s otherwise the same binding as the 2018 model.

Changes for the 2018 Model

The main change that I noticed from the 2017 model is the new ankle straps. They XFs use Flux’s new “Waffle Strap”. At first when I looked at it, it looked just like a honeycomb strap – but on closer inspection you can see that the holes don’t go all the way through. I loved these new straps.

The other new things are:

  • Footon – not exactly sure what this is but apparently it helps with board feel and snow buildup. Didn’t notice anything with snow build up – but these bindings do have great board feel – especially given their stiffness
  • Beer Buckle – they have a new buckle on the straps – which also doubles as a bottle opener

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

30/30

BOARD FEEL

4.0

12/15

ADJUSTABILITY

4.5

13.5/15

ANKLE SUPPORT

5.0

15/15

SHOCK ABSORPTION

2.5

5/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

ENTRY/EXIT

4.0

4/5

TOTAL after normalizing

93.1/100

For those looking for a binding that's great for carving, provides really good ankle support, but still operate well when riding at slower speeds for when you want to slow it down and get a bit more casual - or for doing slower more technical tree runs, the XF should be squarely on your radar. 

More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online

If you want to learn more about the XFs, are ready to buy or want to research current prices and availability, check out the links below.

  • US
  • CA

>>Flux XF at evo.com

Flux XF bindings 2023

If you want to see how the XFs compare to other all-mountain-freeride bindings or want to check out other options, check out the next link.

My Top 5 Men's All-Mtn-Freeride Bindings

PAST REVIEWS OF THE FLUX XF

FLUX XF 2019 REVIEW

Flux XF Snowboard Bindings

Hello and welcome to my Flux XF bindings review.

In this review, I will take a look at the XFs as all-mountain-freeride snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the XFs a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain-freeride bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Flux XF 2020

Price: $299 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain, Freeride

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (4/5)

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Rating Score: 93.1/100

Compared to other All-Mtn-Freeride Bindings

Out of the 14 men’s all-mountain-freeride bindings that I rated:

  • The average score was 82.1/100
  • The highest score was 94.1/100
  • The lowest score was 57.4/100
  • The average price was $320
  • The XF ranked 2nd out of 14 

Overview of the XF’s Specs

Check out the tables for the XF’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Style:

All-Mountain-Freeride

Price: 

$295

Ability Level: 

Ability Level high intermediate to expert

Flex: 

Snowboard Flex 7

Edge-to-Edge: 

Fast

Weight: 

Normal

Mounts To: 

2 x 4 | 4 x 4

Sizing

SIZE 

US BOOT SIZE

EURO BOOT SIZE

UK BOOT SIZE

S

5-7.5

36.5-40

4-6.5

M

7-9.5

39-43

6-8.5

L

9-13

42-47.5

8-12

Who are the XF Most Suited To?

The XFs are perfect for anyone who’s looking for bindings that are responsive and comfortable but want something that still has a little bit of forgiveness – something that’s stiff but not ultra-stiff.

They’re also great for anyone who wants that response and a good bit of stiffness but still want to have good board feel. The XFs manage both of those things.

So they’re perfect for anyone who wants to charge the whole mountain and the backcountry hard – but also want to be able to take them through the park on occasion and/or generally slow it up and do some more freestyle type things on them when the mood takes them.

The XF in More Detail

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the XFs are capable of.

Demo Info

Flux XV snowboard bindings 2019Bindings: Flux XF 2019, Large

Date: April 15, 2018

Conditions: There was a little bit of fresh snow in the morning but just a few centimeters. There was still some left over fresh snow from the previous couple of days but not as much there as there was the day before. Quite cold in the morning, especially for April, but warmed up in the afternoon as the sun came out.

Visibility was variable in the morning for the first couple of laps but cleared out pretty quickly with the sun coming out late morning.

There were a couple of harder spots but mostly pretty soft/medium all round.

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 550 (21.7”)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF, 2018

Baseplate Length: 24.3cm (9.6″) – the heel ramp was slightly extended, so it goes a little shorter than that. And since the heel ramp and the toe ramp both adjust it can go a good bit longer than that. My Flux DS are 24.5cm with no extension and 26.1cm fully extended. The XF, since they use a different base plate may be a little bit different, I only remembered to measure it after I had mounted it so could only measure it at what it was set to. I suspect they would go as short as 24cm or possibly even shorter and probably as long as 25.5cm. 

Highback Height: 18.9cm (7.44″)

Flex

The XFs are relatively stiff but have just that little bit forgiveness in them, to make them not super-stiff. I think the 4/5 that Flux give them on their flex scale (which converts to 8/10 in my head) is a little stiffer than they are but not by much. I’d say 7/10. 

Responsiveness

Stiffer flex usually leads to greater responsiveness (but it’s not always the case or at least not always linear). It was certainly that case for the XFs. I try to ride all bindings I demo on my own board – and always after having ridden my own board with my usual bindings (which were the 2017 Burton Malavitas).

The step up in responsiveness that I felt was huge with these bindings. They are even more responsive feeling than their flex suggests. I felt my edge-to-edge transitions were lightning fast compared to most bindings I’ve had on my board and they just gave an extra spring out of turns.

Board Feel/Butterability

What surprised me the most about these bindings was the board feel. I expected, as is often the case with stiffer bindings, that the board feel could be somewhat lacking but they didn’t feel dead underfoot like some stiffer bindings do. This was confirmed after re-riding the 2019 model. 

They’re actually great for taking through the park, which is what surprised me the most.

There’s no mini-disc or anything like that going on, but I suspect that it’s the shorter highback (18.9cm) and the minimal padding in the base plate that help these bindings to produce really good board feel. 

Adjustability

As is typical with Flux bindings, there is heaps of adjustability with these bindings and it’s easy to do and mostly tool-less. 

Shock Absorption

While Flux may typically have great adjustability, they also typically don’t have the most shock absorption – this is the only downside of these bindings. Literally the only downside.

I didn’t spend enough time on them to really be annoyed by that lack of shock absorption (and I’m used to it with the DSs that I own) but I could feel on landings that there isn’t as much cushioning in there as there is with most other bindings I demo. But that minimal shock absorption may also explain the good board feel, despite the lack of a mini disc. 

Entry/Exit

There’s nothing unique or flash going on with the way you get in and out of these, but the ratchet system is super smooth, as it typically is with Flux, and that just makes it easy/fast to get in and out of.

Comfort

The only thing that would make these bindings more comfortable would be a bit more cushioning in the base – but hey, this might take away some of that great board feel and response – so if you can live without that shock absorption, then you won’t miss it.

These bindings do fit super well – they have awesome toe and ankle straps that feel really nice and I’ve never felt any pressure points on any Flux bindings I’ve ridden. Some of the best straps in the industry, IMO. 

Ankle Support

The ankle support is amazing on these bindings – you just feel completely locked-in.

They are one of the more supportive bindings that I’ve ridden. Part of this is the way the ankle straps sit (Flux’s UU fit – which is basically that the straps are mounted on the inside of the heel cup/base plate) and the other part is just that the ankle straps are super nice and conform really well across the ankle.

Changes from the 2019 Model

The biggest difference on the 2020 model vs the 2019 model, is the highback. The 2019 Model had Flux’s “Axis” highback. The 2020 model now has a “Retro-Mod” highback.  The highback lean adjuster is also a little different, but that’s a minor thing. Everything else seems to be the same – but of course, the highback is a major component, so it’s a relatively significant change there. 

Changes from the 2018 Model

The toe strap has been tweaked (FTM ver5.0) which takes what was already an awesome toe strap and made it even better. I thought Flux had one of the best in the industry as it was, and this makes it that little bit better.

They may have done some other tweaks for the 2019 model but as far as I can tell it’s otherwise the same binding as the 2018 model.

Changes from the 2017 Model

The main change that I noticed from the 2017 model is the new ankle straps. They XFs use Flux’s new “Waffle Strap”. At first when I looked at it, it looked just like a honeycomb strap – but on closer inspection you can see that the holes don’t go all the way through. I loved these new straps.

The other new things are:

  • Footon – not exactly sure what this is but apparently it helps with board feel and snow buildup. Didn’t notice anything with snow build up – but these bindings do have great board feel – especially given their stiffness
  • Beer Buckle – they have a new buckle on the straps – which also doubles as a bottle opener

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

RATING
(out of 5)

Contribution to Final Score

RESPONSE

5.0

30/30

BOARD FEEL

4.0

12/15

ADJUSTABILITY

4.5

13.5/15

ANKLE SUPPORT

5.0

15/15

SHOCK ABSORPTION

2.5

5/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

ENTRY/EXIT

4.0

4/5

TOTAL after normalizing

93.1/100

These are nigh on perfect bindings for those looking for a mid-stiff binding that is super-responsive but also has really good board feel – so you can take it over the entire mountain and not feel like you just have to bomb hard on them all day.

The only have one obvious downside – and that’s the shock absorption (adding more in could compromise some of the board feel and/or response so maybe it’s just something to put up with?). Other than that, they’re definitely one of the better bindings that I’ve demoed and really reasonably priced for this category of binding.


FLUX XF 2018 MODEL

Flux XF Snowboard Bindings

Hello and welcome to my Flux XF bindings review.

In this review, I will take a look at the XFs as freeride snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the XFs a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freeride bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Flux XF 2018

Price: $295 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain-Freeride

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (4/5)

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (8/10)

Rating Score: 90.9/100

Compared to other Freeride Bindings

Out of the 10 men’s freeride bindings that I rated:

  • The average score was 85.5/100
  • The highest score was 92.5/100
  • The lowest score was 76.9/100
  • The average price was $397
  • The XFs ranked 3rd out of 10

Sizing

Check out the table below for the available sizes for the XFs.

SizeFits Men’s US Boot SizesEuro Boot SizesUK Boot Sizes
Extra-Small3.0 – 5.533.0 – 37.52.0 – 4.5
Small5.0 – 7.536.5 – 40.04.0 – 6.5
Medium7.0 – 9.539.0 – 43.06.0 – 8.5
Large9.0 – 13.042.0 – 47.58.0 – 12.0

Who are the XFs Most Suited to?

The XFs are perfect for anyone who’s looking for bindings that are responsive and comfortable but want something that still has a little bit of forgiveness – something that’s stiff but not ultra-stiff.

They’re also great for anyone who wants that response and a good bit of stiffness but still want to have good board feel. The XFs manage both of those things.

So they’re perfect for anyone who wants to charge the whole mountain and the backcountry hard – but also want to be able to take them through the park on occasion and/or generally slow it up and do some more freestyle type things on them when the mood takes them.


The XF in More Detail


Flux XF Bindings 2018O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the XFs are capable of.

Demo Info

Bindings: Flux XF 2018, Large

Date: April 16, 2017

Conditions: Sunshine! And plenty of it. Snow conditions were a great mix of hard spots and soft-pack on the groomers and plenty of powder to be found off groomer, making it the perfect conditions for demoing – a bit of everything. Quite cold in the morning but got quite warm in the afternoon (it was spring after all, but you’d never have known it with the amount of snow around and the cold morning!)

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Flex

The XFs are pretty stiff but have just that little bit forgiveness in them, to make them not super-stiff. I think the 4/5 that Flux give them on their flex scale (which converts to 8/10 in my head) is accurate.

Responsiveness

Stiffer flex usually leads to greater responsiveness (but it’s not always the case or at least not always linear). It was certainly that case for the XFs. I try to ride all bindings I demo on my own board – and always after having ridden my own board with my usual bindings (which are the Flux DS from 2016).

The step up in responsiveness that I felt was huge with these bindings. They are even more responsive feeling than their flex suggests. I felt my edge-to-edge transitions were lightning fast compared to most bindings I’ve had on my board and they just gave an extra spring out of turns.

Board Feel/Butterability

What surprised me the most about these bindings was the board feel. I expected, as is often the case with stiffer bindings, that the board feel could be somewhat lacking but they didn’t feel dead underfoot like some stiffer bindings do.

They’re actually great for taking through the park, which is what surprised me the most.

Initially when I picked up my board with these bindings the set up actually felt, to me, to be a little heavier than with my DSs. I don’t think this is actually the case as I think they weigh a similar amount but that’s what it felt like to me. But once I got on the board, the whole set up felt much lighter and springier overall.

Adjustability

As is typical with Flux bindings, there is heaps of adjustability with these bindings and it’s easy to do and mostly tool-less. O.k. I do own Flux bindings so I’m used to it – but I did get used to the way you adjust these bindings very quickly after buying my DSs.

Shock Absorption

While Flux may typically have great adjustability, they also typically don’t have the most shock absorption – this is the only downside of these bindings. Literally the only downside.

I didn’t spend enough time on them to really be annoyed by that lack of shock absorption (and I’m used to it with my DSs) but I could feel on landings that there isn’t as much cushioning in there as there is with most other bindings I demo. But also, stiffer, more freeride oriented bindings do tend to have less cushioning generally.

Entry/Exit

There’s nothing unique or flash going on with the way you get in and out of these, but the ratchet system is super smooth, as it typically is with Flux, and that just makes it easy/fast to get in and out of.

Comfort

The only thing that would make these bindings more comfortable would be a bit more cushioning in the base – but hey, this might take away some of that great board feel and response – so if you can live without that shock absorption, then you won’t miss it.

These bindings do fit super well – they have awesome toe and ankle straps that feel really nice and I’ve never felt any pressure points on any Flux bindings I’ve ridden – they have new ankle straps this year and I think they’re definitely an upgrade.

Ankle Support

The ankle support is amazing on these bindings – you just feel completely locked-in.

They are one of the more supportive bindings that I’ve ridden. Part of this is the way the ankle straps sit (Flux’s UU fit – which is basically that the straps are mounted on the inside of the heel cup/base plate) and the other part is just that the ankle straps are super nice and conform really well across the ankle.

Changes from the 2017 Model

Flux XF Waffle StrapThe main change that I noticed from the 2017 model is the new ankle straps. They XFs use Flux’s new “Waffle Strap”. At first when I looked at it, it looked just like a honeycomb strap – but on closer inspection you can see that the holes don’t go all the way through. I loved these new straps.

The other new things are:

  • Footon – not exactly sure what this is but apparently it helps with board feel and snow buildup. Didn’t notice anything with snow build up – but these bindings do have great board feel – especially given their stiffness
  • Beer Buckle – they have a new buckle on the straps – which also doubles as a bottle opener

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict


Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

FACTORRATING (OUT OF 5)CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE
Responsiveness:5.030/30
Adjustability:4.513.5/15
Ankle Support:5.015/15
Shock Absorption:2.55/10
Comfort:4.08/10
Board Feel:4.08/10
Entry/Exit:4.04/5
Flex:5.05/5
TOTAL after normalizing 90.9/100

These are nigh on perfect bindings for those looking for a mid-stiff binding that is super-responsive but also has really good board feel – so you can take it over the entire mountain and not feel like you just have to bomb hard on them all day.

The only have one obvious downside – and that’s the shock absorption (adding more in could compromise some of the board feel and/or response so maybe it’s just something to put up with?). Other than that, they’re definitely one of the better bindings that I’ve demoed and really reasonably priced for this category of binding.

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Filed Under: 2018 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2019 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2020 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2021 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2022 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2023 Snowboard Binding Reviews, flux, Men's All Mountain Freeride Binding Reviews Tagged With: Flux XF bindings 2019-20, Flux XF bindings 2020-21, Flux XF bindings 2021-22, Flux XF bindings 2022-23, Flux XF bindings 2023, Flux XF Snowboard Bindings

About Nate

Nate is passionate about and loves learning new things everyday about snowboarding, particularly the technical aspects of snowboarding gear. That, and becoming a better rider and just enjoying and getting the most out of life.

Comments

  1. John says

    August 9, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Great review, just wondering if you know if flux has changed anything with their Footon/shock absorption in 2022 or 2023 models?

    I’ve got 2019 Burton Ions on 2020 Now Pilots and have never had any issues with shock absorption. Do you think that the XFs would give me any issues? Would they be a good progression from the Pilots? I’m a intermediate-advanced rider who does a bit of everything but with a focus on carving.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nate says

      August 10, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Hi John

      Thanks for your message.

      IMO you would get a good boost in performance, particularly in terms of carving if you went from the Pilot to the XF. But I would be very surprised if you didn’t notice the reduction in shock absorption. As far as I know the shock absorbing qualities of Flux bindings hasn’t changed. And it would be comparing them to what I would consider the most shock absorbing bindings on the market with NOW bindings. So yeah, I think they would be a good progression and give you a boost, particularly in carving. But at the cost of shock absorption. So it depends on how much you’re willing to make that compromise. The Ion’s, in my experience have good shock absorption. Not the best I’ve ridden in, but still up there – 4/5. And it’s not like the XF have no shock absorbing qualities, so you wouldn’t be devoid of it, but you would likely notice a decrease in that aspect.

      Hope this helps

      Reply
      • John says

        August 10, 2022 at 5:09 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Thank you for the detailed reply.

        So you think that unless I have really bad knees or am sensitive to shock, the Ion + XF combo should be fine? Just that it will be a more ‘bumpy’ than ‘cushy’ ride feel?

        Thanks!

        Reply
        • Nate says

          August 11, 2022 at 10:22 am

          Hi John

          Yeah, I mean I rode Flux’s for a season and a half and it wasn’t a big deal for me. Less cushy feeling ride for sure, but also didn’t notice it after a while – and really liked the ankle support and response from them.

          Reply
  2. Carlton says

    March 19, 2022 at 11:51 am

    Hello, Nate. Would the Flux XF be a good match for my Jones Stratos? I currently have the Union Strata on them. I’m thinking of moving the Strata to my MT, and putting the XF on the Stratos. If you think there would be better options, please list…Thx!

    Reply
    • Nate says

      March 21, 2022 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Carlton

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the XF would be a great match for the Stratos. And the Strata a great match for the MT, so IMO, that definitely works.

      Reply
  3. Tobi says

    March 6, 2022 at 11:27 am

    Hi Nate,

    could you please explain why you wouldn’t recommend these bindings to riders in the beginner – intermediate range?

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Nate says

      March 7, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Hi Tobi

      Thanks for your message.

      Just because of the flex. A stiffer binding is typically less forgiving of errors and tends to make turning at slower speeds more difficult/more effort.

      Reply
  4. Bs180 says

    October 28, 2021 at 6:33 am

    With size 10 boots, should I go large or medium?

    Reply
    • Nate says

      October 28, 2021 at 10:31 am

      Hi Bs180

      I’ve mostly ridden Flux bindings in Large – and mostly with 10s. The last time I rode the XF (2021) was in Large, with quite bulky 10s – Salomon Lo-Fi. Large has always been a good fit for me. However, I have ridden some Flux in Medium (Flux DSW and Flux SR) but those were both in more low profile 10s. I think if you’ve got bulkier boots, I would go Large – even in low profile 10s, I’ve been fine with Large – and I haven’t tested medium in bulky 10s. If you’ve got quite low profile boots, you could do either. Safest bet is Large and if you’ve got bulky 10s, then I’d say go Large. If you’ve got lower profile boots, I think you’d be fine with either.

      Reply
  5. Lu says

    March 10, 2021 at 10:37 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Would you recommend XV’s or XF’s for a Donek Knapton board? I’ve read both your reviews for XF’s and XV’s but am still indecisive between the two. Also have you tried out the Flux Kessler bindings? If so what do you think about pairing them with a donek?

    Many thanks,
    Lu

    Reply
    • Lu says

      March 10, 2021 at 10:41 pm

      Follow up,

      I have DEELUXE shoes, would that make a huge difference for XF’s or XV’s?

      Reply
      • Nate says

        March 11, 2021 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Lu

        Not a huge difference. It would depend on which Deeluxe boots and how stiff they are. But really if the boards really stiff, then I’d go XV regardless of the boots. But if the board is say mid-stiff and the boots are mid-stiff, then I might be leaning more XF. Will also depend on your riding style. If you predominantly want to bomb and carve, then leaning more XV. If you want to slow things down and play around a bit sometimes, then XF (depending on board flex) becomes more appropriate.

        Reply
    • Nate says

      March 11, 2021 at 2:34 pm

      Hi Lu

      Thanks for your message. I don’t have any experience with Donek boards or the Knapton specifically, so I couldn’t say for sure. But it sounds like it’s probably quite stiff and knowing Knapton’s style it’ll be a carver, so you’ll definitely want something responsive and at least fairly stiff. Both the XF and XV are nice and responsive, but for a really stiff board, the XV will give you better performance, IMO. Not knowing how stiff it feels, it’s hard to say for sure. But if you’re predominantly laying big carves and feel like it’s a stiff board, then I would be leaning XV. Haven’t heard of Flux Kessler bindings, sorry.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  6. Travis says

    January 25, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    Hey Nate, I’m looking for stiffer bindings to pair with my 165 Lib Skunk Ape and Ride Fuse boots. I’m all about trees, carving berms, POW, and goin fast on the groomers. I was looking at the Fluff XF’s, Solomon Highlanders, Union Atlas, and the Bent Metal Solutions. They all gotta be better than my early 2000 Burton Missions, but what would you suggest?
    Thanks 🤙

    Reply
    • Nate says

      January 27, 2021 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Travis

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah, I would say all definitely better then early 2000 missions. And all stiffer too, without being super stiff. I haven’t ridden the BMBW Solution, so I couldn’t say for that one, but flex for the rest, by my feel:

      – Flux XF 7/10
      – Salomon Highlander 7/10
      – Union Atlas 6.5/10

      All really good options, IMO, with some different strength’s and weaknesses. I have linked to my reviews of the Atlas and Highlander, if you wanted to check those out for more detail.

      Bent Metal Solution listed as 8/10 flex. Not sure how they feel in reality. The only BMBW binding I’ve tried are the Transfer, and they were softer than they were listed, IMO, but that was a good few years ago now.

      Hope this helps

      Reply
  7. Franck says

    March 9, 2020 at 7:52 am

    Hi Nate,
    I am in the market for some stiff enough bindings to put on an Amplid Surfari.
    I have a pair of Now Pilot but that may be not enough.
    I can get some Amplid Santos or thinking about the Flux XF.
    I ride Adidas Acerra boots so I am guessing the lack of cushioning of the XF would be compensated.
    Comfort is really important for me, and particularly I’d like easy highback rotation.
    Do you know anything about the Amplid Santos? If yes how would you compare to the XF?
    Thanks a lot for all your contents!
    All the best,
    Franck

    Reply
    • Nate says

      March 10, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      Hi Franck

      Thanks for your message.

      I’m not familiar with the Amplid Santos unfortunately. Don’t test any Amplid gear currently. Based on the specs of the Amplid Surfari (flex 7/10), I’d say that the XF would be a really good match. The Pilot I personally got a feel of 6/10, so they would be doable, but I think the XF would drive it a little better. Not sure how the Santos matches up in that respect.

      In terms of highback rotation – you can do it on the XF. It’s easy enough to do as well. I wouldn’t say it was the easiest I’ve rotated, but you can actually do it, unlike on something like the Pilot. Not sure about the Santos.

      Given that you have Adidas Acerra boots, I wouldn’t be too concerned about the lack of cushioning on the XF.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply
  8. Marcus says

    February 26, 2020 at 8:34 am

    hello nate

    Would you recommend this on a yes standard? I spend most of the time on riding all mountain, jumps and spins off side hits and 20% of the time in the park on rains boxes and jumps. I enjoyed union strata on standard but felt like wanting more edge transition power and board feel.

    Reply
    • Nate says

      February 26, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      Hi Marcus

      Certainly in terms of edge transition power, I think you’d get more out of the XF. In terms of board feel, I find that it’s good on the Union Strata, so I’m not sure you’d be getting more, but you wouldn’t be sacrificing much there going with the XF. The biggest sacrifice there would be in terms of shock absorption vs the Strata. But if that’s not an issue, then yeah, I think it’s a good match with the Standard, and something that should give you a more powerful/responsive feel out of the board, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply
      • Marcus says

        March 4, 2020 at 10:39 pm

        Thanks for the input! Very helpful. It’s just me but strata feels laid back and very comfortable doing anything on the snow. There’s part of me wanting for a faster edge transitioning. It sounds like flux xf wouldn’t be too stiff to butter around when I want to?

        Reply
        • Nate says

          March 5, 2020 at 2:28 pm

          Hi Marcus

          I wouldn’t say that the XF is too stiff to butter around with. It’s stiffer than the Strata, but not massively stiff. I feel the Strata at 6/10 and the XF at 7/10, if that helps. But yeah, certainly a more powerful/precise feeling binding.

          Reply
          • Marcus says

            March 8, 2020 at 7:39 am

            Thanks again Nate! Really appreciate your help

          • Nate says

            March 10, 2020 at 11:39 am

            You’re very welcome Marcus. Happy riding!

  9. Anton says

    November 21, 2019 at 6:55 am

    Nate, hi! Thank you so much for your work on this invaluable resource! This is the only resource on the network where there is so much useful material. I try very hard to be in the industry trend in order to use the best technologies in this sport) I recently bought flux xf, and thanks to your work I made this choice. But first I wanted to buy Union Atlas. the last 6 years I rode a Burton Cartel and they seem to me weak for my riding style. ski resorts will start working soon and I will check a new purchase)) do a Nidecker megalight snowboard test, I’m very interested in your opinion about it)

    Reply
    • Nate says

      November 21, 2019 at 11:57 am

      Hi Anton

      Thanks for your message. I appreciate it.

      I haven’t ridden the Nidecker Megalight. Unfortunately I don’t have access to Nidecker gear to test.

      Reply
      • Anton says

        November 21, 2019 at 6:31 pm

        after reading your work on snowboard tests, in my opinion Nidecker megalight is very close to YES PYL, but I am very interested in comparing these two snowboards.

        Reply
        • Nate says

          November 22, 2019 at 3:32 pm

          Hi Anton

          Let me know what you think if you do get a chance to test it, would be interested to hear what you think

          Reply
          • Anton says

            November 22, 2019 at 11:43 pm

            well, when I have the opportunity to compare these two snowboards, I will be happy to share this experience with you.

          • Nate says

            November 24, 2019 at 1:50 pm

            Thanks Anton. That would be awesome!

  10. Rafael says

    January 18, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    Hey Nate

    thanks for this site and your work for it!
    so i have the flagship and wondering, if the xf would be a nice setup?
    actualy i have the burton cartels, but they don’t fit my boot well… cause i’ve got a size 10 boot…
    have they a bit more response than the cartels do?…
    thinking between those ones and the rome targa’s, but i think you couldn’t review them yet?

    so anyway thanks for your answer,,, ride on and enjoy the winter :-)…

    Reply
    • Nate says

      January 19, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Rafael

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the XFs would be a good match for the Flagship – and a better match than the Cartel’s, IMO. I find them to be more responsive than the Cartels, and are a better fit with the Flagship, IMO. Yeah unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to test the Targas yet.

      Hope this helps

      Reply
      • Rafael says

        January 20, 2019 at 2:09 pm

        thanks for your fast answer!!… i m just a bit unsure about the inexistent shock absortion…
        my boots are the ride insano. they are comftable, but responsiv… so i m a bit affraid if i would have a lot of chatter on icy days… not because of speed :-p / but cause of grooves in the slopes? what are your experience with flux bindings in general if it becomes harder conditions or rough slopes?
        so i m over 30 and not the healthiest knees…

        Reply
        • Nate says

          January 21, 2019 at 12:05 pm

          Hi Rafael

          Yeah that’s the one downside of Flux bindings, unfortunately. There’s not a lot going on in terms of padding, particularly in the heel, where it’s needed the most (IMO). The times I’ve noticed that lack is from rough landings from jumps and from chatter and particularly at the end of a long day. But with boots with good shock absorption I haven’t really noticed it that much. I found the Insano to have pretty good shock absorption, but have ridden boots with more. If you want the most cushioning, then going with both boots and bindings with good cush is a good way to go, but I usually find one or the other to be enough for me.

          Hope this helps

          Reply
          • Rafael says

            February 20, 2019 at 7:01 am

            so i was now in the alps with my new pairs of flux xf’s on my flagship.
            it’s a great combo!
            how the binding is designed is just great. everything is adjustable without any screwdrivers. i could imagine that they fit just every boot you put in them.
            i’ve got that feeling of absolutly locked-in, which is great to me. not once the toe-strap became loose. and i love how fast the board reacts with them.

            when conditions become icy, bad snow, then i may will continue with other bindings on the flagship, or another board with other bindings ;-)… cause there is no shock absorbtion.
            so i m not sure, if i would go with flux as a one-for-all and everyday binding. but to have it in a quiver they are a great choice! for carving in good snow and in pow, IMO.

          • Nate says

            February 20, 2019 at 12:43 pm

            Hi Rafael

            Thanks for the update and the insights. Awesome that you’re enjoying the XFs and the combo with the Flagship. Happy riding!

  11. Allan Elliott says

    January 1, 2019 at 10:45 pm

    Flux says that the footbed eliminates snow and ice build up. How’s your experience with that?

    Reply
    • Nate says

      January 3, 2019 at 6:59 pm

      Hi Allan

      Thanks for your message.

      I didn’t really notice either way to be honest. I have certain things I’m looking out for when testing bindings, and that’s not one of them, so I wasn’t paying attention to whether that was the case or not. I own Flux DS 2016 model, and I haven’t noticed them being any better or worse than others in that respect.

      Reply
  12. Aaron says

    December 30, 2018 at 7:44 am

    Hi
    AsIused to ride burton 8.5 boots and Burton size M bindings.
    But recently I got a pair of size 8 Adidas Tactical that’s apparently way too small to fit on Burton’s size M binding despite it being size 8.
    I already pushed the bindings forward all the way, on both EST and reflex. But the heel of the boots are extruding from the edge of the board while the toe stay well inside the edge.
    I want bindings that can fit both pair. I also feel the heel cup on Burton’s are somewhat big. So I’m considering the Flux XF right now.
    Could you confirm/compare the overall size and heel cup size of Flux and Burton size M?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nate says

      December 31, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Hi Aaron

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah Adidas are pretty low profile, so I’m not too surprised there. I ride Flux large (I ride 10s) and haven’t ridden their medium bindings, so I couldn’t give you a first hand direct comparison, unfortunately. But given that their mediums are rated down to 7s, I imagine that they would be a better fit. But yeah, without having ridden their mediums, I couldn’t say for sure how well they would fit.

      Reply
      • Aaron says

        December 31, 2018 at 7:44 pm

        Thanks for the reply.
        Anyhow, I’m getting one as my late Christmas gift though.
        I’ll give you update once its arrived.

        Reply
        • Nate says

          January 2, 2019 at 1:18 pm

          Thanks Aaron. Look forward to getting an update on how the size works, and what you think of them overall.

          Reply
  13. Brian says

    November 23, 2018 at 3:10 pm

    Would you recommend the xf or ds? I’d like to strap them to my libtech orca for deeper days and trees. I already have the ds on my funslinger and I love them but was curious about the xf…

    Reply
    • Nate says

      November 24, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      Hi Brian

      Thanks for your message.

      The Orca isn’t something I’ve ridden but based on the specs, I think the XF would be a great match for it. Would just give you more response and be a bit better at driving the board, compared to the DS assuming the flex rating from Lib Tech is fairly accurate.

      But like I say, I haven’t ridden it but based on the specs I think the XF would be a little better, though you could certainly ride it with the DS.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

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