NOW B-Line Snowboard Bindings Review

Who are the B-Line Most Suited To?

The B-Line is a softer flexing binding, that works best for more playful freestyle riding or casual all-mountain. And also works well as a beginner binding. Best suited to those looking for next level shock absorption. 

Best matched with boards around that 3-5/10 flex range. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 550mm (21.7″)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 

Baseplate Length: 25.4cm (10”)*

*measured on the top side of the footbed - 23.3cm (9.17") at base of baseplate

Highback Height: 19.5cm (7.7”)*

* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback

Height from top of footbed to top of highback: 26.5cm (10.4") 

Weight: 860g (1lb 14oz)

* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 30 bindings (2019, 2020 & 2021 models) I weighed, was 895 grams. The lightest was 760 grams and the heaviest was 1,020grams. So the B-Line is a little lighter than the average.  

Flex

The B Line felt just on the softer side of medium. Around a 4/10, maybe pushing 4.5/10. 

Responsiveness

Can get into a reasonably decent carve on these for their flex, and can handle speed ot an extent. Not a binding that will help to get your carves super deep or a real bomber, and not one that's going to drive a stiffer board very well, but not too bad for it's flex either. 

Good for maneuverability at slow speeds. 

Board Feel/Butterability

Average board feel. It's not terrible, but it's nothing great either. 

Pop/Ollie Power

Felt like I couldn't get as much out of my ollies with these vs my test bindings (Burton Malavita)

Adjustability

Heel Cup: No

Stance Width: Can run disc vertically or horizontally, so if they work as is in terms of centering your bindings across the board, then there is good stance width adjustability (i.e. when you can run the disc horizontally). However, with no heel cup movement or any gas pedal adjustments, there's less chance of getting that centering right without having to run the disc vertically. 

Highback Lean: Tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: No

Toe Strap Position: No

Ankle and toe strap length: Yes tool-less 

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: No

Highback Rotation: No

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 – need a separate disc for channel mounting

So overall not overly adjustable.

Also had some issues in terms of mounting them. Had to sync at least 2 screws without washers and even then one of the holes just wouldn't go with their screws and had to use another screw I had on me, which was longer. This might only be an issue with some boards, but it was a pain. 

I found too, that the tool-less ankle and toe strap adjusters have quite sharp corners which made them quite painful to turn, when you're hands are cold. A small detail, but something to mention. 

Shock Absorption

So good! Noticeably less chatter than with the Malavita, which have good shock absorption themselves. Didn't notice that much difference in terms of flat landings, but noticeably better for chatter. 

This is an area where NOW is, IMO, ahead of the rest of the binding world. That Skate Tech, the way the bushings absorb chatter and the plush feeling footbeds make these awesome shock abosrbers.

Entry/Exit

The straps felt a bit grabby. Certainly more so than other NOW bindings I've tested. Not sure if it was just this pair for whatever reason, but they were a little sticky/grabby for me. 

Comfort

Overall pretty comfortable, but not super comfortable. 

Ankle Strap: Not a big fan of the ankle strap, but not terrible or anything.

Toe Strap: Dito ankle strap. 

Canted Footbed: No

Padded Footbed: Really nicely padded footbed, nice to stand on - and the minimal chatter nature of these bindings overall, helps with their comfort. 

Highback: No padding on the highback, but didn't get any calf-bite and that's the main thing. 

Ankle Support 

Decent without being great. 

Overall, the B-Line is a binding for those that want a softer flexing binding with awesome shock absorption and aren't too worried about board feel/adjustability. 

A good binding for the price, but there are a few things about them that I didn't like and could be improved on, IMO, mostly in terms of ease of mounting, adjustability and making the tool-less components on the straps a little more rounded on the edges.