You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.
Of 17 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
FREESTYLE BINDING #5
Bindings: Arbor Hemlock
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Smart rating score: 80.0/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Starting the list at #5, we have Arbor's Hemlock bindings.
If you're looking for a softer flexing binding for more playful freestyle riding or if you're a lighter rider, the Hemlock has you covered with their medium-soft flex and playful feel.
They provide good board feel and shock absorption and all for a really reasonable price.
Score Breakdown for the Hemlock
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.0/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #4
Bindings: Burton Mission
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Smart rating score: 83.7/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
In at #4, we have the Burton Mission.
A great mid-flexing option for freestyle riding. If you like things a little bigger in the park or if you're a bigger rider, you might prefer the slightly stiffer flex of these versus something like the Hemlock (see #5 above) or the Line Up (see #3 below).
The Mission have really good board feel and shock absorption too, as well as all-round decent quality and are the lowest priced binding on this list too.
Score Breakdown for the Mission
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.7/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #3
Bindings: K2 Line Up
- US
- CA
Smart rating score: 84.2/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #3 spot are the K2 Lineup.
The Line Up features K2's tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet, their tweakback highback (for better tweaking) and overall they give great board feel and have response that feels a little better than their softer flex would suggest.
Another really reasonably priced option.
Score Breakdown for the Line Up
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #2
Bindings: Union Ultra
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Smart rating score: 90.0/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
New for the 2023, the Ultra (don't mistake it for 2020 and earlier models which were much stiffer and more of a freeride binding) are a really unique binding. The baseplate is covered in a rubbery-like substance and the highback has a floating soft middle section.
But what really matters is that this binding rides like a dream for freestyle. They provide really decent response, have awesome board feel and great shock absorption - and work really well with boards in that 3/10 to 5/10 flex range.
Score Breakdown for Ultra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.0/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #1
Bindings: Burton Malavita
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Smart rating score: 90.0/100
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
>>See Full Review (Re:Flex Model)
>>See Full Review (EST Model)
Finally, in the #1 position for 2022-23, we have the Burton Malavita.
They manage to be a stiffer flexing binding (for this particular list), great for those larger jumps, without sacrificing board feel.
They are the stiffest on this list – but still aren’t super-stiff - a nice medium flex (softer base plate and slightly stiffer high back). They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as being great for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also nice and shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still freestyle oriented.
Score Breakdown for the Malavita Re:Flex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.0/100 |
Score Breakdown for the Malavita EST
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.1/100 |
Of 17 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
FREESTYLE BINDING #5
Bindings: Arbor Hemlock
Smart rating score: 80.0/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Starting the list at #5, we have Arbor's Hemlock bindings.
If you're looking for a softer flexing binding for more playful freestyle riding or if you're a lighter rider, the Hemlock has you covered - and provides good board feel and shock absorption and all for a really reasonable price.
Score Breakdown for the Hemlock
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.0/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #4
Bindings: Burton Mission
Smart rating score: 83.7/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
In at #4, we have the Burton Mission.
A great mid-flexing option for freestyle riding. If you like things a little bigger in the park or if you're a bigger rider, you might prefer the slightly stiffer flex of these versus something like the Hemlock or 2 of the bindings to come.
The Mission have really good board feel and shock absorption too, as well as all-round decent quality.
Score Breakdown for the Mission
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.7/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #3
Bindings: K2 Line Up
Smart rating score: 84.2/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #3 spot are the K2 Lineup.
The Lineup features K2's tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet, their tweakback highback for better tweaking and overall they give great board feel and have response that feels a little better than their softer flex would suggest.
Score Breakdown for the Line Up
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #2
Bindings: Burton Malavita
Smart rating score: 90.0/100
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
>>See Full Review (Re:Flex Model)
>>See Full Review (EST Model)
Next up, in the #2 position for 2021-22, we have the Burton Malavita.
They manage to be a stiffer flexing binding (for this particular list) great for those larger jumps, but without sacrificing board feel.
They are the stiffest on this list – but still aren’t super-stiff - a nice medium flex (softer base plate and slightly stiffer high back). They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as being great for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also nice and shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still freestyle oriented.
Score Breakdown for the Malavita Re:Flex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.0/100 |
Score Breakdown for the Malavita EST
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #1
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Smart rating score: 93.2/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
And finally in the #1 spot, we have the Contact Pro.
The Contact Pro are as good as it gets for riding freestyle, IMO, if you want something with just that slightly softer than medium flex. They have been a mainstay in this list over the years, and for good reason.
They absorb shock really well – which makes those inevitable (hopefully only occasionally) flat landings less vibratory (and yes that is a word – I looked it up! 🙂 . It also keeps your feet and legs from getting fatigued as quickly and helps to absorb chatter in bumpy and hard terrain.
They have amazing board feel too, thanks, at least in part, to their mini-disc.
And just overall, these are really well made, comfortable and smooth bindings.
If you are looking for bindings that kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain (in a surfy, more casual kind of way) and don't want to lighten your wallet too much, then the Contact Pros should be near or at the top of your shortlist.
Score Breakdown for Contact Pros
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.2/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That’s my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2021/22.
Of 20 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
FREESTYLE BINDING #5
Bindings: Arbor Hemlock
Price: $209
Smart rating score: 80.0/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Starting the list at #5, we have Arbor's Hemlock bindings.
If you're looking for a softer flexing binding for more playful freestyle riding or if you're a lighter rider, the Hemlock has you covered - and provides good board feel and shock absorption and all for a really reasonable price.
Score Breakdown for the Hemlock
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.0/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #4
Bindings: Burton Mission
Price: $209
Smart rating score: 83.7/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
In at #4, we have the Burton Mission.
A great mid-flexing option for freestyle riding. If you like things a little bigger in the park or if you're a bigger rider, you might prefer the slightly stiffer flex of these versus something like the Hemlock or 2 of the bindings to come.
The Mission have really good board feel and shock absorption too, as well as all-round decent quality.
Score Breakdown for the Mission
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.7/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #3
Bindings: K2 Line Up
Price: $219
Smart rating score: 84.2/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #3 spot are the K2 Lineup.
The Lineup features K2's tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet, their tweakback highback for better tweaking and overall they give great board feel and have response that feels a little better than their softer flex would suggest.
Score Breakdown for the Line Up
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #2
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Price: $229
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
The Contact Pros are as good as it gets for riding freestyle, IMO, if you want something with just that slightly softer than medium flex. They have been a mainstay in this list over the years, and for good reason.
They absorb shock really well – which makes those inevitable (hopefully only occasionally) flat landings less vibratory (and yes that is a word – I looked it up! 🙂 . It also keeps your feet and legs from getting fatigued as quickly and helps to absorb chatter in bumpy and hard terrain.
They have amazing board feel too, thanks, at least in part, to their mini-disc.
And just overall, these are really well made, comfortable and smooth bindings.
If you are looking for bindings that kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain (in a surfy, more casual kind of way) and don't want to lighten your wallet too much, then the Contact Pros should be highly considered.
Score Breakdown for Contact Pros
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #1
Bindings: Burton Malavita
Price: $319
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
>>See Full Review (Re:Flex Model)
>>See Full Review (EST Model)
And finally, in the #1 position for 2020-21, we have the Burton Malavitas.
They manage to be a stiffer flexing binding great for those larger jumps, but without sacrificing board feel.
They are the stiffest on this list – but still aren’t super-stiff, a nice medium flex (softer base plate and slightly stiffer high back). They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as being great for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also nice and shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still freestyle oriented.
Score Breakdown for the Malavita Re:Flex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
Score Breakdown for the Malavita EST
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.1/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That’s my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2020/21.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Bindings list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE BINDINGS (Latest Season)
Of 23 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
FREESTYLE BINDING #5
Bindings: Ride LTD
Price: $289
Smart rating score: 82.1/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Starting the list at #5, we have Ride's LTD bindings, the first of two ride offerings in this list.
The LTDs are the most responsive on this list, along with the Malavita (#1). So, this is a great option for those that prefer a slightly stiffer freestyle option, particularly for larger jumps and features.
And this is a good option to also ride freestyle all over the mountain, not just in the park.
Score Breakdown for the LTD
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 82.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #4
Bindings: K2 Lineup
Price: $209
Smart rating score: 84.2/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #4 spot are the K2 Lineup.
The Lien FS of the last few years has disappeared from K2's line, but to be honest the Lineup is a very similar binding taking it's place. And it comes in a little cheaper than the old Lien FS, so that's a bonus!
The Lineup features their tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet, their tweakback highback for better tweaking and overall they give great board feel and have response that feels a little better than their softer flex would suggest.
Score Breakdown for the Line Up
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #3
Bindings: Ride Rodeo
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 84.7/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
In at #3, we have the second pair of Ride bindings, the Ride Rodeos.
These bindings have awesome shock absorption and are super comfortable. Buttering and tweaking grabs with them is awesome too and they offer good board feel.
They’re probably on the stiffer end of medium-soft but that’s fine as they still butter well but give just a little more on those larger jumps. But still not as stiff/responsive as the LTDs (see #5 above).
Score Breakdown for the Rodeo
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.7/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #2
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Price: $219
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
The Contact Pros are as good as it gets for riding freestyle, IMO, if you want something with just that slightly softer than medium flex. They have been a mainstay in this list over the years, and for good reason.
They absorb shock really well – which makes those inevitable (hopefully only occasionally) flat landings less vibratory (and yes that is a word – I looked it up! 🙂 . It also keeps your feet and legs from getting fatigued as quickly and helps to absorb chatter in bumpy and hard terrain.
They have amazing board feel too, thanks at least in part to their mini-disc.
And just overall, these are really well made, comfortable and smooth bindings.
If you are looking for bindings that kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain (in a surfy, more casual kind of way) then the Contact Pros should be highly considered.
Score Breakdown for Contact Pros
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #1
Bindings: Burton Malavita
Price: $319
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
>>See Full Review (Re:Flex Model)
>>See Full Review (EST Model)
And finally, in the #1 position for 2019-20, we have the Burton Malavitas.
They manage to be a stiffer flexing binding great for those larger jumps, but without sacrificing board feel.
They are the stiffest on this list – but still aren’t super-stiff, a nice medium flex (softer base plate and slightly stiffer high back). They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as being great for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also super shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still freestyle oriented.
Score Breakdown for the Malavita Re:Flex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 25/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
Score Breakdown for the Malavita EST
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 20/25 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.1/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That’s my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2019/20.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Bindings list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE BINDINGS (Latest Season)
Of 22 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
FREESTYLE BINDING #5
Bindings: Ride LTD
Price: $279
Smart rating score: 82.6/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Starting the list at #5, we have Ride's LTD bindings, the first of two ride offerings in this list.
The LTDs are the most responsive on this list and have the stiffest equal flex, along with the Malavita (#1). So, this is a great option for those that prefer a slightly stiffer freestyle option, particularly for larger jumps and features.
And this is a good option to also ride freestyle all over the mountain, not just in the park.
Score Breakdown for the LTD
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 4.0 | 24/30 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 20/25 |
Response | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 82.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #4
Bindings: Ride Rodeo
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 84.7/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
In at #4, we have the second pair of Ride bindings, the Ride Rodeos.
These bindings have awesome shock absorption and are super comfortable. Buttering and tweaking grabs with them is awesome too and they offer good board feel.
They’re probably on the stiffer end of medium-soft but that’s fine as they still butter well but give just a little more on those larger jumps. But still not as stiff/responsive as the LTDs (see #5 above).
Score Breakdown for the Rodeo
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 4.0 | 24/30 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Entry/Exit | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.7/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #3
Bindings: K2 Lineup
Price: $209
Smart rating score: 85.8/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #3 spot are the K2 Lineup.
The Lien FS of the last few years has disappeared from K2's line, but to be honest the Lineup is a very similar binding taking it's place. And it comes in a little cheaper than the old Lien FS, so that's a bonus!
The Lineup features their tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet, their tweakback highback for better tweaking and overall they give great board feel and have response that feels a little better than their softer flex would suggest.
Score Breakdown for the Line Up
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Shock Absorption | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #2
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Price: $219
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
The Contact Pros are as good as it gets for riding freestyle, IMO, if you want something with just that slightly softer than medium flex. They have been a mainstay in this list over the years, and for good reason.
They absorb shock really well – which makes those inevitable (hopefully only occasionally) flat landings less vibratory (and yes that is a word – I looked it up! 🙂 . It also keeps your feet and legs from getting fatigued as quickly and helps to absorb chatter in bumpy and hard terrain.
They have amazing board feel too, thanks at least in part to their mini-disc.
And just overall, these are really well made, comfortable and smooth bindings.
For 2019 they've actually decreased in price (which is pretty much unheard of, so that's a big bonus there).
If you are looking for bindings that kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain then the Contact Pros pretty well might just be it.
Score Breakdown for Contact Pros
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BINDING #1
Bindings: Burton Malavita
Price: $319
Smart rating score: 94.2/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
And finally, in the #1 position for 2018-19, we have the Burton Malavitas.
They manage to be a stiffer flexing binding, great for those larger jumps, but without sacrificing board feel.
They are the stiffest equal on this list (along with #5) – but still aren’t super-stiff, a nice medium flex (softer base plate and slightly stiffer high back). They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as being great for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also super shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still definitely freestyle oriented, so best suited for riding freestyle over the rest of the mountain, as opposed to hard charging.
Score Breakdown for the Malavita Re:Flex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94.2/100 |
Score Breakdown for the Malavita EST
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Board Feel | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 20/25 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That’s my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2018/19.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Bindings list, check out the link below:
Of 20 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
- The average score was 75.1/100
- The highest score was 94.7/100 (see below)
- The lowest score was 45.8/100
- The average price was $205
Freestyle Binding #5
Bindings: Burton Custom
Price: $199
Smart rating score: 82.1/100
Flex: Medium-soft (3/10)
The first binding in the list, coming in at # 4, goes to the Burton Customs. These are very popular freestyle bindings – and for good reason.
They are the softest flexing and lowest priced bindings on this list.
They offer all the performance you want out of a freestyle binding and do so without breaking the bank. The ideal flex for all round freestyle riding, great butterability, Burton’s ever reliable adjustability and great shock absorption to absorb all the hell you put your body through lap after lap.
The Customs come in both EST (to fit the Channel binding system) and reflex (to fit the 4 hole and 3D systems).
Burton Custom Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Board Feel: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Responsiveness | 2.0 | 6/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 82.1/100 |
Freestyle Binding #4
Bindings: Ride Rodeo
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 84.2/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
In at #4, we have the Ride Rodeos.
These bindings have awesome shock absorption and are super comfortable. Buttering and tweaking grabs with them is awesome too and they offer good board feel.
They’re probably on the stiffer end of medium-soft but that’s fine as they still butter well but give just a little more on those larger jumps.
Score Breakdown for the Ride Rodeos
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Board Feel: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Responsiveness | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL | 84.2/100 |
Freestyle Binding #3
Bindings: K2 Lien FS
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 88.4/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Coming in at the #3 spot are the K2 Lien FS snowboard bindings.
The Lien FS’s feature K2’s 100% urethane ‘tweakback’ highback for greater torsional flex for, you guessed it, better tweaking of grabs! Whilst it is super flexible torsionally (twisting side to side) it also has a pretty solid spine so you have that support for landing larger jumps.
It also features their tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet. The video below will describe how that works better than I can.
K2 Lien FS Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Responsiveness | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 88.4/100 |
Freestyle Binding #2
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Price: $259
Smart rating score: 92.6/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
The Contact Pros are as good as it gets for riding freestyle, IMO, if you want something with just that slightly softer than medium flex.
They absorb shock really well – which makes those inevitable (hopefully only occasionally) flat landings less vibratory (and yes that is a word – I looked it up! 🙂 ). It also keeps your feet and legs from getting fatigued as quickly and helps to absorb chatter in bumpy and hard terrain.
They have amazing board feel too, thanks at least in part to their mini-disc.
And just overall, these are really well made, comfortable and smooth bindings.
If you are looking for superior performance in a binding that can kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain then the Contact Pros might just be it.
Contact Pro Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Responsiveness | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 92.6/100 |
Freestyle Binding #1
Bindings: Burton Malavita
Price: $319
Smart rating score: 94.7/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
And finally, in the #1 position for 2017-18, we have the Burton Malavitas. Previously, I have only considered bindings with a flex less than 5/10 to be eligible for this list – but since some riders like something a little stiffer for their freestyle riding I included some bindings with a stiffer flex.
The pick of those was the Burton Malavitas. They are the stiffest on this list – but still aren’t super-stiff, a nice medium flex. They’re great for going big in the park, but they can also handle smaller jumps and features just as well, as well as for doing butters etc. And a lot of that comes down to some awesome board feel.
They are also super shock absorbent – which is great if you’re going to landing jumps, ollies etc all day.
On top of all that they are super comfortable, highly adjustable, have a decent response level and are just good high quality bindings, all round – something you can use in and out of the park, but still definitely freestyle oriented, so best suited for riding freestyle over the rest of the mountain, as opposed to hard charging.
The Malavitas come in both Re:Flex (for most snowboards) and EST (only fit to Burton snowboards with the Channel system. As is typical with the differences between EST and Re:Flex, the EST model will provide a little more in terms of board feel but less in terms of shock absorption.
Score Breakdown for the Malavitas
Below are the score breakdowns for both the Re:Flex and the ESTs
Malavita Re:Flex Score
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Responsiveness | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 94.7/100 |
Malavita EST Score
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Responsiveness | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 88.4/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That’s my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2017/18.
NOTE: This list was for the 2017-18 season. For the latest Top 5 Freestyle Bindings List, check out the link below:
>>Latest Season’s Top 5 Men’s Freestyle Bindings
Of 17 different freestyle bindings that I rated:
- The average score was 75.8/100
- The highest score was 94.7/100 (see below)
- The lowest score was 50.0/100
- The average price was $204
Freestyle Binding #5
Bindings: Burton Custom
Price: $189
Smart rating score: 86.3/100
Flex: Medium-soft (3/10)
The first binding in the list, coming in at # 4, goes to the Burton Customs. These are very popular freestyle bindings – and for good reason.
They offer all the performance you want out of a freestyle binding and do so without breaking the bank. The ideal flex for all round freestyle riding, great butterability, Burton’s ever reliable adjustability and great shock absorption to absorb all the hell you put your body through lap after lap.
The Customs come in both EST (to fit the Channel binding system) and reflex (to fit the 4 hole and 3D systems).
Let’s see how the Burton Customs scored
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Butterability: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Responsiveness: | 2.0 | 4/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 86.3/100 |
Freestyle Binding #4
Bindings: Union Flite Pro
Price: $149
Smart rating score: 87.9/100
Flex: Medium-soft
In 4th place we have the Union Flite Pros.
With a medium-soft flex ideal for freestyle park riding – with the occasional trek outside the park – Union’s Flite Pros are the lightest binding on the market in the price range. So if light is important to you, then the Flite Pros might be a good fit for you.
But they don’t just boast lightness, they also have great butterability and their best feature has to be shock absorption. Which is great for a freestyle rider who is constantly landing off jibs, jumps and ollies.
Remarkably these bindings actually dropped in price from the 2015 model (which were $179) to the 2016 model – and that price drop has remained for the 2017 model.
And let’s not forget the Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Butterability: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Responsiveness: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 87.9/100 |
Freestyle Binding #3
Bindings: Ride Rodeo
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 87.9/100
Flex: Medium-Soft
I rode the Rodeos for the first time on the 2016-17 model. And they impressed me enough to grab the #3 spot on this list.
These bindings have awesome shock absorption and are super comfortable. Buttering and tweaking grabs with them is awesome.
They’re probably on the stiffer end of medium-soft but that’s fine as they still butter well but give just a little more on those larger jumps.
Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Butterability: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Responsiveness: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 87.9/100 |
Freestyle Binding #2
Bindings: K2 Lien FS
Price: $269
Smart rating score: 91.6/100
Flex: Medium-soft
Coming in at the # 2 spot is the K2 Lien FS snowboard bindings.
The Lien FS’s feature K2’s 100% urethane ‘tweakback’ highback for greater torsional flex for, you guessed it, better tweaking of grabs! Whilst it is super flexible torsionally (twisting side to side) it also has a pretty solid spine so you have that support for landing larger jumps.
It also features their tripod baseplate technology which works with contact points in your feet. The video below will describe how that works better than I can.
And how did the K2 Lien FS rate?
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Butterability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Responsiveness: | 2.0 | 4/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.6/100 |
Pretty well I’d say!
Freestyle Binding #1
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
Price: $259
Smart rating score: 94.7/100
Flex: Medium-soft
And finally we come to the #1 freestyle snowboard binding for 2016/17.
This is the second Union offering in this list so they must be doing something right for freestyle bindings.
The Contact Pro is kind of like the more sophisticated older brother of the Flite Pro (see #4 on this list). You pay more for it but you also get more performance.
If you are looking for superior performance in a binding that can kill it on the park laps but still handle the rest of the mountain then the Contact Pros might just be it.
Contact Pro Rating
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Butterability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Responsiveness: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 94.7/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading. That was my top 5 freestyle bindings for 2016/17.
If you want to check out the latest season’s top 5 freestyle bindings check out the link below
>>Men’s Top 5 Freestyle Bindings (LASTEST SEASON)
For the latest season's list, check out the link below.
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD BINDINGS (LATEST SEASON)
Buying Past Season Models
Often models don't change that much from year to year so if you can find a past season model, it will likely be close enough to the latest model but you can get it cheaper, if available and in a suitable size for you. For past year's models check out the links below to see if they still have any left.
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