Past Season Reviews for Jones Mercury Archives

Hello and welcome to my Jones Mercury bindings review.

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

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

Overall Rating

Binding: Jones Mercury

Price: $349

Style: All-Mountain-Freeride

Flex Rating: Medium-to-Medium Stiff (5-8/10) and highback 6/10

Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Rating Score: 79.3/100

Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-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 Mercury ranked 14th out of 17

Overview of the Mercury’s Specs

Who is the Mercury Most Suited To?

The Mercury are best suited to those who like a binding that is comfortable, with good ankle support, super damp and have good response that is nice and even and smooth.

There is some lack of adjustability, but if your boot fits fine, then that's not an issue. 

Not for those that like to butter but great for anyone who likes to carve and bomb, but still doesn't want something ultra-stiff. 

The Mercury in More Detail

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

Demo Info

Binding: Jones Mercury 2020, M

Date: March 21, 2019

Conditions: Sunny and with perfect visibility. Beautiful day! A little windy, but only noticed that on the lift and otherwise quite warm. 

Some soft patches forming even early in the morning, with some icy patches in the shade. Very crunchy off groomer. Softened up overall as the day progressed. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 550mm (21.7″)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018, 159

Baseplate Length: 25.8cm (10.16”)*

*measured on the top side of the footbed - a fair bit of angle down to underside of baseplate, which measures 24.2cm (9.53")

Highback Height: 19.3cm (7.6”)*

* from bottom of heel cup to top of highback 

Height from Bottom of Baseplate to top of Highback: 27.5cm (10.83") 

Weight: 920 grams (2lbs, 0.5oz)*

*for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of 26 bindings (2019 & 2020 models) I weighed, was 894 grams. The lightest was 760 grams and the heaviest was 1,000grams. 

Flex

Jones rate the highback at 6/10 and overall a flex of 5-8/10. There is a flex range here because you can swap out the bushings that sit on four corners of the base plate. Using softer bushings would give a softer flex feel. I rode with the stiffer bushings and I found the flex to be around a 7/10 overall, on snow. 

Responsiveness

These bindings are great for bombing and getting high on the edges. You can hold a carve nice and deep and the bindings support you very well. I wouldn't say they have a snappy response, but more of a smooth, even response. 

They feel best at higher speeds vs slow speeds - not the most nimble at slower speeds. 

Board Feel/Butterability

Probably the biggest downside is the lack of butterability. They are super damp and smooth bindings - but they don't work well for buttering or getting an overall board feel. The Skate Tech really helps with that smooth, damp feel, but hinder butterability. 

With the softer bushings - and maybe if you changed the ankle strap to "Surf Mode" you'd probably get a bit more. 

Pop/Ollie Power

There's a bit of ollie power in these bindings. But I think they would be better in this regard with a bit more board feel - and maybe a canted footbed. 

Adjustability

There's not heaps you can adjust on the Mercury - not in a traditional sense of adjustability anyway. If your boot fits them well, then this isn't an issue. 

Heel Cup: No

Stance Width: Can run disc vertically and horizontally

Highback Lean: Yes, tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: No

Toe Strap Position: No

Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: No

Highback Rotation: No

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 - Not compatible with channel without separate disc

So just some standard things but not much else. Would love to see an adjustable toe ramp (gas pedal). 

However, there are a couple of things that do adjust that most other bindings don't do. 

1. You can flip the ankle strap between the left and right bindings, which changes the feel - one way it gives more ankle support and the other way allows for a bit more freedom. Jones call this Freeride mode and Surf mode. 
2. You can get separate bushings and they can be swapped out. This allows you to adjust the flex feel of the bindings. 

Shock Absorption

These were perhaps the dampest bindings I've ridden. They are super damp, super cush, super shock absorbing. 

Firstly: There is a great amount of padding underfoot - and that padding is not only thick but feels kind of springy. Like you're on a cloud.  

Secondly: NOW's kingpin Skate Tech does a great job at absorbing crud, bumps, chatter you name it. This also helps in giving the Mercury a really damp, smooth feel when you're riding, and on landings from jumps.

The combination of these two things made these bindings ultra damp - I would say the most damp I've ridden and if I could give them more than 5/5 I would.    

Entry/Exit

Ratchets are smooth enough. Not the smoothest I've tried but they don't need to be any smoother than this. So very functional and no issues.  

Comfort

Overall very comfortable bindings.  

Ankle Strap: No issues, didn't notice it at all when riding. Didn't feel like it was space aged, but no pressure points and not noticing the ankle strap on a binding is a good thing. 

Toe Strap: Felt secure and comfortable. 

Canted Footbed: No

Padded Footbed: Good amount of padding - and a nice springy feel to them. As mentioned above, probably the dampest cushest bindings I've ridden. 

Highback: Some padding there - and didn't notice any pressure points or calf bite or anything like that. 

Ankle Support

The ankle support is really good. I rode in "Freeride Mode" which does provide the most support. So would be a little looser feeling in "Surf Mode" I would imagine. 

Price/Value for Money

A little less pricey than other bindings in this category, so if money is a factor but you still want a reasonable amount of stiffness - and good quality, then that's another plus. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

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

Whilst they score below the average overall, they have some really good qualities. 

If butterability isn't a big thing for you and your boots fit fine and the bindings fit your board, then these suddenly become top of the line, with good comfort, response and ankle support and awesome shock absorption - all for a really reasonable price for bindings in this category. 

And overall they feel like really good quality bindings made of quality materials.