Hello and welcome to my Ride EX Bindings review.
In this review I will take a look at the EX’s as freestyle snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the EXs a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freestyle bindings.
NOTE: The 2020 model was the last model of the EX, so this review will no longer be updated.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Ride EX
Price: $199 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freestyle
Other Uses: Beginner
Flex Rating: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Flex Feel: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 64.7/100
Compared to other Freestyle Bindings
Out of the 23 men’s freestyle bindings that I rated:
- The average score was 75.0/100
- The highest score was 92.6/100 (see below)
- The lowest score was 48.4/100
- The average price was $218
- The EXs ranked 19th out of 23
Sizing
Check out the table below for the available sizes for the EX.
| Size | Fits Men’s US Boot Sizes | Euro Boot Sizes | UK Boot Sizes |
| Medium | 5.0 – 9.0 | 36.5 – 42.0 | 4.0 – 8.0 |
| Large | 8.0 – 12.0 | 40.5 – 46.0 | 7.0 – 11.0 |
| Extra Large | 11.0 & up | 45.0 & up | 10.0 & up |
Who are the EXs Most Suited to?
The EXs are best suited to riders who are just learning how to ride the park/ride freestyle – or just anyone who is learning snowboarding in general.
They are a solid but basic pair of bindings – a more advanced rider would probably demand more performance.
When rated as other types of bindings the scores were as follows:
One of the main reasons they perform a lot better as beginner bindings as opposed to freestyle bindings is the shock absorption and the butterability – both are really important for freestyle riding but not so much for entry level snowboarders.
The EXs in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the EX are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: Ride EX 2018, Large
Date: March 4, 2017
Conditions: Plenty of fresh powder around. Had been puking it for a good few days leading up. Still bumpy and chundery in places as it was a Saturday but mostly soft good conditions on the groomers and plenty of powder off.
Bindings angles: +18/-6
Flex
The EXs flex is true to what Ride rate them as. They rate them as 4/10 (medium-soft) and I’d have to say that’s pretty accurate. It was a great level of flex for freestyle riding, especially for those who don’t have much experience.
Also a great flex for a beginner rider, just starting out on a snowboard.
Board Feel/Butterability
Even though the flex was nice and forgiving, they did feel a bit dead underfoot. This is fine if you are a beginner just learning their turns – but for a freestyle rider that likes to have that board feel, they were lacking a little.
Responsiveness
Not hugely responsive but not bad. Enough response for a beginner and for someone just starting out with freestyle riding.
Adjustability
They’re not the least adjustable bindings going around but not the most either. I also felt like it was quite difficult to un-clip the tool-less adjustment on the toe strap. It would be easier with warm fingers at home – so just make sure adjust them before going out on the hill.
It’s not undoable – I was able to do it with a bit of effort but someone else at the demo tent had to get the rep to adjust them for him because he couldn’t get it off. Maybe they’ve made this easier for the production model. The clip is certainly faster than a screw when you can get it off but if you can’t it’s not helpful!
Shock Absorption
A big thing for freestyle riding in my opinion (or maybe I’m just getting old!).
Ride have great shock absorption on their higher end bindings, but I didn’t feel that same cushioning that I normally would with their bindings. There’s definitely padding there and definitely not the worst I’ve ridden but not to the same level as the other Ride bindings I’ve demoed.
Entry/Exit
The Ratchet system is ok – but not great. Again, Ride’s higher end bindings have a smoother feel to them and it feels a bit nicer/quicker to get in and out. This is only a small thing though and something you expect on lower priced bindings.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
I like that these bindings have a canted footbed (Ride call their version of canting the “Wedgie Footbed”). This is usually not seen on lower end bindings – so it’s good to see it on these at this price-point.
The straps are ok – but not amazing. I did notice some pressure points but nothing too major – though I wasn’t on them for that long.
Ankle Support
It’s on the loose side in terms of ankle support. But some people prefer that feeling – especially for freestyle riding – so this one is maybe more down to personal preference but I prefer my ankle to have a little bit more support.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Board Feel: | 3.0 | 18/30 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 15/25 |
| Responsiveness | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL | 64.7/100 |
Overall, though the EXs do score low in my freestyle binding rating system, they are a basic but solid pair of bindings that would work well for a beginner – or someone exploring freestyle riding for the first time.
However, I would like to get more board feel and a bit more shock absorption to have them as my freestyle bindings.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the EXs, want to research availability, are ready to buy or want to check out current prices, check out the links below.
- Ride EX Bindings at PRFO.com (CANADA)
If you want to see how the EXs compared with other freestyle bindings or want to check out some other options, check out the next link.
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