Best Beginner Snowboard Bindings 2023-2024

BEGINNER BINDING #10

Bindings: Flux EM

Smart rating score: 83.2/100

Flex: Medium (4.5/10)

First up, at #10, we have Flux's EM bindings.

The EM's are a little stiffer than most on this list and work well for a bigger rider or a particularly strong/athletic beginner. Not as suitable for lighter, less strong beginners. 

Score Breakdown for the EM

BEGINNER BINDING #9

Bindings: Ride C-4

Smart rating score: 84.7/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

In at #9, we have Ride's C-4 bindings. Their C-2 also comes into this list (see #3). The C-4 is a little stiffer than the C-2, but still a nice easy flex for those just starting out. 

The C-4 is a simple yet quality design that can help you to get your snowboarding journey underway or take you from that beginner to intermediate level. 

Check out the Video for more on the C-4

Score Breakdown for the C-4

BEGINNER BINDING #8

Bindings: Flux TW

Smart rating score: 84.7/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

The TW isn't strictly a beginner binding. It's a higher quality binding that could be used by more advanced rider's looking for a softer flex. 

But it's also a great option for beginners, particularly if you're a higher-end beginner looking for something that will take you further through your progression than your typical beginner binding. 

They're the highest priced on this list, but you can use them for longer through your progression, so if you've got it in your budget, they can work out well long-term cost-wise. 

Score Breakdown for the TW

BEGINNER BINDING #7

Bindings: ARBOR HEMLOCK

Smart rating score: 86.3/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

At #7, we have Arbor's Hemlock bindings. 

These are also a great option for freestyle riding, but work really well as beginner bindings, with their mid-soft flex, reasonable price-point and great slow speed response. 

Score Breakdown for the Hemlock

BEGINNER BINDING #6

Bindings: Flow Nexus Fusion

Smart rating score: 86.3/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Next up, at #6, we have the Flow Nexus. 

These are a great option for those beginners looking for an easy entry/exit binding. They've still got all the qualities of a great beginner binding, but allow you to get in and out of them quickly and easily (with a bit of practice, you can do it on the go as you get off the lift). A good option for those that ride with skiers a lot. 

Check out the Video for more on the Nexus

Score Breakdown for the Nexus

BEGINNER BINDING #5

Bindings: K2 Sonic

Smart rating score: 88.9/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (2/10)

The K2 Sonic is a good option to start off with if your budget is tight and you're looking for fast progression. Particularly good for lighter riders. 

It won't take you much past the high-end beginner to low intermediate phase - you'll need to upgrade - but it will take you there quickly and without hurting the bank. 

It's the equal cheapest on this list (along with #1-4 below) and the softest equal on the list too, along with #3 & #4, below. 

Score Breakdown for the Sonic

BEGINNER BINDING #4

Bindings: Burton Freestyle

Smart rating score: 90.5/100

Flex: Soft (2/10)

Coming in at #4 we have Burton's Freestyle bindings.

The price is right with the equal lowest price on this list. 

But that's not the only reason these bindings made the list. The Freestyle's have a nice soft flex which helps with maneuverability at slow speeds, and is more forgiving of errors. 

They have awesome adjustability for lower end bindings, so you can get the fit and feel just right.

A great choice for those on a tighter budget and particularly for lighter beginner riders. 

Score Breakdown for the Freestyle

BEGINNER BINDING #3

Bindings: Ride C-2

Smart rating score: 91.1/100

Flex: Soft (2/10)

In at #3, we have the Ride C-2 bindings.

The C-2 is Ride's softest flexing and lowest priced binding and is an easy-on-the-wallet option to get your snowboarding progression underway. 

They offer up easy rideability and decent enough quality.   

The C-4 is also worth checking out (see #8 on this list) if you have a bit more budget and want a slightly stiffer flex - particularly if you're a higher end beginner looking for a binding that can help you get further into your progression, without changing bindings as soon. 

Learn more in the Video below

Score Breakdown for the C-2

BEGINNER BINDING #2

Bindings: Nidecker Muon-X

Smart rating score: 93.7/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)

In the penultimate #2 positions comes the Nidecker Muon-X. 

The flex is right, the price is right and the slow speed response is awesome! And they have a decent all-round quality to them, for such a low price-point. 

Check out the Video for more on the Muon-X

Score Breakdown for the Muon-X

BEGINNER BINDING #1

Bindings: Union Flite Pro

Smart rating score: 94.2/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)

And finally, taking out the #1 spot again this year (and the last few years running), we have the Union Flite Pros.

Like the Muon-X, C-2, Freestyle and Sonic above, the Union Flite Pros, are super low cost (equal lowest with the 4 mentioned). So this is another great choice for the beginner who can’t, or doesn’t want to, invest too much.

But you still get bindings that are of a decent quality – even Union’s entry level bindings are decent quality.

But most importantly they are ideally suited to beginners, with a nice easy flex. They are really forgiving, easy to maneuver at slow speeds and have a consistent smooth response.

These bindings are also super light (I weighed the 2022 model at just 680 grams!) – if you can find a lighter binding at this price-point (or at any price point for that matter!), I’d like to know about it!

Score Breakdown for the Flite Pro