If you’re looking for your first pair of snowboard bindings and aren’t sure where to start then check out my list of the Top 5 Beginner Snowboard Bindings below.
This list is now updated for the 2021-22 season.
Each set of bindings will each receive a score out of 100 which reflects how well the bindings did when being specifically considered as beginner bindings.
Some Brief Stats for this List
Of the 27 different men’s bindings that I rated for suitability as beginner bindings:
A lot of the bindings are suitable not just for beginners but also for more advanced riders and for specific styles like freestyle – but for the purposes of this post, the bindings are only being assessed for their suitability for beginners.
Note: A beginners binding should definitely not just be considered a beginner binding just because it’s cheap – if it’s too low quality or if it's too stiff, that’s far from what a beginner should be using. Price is definitely a factor but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
OK let's get into the the top 5.
BEGINNER BINDING #5=
Bindings: Union Contact Pro
- CAN
- UK
Smart rating score: 88.2/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Starting the list off at #5 we have Union's Contact Pro.
It's the second most expensive on this list, but it's also the highest quality for riding beyond the beginner phase. Really good as a beginner binding, but can take you well beyond the beginner phase.
Especially good as a freestyle binding. In fact it's #1 in the top 5 freestyle list!
Check out the Video for more on the Contact Pro
Score Breakdown for the Contact Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
PRICE | 3.5 | 14/20 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 5/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.2/100 |
BEGINNER BINDING #5=
Bindings: K2 Sonic
- CAN
Smart rating score: 88.2/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (2/10)
Unlike the Contact Pro above, the K2 Sonic is a purely beginner binding. But it's a good option to start off with if your budget is tight and you're looking for fast progression.
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 the top 3 and the softest equal on the list too, along with #2 & #3, below.
Score Breakdown for the Sonic
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 20/20 |
COMFORT | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.0 | 3/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.2/100 |
BEGINNER BINDING #4
Bindings: Flux TW
- CAN
Smart rating score: 88.7/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Like the Contact Pro at #5=, 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 good 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 long-term cost-wise.
Score Breakdown for the TW
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
PRICE | 3.5 | 14/20 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 5.0 | 10/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 4/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.7/100 |
BEGINNER BINDING #3
Bindings: Burton Freestyle
- CAN
- UK
Smart rating score: 89.8/100
Flex: Soft (2/10)
Coming in at #3 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.
Learn more in the Video below
Score Breakdown for the Freestyle
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 20/20 |
COMFORT | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 4/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.8/100 |
BEGINNER BINDING #2
Bindings: Ride C-2
- CAN
Smart rating score: 91.9/100
Flex: Soft (2/10)
In at #2, 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 bank account option to get you snowboarding progression underway.
They offer up easy rideability and decent enough quality.
The C-4 is also worth checking out 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 20/20 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 3.5 | 7/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.9/100 |
BEGINNER BINDING #1
Bindings: Union Flite Pro
- CAN
- UK
Smart rating score: 92.5/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
And taking out the #1 spot again this year, we have the Union Flite Pros.
Like the C-2, Freestyle and Sonic bindings on this list, the Union Flite Pros, are super low cost. 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 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, maneuverable 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!
Check out the Video for more on the Flite Pros
Score Breakdown for the Flite Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 20/20 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 4/5 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.5/100 |
Thanks for Reading
There you have it – that’s my top 5 men’s beginner snowboard bindings for 2021-22.
I hope this has helped you find the right bindings for you.
Check out the links above for each binding to learn more about that particular binding.
Even though all of these bindings are reasonably priced, if you’re looking to get an even better deal check out the 2021 model of each binding as you’ll be able to get them at a discounted price, if they’re not all sold out. For the latest model check out the links under each binding above. For past year’s models check out the links below to see if they have any 2021 models left.
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