This page will outline what I consider to be the best all mountain bindings for women for the 2018/19 season.
Each binding is assessed as to how well they perform specifically as all-mountain bindings for women, using my unique rating system.
All-Mountain bindings should be able to handle anything you throw at them be it freestyle riding, riding the groomers or riding the backcountry.
Of the 16 different women's all-mountain bindings that I looked at:
Right, let’s get into the top 5.
WOMEN'S ALL-MOUNTAIN BINDING #5
Bindings: Burton Scribe
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Smart rating score: 81.2/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Starting at #5, we have Burton's Scribe bindings.
The Scribes are a really versatile binding that can accommodate a wide range of boards and can ride any style anywhere on the mountain (as all good all-mountain bindings should).
I'd like to see them put the Hammockstrap™ Strap on it (like the closest Men's equivalent the Burton Mission) but even with the Reactstrap™ the Scribes are a good performing, versatile binding and as a bonus come in at a reasonable price (the lowest price in this top 5).
For more check out the video and the Scribe's score breakdown below
Score Breakdown for the Scribe Re:Flex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Board Feel | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Shock Absorption | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Ankle Support | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 81.2/100 |
WOMEN'S ALL-MOUNTAIN BINDING #4
Bindings: Union Trilogy
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Smart rating score: 83.9/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
First up on this list we have Union’s Trilogy bindings.
With women’s specific base plate and highback this binding offers up great all round performance for women. It's the 2nd lowest price on this list (behind #5 above) - so really good value-for-money here.
Union’s Trilogy bindings have a flex and feel perfect for doing a bit of everything. And they are unbelievably light. They are claimed to be the lightest binding you can buy - and at just 650 grams (around 1.4lbs) I wouldn't doubt that! And with a nice comfy ankle strap you'll hardly even notice they're there.
And if response is what you're looking for they equal or beat every other binding on this list for response. One of, if not the, most responsive binding at this price point.
For more check out the video and the Trilogy's score breakdown below
Score Breakdown for the Trilogy
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Ankle Support | 3.0 | 6/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.9/100 |
WOMEN'S ALL-MOUNTAIN BINDING #3
Bindings: Flux GS
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Smart rating score: 84.9/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
The Flux GS might lack somewhat in the shock absorption department but they more than make up for it everywhere else.
What they lack in shock absorption may be forgotten though if you look at their responsiveness, really nice and firm boot support, awesome adjustability, not to mention being super comfortable and having great board to binding feel.
The kind of binding that you can use across multiple boards and that you can use anywhere on the mountain, in the backcountry and in the park.
Score Breakdown for the GS
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Shock Absorption | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Ankle Support | 5.0 | 10/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.9/100 |
WOMEN'S ALL-MOUNTAIN BINDING #2
Bindings: K2 Hue
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Smart rating score: 90.9/100
Flex: Medium (6/10)
The K2 Hue is a decently responsive binding with great board feel (thanks in part to K2's mini-disc and Tripod Chassis System).
It's like a women's specific hybrid of the K2 Lien AT and K2 Lineup, offering the perfect sweet spot between freestyle and freeride, able to excel anywhere on the mountain and do anything.
It's a great option for that do-it-all one quiver snowboard or as bindings that can accommodate a multi-board quiver (if you don't want to have multiple pairs of bindings).
Check out the Video to Learn more about the Hue
Score Breakdown for the Hue
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 3.5 | 14/20 |
Board Feel | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Adjustability | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Ankle Support | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.9/100 |
WOMEN'S ALL-MOUNTAIN BINDING #1
Bindings: Burton Escapade
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Smart rating score: 93.0/100
Flex: Medium (5/10)
And the #1 spot goes to the Burton Escapades!
Apart from being a little less responsive than some of the bindings on this list, the Escapade is pretty close to the ideal women’s all mountain binding.
They are versatile enough to do everything you want from the park to the backcountry and everything in between.
They have the luxury of comfort to keep you riding all day comfortably, insane shock absorption to absorb all the bumps and jumps, great adjustability, the brilliant ratchet system that Burton is famous for, easy entry/exit and nice firm boot support to keep you securely locked in.
They are the great all-rounder. There are better bindings if you want something really soft and freestyle oriented and there are better bindings for more big mountain hard-charging kind of stuff - but for the rider that wants just one set of bindings that can do everything on, the Escapade's are the best in the business at doing that.
Check out the Video for more about the Escapades
Score Breakdown for the Escapade
Like most Burton bindings they come in an EST version, which fits Burton’s Channel System and the Re:Flex version (which fits standard 4 hole systems as well as the Channel system).
Escapade Re:Flex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Board Feel | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Ankle Support | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.0/100 |
Escapade EST
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Responsiveness | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Board Feel | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Ankle Support | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.8/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this has helped you to narrow down your options for your next pair of bindings if you’re an all-mountain rider or want one pair of bindings to fit multiple boards.
Check out the links under each binding to learn more and for current prices and availability.
Hi Nate,
Thanks for doing these thorough reviews and especially for giving equal time to women’s gear. That said, I will now solicit your opinion. I am getting back into snowboarding after a 13 year hiatus, I am self taught, and I don’t really have any snowboarding friends, so it is hard for me to gauge what level I am at. I am comfortable on blue /blacks and mellower blacks, so I’m thinking advanced intermediate. I’m still riding the gear I bought in 2003 (for about $400 total – Santa Cruz board and who knows what boots and bindings). I decided it’s time to get new gear. Picked up some K2 contour boots (which seem nice, although with my current setup, it’s hard to tell). I just bought a NS Aura, which I have yet to try out, but I’m really excited about. My question now is bindings.
I was aiming for the Union Legacy, but I got a great deal on some Burton Escapades (which REI tells me will come with both discs). But then I started worrying that they would be too advanced for me because Evo ranks them as advanced – expert. Do you think that is a fair rating? Just in case, I also grabbed some Now Vettas because I think the Conda probably is beyond me, but as a longboarder, I got sucked into the whole concept. Would that work with the Aura?
Is there something else I should be considering? Either of the above can be returned. I grabbed them because stuff is selling out like crazy and I don’t want to miss anything.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Hi Ida
Thanks for your message.
The Escapades are definitely not just for advanced to expert, in my opinion. They are definitely fine for an intermediate rider. I would say that the Burton Lexa would be more in that advanced and up category but the Escapade is definitely Intermediate and up. I think they will suit your setup well – and I think you’re going to really appreciate the difference of your new setup once you’ve got everything together and once your used to the change. Sounds like an awesome all-round set up to me.
From the NOW line up I think you made the right choice, in terms of the Vettas over the Condas – but I think you’ll prefer the Escapades overall.
As long as you have bought the “Re:Flex” Escapades, then they will be compatible with your Aura. If REI is talking about discs, then you will have the Re:Flex model as the “EST” model doesn’t have discs (and is only for boards with Burton’s channel system). So it sounds like you’re all good there.
Hope this helps
Definitely, thanks!
Thumbs up man! You did a very good job, definitely. I was looking for bindings and this article helps me to save a lot of time. TNX again!
You’re very welcome Sanda! Glad you found it helpful.
Hi Nate
Newbie here, I’ve never snowboarded before but just got to Whistler and looking to stay 2 full years. I’m looking at getting the Burton Escapades even though I’ve never snowboarded before, the reason being I don’t want to get a ‘beginner’ pair of bindings and need to upgrade them once I’ve been on the mountain for a few months. My friend says it’s a waste of money, and I’m leaning towards agreeing.
So my question is, would you recommend these for a beginner, and if not, why not?
Thank you in advance, your articles have been amazingly helpful for both me and my boyfriend (he’s been boarding a few years) and I honestly have no idea how I would have navigated buying my first set up without them!
Cheers
Hi Perri
Thanks for your message.
I think the Escapades are something you can get away with, without being ideal. Buying beginner bindings isn’t just about price. One of the most important things about bindings for beginners is that they are forgiving enough and allow you to control your board at slower speeds more easily. A binding that is too stiff is very difficult to ride for a beginner (something that people who have forgotten what it’s like to be a beginner, or can’t even remember learning to ride because they were so young, don’t understand this and often recommend bindings that are too advanced for beginners).
So it’s not just about the money. And to be honest, if you were to buy a beginner pair of binding for one season, sell them and then upgrade, you don’t loose out on that much money – and your progression can be quite a bit faster. But I understand it does cost a bit more and it can be a pain trying to sell second hand.
For the Escapade’s specifically, they are medium flexing bindings. They are a bit stiff to be ideal for a beginner – but they’re not super-stiff. So you can learn on them, they just won’t be as easy as on a softer flexing binding – it might slow your progression down a little bit.
There are other factors too – weight can play a factor. Heavier rider’s are applying more force to the bindings, so a stiffer flexing binding won’t be as difficult for them to ride. Also, someone who is quite strong and athletic will have less trouble on a stiffer flexing binding. But it will always be easier to learn on a softer binding.
Anyway, this doesn’t write off the Escapade but just they are doable for a beginner but not ideal.
Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision
Hi Nate!
I always appreciate your blog, rankings, and advice. I’m an intermediate rider, currently on a NS Aura which I love, although I’m thinking about demoing a GNU because I hear the edge hold when you stop is a little better, any suggestions on something compatible with the NS Aura? I seems to kind of skid a bit when I stop with the NS Aura which I heard was due to their edge technology, anywho I realize none of that has to due with bindings, but when in Rome, or Nate’s blog! haha. I’m also looking into getting a new pair of bindings and wondering if I should get the Lexa or the Escapades? Budget isn’t an issue, I just want the best bindings for my set up. I’ve tried the Escapades before and they’re fine, but wondering if I’m missing anything with the Lexa’s. I’m currently using Burton Felix boots if that matters at all. Thanks for any advice!
Hi Vanessa
Thanks for your message!
I would say the closest equivalent to the Aura in GNUs line would be the Klassy. Certainly not like for like, but that would be the closest equivalent. And yeah GNU tend to have great edge-hold, especially in hard/icy conditions.
I’d say that:
1. The Klassy is possibly just slightly softer flexing than the Aura but I’d say they’re pretty close.
2. Very similar in terms of the camber profile.
3. The stance on the Klassy is a little more setback (1.5″ vs 0.75″ on the Aura)
4. Different dimensions in terms of sidecut, width etc as well
But I’d say they’re more similar than they are different.
For bindings, both the Escapade and Lexa would work, but I’d be leaning slightly towards the Lexa for the Klassy. But yeah, both would definitely do the job.
And the Felix are a good match for both those bindings and the Klassy, IMO.
Hope that covers everything and let me know if you have any other questions.
P.S. Very flattered that you consider my blog “Rome”!
Hi Nate!
I always love to check out your ratings and rankings whenever I try to purchase some gears, keep it up buddy! Here’s the question, I am currently use if a Burton Cartel size M, and it fits my size 8 burton boots well enough, however, with the genesis binding on huge sale now, I want to upgrade to genesis now. I am thinking the existing M cartel would sub my girlfriend’s old bindings, however, she has size 8 women’s boots, which is not smaller than the M cartel’s suggested size chart: women size 9-11. I put her boots into the M cartel bindings, and it seems holding the boots well enough, but the tips of the boots are not reaching out from the baseplate, which seems to me is a no-no, right?
Hi Lu
Thanks for the message.
Yeah, ideally, your boots should be overhanging your bindings. If they don’t then you’re loosing leverage, which can make turn initiations slower and physically more effort to initiate, which can become fatiguing. A men’s small or a women’s medium would be a better size for her. Also, women’s bindings are better suited to female riders. They usually incorporate things like shorter high backs, which make them more comfortable to ride (women’s calves typically sit lower than men’s so men’s bindings can often cause calf-bite).
Hope this helps