NOTE: We made the decision to remove this category and adjust the other 2 women's bindings categories, so that there are 2 women's bindings categories now instead of 3.
All of the bindings that were previously in the women's freeride category have been moved to either the women's all-mtn-freeride bindings category or the women's all-mtn-freestyle bindings category.
So the 2024-2025 list was the last of the women's freeride bindings list.
You can check out all the past archived lists here.
More information on the category changes below:
The women's bindings categories changed this year. Let's take a look at how it was vs how it is now to better understand the changes.
How it Was
Previously we had 3 women's snowboard binding categories:
- Freestyle
- All-Mountain
- Freeride
These were determined predominantly by flex:
- Freestyle: 5.5/10 flex and below
- All-Mountain: 5.5 to 6.5/10 flex
- Freeride: 7.5/10 to 10/10 flex
While this worked and was nice and simple to determine where each binding belonged, it didn't gel with the category descriptions quite as well as we wanted them to.
How It is Now
We have reduced the number of categories from 3 to 2. The 3 previous categories merged into the following categories.
- All-Mountain-Freestyle
- All-Mountain-Freeride
The criteria for which bindings belong to each category has also changed. It now looks more like this.
All-Mountain Freestyle
These can now be any flex level, though they tend to be softer flexing than those in the all-mountain-freeride level.
The biggest determining factor for the bindings in this category relates to board feel and in general, how well we think the bindings are suited to freestyle and all-mountain freestyle riding.
This category now covers different areas of freestyle riding, from more extreme larger features, to more playful, creative freestyle riding/for those just starting out with freestyle riding.
The stiffer bindings in this category are more suited to big jumps, etc, where you need more solidity to handle bigger impacts and higher speed take offs etc. and the ability to carve into a take off at higher speeds and remain in control. These options are also best suited to stiffer flexing freestyle and all-mountain freestyle boards.
The softer bindings in this list are for those who don't go big, but are creative and playful with their freestyle riding. Flatland tricks, smaller jumps, side-hits etc, butter tricks, jibs etc. Or for those who are just starting out with freestyle and may or may not go big later but aren't yet. These are better suited to softer flexing freestyle boards.
The softer flexing options also work well for those who just want to cruise the mountain and don't want their bindings too much from them.
In general, while they work really well for freestyle riding, they are also good as general bindings - the softer options better for casual riding and the stiffer for more aggressive riding. Though if you are riding more aggressively and aren't doing any freestyle, then the All-Mountain Freeride category might be a better bet for you.
All-Mountain Freeride
This category also covers any flex, but has more emphasis on things like ankle support, consistent feel and stability, vs their freestyle counterparts.
The stiffer bindings in this category are more suited to bombing, laying down big carves and are for more advanced all-mountain riders and those who have stiffer snowboards.
The softer bindings in this list are for those who don't ride overly fast. They might still like a little speed, but prioritize maneuverability over stability and want to be able to be nimble and quick turning when riding at more moderate speeds - e.g. trees, bumps, etc.
The softer flexing options are also best for less experienced riders, those who just want to cruise, and those with mid to mid-soft flexing snowboards.
Previous Freeride Bindings
Bindings that were in the freeride category that have been moved include:
- Jones Aurora (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Burton Step On Escapade ReFlex (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Burton Step On Escapade EST (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Burton Lexa X Re:Flex (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Burton Lexa X EST (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Flux XF Women's (moved to all-mtn freeride)
- Rome Women's Katana (moved to all-mtn freestyle)
I’m looking for a new binding for my new board, united shapes flex5. My previous board (flex6/binding flex7) I like very well. Has another board flex7/binding flex8.
I ride mostly piste and powder (not park) and don’t want too soft binding for my new board, can I choose one of these three? although they are flex 7? These are the three that were my choice when I googled around and interestingly all these three were on this list.
I am most interested in flux, but it seems to be difficult to get hold of here in Sweden, it is not possible to order it either =/
Hi Ann
Thanks for your message.
You could go with a 7/10 flexing bindings with your 5/10 flexing board. I wouldn’t go stiffer than that for a 5/10 flex board, but up to 7/10 should work well, in my experience.
Hope this helps with your decision
I appreciate this so much. I’m thinking of putting Lexa X’s on my new Rossi Airis (flex 5). I haven’t ridden in many years so I wanted a more playful board than my old Feelgood, but my preference has always been a softer boot with stiffer binding, if that makes sense?
The Lexa X is the stiffest binding I’m looking at. I’m also considering the Bataleon Etna, Rome Guild, and Burton Lexa and Scribe. But I’m not sure about the Rome asym chassis. Everything I look at in the 5-6 flex range makes me nervous they won’t be stiff enough when I want them to be. 7 is med-stiff, not stiff, right?
Hi Adriel, thanks for your message.
Yeah, 7/10 is mid-stiff, not stiff, so you should be good with the Lexa X on the Airis, IMO. I’d try not to go stiffer than that, but you shouldn’t have any issues, especially given you know you have a preference for stiffer bindings on softer board.
Thanks so much!
You’re very welcome Adriel. Hope you have a great rest of your season!
Thanks for the recommendations. As far as I know, a flex of 7 is medium-stiff, but here it appears that all flex 7 women bindings are for super aggressive riding. I also checked the all-mountain bindings list, but then only flex 5-6 bindings are in the list. Now I am very much between all-mountain riding and freeride (I like carving and powder, but some days I like to be playfull around the groomers. No park for me though) and would like to have bindings that could fit a board with flex 6 to flex 8. What flex would you recommend? And is there a difference between bindings for men and women that I have to consider?
Hi Wentje
Thanks for your message.
Yeah, women’s bindings tend to top out around that mid-stiff (7/10) flex. There are some differences between men’s and women’s bindings – most brands that I know of design their women’s bindings to better fit typical female anatomy, which isn’t just smaller sizes. I’m not an expert on this by any means, but from what I’ve read and heard, men’s and women’s calves differ in size, length and position, so highbacks on women’s are made to try to account for this. Similarly, I think differences in feet shape, width etc are taken into account. That’s not to say that a men’s binding would necessarily be unsuitable but I think you’d have a greater chance of getting a women’s binding that will fit you better. If you were to go Men’s binding, then, depending on boot size, going with a smaller size could help it fit better, if available (not all men’s bindings come in smaller sizes), but there would still be some aspects that may not work as well. Hard to say for sure, but as I say I think your chances are better of getting a better fit in a women’s specific binding.
Given you have a 6/10 flexing and 8/10 flexing board, I think going with something 7/10 flex is a good middle ground to accommodate both boards, so I would be leaning to something off this list. While a 6/10 flexing binding would work really well on your 6/10 flex board and would work with your 8/10 flexing board, it wouldn’t be as good as the 7/10 flex binding for your 8/10 flexing board, IMO. And similarly an 8/10 flexing binding would be better for the 8/10 flexing board, but would be on the stiff side (fine but not optimal) for the 6/10 flex board. So I think splitting the difference and going 7/10 flex is a good way to go if you want the bindings to accommodate both boards. And given how you describe that you like to be more playful around the groomers some days, I think the 7/10 should be able to accommodate that well enough – though will be more optimal for when you’re carving.
Hope this gives you more to go off
Thanks, that is very helpfull.
You’re very welcome Wentje. Hope you have a great season!
Thanks for the top 3. I see with all these bindings they are recommended for very aggressive riding, while the flex is medium-stiff. I am an all-mountain to freeride rider (more freeride, but I like to occasionally jump around groomers, especially when the snow conditions are bad). The WM’s all-mountain top 5 only checks stiffness 5-6.
So now I am wondering: why is flex 7 about as stiff as it gets with women’s bindings, and how should it influence my binding choice?
This review hasn’t changed for years lol. It’s been copied and pasted over the years. I’m really considering the flux Gx. Would love an updated review for freeride bindings since it’s soooo hard to find good freeride bindings for women.
Hi Jena
We’ve never had the Rome Katana in this review and in previous years we’ve had the Union Trilogy in there. The GX and Lexa X have been in there consistently (the Lexa X since 2021, which is when it was released – so for 3 years) because nothing has come along to unseat them. There hasn’t been a lot of change over the years, because we haven’t come across anything that’s been good enough to unseat the lieks of the Flux GX as a women’s freeride bindings. As you say, women’s freeride bindings are pretty few and far between, which is why we limit this to only a top 3. This is far from a copy paste. We analyze and adjust the list every year to make sure we have what we think are the best bindings in there. If you’re not seeing the Rome Katana in there, can you let me know – because maybe there’s a caching issue and you’re seeing last years list?