Top 5 Beginner Snowboard Bindings 2019-20 (Past Season)

Bindings: Arbor Hemlock

Price: $199

Smart rating score: 86.6/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

To start the list off in #5, we have the Hemlock from Arbor. One of just 2 bindings in Arbor's men's bindings line, the Hemlock are the softer counterpart to their other binding, the Cypress. 

The Hemlock is nice and forgiving for beginners, but still has a quality feel to it - but still with a decent price-tag. The ratchets, which used to feel sticky have improved for the 2020 model. 

Score Breakdown for the Hemlock

Bindings: Flux DSL

Price: $265

Smart rating score: 86.6/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10) - 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest

Next on the list, coming in at #4 we have Flux's DSL bindings.

The DSL were new for 2019 and continue in 2020 and are like a softer version of Flux's DL. They're still just a touch stiffer than the top 3 in this list, but still a very good flex for beginners - and the kind of binding that you can hold on to and use as a great freestyle to all-mountain-freestyle binding as you progress. 

These are the most expensive in this list, so you'll need a reasonable budget for them, but the upside is that you get a step up in quality, whilst still getting a binding that's forgiving and maneuverable at slow speeds - and they are an investment, particularly if you want to get into freestyle riding as you progress. 

Score Breakdown for the DSL

Bindings: Burton Freestyle

Price: $149

Smart rating score: 88.7/100

Flex: Soft (2/10)

Coming in at #3 we have Burton's Freestyle bindings.

The price is right! - just $149 (USD)

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. 

Not only that 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.

Score Breakdown for the Freestyle

Bindings: Burton Custom

Price: $199

Smart rating score: 90.3/100

Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)

In at #2, we have the Burton Custom bindings.

Even though the Customs are more expensive than the Freestyle (and the next bindings on this list), they are still a good price for bindings – and for the price, these bindings are awesome value-for-money. I’m sure this is due, in part, to the technology from higher end bindings being passed down the line.

But more importantly than the price, these are comfortable, easy to use and adjust and have a nice forgiving flex with a consistent response.  

Score Breakdown for the Custom

Bindings: Union Flite Pro

Price: $149

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 #3 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 (just 760 grams per binding - by my weighing, with disc and screws) – if you can find a lighter binding at this price-point, I’d like to know about it!

Score Breakdown for the Flite Pro