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 2017-18 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 32 different men’s bindings that I rated for suitability as beginner bindings:
- The average score was 81.0/100
- The highest score was 91.9/100 (see #1 binding below)
- The lowest score was 63.4/100
- The average price was $220
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 low quality that’s far from what a beginner should be using. Price is definitely a factor but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
NOTE: This list was for the 2017-18 season. For the latest Top 5 Beginner Bindings List, check out the link below:
>>Latest Season’s Top 5 Men’s Beginner Bindings
Men’s Beginner Binding #5
Bindings: Burton Freestyle
Price: $149
Smart rating score: 89.8/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10 – [1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest])
The first bindings on the list, coming in at #5 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 medium-soft flex which is what I consider to be the perfect flex for beginners.
Not only that they have awesome adjustability 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
This video is for the 2016 model as I couldn’t find anything relevant for the latest model. The 2018 model isn’t hugely different – just a few tweaks and improvements and a revamped high-back.
The Freestyle’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Comfort: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Ankle Support: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Board Feel: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 89.8/100 |
Men’s Beginner Binding #4
Bindings: K2 Lien FS
Price: $249
Smart rating score: 90.9/100
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
The K2 Lien FS’s take the #4 spot.
The Lien FS is primarily designed as a freestyle binding – but it’s also a nice and forgiving feel that beginners will love.
You’ll pay a little more for these (they are the most expensive on this list) but you’ll also see more performance too. Despite scoring low in terms of price, they make up for it in other areas.
Also if you think that your future holds some freestyle riding in it, then this will be the perfect binding to take you into that realm. In fact this binding also took out 2nd spot in my Top 5 Freestyle Bindings so they are one of the better freestyle bindings around as well as being great for beginners.
Their ability for freestyle riding is one of the reason’s the price-tag is higher.
Check out the video for more on K2’s Lien FS Bindings
K2 Lien FS Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 3.5 | 14/20 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Ankle Support: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 90.9/100 |
Men’s Beginner Binding #3
Bindings: Flux PR
Price: $140
Smart rating score: 90.9/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
And the #3 Men’s Beginner Bindings are Flux’s PR.
The PRs are awesome bindings for beginners. They have the perfect mix of all of the right features in the right areas, whilst still maintaining a great price tag and still being really well built.
These are the lowest priced bindings on this list.
Check out the video below to learn more about the PR’s
The video below is for the 2016-17 PRs. I will put one up for the 2018 models, once there is one – but very little has changed from the 2017 to 2018 models, so the video is still relevant.
Flux PR Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Comfort: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Ankle Support: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Board Feel: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 90.9/100 |
Men’s Beginner Binding #2
Bindings: Burton Custom
Price: $199
Smart rating score: 91.4/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
In at #2, we have the Burton Custom bindings.
Even though the Customs are the second most expensive 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.
Check out the Video for more on the Customs
Burton Custom Re:Flex Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Ankle Support: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Board Feel: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.4/100 |
Men’s Beginner Binding #1
Bindings: Union Flite Pro
Price: $149
Smart rating score: 91.9/100
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
And taking out the #1 spot this year, we have the Burton Custom bindings.
Like the #5 & #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 more importantly they are ideally suited to beginners, with a nice easy flex. They are really forgiving but with a consistent smooth response.
These bindings are also super light (just 730 grams) – if you can find a lighter binding at this price-point, I’d like to know about it!
Check out the Video for more on the Flite Pros
Score Breakdown for the Flite Pros
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Ankle Support: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Board Feel: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.9/100 |
Note: The top 5 women’s bindings used to be on this same page but has been moved to a page of it’s own. The link below will take you to the top 5 women’s beginner bindings page.
>>Top 5 Beginner Snowboard Bindings for Women
Thanks for Reading
There you have it – that’s my top 5 men’s beginner snowboard bindings for 2017-18.
I hope this has helped you find the right bindings for you.
NOTE: This list was for the 2017-18 season. For the latest Top 5 Beginner Bindings List, check out the link below:
>>Latest Season’s Top 5 Men’s Beginner Bindings
Where to Buy, Current Prices and More Info
If you can find these bindings in the 2017-18 model, you should be able to get them at a considerably cheaper price than their MSRP and than the current model.
Check out the links below to see if you can find the bindings you’re after in a past model.
US STORES
CANADA STORES
NEW ZEALAND STORES
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