Hello and welcome to my list of the Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Bindings. This list has been updated for the 2016/17 season.
Of the 19 freeride bindings I rated:
- The average score was 78.3/100
- The highest score was 91.5/100
- The lowest score was 56.5/100
- The average price was $338
How the Ratings Work
Each binding is rated on its ability specifically as a freeride binding – not just rated generally as a binding. For example the likes of responsiveness is given higher importance than other factors such as butterability.
As is custom at SnowboardingProfiles.com each binding is given a rating out of 100 based on several factors.
Alright let’s get into the top 5!
Men’s Freeride Binding #5
Bindings: Salomon Quantum
Price: $349
Smart rating score: 85/100
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
The first bindings we’ll look at, in at #5, are the Salomon Quantums.
A nice stiff flexed binding to bomb the mountain hard and fast with.
These bindings will hold your boots nice and strong and are highly adjustable, with pretty good shock absorption and enough comfort to keep you riding all day.
But mostly this binding is super responsive which is exactly what you want when you’re riding hard and fast especially through trees, down chutes etc.
I had heaps of fun with this paired with the Salomon Man’s Board last spring.
Check out the video below for more
O.k. this video is a couple of season’s old – once I find a new video I’ll put it up here.
The Quantum’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Boot Support: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 85.0/100 |
Men’s Freeride Binding #4
Bindings: Ride El Hefe
Price: $369
Smart rating score: 85.5/100
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
In the #4 spot we have Ride’s El Hefe bindings.
Like with Salomon’s Quantums the El Hefe’s are super-responsive – just what you need for big mountain riding.
The El Hefe’s also absorb shock really well and have the comfort to keep you riding all day.
They may not have quite the same boot support or adjustability as others on this list but will still do a good job in those areas and more than makes up for it in responsiveness, comfort and shock absorption.
Check out the video for more
The El Hefe’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Boot Support: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 85.5/100 |
Men’s Freeride Binding #3
Bindings: Flux XF
Price: $285
Smart rating score: 89/100
Flex: Medium-Stiff (8/10)
At #3, we have the Flux XF.
These bindings are by far the best value for money on this list. They are the least expensive here by a good margin (and a good bit lower than the average price for freeride bindings) – but still manage to have awesome performance. Price didn’t come into play here so the XFs made #3 on their performance alone – the smaller price tag is just a bonus.
Slightly softer flexing and not quite as light as their super-hero older brothers (see #2), the XFs are still really stiff and super responsive.
They have that great boot support that flux are known for and part of that comes down to the way they their ankle straps sit on the inside of the heel cup (most bindings they are on the outside).
Check out the video below for more about the XFs
The Score Breakdown for the XFs
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Boot Support: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 89.0/100 |
Men’s Freeride Binding #2
Bindings: Flux XV
Price: $335
Smart rating score: 90.0/100
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
The #2 spot goes to Flux’s XV bindings.
These are like XFs – but on some steriods – light yet stiffer, we’re getting into some serious space age stuff here. You do pay more for them than you do for the XFs but they’re still pretty close to the average price for freeride bindings, so still completely reasonable for what they are.
If you you like to ride hard and aggressive and don’t want to compromise on stiffness and response then the XV might be your ultimate bindings.
This get’s the stiffest rating possible, it’s super responsive, with an extremely firm locked-in boot support feel.
Add to that great comfort and a lot of tool-less adjustability and you have the near perfect freeride binding.
Whilst they may lack somewhat in shock absorption, these babies more than make up for it for that super aggressive rider looking for the ultimate in response and support.
Check out the video below to learn more of the technical stuff!
The XV’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Boot Support: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 90.0/100 |
Men’s Freeride Binding #1
Bindings: Burton X-Base
Price: $539
Smart rating score: 91.5/100
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
And in the #1 position is the Burton X-Base!
If you really have no issues with how much you spend on your bindings, then the X-Base are going to be the ultimate freeride bindings.
But a warning – these things don’t come cheap!
Super light weight, hyper responsive and not a weakness in sight.
If you’re looking for something to really bomb down the mountain, particularly through the backcountry, then look no further.
You get Burton’s typically brilliant adjustability, shock absorption and comfort too and add to that a really firm supporting feel inside the binding and you are looking at the ultimate in freeriding bindings.
The X-Bases comes in both Re:Flex (for standard 4 hole binding mounting systems) and EST (to fit Burton’s Channel system). The EST will have a sightly different feel due to the way it mounts to the board.
Check out this video for a few more details
The X Base’s Score Breakdown
Re:flex versions score
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Boot Support: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
EST score
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Boot Support: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 85.5/100 |
I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t spend this much on bindings – but if you want the ultimate and don’t mind paying for it, then go for it.
If you want something Burton Freeride but don’t want to pay for it, then the Genesis X is a good option. They’re more all-mountain to freeride, rather than pure freeride – but would still do a great job as a freeride binding. Unfortunately Burton haven’t released a 2017 model of the Diode this year, which was #1 here last year.
Thanks for reading
So that’s my top 5 freeride bindings. I hope this has been helpful in your search for bindings.
If you want to check out the latest season’s top freeride snowboard bindings, check out the link below:
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