snowboarding profiles logo mountain

Snowboarding Profiles

  • SNOWBOARDS
    • Top Snowboard Picks 2021-2022
    • Snowboard Reviews
    • Snowboard Buying Guides
    • Snowboard Length Sizing
    • Snowboard Width Sizing
    • For Beginners
    • Setup/Maintenance
  • SNOWBOARD BINDINGS
    • Top Bindings Picks 2021-2022
    • Binding Reviews
    • Binding Buying Guides
    • Binding Sizing
    • Binding and Board Compatbility
    • For Beginners
    • Bindings Setup
  • SNOWBOARD BOOTS
    • Top Boots Picks 2021-2022
    • Boot Reviews
    • Boot Buying Guides
    • Sizing and Fit
    • Boot Fit by Brand
    • For Beginners
    • More
  • OUTERWEAR
    • Top Jacket Picks 2021-2022
    • Top Pants Picks 2021-2022
    • Jacket Buying Guide
    • Pants Buying Guide
    • Goggles Buying Guide
    • Helmet Buying Guide
    • More

Union Force Bindings Review

Last Updated: October 7, 2021 by Nate 52 Comments

Union Force Bindings Review

Hello and welcome to my Union Force bindings review.

In this review I will take a look at the Forces as all-mountain snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Forces a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all mountain bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Union Force

Price: $279 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain

Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)

Rating Score: 84.9/100

Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings

Out of the 22 men’s all-mountain bindings that I rated:

  • The average score was 80.9/100
  • The highest score was 93.5/100
  • The lowest score was 67.2/100
  • The average price was $274
  • The Force ranked 5th= out of 22

Overview of the Force’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Force’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Style:

All-Mountain

Price: 

$279

Ability Level: 

Ability Level Intermediate to Expert

Flex: 

Snowboard Flex 6

Edge-to-Edge: 

Medium-Fast

Weight: 

Normal

Mounts To: 

2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel

Sizing

SIZE 

US BOOT SIZE

EURO BOOT SIZE

UK BOOT SIZE

S

6-7.5

38-40.5

5-6.5

M

8-10

41-43

7-9

L

10.5+

43.5+

9.5+

Who are the Force Most Suited To?

The Force suit anyone looking for a nice all-round binding with the kind of flex/response that strikes a nice middle ground between being good on a big carve but still allowing agility at slower speeds. 

And those that want the above, with a pretty friendly price-tag. 

Goes best with boards around a 5/10, 6/10 flex. Works with anything 4/10 to 7/10 flex, IMO. 

The Force in More Detail

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Force’s are capable of.

Demo Info

Bindings: Union Force 2021, M

Date: February 27, 2020

Conditions: Snowing! Quite nice amount of snow especially up higher. Wetter snow in car park which was unpleasant for changing over bindings and taking notes on lift but all good with that pow up high!

8cm in last 24 hours.

-2°C (28.4°F) with wind - didn't feel overly cold.

Groomers were a little cruddy but with some nice pow on top spots to the sides. Off groomer was nice with that 8cm layer.

Union Force 2021 Review

I rode the model with the Forest Green colorway, solid highback. There are 5 colorway's available, with 2 of them having solid highbacks and the other 3, with the "holey" highbacks. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 550mm (21.65”)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018

Baseplate Length: 24.5cm (9.65”) – that’s measured on the top of the footbed, no extension. No real angle down to the base of the baseplate - so roughly the same there. 

Baseplate Length (Extended): 25.5cm (10.04")

Highback Height: 21.2cm (8.3”)

Weight: 920 grams (2lbs)

* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 30 bindings (2019, 2020 & 2021 models) I weighed, was 895 grams. The lightest was 760 grams and the heaviest was 1,020grams. So the Force is slightly heavier than the average of those I weighed.  

Flex

The baseplate is supposed to be a little stiffer, with a softer flexing highback. The highback does have a good amount of flex/twist in it. But overall feel on snow was around a 6/10. 

Responsiveness

Like most Union bindings, the Force achieve response just a little better than their flex would suggest. And overall they strike a really nice balance between being good on a big carve, but also relatively maneuverable at slower speeds. 

Board Feel/Butterability

For a binding without a mini-disc or anything that would suggest good board feel, the board feel with the Force is better than you'd think. It's not to the same level as like a Burton binding or a Union binding with a mini-disc, but it's not bad. 

Pop/Ollie Power

Normal. 

Adjustability

Basically one of the most adjustable bindings going around. Should have no issues getting your boot fitting perfectly and your bindings fitting perfectly on your boot, assuming you choose the correct size. 

Heel Cup: Yes (which is really nice to have for easy centering of boots)

Stance Width: Great stance width options when running the disc horizontally. And since you have the heel cup adjustment, it's unlikely you would need to run the disc vertically (which you'd only do to help with boot centering). 

Highback Lean: Yes, tool-less

Ankle Strap Position: No

Toe Strap Position: Yes

Ankle and toe strap length: Yes, tool-less 

Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: Yes

Highback Rotation: Yes

Compatible with: 2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel

Shock Absorption

Really good - as most Union bindings are. 

Entry/Exit

Nice smooth ratchets make it nice and easy to get in and out of these bindings.

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Comfort

Decently comfortable bindings overall. 

Ankle Strap: The ankle strap got an upgrade again this year and is another subtle improvement.  

Toe Strap: The toe strap is also new, and a toe strap that I liked. 

Canted Footbed: Yes

Padded Footbed: Some decent padding and shock absorption overall

Highback: A little padding in the highback, but most importantly didn't get any calf-bite or anything like that. 

Ankle Support

The ankle support has improved on the Force over the last couple of years. It used to be quite a loose feeling ride, but that's been upped now. Could be improved with the option of a higher ankle strap position, but I personally liked it just fine where it was. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

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

3.5

7/10

ENTRY/EXIT

4.0

4/5

TOTAL after normalizing

84.9/100

The Force have been around forever! And for good reason, I think. They provide great value. For the response and quality you get, they are really well priced, allowing you to get a solid quality binding for a decent price, when you've splashed out on the board. 

More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online

If you want to learn more about the Forces, or are ready to buy or want to research availability and prices, check out the links below.

  • US
  • CANADA
  • UK/EUROPE

>>Union Force at evo.com

>>Union Force at REI.com

>>Union Force at backcountry.com

>>Union Force at PRFO

>>Union Force at blue-tomato

Union Force 2022

If you want to check out some other all mountain binding options or compare the Forces to other all mountain bindings check out the next link.

My Top 5 Men's All-Mountain Bindings
Share0
Tweet0
Pin0

PAST REVIEWS OF THE FORCE

Union Force 2019 Review

Union Force Bindings Review

Hello and welcome to my Union Force bindings review.

In this review I will take a look at the Forces as all-mountain snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Forces a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all mountain bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Union Force

Price: $249 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain

Other Uses: All-Mountain-Freeride, Freestyle

Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)

Rating Score: 83.9/100

Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings

Out of the 22 men’s all-mountain bindings that I rated:

  • The average score was 78.0/100
  • The highest score was 93.0/100
  • The lowest score was 57.0/100
  • The average price was $259
  • The Force ranked 9th out of 22 

Overview of the Force’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Force’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Style:

All-Mountain

Price: 

$249

Ability Level: 

Ability Level Intermediate to Expert

Flex: 

Snowboard Flex 6

Edge-to-Edge: 

Medium-Fast

Weight: 

Normal

Mounts To: 

2 x 4 | 4 x 4 | Channel

Sizing

SIZE 

US BOOT SIZE

EURO BOOT SIZE

UK BOOT SIZE

S

5-8

37-41

4-7

M

7-10

40-43

6-9

L

10+

43+

9+

Who are the Force Most Suited To?

Union’s Force bindings are great for anyone looking for a binding for riding the groomers or backcountry mostly – whether you want to ride fairly aggressively or want to ride more casual or ride freestyle – or do all of the above (as all-mountain bindings should).

The ideal snowboarder for these bindings is someone looking for one set of bindings (rather than owning separate bindings for different purposes) and that want their bindings at an affordable price, but still have good response and not be too soft.

If you have more than one board, these bindings should match well with most boards – maybe except for the flexiest street/jib boards and the stiffest freeride boards.  But they’ll work well with everything in between 4/10 to 7/1 0 flexing boards - best for 5/10 to 6/10 boards. 

The Force in More Detail

Union Force 2019 ReviewO.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Force’s are capable of.

Demo Info

Bindings: Union Force 2019, M

Date: March 21, 2018

Conditions: High cloud but still good vis. Wind was light but cold. Snowed for like 20 minutes, but very light snow. Was a bit bumpy and lumpy on groomers and quite crunchy off groomer.

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance Width: 550mm (21.65″)

Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018

Baseplate Length: 24.4cm (9.6″) – that’s measured on the top of the footbed. 23.6cm on the underside of the baseplate – it angles up to the top of the footbed.

Baseplate Extended: When toe ramp fully extended, it extends to 25.1cm

Highback Height: 21.0cm (8.3″)

Weight: 900 grams (2lbs) – per binding, including disc and screws

About average in terms of weight. Union bindings are usually lighter but the Force are about normal.

Flex

The Forces are medium but on the stiffer side of medium.

Union have two separate flex ratings. One for the high back flex and one for the base plate flex. The Force ratings are:

High-back: 6/10

Base Plate: 7/10

Which is pretty accurate, I would say – the highback maybe feels a little softer than that, but overall feel on snow is around a 6/10.

The high backs are designed to flex more in certain spots so that you can tweak them when you want to but their stiffer in the right spots to give you some great response.

Butterability/Board Feel

They don’t have the mini-disc like the Contacts, Contact Pros, Falcors , Ultras or Ultra FCs (in the Union line) but they still butter andflex with the board pretty well considering that. Better than other Union bindings without the mini-disc in my experience.  They flex reasonably well with the board with minimal dead spot. Not as well as the Union bindings with the mini disc though.

Adjustability

You can adjust most parts of the binding It’s pretty easy to adjust on the fly as the adjustments are virtually all tool-less.

Assuming you pick the right size bindings for your boots, you’ll be able to dial these in for a great fit.

The only thing that you can’t adjust is the position of the ankles strap (e.g. if you wanted it to sit higher or lower on the ankle) and you can’t really adjust the highback rotation – at least not independently of the heel cup adjustment and it’s tricky.

Being able to adjust the heel cup is great though. Love this about Union bindings – great for boot centering for even overhang.

Shock Absorption

The shock absorption is great on these bindings. It’s another thing that Union do really well. Pretty much all of their bindings have at least great if not excellent shock absorption.

It definitely makes a difference for comfort over time and you definitely notice it if your landing jumps, dropping off lips, ollying over rollers etc all day.

Entry/Exit

Like most Union bindings, the Forces have great ratchets and this makes them pretty smooth to get on and off quickly.

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Check out the video below for more on the Union Force bindings.

Comfort

There’s no canted footbed – but they are otherwise tick all the boxes comfort-wise. That’s partly down to the awesome shock absorption and partly down to quality straps and adjustability.

The straps comfortably conform to your boots and the adjustability means that you can set them up just right so that you can avoid any potential pressure points.

They’re not the most comfortable in Union’s line but they’re comfortable enough.

Responsiveness

These bindings are really quite responsive – one of the most responsive I’ve tried at this price point for sure.

Ankle Support

They have a looser feel to them in terms of ankle support. A surfier feel. If you like that then great, but if you prefer more ankle support or a more locked in feeling then they may not work as well for you.

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

RATING
(out of 5)

Contribution to Final Score

RESPONSE

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

The Forces remain one of the cheapest, good quality bindings out there. For this price, I can’t think of any binding off-hand that can match the Force for performance. They're at a mid price-point (just under the average for the bindings I tested, but well above the average score). 

These bindings have been going for 15 years now and Union seems to have found the formula for a quality binding at a really great price.

They’ll do a great job for anyone looking for a binding that won’t break the bank but is still responsive and good quality – and for anyone looking for one pair of bindings for multiple boards.


Union Force 2017 Review

Union Force Bindings ReviewHello and welcome to my Union Force bindings review.

In this review I will take a look at the Forces as all-mountain-freeride snowboard bindings.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Forces a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all mountain bindings.

Overall Rating

Bindings: Union Force

Price: $229 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain Freeride

Other Uses: All-Mountain, Freestyle

Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (on the softer side of medium-stiff) – 6.5/10

Rating Score: 79.8/100

Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

Out of the 13 men’s all-mountain-freeride bindings that I rated:

  • The average price was $283 (USD)
  • The average score was 79.8/100
  • The highest score was 94.7/100
  • The lowest score was 56.4/100
  • The Force ranked 8th out of 13

Sizing

Check out the table below for the available size for the Forces.

Size Fits Men’s US Boot Sizes Euro Boot Sizes UK Boot Sizes
S 5.0 – 8.5 37.0 – 41.0 4.0 – 7.5
M 8.0 – 11.0 40.5 – 44.0 7.0 – 10.0
L 10.0 & up 43.0 & up 9.0 & up

Note that for the 2016 and earlier models Union used different sizing – the following is how the new Union sizings match with previous year’s models (2017 sizing first and prior years second). 

  • S = S/M
  • M = M/L
  • L = L/XL

Who are the Forces Most Suited to?


Union Force Snowboard Bindings reviewUnion’s Force bindings are great for anyone looking for a binding in that just above mid-flex range for riding the groomers or backcountry – whether you want to ride fairly aggressively or want to ride more casual or ride freestyle – or do all of the above (as all-mountain bindings should).

The ideal snowboarder for these bindings is someone looking for one set of bindings (rather than owning separate bindings for different purposes) and that want their bindings at an affordable price, but still have good response and not be too soft.

If you have more than one board, these bindings should match well with most boards – maybe except for the flexiest street/jib boards and the stiffest freeride boards.  But they’ll work well with everything in between.


The Forces in More Detail


Union Force Bindings 2017
Union Force Bindings 2017

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Force’s are capable of.

Demo Info

Bindings: Union Force 2017, M/L

Date: March 29 & March 31

Conditions: Groomed – hard packed. Some spots of icy snow and some slushy spots. And some softer pack spots too. Conditions were quite slow in general even though it was hard pack. The wet concrete-like slush on top was enough to slow it down a fair bit. (pretty much the same both days I rode these bindings)

Bindings angles: +18/+3

Flex

The Forces are medium but really bordering on medium-stiff.

Union have two separate flex ratings. One for the high back flex and one for the base plate flex. The Force ratings are:

High-back: 7/10

Base Plate: 6/10

Which is pretty accurate, I would say – they feel like they’re not quite as stiff as 7 but more than a 6.

The high backs are designed to flex more in certain spots so that you can tweak them when you want to but their stiffer in the right spots to give you some great response.

Butterability/Board Feel

They don’t have the mini-disc like the Contacts, Contact Pros, Falcors , Ultras or Ultra FCs (in the Union line) but they still butter really well considering that. Better than other Union bindings without the mini-disc in my experience.  They flex well with the board with minimal dead spot. Not as well as the Union bindings with the mini disc though.

Adjustability

You can adjust most parts of the binding It’s pretty easy to adjust on the fly as the adjustments are virtually all tool-less.

Assuming you pick the right size bindings for your boots, you’ll be able to dial these in for a great fit.

Shock Absorption

The shock absorption is great on these bindings. It’s another thing that Union do really well. Pretty much all of their bindings have at least great if not excellent shock absorption.

It definitely makes a difference for comfort over time and you definitely notice it if your landing jumps, dropping off lips, ollying over rollers etc all day.

Entry/Exit

Like most Union bindings, the Forces have great ratchets and this makes them pretty smooth to get on and off quickly.

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Check out the video below for more on the Union Force bindings.

Comfort

There’s no canted footbed – but they are otherwise tick all the boxes comfort-wise. That’s partly down to the awesome shock absorption and partly down to quality straps and adjustability.

The straps comfortably conform to your boots and the adjustability means that you can set them up just right so that you can avoid any potential pressure points.

Responsiveness

These bindings are really quite responsive – one of the most responsive I’ve tried at this price point for sure.

Ankle Support

They have a looser feel to them in terms of ankle support. A surfier feel. If you like that then great, but if you prefer more ankle support or a more locked in feeling then they may not work as well for you.


Score Breakdown and Final Verdict


Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

FACTOR RATING (OUT OF 5) CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE
Responsiveness: 4.0 20/25
Board Feel: 4.0 12/15
Adjustability: 4.0 12/15
Ankle Support: 2.0 6/15
Shock Absorption: 4.5 9/10
Comfort: 3.5 7/10
Entry/Exit: 4.0 4/5
Flex: 5.0 5/5
TOTAL after normalizing   79.8/100

The Forces remain one of the cheapest, good quality bindings out there. For this price, I can’t think of any binding off-hand that can match the Force for performance.

These bindings have been going for 13 years now and Union seems to have found the formula for a quality binding at a really great price.

They’ll do a great job for anyone looking for a binding that won’t break the bank but is still respsonsive and good quality – and for anyone looking for one pair of bindings for multiple boards.

Filed Under: 2017 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2018 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2019 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2020 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2021 Snowboard Binding Reviews, 2022 Snowboard Binding Reviews, Men's All Mountain Binding Reviews, Union Tagged With: Union Force 2018-19, Union Force 2019-20, Union Force 2020-21, Union Force 2021-22, Union Force 2022, Union Force Review

About Nate

Nate is passionate about and loves learning new things everyday about snowboarding, particularly the technical aspects of snowboarding gear. That, and becoming a better rider and just enjoying and getting the most out of life.

Follow Snowboarding Profiles

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Nate on Yes Hybrid Snowboard Review
  • Nate on Salomon Assassin Pro Review
  • Nate on Yes Hybrid Snowboard Review

Snowboardingprofiles.com participates in affiliate programs and may earn commissions on products linked to on this site.  More Details

Snowboardingprofiles.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2014-2022 · SnowboardingProfiles.com ·

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact