Hello and welcome to my Union Legacy bindings review.
In this review I will take a look at the Legacy as all-mountain snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Legacy a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other women's all-mountain bindings.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Union Legacy
Price: $259 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium (6/10)
Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 90.9/100
Compared to other Women’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 16 women’s all-mountain bindings that we rated:
Overview of the Legacy’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Legacy’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain |
Price: | $259 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: | |
Flex: | |
Weight: | Normal |
Mounts To: | 2 x 4 | Channel |
Sizing
SIZE | US WOMEN'S BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK |
---|---|---|---|
S | 4-6.5 | 34-37 | 2-4.5 |
M | 6.5-8.5 | 37-40.5 | 4.5-6.5 |
L | 9-11 | 41-43 | 7-9 |
Who are the Legacy Most Suited To?
The Legacy are very versatile and match well with a wide range of boards and styles - they are ideal for those who ride a bit of everything and have freestyle as part of that repertoire.
Great option for those looking to get great board feel from their bindings, but still maintaining shock absorption and remaining comfortable and responsive.
Matches well to boards in a 4-7 flex range, but ideal for boards with a 5 or 6 out of 10 flex.
The Legacy in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Legacy are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: Union Legacy 2022, Medium
Date: February 24, 2021
Conditions: Sunny! As in not a single cloud in the sky! So, naturally, perfect visibility.
-4°C (25°F) with and without wind - no wind. Felt warmer than that though - because of the sun.
24 hours snow: 2cm (1")
7 day snow: 45cm (18")
On Groomer: Hard but not icy.
Off Groomer: Crunchy and with some icy patches.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance Width: 510mm (20”)
Board demoed with: Ride OMG
Baseplate Length: 23.8cm (9.37”) – that’s measured on the top of the footbed. 22cm (8.66") on the underside of the baseplate – it angles up to the top of the footbed.
Highback Height: 19cm (7.5”)
Weight: 800 grams (1lbs, 12oz)
Tester: Jade
Rider Height: 5'7" (170cm)
Rider Weight: 145lbs (66kg)
Rider Boot Size: Women's US6.5 Thirty Two Exit
Test Bindings Used: Burton Lexa, Medium
Test Board: Ride OMG
Responsiveness
They strike a really nice balance between allowing the board to maneuver easily at slower speeds, but also being responsive at higher speeds and allow you to really lean into your carves - they have enough stiffness not to fold, but not so stiff that they're unforgiving or to rigid when you're taking it slow or need to maneuver through tight spots.
Board Feel/Butterability
The Legacy give really good board feel and the board flexes really naturally underneath - no doubt largely because of the mini-disc.
It made butters feel natural and easy and generally found it easy to manipulate the board underfoot.
Pop/Ollie Power
Good ollie power in these bindings. Felt like it was a little more than typical. Having that board feel and lateral feel in there certainly helped to make ollies easier and stronger.
Adjustability
Heel Cup: Yes (which is really nice to have for easy centering of boots)
Stance Width: With the mini-discs can't run the disc vertically - but there's no need to have that, with the adjustable heel cup (you'd typically only run vertically for boot centering). So with the disc running horizontally it gives you some stance width adjustability. However, being a mini-disc it's somewhat limited.
Highback Lean: Yes, but not tool-less
Ankle Strap Position: No
Toe Strap Position: Yes
Ankle and toe strap length: Yes - tool-less
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: No
Highback Rotation: Yes, but limited to 2 slots
Compatible with: 2 x 4 | channel - not compatible with 4 x 4, which means doesn't work on "slam back inserts" "float packs" - anything that has an extra set of holes 4cm behind the main insert pack and not compatible with 4 x 4 insert packs (though those are very rare these days).
Shock Absorption
The padding underfoot doesn't feel ultra cushy, but when you press in you can feel a nice rebound to it. And then when you ride it absorbs shock really well, both in terms of chatter and for landings.
Entry/Exit
Ratchets are nice and smooth and getting them on and off is easy and fast.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
Overall they are nice and comfortable. No calf-bite or pressure points whatsoever when riding.
Ankle Strap: Conforms nicely without any pressure points. Feels secure, but you don't notice it once you're strapped in.
Toe Strap: Also feels nice and secure and fit the boot well. No pressure points.
Canted Footbed: Yes
Padded Footbed: There's around 2cm of padding on the footbed, which is nice. It doesn't look ultra cushy at first, but when you press in you get good rebound. And you kind of don't it to have too much give, so as to maintain response - so that springy stuff (I promise this is the technical term! 😉 ) is ideal for comfort and response.
Highback: There's a little padding there. But the main thing - no calf bite
Ankle Support
Ankles felt nicely supported in the Legacy, without feeling too restricted.
Changes for the 2023 Model
The ratchets were magnesium and are now aluminum (downgrade). And it now only comes in a solid highback option. Whereas before you could get it in either a solid highback or one with holes through it.
But more remarkably, the price has gone down by $70 for the 2023 model. Which is a big drop for such a small downgrade. But I think the pricing is mostly reflective of the Ultra coming in and the Milan going out - and the pricing reflects where Union see the Legacy now sitting in the pecking order. Works out well for the customer.
Changes for the 2022 Model
The 2022 model is the same as the 2021 model.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
CARVING | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
BOARD FEEL | 5.0 | 15/15 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ANKLE SUPPORT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
ENTRY/EXIT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.9/100 |
The Legacy are an all-round great pair of bindings that strike a really nice balance between board feel, response, comfort and adjustability.
They can handle bombing and carving as well as they can handle butters and ollies. A really nice mix for those rider's looking to do a bit of everything.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Legacy, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Legacy compares to other women’s all-mountain bindings or want to check out some other options in that category, check out the next link.
April says
Hi Nate!
I’m looking for bindings for my Never Summer harpoon. I am looking at the union legacy or the ultras. My boots are a size 9, Burton rituals LTD boa. I’m open to other suggestions too. I mostly ride resort, trees, groomers and powder days on the east coast. Trees are tight on the east.
Thanks!
Nate says
Hi April
Thanks for your message.
Given you’re riding style, I would say probably the Legacy. Both would work with the Harpoon though, so there’s definitely not a wrong choice between them, IMO. The Legacy, in our experience, are a little stiffer than the Ultra, but there’s not a big flex difference. If you’re a lighter than average person, then I would be leaning Ultra but if you’re heavier than average than I’d be leaning Legacy. With more weight we can exert more force on the bindings, which does make flex relative to a degree. But this is just a way to narrow down the most optimal choice, but they would both work fine with the Harpoon, in any case.
Hope this helps with your decision
Lindsey Akiona says
Hi Nate!
Hoping you can give me a recommendation on bindings for my new Dream Weaver. I’m 5’8”, 136lbs, sz. 8.5 boot. I ride mostly resort/groomers and powder if I can get it. I was trying to decide between union legacy and ride CL-6 (my previous binding was 2013 ride fame). Union’s new ultra has also peaked my curiosity but I’m not a freestyle rider by any means and maybe too soft for the dream weaver? I’m open to other recs too if you have them.
Thank you!
Lindsey
Nate says
Hi Lindsey
Thanks for your message.
I think the Ultra would work for the Dream Weaver, but I think the Legacy would be the better match. The CL-6 would also be a good match. I’m a bigger fan of the Union Legacy, so that’s what I would go with but both would match well with the Dream Weaver, IMO.
Hope this helps
Lindsey Akiona says
Thank you Nate! I really appreciate your input.
Lindsey
Nate says
You’re very welcome Lindsey. Hope you have an awesome season!