Hello and welcome to my Union Strata snowboard bindings review.
In this review I will take a look at the Strata as all-mountain snowboard bindings.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Strata a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain bindings.
Overall Rating
Bindings: Union Strata 2024
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 Men’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 24 men’s all-mountain bindings that I rated:
Overview of the Strata’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Strata’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
STYLE:
ALL-MOUNTAIN
PRICE:
$259 - BUYING OPTIONS
$259 - BUYING OPTIONS
Ability Level:
flex:
weight:
Felt a touch lighter normal
Mounts to:
2x4 | Channel (mini disc not compatible with 4x4)
Sizing
SIZE | US BOOT SIZE | EURO BOOT SIZE | UK BOOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
S | 5.5-7.5 | 37-40.5 | 5-6.5 |
M | 8-10 | 41-43 | 7-9 |
L | 10.5-13 | 43.5-46 | 9.5-12 |
Who are the Strata Most Suited To?
The Strata are best suited to anyone who wants to tackle the whole mountain, but do so with a more freestyle approach and want bindings that optimize slow speed maneuverability and board feel/freedom of movement more so than hard carves and high speed bombing.
That said, its still decent on carves and the boot support isn't terrible or anything, but it's more optimized for that freer feeling.
Best matched to boards within a flex range from 4/10 to 7/10 and even better in that 5/10 to 6/10 flex range.
The Strata in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Strata are capable of.
Demo Info
Bindings: Union Strata 2024, Medium
Date: March 17, 2023
Conditions
Overhead was sunny, with the odd whispy cloud but predominantly a nice sunny day.
Temperature was 1°C (34°F) and -1°C (30°F) with wind, in the morning and 3°C (37°F) and 1°C (34°F) with wind, in the afternoon. Winds said 5kph (3mph) in the forecast but felt more like 20kph (12mph).
24 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
48 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
7 day snow: 16" (41cm)
On groomer: A little crunchier and icier in spots to start with but hard pack for most part. Softened up as the day went on.
Off groomer: Crunchy/icy. Not great. Doable but more about surviving than enjoying.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance Width: 560mm (22”)
Board tested with: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Boots tested with: Adidas Response ADV, size US9.5
Footbed length: 26.5cm (10.4”)
Footbed Length Fully Extended: n/a
Baseplate Length (underside): 24.2cm (9.5")
Highback Height: 20.6cm (8.1”)
Weight: 940 grams (2lbs, 1oz)
* for one binding, including screws and disc. The average weight of a small sample size of around 80 bindings (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models) I have weighed is 920 grams (2lbs). So the Strata were a touch heavier than the average, but actually felt a little lighter than normal on snow.
Flex
In Hand: Not a ton of twist flex in the highback and basically no pull back flex. Surprising given it's overall flex feel on snow. Was very similar in terms of twist to Atlas. Harder to twist highback than with Force Classic. A touch more twist flex than the Malavita. Like the Malavita, I think the Strata has a softer flexing baseplate, which is what gives it it's overall mid-flex feel on snow. Ankle straps were stiffer than Atlas and Force Classic but not as stiff as the New Force. A little stiffer in ankle straps vs Malavita (my control bindings).
On snow: They felt right around that 6/10 flex overall, which is how they've always felt to me. Highback stiffness would make you think they were going to feel stiffer, but I suspect they have a softer baseplate.
Responsiveness
Has a springy feeling response. Like it makes turn initiation or that first part of the turn quicker/sharper and the turn exit quicker/sharper. Doesn't change the sidecut of board obviously but that's the way it feels. My favorite at slow speed tight/quick turns of all the Union bindings and better than Malavita at slow speed too.
For higher speed carves felt similar to Force New and Malavita - not quite as stable on higher speed carves as Atlas or even Force Classic. Still decent enough, but not Atlas good. Feel like you can still get that initiation into the carve quicker than most though - with that quick entry and exit/springy feeling.
Board Feel/Butterability
So good. Can really notice the difference on presses, ollies etc vs the Force and even a little vs the Malavita. Takes more skill because it's almost too easy but once you get it, it's sick for buttering and ollies and all that. Just felt so much freedom of movement in the Strata.
Pop/Ollie Power
Really good. Can get a little more out of the board pop-wise with these vs most bindings.
Adjustability
Heel Cup: Yes!
Stance Width: With the mini-discs you 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. There’s a good range though. You can have the thing up the way it is, and adjust it to 3 different levels. Then you can spin the thing around and have 3 more levels with that, giving even more forward lean, if you wanted a lot.
Ankle Strap Position: No.
Toe Strap Position: Yes.
Ankle and toe strap length: Tool-less.
Gas pedal/toe ramp extension: No.
Highback Rotation: Yes - 2 positions.
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
These bindings, as they always have, absorb shock and chatter really well.
And no surprise really. When you feel the footbed, whilst it's not as thick as on some bindings, it's got a nice cush yet springy feel to it.
Comfort
Overall very comfortable and with no pressure points or calf-bite.
Ankle Strap: Felt nice - hardly noticed it, which is always a good sign. No pressure points.
Toe Strap: Conformed nicely and no pressure points.
Canted Footbed: Yes.
Padded Footbed: Nice cush yet springy padding in footbed.
Highback: No padding whatsoever on highback, but didn't notice it when riding. No calf-bite or anything, which is the main thing.
Ankle Support
A touch less than I'm used to with the Malavitas and the other Union's I was testing, Overall they provide a looser, freer feeling but still decent enough ankle support.
Entry/Exit
Pretty smooth ratchets. Not the smoothest I've ever experienced or anything - not quite as smooth as the Malavitas, but I had no issues unstrapping on the move approaching the chairlift, so as good as they need to be getting in and out.
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 Strata are bindings that strike a really good balance between faster riding and slower riding but are slightly more optimized to short/sharp, explosive turns at more moderate speeds than they are to higher speed carves.
Similarly, they are more optimized towards board feel and freedom of movement than they are to smooth turning or high end ankle support. They are super fun to ride all-mountain-freestyle with and make regular turns more fun. And then they really come into their own when pressing, popping, ollying etc.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Strata, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Strata compares to other men’s all-mountain bindings or want to check out some other options in that category, check out the next link.
Hello and welcome to my Union Strata review.
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Strata are capable of.
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