Hello and welcome to my Union Strata 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 2019
Price: $279 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Baseplate = Medium (6/10), highback = Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 92.5/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Bindings
Out of the 19 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: | $279 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Edge-to-Edge: | Medium-Fast |
Weight: | Light |
Mounts To: | 2 x 4 | Channel |
Sizing
SIZE | US Boot Size Range | Euro Boot Size Range | UK Boot Size Range |
Small | 5-8 | 37-41 | 4-7 |
Medium | 7-10 | 40-43 | 6-9 |
Large | 10+ | 43+ | 9+ |
Who are the Strata Most Suited To?
The Strata are brand new for the 2018-19 season and fill the gap that’s in between the Contact Pro and Falcor nicely, in terms of flex, and has the mini disc the same as those two models.
But it’s completely its own binding and sits perfectly in the middle ground of do-it-all, IMO. They’re soft enough to play around on the groomers or in the park, but their stiff enough and responsive enough to lay down big carves too and play off-groomer.
You can take these anywhere on the mountain and ride any style.
They are best suited to boards with a 4/10 to 7/10 flex, and even better for boards with a 5/10 or 6/10 flex.
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 2019, Medium
Date: March 22, 2018
Conditions: Puking snow! A lot of fresh powder and everything just filling in all day. Being a weekday, nothing was getting too tracked out anyway, but even if it did it would have just filled in again. Visibility was of course not ideal, but far from whiteout as well (mid-level vis). It was cold (had to be for the snow) but not super freezing. Just nicely cold – and superbly powdery!
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance Width: 555mm (21.85”)
Board demoed with: Rossignol One LF 2018
Baseplate Length: 25.8cm (10.16”) – that’s measured on the top of the footbed. 24.0cm on the underside of the baseplate – it angles up to the top of the footbed.
Highback Height: 20.6cm (8.11”)
Weight: 860 grams (1lbs, 14oz) – per binding, including disc and screws
Lighter than most bindings, but heavier than some Union bindings (like the Falcor, Ultra, Contact Pro and Flite Pro).
Flex
Overall the Strata feels a touch softer than the Falcor. The highback is noticeably softer but overall, on snow it’s what I would consider 6/10.
Responsiveness
The Strata’s have great response. They can really drive your board from edge-to-edge, quickly and effortlessly. Not quite as responsive as the Falcor’s but great level of response for anything from a 4/10 to a 7/10 flexing board. Ideal for 5/10 or 6/10 flexing boards, IMO.
Board Feel/Butterability
As with every Union binding that has a mini-disc (which the Strata has), the Strata’s provide great board feel and are easy to butter with.
Pop/Ollie Power
I didn’t feel they had quite the pop power as the Falcors, but they came very close. Great pop overall and made my board feel poppier than it usually does.
Adjustability
You can adjust the heelcup, which I am a big fan of. Really helps to make it easier for boot centering.
The highback lean, ankle strap length adjustments and toe strap length adjustment are all tool-less.
There isn’t any toe ramp (aka gas pedal) adjustment and there’s only one position for the ankle strap (you can adjust the length but not the position – so you can’t move it so that it sits higher on your ankle). But there are two different positions for the toe strap, so you can wear it either as a toe cap or over your boot.
So, most of the adjustments you expect from bindings these days, but not everything – but that heel cup adjustment does get a big tick from me.
Shock Absorption
These bindings are super-cush and will keep absorbing shock all day. They feature a new technology from Union, which they’re calling Fused Vaporlite™ which is basically supposed to be super-dampening, but also light weight and doesn’t interfere with board feel.
I don’t know the technical reasons for this, but from riding these bindings, they felt really damp, had great board feel and at just 780g (860g with disc and screws), they’re certainly pretty light (though not the lightest that Union has).
Entry/Exit
Really smooth ratchets that go on and come off really easily – as is the case with most Union bindings.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
These bindings are super comfortable and I really didn’t notice them on. The ankle strap and toe strap both conformed really nicely without pressure points and that dampening and lightness really add to the comfort too.
I did feel like you can just keep tightening these bindings, they almost conform so well that you can get them too tight and then it starts to cut off circulation! But so long as you don’t over tighten them, they’re super comfortable.
Ankle Support
The ankle support is fine and they give you a little more support than the likes of the Contact Pro. Similar in ankle support to the Falcor. Not as much support as Burton bindings, most (maybe all) of which have a position that’s higher on the ankle which can provide more support – and not as much as Flux (which have even better ankle support, IMO). But nothing like super loose or unsupportive by any means. Was enough for me, for sure.
Changes from the 2018 Model
There was no 2018 model – this is a brand new model!
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 |
|---|---|---|
Response | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Ankle Support | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Entry/Exit | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.5/100 |
Overall a great pair of bindings that can do a bit of everything. If I had to choose I’d still go Falcor, but very little in it – and if you’re looking for something that has great board feel, still really good response and is nice and damp but you want something just a little softer flexing than the Falcor, then the Strata fit that bill nicely.
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.
Hey Nate, Nice review man really appreciate your opinions.
Do you think these would be better paired to a Capita OutterSpace Living or Burton Mission Bindings?
I am a advanced beginner/ Intermediate rider.
Hi Mark
Thanks for your message.
I think the Strata would work well with the Outerspace Living, for sure. The Missions would also work though. I would say the Missions are a similar flex too.
The Statas give a bit more responsiveness, a little better board feel and a little more in terms of shock absorption, IMO – but the Missions are still good bindings in those departments and would suit the Outerspace Living. I’d personally go with the Stratas, but both would work.
Hope this helps with your decision
Heya Nate!
If you had the choice between the 2017/2018 Burton Cartel or the new Stratas, which one would you choose?
My profile: High-beginner, low intermediate rider with a Slash Brainstorm. I am primarily riding groomers and off-piste and want to get into doing jumps off of sidehits and such.
Thanks for the vast amount of Information you provide here!
Hi Michael
Thanks for your message.
Both great options, so you couldn’t go wrong with either, but I liked the Strata just that little bit more. Also Check out my Burton Cartel Review – and look at the score breakdowns and you can get an idea of what I thought of the performance of each for different factors.
But yeah, both are highly recommended and both are a good match for the Brainstorm, IMO.
Hope this helps
Heya Nate,
thanks a bunch, once again.
I’ve read through your Cartel & Strata reviews and have gone ahead and ordered the Strata. I think that one is gonna be a better fit for me right now – and where I want to go.
Great day to you and a good 2018/2019 season, mate!
You’re very welcome Michael.
If you think of it, let me know how you get on with the Strata, once you’ve had a chance to ride it.
A great 2018/19 season to you too!
Hi Nate! This is Marco… congrats for your reviews which i ever found so useful!
I would like to ask to you one doubt: i’m going to buy a Jones Explorer 161 wide, what type of the following bindings could you recommend?
I’m following: Burton Cartel Re:Flex 2019, Union Atlas 2019, Union Strata 2019… i’m a low intermediate snowboarder and i like doing slopes/pistes and backcountry pow!
Any advice will be so useful!
Thanks in advance
Cheers from Italy
Marco
Hi Marco
Thanks for your message.
All of those would certainly work for the Explorer. I would personally be weighing up between the Strata and the Cartel, just because I really like to have good board feel and those 2 bindings provide really good board feel. The Atlas isn’t as good in terms of board feel. But the Atlas is otherwise a nice binding and certainly suitable for the Explorer. If you’re not really doing any buttering or freestyle stuff, then board feel becomes less important, but I still like a bit of board feel, even for non-freestyle stuff.
The other thing to think about is a Burton binding on a non-Burton board has limited stance width adjustment options – i.e. you can only move each binding by 2cm at a time, meaning no micro-adjustments. If you are happy to just ride reference stance (which is what I do 90% of the time on a board), then it’s not a big deal, but if you were wanting to experiment with your stance width, then it makes it trickier. Just one thing to consider if going Cartel.
Hope this helps with your decision
Thanks Nate, for sure it will help for my decision. I think that i will go with the stratas for having a more responsiveness… the highback stiffness is so different according to your opinion?
Thanks in advance!
You’re very welcome Marco.
I would say that the Strata’s highback is a little stiffer, but not massively stiffer, than the Cartel’s but the baseplate on the Cartel is a little stiffer than the Strata. But both even out to a 6/10 flex feel, IMO.
Thanks a lot… i would like to ask to you the last question i promise:
Have you tried both of them in powder? Could you define some differences or analogies?
Best regards
Hi Marco
Without having directly ridden both bindings back to back in powder conditions, it’s hard to say for sure. But in my head, a softer baseplate would lead to an overall surfier feel – i.e. the baseplate would have more influence on a surfier feel than the high back would, but that’s just a theory.
Hey mate,
Tossing up between these and the 2019 Genesis (or Genesis X) for this upcoming season, and keep changing my mind between them.
I ride mostly groomers/powder in Japan, have zero interest in park/rails. Currently riding a Capita Mercury and Bataleon Surfer.
Any advice?
Hi Pablo
Thanks for your message.
I would probably say Genesis for the Bataleon Surfer would be best bet, but for the Mercury I would go either Genesis X or Strata. So it’s a tough choice. But there isn’t really a bad choice either, IMO. The Genesis would work for the Mercury too, I just think the Strata or Genesis X would be slightly better. I think I would go Strata over Genesis X for the Surfer.
So, I think I would be choosing between the Genesis and the Strata, with the Strata slightly better for the Mercury and the Genesis slightly better for the Surfer.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hey Nate,
I’m looking for a binding to match my Rossignol Sushi.
I’m currently on an Arbor Coda Rocker with Flux DSs and really enjoy it.
Would you say I could switch to Union without a complete shock and is the Strata stiff enough for Pow-Days on the Sushi? Maybe go stiffer(Falcor)? Maybe stay with Flux(TM)? Help me out with this one.
Cheers Dan
Hi Dan
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t ridden the Sushi, so I’m not familiar with how stiff it feels. But looking at the Rossignol catalog it says 6/10 flex for the Sushi. If this is accurate, then I would say that the Strata would be a really good match for it. If it’s stiffer than that in reality, then I would be looking between the Union Falcor and the Flux XF. I would go for the XF over the TM for the Sushi, just because it has a slightly more surfy feel. Still a really responsive binding, but just slightly softer flexing than the TM and the highback is a little shorter, just giving it more of a surfy feel in comparison. Assuming that’s something that you want for the Sushi. If you do want something more locked-in feeling, then the TM would work for sure.
Hope this helps with your decision
Will the strata match well with the yes ghost? Should I be looking at Falcor?
Cheers nate!
Hi Tim
The Strata would be a good match the Ghost, IMO. By my feel, I would rate the Ghost a 6/10 in terms of flex – and the same for the Strata. Of course this isn’t an exact science feeling flex for boards and bindings, but I would say that would match very well. In saying that the Falcor would also work very well for the Ghost, IMO. I would be leaning towards Strata though, but not much in it.
Hope this helps with your decision
Thanks nate
Got the black strata, looks sick, look forward to trying them both out.
Sweet! If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on with your new setup, once you’ve had a chance to get them on snow.
Hi Nate, love your work and great reviews! How do these compare to the cartels? I read your review for both of them and it seems like this one got an overall higher score, but I still have a few questions:
1. The cartels have a canted food bed as you have mentioned, do the stratas have them too? How important is this? I would like to take care of my knee if im going to be snowboarding every season every week.
2. Based on pictures, the stratas look like they have a very thin and uncushioned/unpadded high back. Any issues/concerns there?
3. Which ankle strap do you like better?
4. Have you experienced any of the rumored union bindings’ screws becoming loose issue? I hear that is an issue for some people and that has me worried.
Thanks!
Hi Nelson
Thanks for your message.
These and the Cartels are both quite similar in a lot of ways. I found the Strata’s just a little more responsive and just a bit better in terms of board feel. But they’re really very close in that sense. The Cartel’s marginally more comfortable and a little more in the way of ankle support, but again, subtle differences.
To answer your questions, from my experience/opinion:
1. The Strata does also have a canted footbed. I don’t notice this in terms of comfort over the short term but over the long term it’s supposed to be better for your knees, hips and ankles. Also you get a bit more pop from a canted footbed. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-have but it’s something that I like to have.
2. I didn’t notice any issues with the highback, in terms of comfort, but perhaps over a longer period of time you could start to notice it, but I own the Falcors, which also don’t have much in the way of padding (except a little at the top) and I haven’t noticed any calf discomfort with those
3. I would say I slightly prefer the Cartel’s ankle strap, but the Strata’s isn’t bad by any means. You can over crank the Strata’s ankle strap which makes it feel less comfortable, but so long as you don’t over crank it it’s very comfortable. I prefer the toe strap on the Strata vs the Cartel. I don’t believe the Cartel got Burton’s new toe strap which some other Burton models, like the Genesis got.
4. I’m assuming you’re referring to the screw that connects the highback, ankle strap and heel cup? This has apparently been an issue for Union in the past. I’ve never had any issues with this but I have heard about it. But apparently this issue has been fixed on the 2019 models (they’re apparently using different washers now).
If you’re referring to the screws that mount the binding to the board, then whilst I have had screws come loose here, I’ve had the same thing with every brands bindings, and it’s just down to use. Screws come loose over time, especially if you’re riding hard, doing ollies etc. Key is to make sure you tighten your screws regularly. Union’s screws do tend to be shorter than other brands and for a lot of their bindings you have to mount one or two screws without washers first, to compress the cushioning and then mount the others with washers, then take out the ones without and replace the washers. A bit of a pain, but not too bad. And I haven’t noticed this making the screws come loose any quicker. If you were really worried on this front you could try to get screws from another brand of bindings – though the only caution here would be whether Union use shorter screws for their bindings for a reason. I’m not sure.
Hope this answers your questions and helps with your decision
I’ve followed your reviews on everything I’ve considered buying. Keep up the great work. It’s nice to see you answering everyone’s questions. Not many people would take the time to do so. How would the Stratas match up with a NS Proto TT 158x? I’m an All-Mountain rider who visits the jumps in the park frequently.
I also have a pair of Rome SDS 390’s. I like them, but I adjusted them multiple ways, and I’m still getting a lot of ankle pain where the highback meets the baseplate? Any thoughts on that and the bindings in general.
Lastly, the strata hyperblue – red – black for the 18/19 proto 2 top sheet? I like the red, but all my friends favor the hyperblue.
Thanks man, keep up the good work.
-Cody
Hi Cody
Thanks for you message.
I think the Strata would be a good match for the PT2. The flex is a good match, IMO and the board feel of the Strata would work well with something like the PT2, IMO.
I don’t currently test Rome gear, unfortunately, though I’m hoping to be able to soon. But currently I’m not sure what could be causing that with the 390’s.
Not sure I’m qualified to recommend color match! But black goes with everything. Certainly the safe bet. But I think the Red would go with the board – just an opinion though. The Hyperblue probably would too. It’s a more unique color. So I guess it depends if you want to stand out or not.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate – thanks for the informative, easy-to-read review.
I’m quite keen on the Union Strata bindings, but struggling to pick the right size! Hoping you might be able to offer some feedback if you have a minute.
I have a pair of Burton Ruler boots in the Wide fit, brand new model, in size US 8.5. Union’s size chart says:
– Small -> boots 5-8
– Medium -> boots 7-10
So while technically I’m in the Medium range, I’ve been told that my boots can probably fit in the Small (since Burton boots are meant to have a smaller footprint) – and this would give me better response.
I can’t find any stores around me that stock the Strata, so my best bet would be to order them online.
But that leaves me with the dilemma – which size should I go for? Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Shaker
Usually I would say go for the smaller size, if you can – and I would imagine that 8.5 Burton boots would be fine in small bindings (though I couldn’t say for sure as I haven’t tried that combination.
Only thing is if the the wide models are significantly wider in the toe box, on the outersole of the boot, whether that would cause any issues. But I couldn’t say for sure.
In terms of response, a snugger fit might help with response, but also a longer base plate can also help with response, so going Medium gives you that. And I don’t think you’re going to have a sloppy fit at all, in the Medium. So I would go Medium, if I was you.
Hope this helps