Binding Model: Now Drive
Binding Size: Medium
Stance and Angles: Goofy, 21in wide, 12/-6
Board Used: Niche Aether 156
Boot Used: Ride Fuse
Boot Size: 8
Rider Weight: 155lbs
Location: Keystone
Conditions: Early season no new snow quite yet
Binding Adjustability: The straps are on tool less bolts that are easy enough to undo and fit back on.
Straps: The toe strap had a bit of a hard time accommodating my 8’s, which are on the bottom of the size run. They never blew off or felt like they weren’t doing their job, but they tended to slip forward a little bit. The ankle strap had a very solid locked in feeling. The solid foam strap feel very secure and locked in. The strap doesn’t have any stretch and only minimal flex. Its shape is done right so that it doesn’t cause any pressure despite it’s inflexible and stiff nature.
Ratchets: Smooth on and off with all the cranking power you could need.
Highbacks: The pseudo wing is nice on this. Straight back the highback really doesn’t have any give but torsionally there is some play. The wing helps keep everything in check so you don’t go too far towards your tips and helps keep the usable structure of the highback behind your leg when you are way on your back foot. It also creates a nice cradle to push into at the end of a deep carve.
Binding Flex: Supportive and stiff with some moveable flex. The carbon/nylon disc mount Post) was a huge improvement. It provides just a hair more solid locked down feel than the older aluminum mount.
Ride: Charger with some ability left to move your body around. Freeriding steep and technical terrain does require some degree of movement on top of your board. Being Jeremy’s model, this provides all the locked down, supportive, and responsive feel you’d need out there, but with just enough flex and give to allow for some unhindered body positioning.
Rider in Mind: All mountain charger who might also be hiking into some chutes.
Personal Thoughts: The Drive was already a pretty dialed binding. Changing the post to carbon from aluminum just made it better. Lighter, more respsonsive, and not so “beefy” feeling. It lost nothing and gained a bit. Hangar 2.0 is nice to see here too. The wider heelcup just fits more boots more comfortably.
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32 Comments
How does this compare to the Now Recon, would you recommend one over the other?
They both sound very similar from your reviews, and I am torn between the two.
There’s a bit of overlap, get the cheaper one and save the cash.
What difference la are between the Now drive 2017 and the Now drive 2018? Is it worth the extra money to buy the 2018 model? Thanks
Save the cash get the 2017.
I picked up a Jones Flagship this year as my new daily driver…need a binding that will complement charging it with. Curious if you’ve had the chance to ride Union’s Falcor binding and how this would compare? Stuck between the Union Falcor and Now Drive. Appreciate your insight.
No Falcor’s yet.
How much of an upgrade would these be to my current malavitas. I’m riding last years Yes PYL
A substantial one.
Would you pair the Now drive with a United Shapes Inner Orbit (151) or the Union Atlas as a carving/pow setup. not really interested in park riding.
Now’s.
I use a Ride Lasso size 10. Intermediate rider. Board – Jones explorer. thinking of getting endeavour archetype. currently own burton Re:flex Genesis. should i get a Now pilot or Now Drive or Union atlas? Mainly groomers, off piste, pow, carve. no parks. thanks!
Honestly that Genesis ReFlex would be great for the Archetype.
yea. definitely matching the genesis to the archetype. but at this point i’ll have 3 boards and only one binding, lol. thinking of picking up a second one that’ll give a different feel to the genesis. figured the skate tech in Now would fit the description.
Get the Pilots and put them on the Explorer and you should be ready to go.
Planning on getting the Iguchi Pro Camber. Currently have a Double Barrel + Rome Katana. Thinking of moving the Katana and getting a more “park” oriented binding for the Double Barrel or should I get these for the Iguchi and keep the Katana on the Double Barrel?
Or you could get another set of Katana’s.
Hah. I just wanna try something new. I think I’m gonna get Union Falcors though under your suggestion on snowboarding forum. Only a bit more than Now Drives, and I’m really interested in trying out the carbon tech.
Then you’ll want those on the Iguchi as they would over power that Double Barrel.
Yup, that’s the plan. Absolutely can’t wait to try them out in a long 5 months time. I was really hoping you’d get your hands on a pair for a direct comparison, but I figured $25 more for the Falcors over the Drives was worth it. Worst case, I resell the Falcors and grab some Drives (or DODs).
These would be the best bet to get the best out of my optimistic?
Sure.
Now Drives or Arbor Cypress…for an Iguchi Rocker?
I’ve ridden the Iguchi Rocker with Hemlocks but wonder what a stiffer binding might do for the ride on that board.
No park, ride in CO. Steeps, pow, carving…cruising groomers on the way back to the lift.
Guess I am not sure if a stiffer binding would be too much for that board since it is a rocker and would like to know your thoughts on that.
I’d go to the Cypress.
I ride a Jones Explorer, mainly spend most of my day on inbounds steeps that are chopped up and groomers. Occasional cat ski trips. Would you recommend the Now Drive, Union Atlas, or Jones Mercury?
Drive or Mercury.
Yes PYL 165. 6’2″ 230lb freeride/all mountain powerful rider. Coming from 10 year old burton Co2s…
Now Drive or Genesis X?
Either would honestly work. The PYL is designed to match up more with the Now’s than the Burtons.
Thanks. Just to confuse things a bit more, I found a deal on the O-drives… Throw them in the mix.
Drive vs. O-drive?
Sure.
Can grab some 2018 Drives at a good deal and wondering if you think they pair well with Rossi XV? And if so, would they be too much for my other board, Jones Explorer? (hoping to get one new binding that might work with both to save cash)………thanks for what you do.
It’ll pair very well with the XV, might be a bit over powering on the Explorer but I wouldn’t worry about it, a day of riding them on that and you’ll compensate for having more power under foot and learn to under exaggerate your movements.
Excellent, thank you!