The Three New Binding Companies of SIA
SIA is right around the corner and that means an abundance of 2013 product previews will be hitting the Internet for everyone to drool over. What this also means is that there will be new companies launching their lines for us. The biggest news is we’re getting three new binding companies for 2013 and not just an established company extending their lines with new models.
First up is the much anticipated Now Snowboarding binding company run by veteran rider JF Pelchat. Almost a decade in the making, his approach to binding functionality has been utilizing a kingpin system similar to the likes of a truck on a skateboard to give more flex and feel to the board.
Basically think of it like a rocker for your bindings. Will this be good or bad? Jury is still out on this one but the concept is intriguing. From the little video’s that have popped up it seems to do well in powder, hard packed and park will be the real test. For more info on this new binding revolution check out TWBiz’s interview with the inventor himself.
Next up is the creative Switchback Binding line. An off shoot of Bataleon and backed by an impressive team of riders who are dominating various aspects of snowboarding. The big claim to fame for them is the ability to fully customize anything on the binding without using a tool other than the screws to mount it to the board. Ride it with a highback or without.
Props for picking and choosing your colorways. But the question is how will these things work out on a brick and mortar level? Will we see boxes of parts left over from colorways that didn’t sell? Curious marketing for sure.
Looted this photo off TWBiz you can check the mini interview about them here.
The final binding line is one that’s been featured on here before, Bon Hiver the strap in step out gripper of the future. Sure we were apprehensive about what it’s doing, I mean we did live through the Burton Fusion binding.
Here’s what it’s bringing to the table a traditional strap in but an easy out for skating. Will this appeal to everyone? That’s questionable but for those that refuse to bend over at the waist and adjust two straps it might be an option.
So after a brief preview of these three and more to follow after SIA wraps up do any of these stand out to you as potentially being the next big thing in snowboarding?
Latest posts by Angrysnowboarder (Posts)
- C4 World Domination Company - May 17, 2013
- Jambox Shred Gears Trash Edit - May 17, 2013
- Zach Soderholm Season Edit - May 17, 2013
Intrigued by NOW. The rest seems like been there done that.
I think I, along with a lot of folks in the industry, are all anxious to see the NOW bindings and use them at Winter Park (I imagine they will be a part of the On Snow Demo). However, I am not sure if its because they have the most progressive concept, or if there marketing strategy has just been a very effective one (which I believe it has been).
Bon Hiver seems like a very cool concept, but it seems to cater to convenience more than function and progression of the binding. It also seems like there are a lot of things that could go wrong, leaving you doing one footys in the park all day. Haven’t we been through fads similar to this (e.g. step-in bindings, fusion)??
Personally, I feel the new line with the most potential is Switchback Bindings. Although I do agree that the easily interchangeable parts may mean that I lose a strap or two in my couch, this problem may be overlooked by most consumers when they realize they can pick and choose colorways. The easily customizable parts also bring another added variable: no highbacks. I have been hearing a lot of buzz around this concept, and am especially intrigued when I see such solid riders as Jake O-E, for example, doing big things without them and not skipping a beat. I would say it almost gives him and edge in certain arenas of the sport, namely street/park riding.
I plan on trying to take some turns without the backs on this season. From what I have heard and seen, as long as you have a solid, sturdy boot, the should be little to no effect on your riding. If more kids start taking off their highbacks and determine this to be true, there is no telling where that trend may take the industry.
yeah those now bindings sound crazy but lots of moving parts to break maybe…..
So you still have to bend over to get out of the Bon Hivers? Seems to be pointless then. You could just do the straps and avoid the chance that they come off while you are riding.
is it just me or do the ankle strap and the toe cap on the switchback bindings look extremely old school and uncomfortable, I’m interested to see how they ride.
I was thinking the same thing looks like the old SP or some of the other brands.
The ratchets on the switchbacks definitely look like the ones on my old sp destroids except matte instead of polished… I’m most interested in the NOW’s as I definitely get the direction he’s trying to go in, I’ll be curious to see how they test once the reviews start coming in
Umm… let me get this straight. We have spent the last 20 odd years getting the slop out of our bindings and Now you want to put it back in? I will reserve judgment until after the demo but this one looks like style over substance to me.
ill just take my highbacks off. Bam! 390 nobacks.
style of substance good point, speaking of style I’m interested in reading some reviews of how the technine doublewinged highbacks are on their new binding for this year
Anyone know if the Now’s will have canting? I’m intrigued by this concept.
I don’t but I will be finding out on Thursday.
NOW intrigues me maybe for park but for fuck’s sake can they give us a better picture of these things? I have a really hard time understanding what they’re trying to say even though it kinda-sorta makes sense, because I can’t see the damn things in any of the pics of vids. Baseless, right? Are they on risers or somethign? Etc.
Switchback looks interesting and the no but I’m not totally sold on this “no highbacks is the future” thing that people keep trying to push on us and the weight-saving angle is probably mostly bunk unless they’re trimming major weight, and it doesn’t look like you are able to rotate the highback so that’s kind of lame.
The Bon Hiver I just don’t know what that really appeals to and not at all interested in it.
Although not “new” per se the new Flow line is intriguing too.
When are you going to give us the reviews on these? its been over a month?
When it magically changes to review posting season.
yeah, when are you gonna review these bindingsso we know wether to spend our money on them or not?
When it becomes time to post them.
dude we used to take the highbacks off our shit back in the early 90s. one of my freinds never stopped. im stoked the fad came back.