Well, that was one hell of a summer. I don't know about you, but weeks straight of 100+ degrees is enough to drive me right to the brink of insanity. While it's not our favorite time of year I will say that the dog days of summer do have one benefit; making us think of winter! Now that the triple digit temperatures are in the rear view, it's time that we set our sights on the days ahead. Days of parking lot coffees, chairlift laughter, early mornings, party laps, toe-side turns, and whatever else makes your ears perk up when someone says "Let's go boarding". As product starts to make its way through our doors and onto the salesfloor, we are reminded of all these good times and many more. While we patiently wait for the snow to fall and the chairs to spin, we'll be highlighting our favorite products and brands to help make your selection of gear worry free. Starting with bindings!
Union Binding Co. has been at the forefront of snowboard binding technology since their inception in 2005. Over the course of the last 20 years Union has continued to push the progression of their category and has built an outstanding team to showcase their innovation. Being a brand that is operated by snowboarders, they make sure to be all encompassing and have a binding to fit each and every persons individual style and needs. Everything from easy going first timers to hard charging veterans can find a binding that will suit them perfectly. Not convinced? Let's talk about it!
To begin, we have the men's Flite Pro and women's Rosa. These bindings are built with a soft, forgiving flex and lightweight chassis to allow full freedom of movement. Designed for the beginner-intermediate rider who is just starting to find their freestyle legs or beginning their venture into the terrain parks. At the heart of the Flite Pro and Rosa bindings is Unions Mini-Disk. A smaller disc connecting your binding to your boards allows for ease of motion front to back, and side to side. Perfect for beginner to intermediate riders looking to take that next step won the hill!
The next binding in Unions offering is the Men's STR and Women's Juliet. Boasting All-Mountain comfort, the STR and Juliet are ready to take on the whole resort with ease and style. Being stiffer than the previous Flite-Pro and Rosa, the STR is designed with an all mountain focus and more responsive feel. Opposing the mini disc, these are equipped with a larger disc that provides a more "locked in" feeling and will respond to movement quicker and more precise. Pair this with tool-less adjustment on the straps and a canted footbed and you've got yourself a winner. Perfect for the beginner to intermediate rider who is ready to venture to the top of the mountain and push themselves outside their comfort zone.
It's time to start surfing the mountain by way of the Men's Strata and Women's Legacy. As fan favorites, the Strata and Legacy are soft, surfy, and ready for anything. They have a slightly stiffer baseplate than the previous models but paired with a mini-disc and soft flexing straps, these bindings are the perfect mix of forgiveness when you want it and precision when you need it. Perfect for the intermediate boarder who is ready to progress their riding in the park or turn the entire mountain into their playground.
Continuing the freestyle lineup is the Ultra. Perhaps the most comfortable binding on the market, the Ultra is versatile, predictable, and high-performing. Designed for the snowboarder that is seeking all-day comfort without sacrificing performance or construction. Perhaps the crowning jewel of the Union Ultra is the Vaporlite HD bushing, a one-piece bushing that allows for lasting comfort, shock absorption, and promotes a damper ride in variable terrain. The Ultra balances all day comfort with an aggressive performance that is perfectly suited for the intermediate to advanced rider who can use the entire mountain to their advantage.
Next in line we've got a time tested classic, the men's Force and women's Trilogy. These bindings are truly built to perform on any terrain, in any conditions, at any time. Perhaps the most popular bindings in the line, the Force and Trilogy boast a smooth and comfortable ride without giving up the response that is provided in the stiffer highback and straps. These binding are built with a 7/10 flex that is meant to do it all; steep lines in the backcountry, high-speed park laps, side hit launching, and everything that you can possibly think to do on your snowboard. Geared toward the intermediate to advanced rider, there is a reason that so many pro's make the Force and Trilogy their go to.
Time for some steep lines and high speed turns with the Union Atlas; an all-mountain binding geared toward the intermediate to advanced snowboarder who charges hard no matter the conditions. The Atlas has an overall flex of 8/10 to promote lightning quick response edge to edge. This year, the Atlas has a redesigned highback, upgraded ankle straps, and an all new 2-layer toe strap, which separates the internal grip from the external frame. The soft rubber inner allows the strap to form to any boot making it ultra comfortable while the outer frame retains the response that the binding is known for. The Atlas is built for the intermediate to advanced boarder who is pushing their limits and needs the gear to accompany them along the way.
Last and certainly not least; The Falcor by Travis Rice. The Falcor has been redesigned for 2025 and is truly an impressive feat of snowboard engineering. Every piece of this binding has been thoughtfully crafted and thoroughly tested to meet the standards of one of the greatest snowboarders of all time. In a nutshell, the Falcor is a high performance freeride/all-mountain binding that is quick to respond to the energy that is created when you get on edge. However, that is the tip of the iceberg with this binding. This 100% redesigned Falcor has everything you need to feel confident on hill and trust that you are in good hands. At the heart of the Falcor is the new two-layer baseplate construction. These two layers act together to bring you a smooth ride without compromising performance. The soft flexing frame allows forgiveness while the stiff core provides instant response from heel to toe. Alongside the baseplate is the new molecular bushing. The EVA bushing acts as the suspension between your snowboard and the bindings baseplate to reduce chatter from rough terrain. The Falcor is made for the hard charger, the early riser, the first tracks taker, the pow slayer... you get it.
Union Binding Co. has continued to push the limits for the last 20 years, and this year is no different. They are truly a snowboard brand built by snowboarders, ran by snowboarders, and loved by snowboarders. With a binding offering for every style and every boarder, you can trust that you are taking a step in the right direction.