Now Bindings
Anyone out there ride the NOW bindings looks like some sweet new tech Im thinking or picking up a pair I currently own a pair of Ride Maestro bindings and they are sweet but I’m always looking for the newest tech and I plan on keeping these for the park and stuff but was thinking about using the NOW for those powder runs and also some back country runs high speed, lots of carves kinda thing any thoughts?
Hey Lester, I tested them for a week in Whistler at the end of the season. I was really impressed with them. I loved the way they flexed under my feet and they were especially good for carving. You can lay down some seriously tight carves (more angulation). It’s awesome how they load up energy and release at the end of a carve into the next turn. Definitely take the opportunity to demo a set if you get the chance. I think everyone should at least give them a go before making a judgement on whether they work or not - I was quite surprised to be honest.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Rider26,
Few questions…. I get the concept of the bindings my only concern is about ice and snow building between the rubber inserts and the board which would limit the movement / pivot of the binding, you think thats a concern or no? Also what about the no highback ?? I mean I know u can leave it on but are there any pros to taking it off ?? Well pros and cons?
I had no issues with snow build-up. Can’t say I noticed it happening at all. I honestly don’t feel it would ever be a problem.
Taking the highbacks off makes you rely more on board feel. I know JF Pelchat (owner of Now Bindings) has a rule that if it’s a 20cm powder day he takes the highbacks off. I guess it just gives it more of a ‘surfy’ feel. You lose responsiveness but it’s probably a really cool feeling having that freedom and just feeling the board under your feet. It’s the same reason guys go Noboarding (without any bindings) - surf the pow! See video below.
Thats insane these guys are doing the crazy stuff the guys are doing now with all the top boards and bindings wow! looks like fun
thanx for the info about the high backs can’t wait to try them.
Whats this I hear about the NOW bindings cause damage to boards something to do with the 4 pressure points causing damage? anyone hear anything about it? I was excited to get these bindings now im questioning NOW
any input ??
That’s the first I’ve heard of it. All bindings exert pressure on the topsheet though. Not much you can do about that.
That’s the first I’ve heard of it. All bindings exert pressure on the topsheet though. Not much you can do about that.
Yeah i was shocked when I heard it too maybe it’s the fact that the bindings are stationary and it causes pressure points, compared to traditional bindings but hey this is all I heard I don’t want to spread any bad news about bindings I don’t even own well not yet… But it did get me thinkin I don’t want damage to be caused to the board.
If you look on a top sheet of any board, over time the bindings leave topsheet damage. Its just gonna happen with wear and tear. I thinkif anything, the NOW would leave less because there is the padding where the contact points are.
Where have you heard this? And were they talking about cosmetic or structural damage?
I’m of the opinion that Now bindings could cause less topsheet damage than regular bindings. The way the bindings move they cushion the pressure. That’s my thought on it anyway.
Bindings will mark topsheets over time but it’s all cosmetic.
Yeah i was shocked when I heard it too maybe it’s the fact that the bindings are stationary and it causes pressure points,
Umm all bindings are stationary?!
yeah but NOW has a pivoting part that rocks the binding from each side of the board so the center stays connected but the rest does not, I won’t call that stationary because they move
I wouldn’t worry too much about it Lester. I think you’re a bit overthinking this a little bit. I think it’ll have the same wear and tear as any normal bindings.
Yeah agreed with the above, every binding will do cosmetic damage to the topsheet. Boards are made tough and theres noway that a binding will cause damage to the board unless its not bolted down correctly and then you can mess up the binding inserts (again they are pretty tough so you would have to try and damage them on purpose to do any harm)
Also yeah the binding do pivot front-to-back but most bindings these days have EVA foam on most parts of the base plate which allows them to move front-to-back and side-to-side to better flex with the board*
*theres a new idea, now bindings are typically backcountry, make them pivot side to side and you created a revolutionary new park binding that will make presses easier :p
At the end of the day, all this “new” tech is 60% marketing - 40% function.
*theres a new idea, now bindings are typically backcountry, make them pivot side to side and you created a revolutionary new park binding that will make presses easier :p
Burton have already done that with their 2012 and 2013 EST bindings - Diode, Malavita, Genesis all have ‘The Hinge’ which gives lateral movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OIkrlTiX_c&feature=player_embedded