How to choose a mount for snowboarding

In order to protect yourself from getting injured and make snowboarding as emotional and comfortable as possible, you should pay close attention to the choice of auxiliary equipment. This is especially true of snowboard bindings - it is on them that the stability on the board and the ability to confidently and, most importantly, safely maneuver during the descent from the mountain.

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1. Best snowboard mount manufacturers
2. Types of snowboard bindings
3. The main criteria for the selection of mounts for snowboarding

Best snowboard mount manufacturers

Traditionally, the best considered fasteners manufactured by leading manufacturers of snowboards and equipment for it:

1. Vans

2. Burton

3. Never summer

4. Lib tech

5. GNU

Experienced riders advise to pick mounts of the same company that manufactured the board itself. Before giving preference to one or another model, one should study the characteristics and main technical points, as well as reviews of specific users, who know firsthand the strengths and weaknesses of the device. Only in this case, the real characteristics will fully meet the expectations.

Types of snowboard bindings. Which model to prefer?

The main purpose of the snowboard bindings is to firmly fix the rider boot and transfer the force applied during the movement to the board for further control.

Soft mounts

The classic look is currently the most popular. Fixes the shoe at two points, behind and in front. The heel in soft mounts is secured with a rigid back, while the ankle part is tightened with special straps that allow the rider to maneuver during descent.

Virtues

• Inexpensive;

• Reliable design;

• Provide decent maneuverability;

• Comfortable;

disadvantages

• Not suitable for various tricks;

Mounts now bindings

One of the most modern subspecies of soft mounts. Its essence lies in a special method of installation: the fasteners do not have rigid fixation, but use for this purpose a special hinge element, which is characterized by mobility, regardless of the angle of installation. This design significantly increases the sharpness and clarity of management and significantly increases the mobility of the rider.

Virtues

• High mobility;

• Sharpness of management;

• Lack of rigid fixation;

• The convenience of use;

disadvantages

• The need for close monitoring of the condition;

• Unpredictability due to clogging of the structure with snow;

Step-in Mounts

An alternative to the Now Bindings system, which is very popular. Designed to increase mobility during skiing. It is fixed with the help of special latches in the automatic mode: all that the rider needs to do is stand on the supporting part. Provides decent sharpness of control and mobility during descent from the mountain.

Virtues

• High mobility;

• Sharpness of management;

• Lack of rigid fixation;

• The convenience of use;

disadvantages

• The need for close monitoring of the condition;

• Unpredictability due to clogging of the structure with snow;

Hard mounts

Designed for downhill, as well as to perform all sorts of tricks, freestyle and freeride. The platform is mounted using two special frames, one of which comes with a lock. Provide maximum rigidity and securely fix the boot.

Virtues

• Maximum stiffness;

• Ideal for performing various tricks, freestyle and freeride;

• Suitable for high-speed descents from the mountain;

• High stability;

disadvantages

• Cumbersome;

• Not the best option for a newbie;

• Expensive;

The main criteria for the selection of mounts for snowboarding?

Mount size

The fastener models on the market are available in three different sizes - small, medium and large. A specific model is selected for the used shoes. The choice is considered correct in the situation when the shoe is rigidly fixed in the mount, it does not dangle and does not play, even with intense movements.

Materials of which fastenings are made

The optimal are models made from light and rigid metals or polymeric materials. Depending on the planned budget, it is worth paying attention to fastenings made of aluminum, titanium, fiberglass, natural carbon. The characteristics of the above materials in terms of fasteners are about the same.

The shape and parameters of the strep

Strepes are fasteners that are designed to fix the boot to the mounting frame. They must have sufficient rigidity and at the same time not pinch the leg. Modern models of strep are made of a special material with a “memory”: they remember the shape of the boot in the mounting part and contribute to quick installation. The best option is the so-called multi-staple - multi-point locking system of the boot, eliminating the possibility of snow falling under it and not allowing the boot to move while driving;

Haybek and his design

Highback is the back wall of the mount, which has the ability to adjust the angle of the boot. Adjusting the angle is carried out using a special washer, which allows you to set both positive and negative angle if necessary. The best option for a novice rider are angles of 18 and 9 degrees for the front and rear legs, respectively;

Distance between fasteners during installation

It is impossible to give exact figures, but the general rule here is the following: the taller the rider is, the greater the distance should be. Otherwise, the operation of the snowboard will be fraught with loss of balance and constant falls. To reduce the distance between the mounts can only increase the skill of a snowboarder.

In the following articles, our experts tell how to choose snowboard boots and secrets selection of snowboard jackets.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.