Binding Model: Ride C-8

Binding Size: Medium

Stance and Angles: 21.5 wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boot Used: K2 Thraxis

Boot Size: 10

Board Used: K2 Cool Bean

Rider Weight: 200lbs

Location: Copper Mountain

Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, zero wind, cooler temps, chunder snow, icy snow, perfect corduroy, and soft snow.

Binding Adjustability: You have an adjustable heel cup, flip cams on the straps for length, the heel strap placement is tied into the highback rotation so you can move it forward or backward, the heel straps are able to be flipped so you can choose whether you want it soft or stiffer, forward lean adjustment, two sets of disks one that’s plastic and one that’s aluminum to make it more playful or rigid underfoot, and a very minimal ability to slide the toe ramp forward or backward.

Straps: So here’s what I like about the heel straps they’re reversible giving you two options with one being stiffer and more rigid for a more direct drive into it and the other having more play in the top cut out so it contours to the boot and allows for a more even flex. They’re very minimal and do their job well. Now with the toe strap it’s just so narrow that it doesn’t fit all boot shapes and I feel with the way it’s designed it doesn’t cup the toe box as it should. On a plus side since everyone is getting all retro and 90’s (damn you kids) they can rock it over the top if they want.

Ratchets: These things click aggressively when you tighten them down. They feel super secure and don’t slip at all. The one finger release lever works absolutely perfect.

Highbacks: They’re a little more rigid than you would think which lets you drive into them easily. The natural forward lean in them is very minimal which is great if you don’t like forward lean and the FLAD works as it should without being overly complicated.

Binding Flex: The overall flex has a feeling of precision but not dominance that makes you think of it as a workhorse binding and not a freeride charger or a stiff high end freestyle binding. There’s a little bit of lateral play to it where you would want it for tweaking the board or playing around on it. It does feel slightly past a middle of the road flex. What’s nice is with flipping the heel straps you can make it more precision based or more playful which does effect the flex.

Ride: The overall ride is smooth and predictable it’s a binding that you get in and you know it can perform anything you put in front of it.

Rider in Mind: All mountain rider that does it all.

Personal Thoughts: For a whole new binding overhaul Ride nailed it with these. I do think the chassis seems a bit bulky on these compared to the A-8’s but that’s just my visual observation. I’m not a fan of the toe strap I just find it a bit narrow for my liking and for certain boot shapes. I also don’t like that there’s only one placement for the toe straps in the frame. Otherwise overall this is actually a really well designed binding.