Binding Model: Now Brigade

Binding Size: Medium

Stance and Angles: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boot Used: K2 Thraxis

Boot Size: 10

Board Used: Telos Mike Ranquet

Rider Weight: 200lbs

Location: Copper Mountain

Conditions: Sunny blue skies, zero wind, warmer temps, ice, chunder, firm snow, and death cookies.

Binding Adjustability: The big thing to note with the adjustability on this binding is that you have three bushing densities to choose from with soft, medium, and hard. This effects how it the binding reacts when on toe and heel edge. Otherwise you have a forward lean adjustment and flip cams on the straps to shorten or lengthen them.

Straps: The heel strap is foam and contours well to just about any boot shape. It really doesn’t have enough foam to create a pinch point or have problems with it molding around the instep of any boot. The toe strap is rubber and has a large enough cut out to match up to any boot shape and not have a problem fitting them.

Ratchets: I did have these stick once or twice on me but otherwise 95% of the time they worked as you would expect. They climbed well and stayed locked in and released when I needed them to.

Highbacks: This is a little lower and softer which makes it flex more when you drive into it. You could feel that extra give when really pushing hard on a heelside carve.

Binding Flex: The overall flex comes in just below a middle of the road making it more playful. As it has the Hanger 2.0 you get more lateral flex because the bushings aren’t as far out. This makes it a more freestyle feeling binding that lets you leverage your weight on the outside of it.

Ride: The ride is smooth and consistent with power. You notice that Skatetech instantly when you push into the heel or toe of the board, it just has more power. In really rutted out terrain you do feel a bit more vibrations than other bindings in the same category.

Rider in Mind: Freestyle focused all mountain rider that likes lateral flex.

Personal Thoughts: It’s been a while since the last time I rode the Brigade and there’s been some upgrades to the chassis and straps since then. It felt more secure but still had lateral flex which is something I’ve noticed seems to diminish with other Now and Jones bindings that use Skatetech. This binding let me play around and do what I needed to do.

Comparable Bindings: K2 Line Up, Union Contact Pro, Rome Vice