Here’s our roundup review of the best all mountain snowboard bindings for women for 2019-2020.
Snowboard bindings are an essential piece of equipment since they are the base and your connection to your board. Because they are so important they should be given special consideration as part of your gear collection and need to be properly fit for your individual needs.
The best all mountain snowboard bindings for women may be hard to choose from among all the men specific equipment in the market. There are small but important difference from men’s snowboard bindings, but don’t worry, we bring to you the perfect guide to choose the best all mountain women’s snowboard bindings.
The following article will guide you through a short buying guide with the information you need to help find your perfect pair of bindings. You can use it to make a checklist to follow when you do your shopping.
Moreover, to get an overview of the market, we have reviewed our choices for the top products in this category. The pros and cons of each product will help you understand the various features and benefits they have to offer.
Comparison Table: Best All Mountain Snowboard Bindings for Women
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Photo |
Brand/ Model |
Entry |
Flex |
Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
Strap-In |
Soft |
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Rear |
Stiff |
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  |
Strap-In |
Medium-Soft |
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  |
Strap-In |
Extra-Soft |
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  |
Strap-In |
Medium |
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  |
Strap-In |
Medium |
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|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Soft |
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|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Rear |
|
Flex |
Stiff |
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|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Medium-Soft |
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|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Extra-Soft |
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|
|
Our Rating |
|
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Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Medium |
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Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Medium |
Buying Guide: How do you choose the best all mountain snowboard bindings?
We’ve compiled the following buying guide to help you understand the important aspects to be focused on while researching the best all mountain women’s snowboard bindings.
Choose the Right Fit
Since snowboarding is all about your footwork, you will have to make sure that you find the right fit first of all. If you were wondering why women’s snowboard bindings are different, it is because women generally have smaller feet than men. But the size differences are not proportional. A study published by the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) concluded that:
“…the average male participant’s feet are longer than that of the female participant’s feet, while the female feet are relatively narrower but higher than those of the male participants.”
Citation: Luo G, Houston VL, Mussman M, Garbarini M, Beattie AC, Thongpop C., Comparison of male and female foot shape, JAPMA, 2009 Sep-Oct.So what does this mean? This means that a good snowboard boot manufacturer will design their boots to have a woman-specific fit. This will translate to a boot that has dimensions that are not matched to the design of a male snowboard binding. So, you need a binding that has taken the differences in the female foot and boot into consideration in their snowboard binding design.
Ultimately to find the right size you’ll need to attach them to your board and try them with your boots. So, put your boots on with your snowboard socks and strap into the bindings in your living room, on the grass, or in the garage on some carpet. Wiggle around, bend your knees, tilt on your heels and toes. Make sure there are no major pressure points on your feet. The bindings should be able to be located on the board so that the heel and toe of your boot are not hanging over one side of the board more than the other.
Should I buy Traditional Strap-In or Rear Entry Bindings?
Look for either traditional strap-in bindings or rear entry bindings.
Traditional strap in bindings require you to step in from the front/top of the binding. Then you feed the straps through the ratchets and tighten them down. With this design you will need to ratchet them down to your desired tightness each time you get into them. To get out you need to fully open the straps and step out. Don’t worry it is quite easy with a quality pair of bindings.
On the other hand rear entry bindings feature a highback that folds down. This allows you to step in from the rear and flip up the highback. This may result in a quicker time to get the bindings on and can reduce the need to adjust the tightness each and every time.
Both styles can provide great performance. It just comes down to personal preference between the two designs.
If you’re seriously considering rear-entry bindings then I suggest you check out Rear Entry Snowboard Bindings Pros and Cons for more information including the reasons why I switched back to traditional strap-in bindings
Choose the high back wisely
The high back is to be chosen carefully so that they provide the right support during riding. Make sure that your high back is comfortable and it actually serves the purpose of controlling your heels for your riding style.
Tall high backs are made for riders that like to speed and move in a more freestyle manner while the shorter ones are for beginners or even park rail riders that are looking for a balance of flexibility and control with a more surfy feel.
Consider baseplate construction
Picking the right base plate is also an important consideration because this is the main component that has contact with the snowboard itself.
Beginners can opt for lightweight plates that are more flexible and forgiving.
A base plate with high-end bindings for intermediate to advanced riders is made stiffer and will allow better power transmission for quicker and more powerful turning.
Don’t Forget Canting
Canting is a little inward tilt that is built into the footbed of the bindings. This angle on the footbed helps ensure a more natural knee position which helps you remain more comfortable and anatomically correct in your stance as you ride.
Comfort
You may think that you will have to compromise on comfort but do not make that mistake. A little cushioning on the footbed of the binding is perfectly okay for all skill levels. Also look for straps with some cushioning to help dampen and distribute the pressure evenly over the top of your foot and toes.
Ready to learn all there is to know about snowboard bindings? I highly suggest you read How to Choose Snowboard Bindings [The Ultimate Guide] before making your next purchase!
Quick Tips for Choosing Snowboard Bindings
- Beginner or Park Rider: Choose a soft to medium-soft flexing binding.
- Intermediate to advanced free rider: Choose a medium to medium stiff flexing bindings. The more advanced rider may even prefer a stiff binding.
- Binding Sizing: Check the manufacturer’s sizing charts to ensure the binding is compatible with your boot size.
- Try it on: Set up all your gear ahead of your snowboard trip. Make sure the bindings are compatible with your board and boots and take the time to make sure everything is adjusted properly.
Product Reviews: Best All Mountain Snowboard Bindings for Women
Burton Citizen Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
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Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
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Flex |
Soft |
OVERVIEW
The Burton Citizen collection of women’s snowboard bindings are available in basic white and black and are accessorized beautifully with contrasting color ratchets that provide a nice color pop. If you want to make a unique statement on the hill you can go for the pictured eye candy teal with gold ratchets.
Burton has designed these bindings for the foot proportions of female athletes with a focus on comfort. As we discussed in the buying guide, this is accomplished through the included padding in the ankle strap, a footbed that’s fully cushioned from toe to heel, a shorter highback and a flexible base plate.
PROS
- Extra strong buckles so you can crank them down and ensure a good fit without risk of breakage
- Base plate is made lightweight while being strong enough to get a good response time when initiating turns
- The footbed is cushioned for comfort
- Soft flex binding for an easy ride for beginner riders or those that love a surfy feel
CONS
- The soft flex may not be suitable for freestyle riders
- Footbed is not canted so they don’t produce the ideal riding position for your knees
BOTTOM LINE
At a fairly reasonable price, you can get a pair of Burton Citizen snowboard bindings that come in some nice color combinations and are packed with some solid features that provide a comfortable and supportive ride. Beginner-intermediate riders will find these a good choice, but due to the softer flex intermediate riders looking to push their limits should look for a stiffer binding.
GNU B-Free Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
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Binding Entry |
Rear |
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Flex |
Stiff |
OVERVIEW
GNU is a rider-driven company that has embraced the women’s snowboarding movement and has invested in research and design of women-specific performance snowboard bindings. The beautifully designed GNU B-Free is the result of their efforts and a great example of their commitment to the progression of women’s snowboarding.
These are offered in three different sizes which allow you to customize their fit to your foot and boot size. They’re designed with an extra supportive highback and an aluminum base plate providing a stiffer, yet very lightweight binding that works well for all mountain and park but is built to perform for more aggressive riders including those looking to take down some steeps.
PROS
- Foam canted footbed provides comfort and shock dampening
- The highback and aluminum base plate gives needed support and stiffness for a solid response during turn initiation and carving out turns
- Equally suited for steeps and groomer terrains
- Rear-entry for getting in the binding and on your journey down the mountain faster
CONS
- More aggressive response features are not well-suited for beginners
BOTTOM LINE
The focus of this binding is design and performance over style. This will appeal to aggressive riders but if you’re looking to make a bold fashion statement you may not find the color and style to fit your needs. A cool fact is it’s the binding of choice for Olympic snowboarding’s 2014 half-pipe gold medal winner Kaitlyn Farrington so you know these bindings have a battle proven performance pedigree.
Union Milan Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
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Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
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Flex |
Medium-Soft |
OVERVIEW
The Union Milan snowboard bindings for women come in three different sizes to fit women’s boots with ease. Users can choose from three different colors to match their style. Union has kept it top of mind that the users are women and offer design features that help make a great riding experience.
PROS
- Easy to use durable buckles
- Flex is on softer side of medium and surfy which is perfect for beginners and intermediate level riders
- Cushioned footbed for shock absorption
- Footbed covers the entire bottom of binding so they don’t get clogged up with snow
- You can choose from three different colors and sizes
CONS
- Aggressive riders may be turned off by the softer flex
BOTTOM LINE
The Union Milan bindings are a little high priced yet they are perfect for women that want comfortable but solid performance with enough flex to ride freestyle at a beginner or intermediate skill level.
Burton Stiletto Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
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|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
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Flex |
Extra-Soft |
OVERVIEW
The Burton Stiletto, makes it into our list and we also consider it to be one of the best women’s beginner snowboard bindings because of a host great features and several colors to help you enjoy their style with purpose. They do come in three sizes so you can get the right fit for your boot size.
PROS
- The bindings are made of lightweight extra-soft flexing materials for a surfy ride but with just enough stiffness to allow you to keep progressing
- The high backs are designed to contour to your legs for solid support which allows for comfort along with full control during turns
CONS
- Their response time during turn initiation is slower so aggressive riders should look elsewhere
BOTTOM LINE
The Burton Stiletto snowboarding bindings for women are made with features that beginners will love both when just learning and as your skills progress.
Union Legacy Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
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Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
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Flex |
Extra-Soft |
OVERVIEW
The Union Legacy snowboard bindings for women are made in two different colors and small/medium/large sizes. Union has built them from the ground up to match the performance of an aggressive male binding but with an accurate female fit.
PROS
- Ankle straps include a three dimensional padded core which is responsible for even fitting around the foot without digging into the skin
- Base plate is lightweight with medium stiffness for easy control for riders of various skill levels
CONS
- The responsiveness is not ideal for more advanced riders looking for a stiff binding
BOTTOM LINE
The Union Legacy bindings are a more expensive option but are of very high quality making them worth the purchase price. Union has made sure to customize the design features to women’s proportions resulting in a very solid option in a medium stiffness binding.
Rome Shift Bindings Review
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Our Rating |
|
|
Binding Entry |
Strap-In |
|
Flex |
Extra-Soft |
OVERVIEW
The Rome Shift snowboard bindings for women come in two different sizes to help you get a more custom fit. They are designed with a contoured ankle strap and fully rotating high back which further customize the comfort and make these a perfect option for riders who like long days on the mountain. Furthermore, they are priced very conveniently to fit everyone’s budget.
PROS
- The ankle strap is contoured to ensure a proper fit without digging into the skin
- High back is made to ensure that it provides support needed to get the response time you should expect from a medium flexing binding
- The flex is super smooth for a pleasant experience all over the mountain
CONS
- Minimal cushioning in the footbed
- Footbed not canted so optimal riding position for your knees is not achieved
BOTTOM LINE
At a very reasonable price, the Rome Shift snowboard bindings offer a smooth flex and comfortable ride that can take you anywhere on the mountain.