I also want to mention that despite the cheap price tag, these bindings still have a 1-year warranty covering everything on them, apart from damage. Still, this is quite universal and will help you fit the bindings to most board types. The Flow Alphas are compatible with 2×4, 4×4, and Burton’s 3D, only missing Channel board compatibility. Still, they offer a decent amount of durability, especially if you don’t push them too far daily in the park. In short, you get what you pay for, as these can be considered budget bindings. The materials here aren’t anything particularly special or noteworthy. It is also important to note that the upgraded LSR ratchets are a tad better than the previous versions, in case you owned older Flows. Luckily, thanks to the step-in design, you won’t have to use them really often or as much, as they will just require a click or two to get you in and out. While super comfortable thanks to their fusion design, the buckles of the straps aren’t the most durable and are often a point of complaints from customers. I’ve found that with most Flow Bindings models, the straps aren’t the strongest point of any given model. That can be good for people looking for comfort but at the same time, they don’t provide a lot of power transfer from the bindings to the board. The highback has forward lean and the PRs have goo. The baseplates here are well-cushioned and aren’t too stiff. The 2018 Flux PR binding are designed for all-mountain/freestyle riding that work for any level of rider. On the inside of the highback, there is EVA cushioning which helps with comfort, making these especially good for beginners. It simply is built very well to accommodate the rear-entry design. The thing that is worth mentioning here is that the falling back of the highback doesn’t compromise its integrity or rigidity. If you primarily ride on slopes and trails, you’d need bindings that excel more at freeriding, such as the System MTN Step-in snowboard bindings. That makes them perfect for park snowboarding where you will mostly hit rails and will need the most control in your movements. The toe-to-heel stiffness here is 4/10 and the lateral stiffness is quite loose at 3/10. The highback is quite flexible here and has a unique rear-entry mechanism which does help a lot, especially if you are riding in the park where you are constantly rushing to the top in order to try a trick one more time. The flex, however, is determined by the highback and how it reacts to lateral and toe-to-heel movements. Usually, if you’d take them primarily to the park, you’d want to have somewhere around 4-6 in response and 3-4 in terms of flex. For instance, the Flow Alpha MTNs have a response of 5/10 which is almost precisely where an all-mountain binding should be. However, companies are using the 1 to 10 scale more and more and it has made it really easy for customers to get an idea of what a certain pair of bindings has to offer. In my all-mountain snowboard bindings guide, I discussed that there is no unified measuring system for the flex and response of bindings. So, without further ado, let’s jump into this! In this review, I will go over some of the main features of the Flow Alpha and show you their strong sides as well as their weaknesses which ultimately make them some of the most famous beginner’s binders used even by intermediates and pros in the park. While they aren’t the most solidly build bindings, they have a great price-to-value ratio which puts them at the top of almost any list of good all-mountain bindings. The fusion straps feel nice and snug and provide excellent comfort and control. They have a reliable and convenient strapping mechanism with the highback falling back. My Verdict: If you are tired of spending precious time at the top of the hill strapping in your traditional bindings, then these rear-entry Flow Alpha bindings are just the thing for you. The Flow Alpha MTN snowboard bindings are by far one of my favorite cheap options for this season and I have a lot of thoughts on them that I want to share with you here… It is the thing that helps you steer, turn and stop when needed.Flow bindings have been around for quite some time now and have almost entirely conquered the budget bindings section with some of their models. Yet, the binding is the only thing standing between the rider and the board. We often underestimate the importance of a snowboard binding.
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