“What a brilliantly simple and simply brilliant binding! Spark deserve their reputation as being the lightest and toughest splitboard binding company in the game. The women’s specific Arc is tough and responsive but is so stripped down to the essentials that anybody could use them.

Setting up your splitboard bindings is a bit of a fiddly job, it’s made easier with the tools to align the pucks. Also, because the Arc has a cut out baseplate, it’s actually quite easy to fine-tune any adjustments and easily access the screws without taking them off the board.

Obviously they don’t have the same dampening and cushioning as you’ll find in your normal bindings, but that’s what keeps things super lightweight. If you’re riding powder (which you hopefully will be if you’re going beyond the resort boundaries to earn some turns) you won’t really miss the dampening if you have a light fluffy layer of snow underfoot. The straps, although they seem really minimal, still felt comfortable and responsive, without any noticeable pressure points.

“For descending, the Arcs felt really surfy and allowed me to draw beautiful lines in the snow without feeling overly aggressive”

The climbing wire is made a little easier to use with the Whammy Bars, although this takes a little bit of practice for quick adjustments on the fly. I found myself using my hands a lot more than the handles of my touring poles, but I’m sure you’d get the hang of it after a few tours.

Switching from between walk and ride modes is insanely straightforward! Honestly, I reckon someone who has never seen a splitboard could still transition in no time at all.

For descending, the Arcs felt really surfy and allowed me to draw beautiful lines in the snow without feeling overly aggressive. I’d like to try a stiffer pair of highback with some tougher straps to see how they’d fair on more technical descents, but for 99% of my touring needs these were the bee’s knees!”

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