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Bindings

Spark R&D Surge 2021-2022 Splitboard Bindings Review

  • Price: £406 / €469 / $415
  • Sizes: S, M, L
  • Weight: 1.50lbs/ea (680g) – Medium
  • Entry System: Classic

Spark R&D’s softboot splitboard binding line is a perfect example of efficiency. Between the Arc, Surge and Pro line bindings, pretty much every type of backcountry enthusiast is catered for. With a full size range to accommodate men and women, as well as various colourways and additional accessories to choose from, there isn’t a single splitboard objective that’s been overlooked.

“Compared with the Arc bindings, the Surge option is designed for bigger lines and more aggressive riders”

Who Is The Spark R&D Surge For?

Compared with the Arc bindings, the Surge option is designed for bigger lines and more aggressive riders thanks to it’s burlier construction and more responsive output. They’re still incredibly lightweight, though, so you won’t find yourself weighed down on the skin track with tired legs by the time you’re ready to drop in.

Baseplate

The T1 baseplate system once again provides the groundwork for the incredibly efficient and intuitive interface between walk and ride mode. The snap ramp toe-piece is able to lock you into the touring brackets and pucks in a matter of seconds, while the single wire Whammy Bar stows underneath the baseplate and can be levered into a 12° and 18° climbing position when the skin track starts to steepen up.

Unlike the Arc, the baseplate on the Surge does away with the weight-saving cutouts and instead has an altogether more robust construction. Though this obviously ramps up the overall weight a few grams, it does far more for the overall rigidity and response of the binding.

“The T1 baseplate system once again provides the groundwork for the incredibly efficient and intuitive interface between walk and ride mode”

Straps and Highbacks

The same goes for the straps and highbacks – both of which are bolstered up to suit the needs of more demanding riders. To all intents and purposes, the highback looks almost identical, and offers the same level of response from edge to edge, but has a little more rigidity through its torsional flex. The tool-free adjustment allows for quick and easy modifying out on the trail, and by toggling the FLAD up into the highback you can also access an additional 13° of negative flex in the highbacks to enable longer (read: more efficient) strides out on the skin track.

The straps are made from a single piece, injection moulded plastic, and the Surge features a larger, asymmetric shape compared to the Arcs, giving you increased contact area with your boots and increased lateral response when you’re going full hog down your line and needing more immediate response.

“To all intents and purposes, the highback looks almost identical, and offers the same level of response from edge to edge, but has a little more rigidity through its torsional flex”

Roundup

When it comes to industry buzzwords, durable, lightweight, responsive and comfortable would probably score top marks in a game of snowboard Family Fortunes. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be taken at face value. Splitboarders are a unique bunch, and we tend to scrutinise our gear more than your average resort rider. That’s understandable. When you’re miles from the trailhead and hours from help, you need to be able to rely on every bit of your kit. The Surge splitboard bindings perfectly walk the line of delivering on all of the above, without coming in at the top-end price bracket.

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