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Bindings

Nidecker Kaon + 2021-2022 Snowboard Bindings Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Nidecker Kaon +

  • Price: £185 / €200 / £200
  • Sizes: M, L, XL
  • Flex: 7-8/10
  • Entry System: Classic

Why we chose the Nidecker Kaon + Snowboard Bindings: They’re an all-new model that feature the latest materials, seamless fit and a criss-cross strap design that’s a genuine innovation.

Nidecker have made aggressive strides with their binding range over the past few seasons – few brands can touch their generous spec sheet at a similar price point. Thus far, their Kaon model has been offered in two guises: the standard ‘X’ and the range-topping ‘CX’ (fun fact: both the Kaon and its sibling binding, the Muon, take their name from particles being researched at the Large Hadron Collider in Cern, which is just down the road from Nidecker’s Swiss HQ). New for 2021/22, the Kaon Plus gives riders a third way. Less carbon than the CX. More strap than the X. It’s a powerful combination.

“Less carbon than the CX. More strap than the X. It’s a powerful combination”

MORE INFO:
nidecker.com

Who Is The Nidecker Kaon + For?

Riders who crank turns at 50 mph, launch whoppercock* cliffs, send it over the kicker line or just munch the miles all day will appreciate the comfort and support on offer from this solid all-rounder.

* ™ Ed Leigh

Baseplate

The baseplate and heel hoop are molded together out of one piece of fibreglass injected nylon – aka tough-ass plastic. It’s strong and mighty responsive, even if it’s not quite as rigid as the aluminium (and occasionally carbon) designs you see on some binders.

Nidecker use what they call ‘off-axis powerbeams’ to direct energy more efficiently through the chassis. These are basically reinforced spines on either side that are placed at such an angle that they’re closer to your edges (assuming you mount the bindings at an angle). The baseplate also features rockered corners with extra cushioning to maintain a natural board flex. We’ll hold our hands up here – it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on at the micro level when you’re strapped into your board, but both technologies seem to work well insofar as the bindings do indeed offer great edge-to-edge control, while ollies and presses felt smooth to load. Canted footbeds improve ride comfort nicely and cement the sense that someone’s put serious thought into every element of this product.

“The baseplate also features rockered corners with extra cushioning to maintain a natural board flex”

Straps and Highbacks

The talking piece with these bindings is the straps. The Kaon Plus feature a super wide ‘Exo Kush’ heel strap that’s connected to one corner of the toe strap by a diagonal cross piece. There’s a double benefit here: it spreads pressure over more of your foot (and yes, these feel suuuper comfy) and it gives you even more locked-in hold. OK, it’s a little harder than a standard two-strap to bone stuff out, but if pure edge control and maximum support are your priorities then welcome to the future.

Like several other brands on the market, Nidecker is licensing ‘AuxTech’ for the toe straps. It looks a bit like a honeycomb pattern, but each cell is cleverly hinged so that the whole piece expands evenly around the end of your boot without having to stretch the material. Lovely. Aluminium ratchets throughout lend the package a premium feel and are buttery smooth to operate.

Rounding things off is the highback. It’s pretty stiff for a nylon design, with tools free forward lean (natch) and an asymmetrical shape for a better fit. Indeed Nidecker promise their bindings boast a glove-like match with any of their ‘Flow Fit’ boots, and though we couldn’t put that claim to the test (none of our riders were running Nidecker footwear) we found them to be plenty snug, with minimal gappage around the sides or back. If you really want to coordinate your set-up, though, you can even purchase the Kaon Plus in an ‘Instinct’ colourway to go with your Helios APX boots (in ‘Instinct’) and your Alpha/Beta board from the new Instinct range. Grrr, baby. Very Grrr.

“We’re tempted to call it the ultimate freestyle/freeride hybrid”

Roundup

If you like an aggressive binding but you don’t want the cost – or equally eye-watering stiffness – of a full carbon model then the new Kaon Plus could be right up your street. While it’s not exactly built with rail tricks and tweaked out japans in mind, powerful freestyle riders will appreciate the extra support this innovative design offers when you’re stomping the crap out of big jumps. It’s out on the trails and in the backcountry, though, that it really comes into its own thanks to a winning blend of solid response and all-day riding comfort. We’re tempted to call it the ultimate freestyle/freeride hybrid.

Trade Secrets

Lucien Vink – Industrial Designer & Product Manager, Nidecker

“We have always had a lot of people ask us to do a ‘regular’ 2-strap binding with the Flow Hybrid strap. So when we did it on the Kaon-CX it was exciting and we had great feedback, but the Kaon-CX is pretty specific and for a limited audience. So doing the Kaon-Plus is really bringing the Hybrid strap advantages to the masses, and doing it in a stylish binding especially the Instinct color-way but also the muted black one, feels great!”

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