• Sizes: S, M, L
• Entry System: Classic
• Price: $540
• BUY ONLINE

The brains from the Bozeman backcountry headquarters recently introduced the Pro series alongide their well established Arc and Surge bindings. Producing “the lightest and highest performing splitboard bindings in the world” is a bold claim to make, but one that we wholeheartedly agree with. The Spark Arc Pro takes all the convenience and comfort of Spark’s bestselling predecessor and delivers a level up in response, and a serious drop in weight.

“The Spark Arc Pro takes all the convenience and comfort of Spark’s bestselling predecessor and delivers a level up in response, and a serious drop in weight”

By using 7075 aluminium in the heel hoops, they’ve created an even lighter alternative to the Arcs. The ladders, adjusters and straps also get an upgrade with tougher materials that hold their shape for lasting durability. They are, are 20% lighter than the originals.

For those who felt that the Arc highbacks may have been a little on the soft side, torsionally, the Pro puts things to rights. Using carbon-reinforced nylon, they’ve not only made them stiffer but (starting to see a pattern here?) lighter, too.

Every gram counts on a tour, but Spark’s dedication to weight savings might just verge on the obsessive. Aluminium has replaced stainless steel screws where possible; where it wasn’t, they hollowed out the parts instead. Every last detail has been put under the knife and, wherever possible, they’ve cut the weight, strengthened the components and managed to give the Pros an altogether sleeker, more sophisticated look. These things mean business and are geared towards splitboarders who want to capitalise on every marginal gain at their disposal.

“A binding that performs as well on the ups as it does on the downs is, as any regular splitboarder knows all too well, as rare as they come. The Arc Pros nail it”

A binding that performs as well on the ups as it does on the downs is, as any regular splitboarder knows all too well, as rare as they come. The Arc Pros nail it. Transitioning is completely effortless with the T1 Tesla Snap Ramp, where you simply need to slide the baseplate across the pucks and click the toe piece in to secure them.

Once you’re descending, they still have the looser, more forgiving surfy feel associated with their predecessors, but with a little added zing to help on bigger lines. Any splitboarders who’ve racked up a few vertical metres before strapping into these will welcome the change. Proper game-changers.