UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Union Contact Pro here
The Details:
This isn’t the first time we’ve reviewed the Union Contact Pro, and the smart money says it won’t be the last. The perennially popular binding is an upgraded version of the Contact, and is suited to confident snowboarders who want to do it all.
The Union Contact Pro now weighs in at 715g, a 5g saving on last year. That might not seem like much, but as with any precision instrument the small improvements do tend to add up. What really sets this one apart, both in the Union line and in the broader market, is the minimal contact that it makes with the snowboard – hence the name.
In a resting state, only 5% of the baseplate is directly connected to the board (essentially just the small ring around the edge of the binding disc). That means that when you flex your deck, the bend will be less obstructed. Whether you’re ollieing off the flat ground or dropping a pillow line, there are definite benefits to that.
It’s as strong as an ox too, thanks to the aluminium heelcup and ‘Duraflex’ nylon in the highback and baseplate. Keep an eye out for a pair of Union Contact Pro bindings mounted on Gigi Rüf’s Slash board when the highly-anticipated Union team movie drops later this year.
