UNION FORCE BINDINGS REVIEW
Price: £170
Flex: 5
Sizes: S-M/ M-L/ L-XL
Entry system: Classic
The Force, a mid-flexing binding that’s designed to suit a broad range of terrain types and riding styles, is one of Union’s best-sellers. It’s been part of the Italian company’s range since they first launched in 2005 and has proved popular with riders of all stripes.
This latest version of the Force has a couple of all-new features, including the ‘stage IV’ base, an improved baseplate that is apparently so strong that it has a lifetime guarantee. The highback is also new and improved for 2013-14. It’s what Union call a ‘multi-zone’ highback – it has different thicknesses of plastic to provide different flex characteristics at different points. The top third is the thinnest and easiest to bend, the middle third is a bit thicker and the bottom third is really rigid, making it very hard to bend at all. The idea is to offer the best combination of flex and responsiveness. Elsewhere the Force has a lot in common with the Contact Pro, including the extruded aluminium heelcups and the magnesium buckles. The Force’s flex means that it’s a very versatile binding – soft enough for park rats, but not so loose that you’d feel sketchy at speed. It’s great for gentle piste cruising and casual park sessions. And while you might want something a bit more rigid if you were hitting mega-booters, for most ordinary riders, this is a great all-round option. As one tester put it, these are “great, so easy to use that you barely notice they’re there – which is exactly what you want from a binding.”
BUY THESE BINDINGS AT: boarderline.co.uk, boardriders.co.uk, thesnowboardshop.co.uk, snowlab.co.uk,
theboardbasement.com, tribalriders.com, halfpipelondon.com
