Strapping in with the Union Ultra—flowy runs in spring mashed potato snow were a blast! Photo: Nathan Lemin
In the world of snowboard bindings, it’s tough to nail down one perfect set to rule them all. But after trying a whole array of different bindings over the past two seasons, one pair of bindings stood out: These are relatively lightweight, comfortable, and fit like a glove. On top of all that, these bindings have a price point that comes in at less than the top shelf models ($330 at the time of publishing), yet still feels like a premium piece of equipment. The Union Ultra Bindings are that pair.
Bottom Line: While not an “all-mountain” binding per se, the Union Ultra can still hold its own on the chop and chunder. But where the Ultra really shines is in its playful, flexible smoothness that empowers a fun, surfy feel anywhere on the mountain, especially when hitting jumps and buttering around on the groomers. Since most of us here at The Inertia are surfers, we were huge fans of the Union Ultra’s freestyle chops. If you’re looking for a mid-soft, cruisy pair of bindings that are lightweight and comfortable, look no further.
Related: Best Snowboard Bindings | Best Snowboards | More Snowboard Gear
Playful and cruisy: Just how we’d describe the Union Ultra. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Who Should Ride the Union Ultra Bindings?
It’s hard to say anything is for every rider, but the Union Ultra does suit a pretty wide cross-section of snowboarders. Of course, folks who exclusively freeride might opt for something more stable, but in your quiver of boards, you also need bindings to suit the vibe you’re going for. So, the Union Ultra is perfect for freestyle-oriented riders who don’t want to feel like their bindings wash out on every landing. The highback stiffness is right in the middle of the scale, and so it’s not totally soft, but not stable enough for super hard-charging.
| Pros | Cons |
| Soft flex | Not great at high speeds |
| Wide bushings make for a playful ride | Not a huge cushion |
| Lighweight | Gaps in the footbed can get clogged with snow |
We actually think the Union Ultra suits more entry-level riders, too. It’s a great option for a committed beginner who wants to grow their skills on something that doesn’t demand the absolute best on every turn or jump. Not to say you can’t grow with this binding—you absolutely can, and indeed some of our team use this as their go-to pair. Playful riders who love to cruise and surf will love this binding.
Comfortable, lightweight, and reliable make these a freestyle winner. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Testing the Union Ultra at Mammoth Mountain and Beyond
The big thing we noticed about the Union Ultra when pulling them out of the box was how lightweight they feel. At just over 900 grams, these were a touch lighter than the average bindings we tested this year. That can make a big difference when spinning around and popping off jumps.
The next thing that stood out was the quality of the ratchets. Ratchets are one of those vital pieces of equipment that could be a day-ender or even a season-ender if it blows while on a landing. It’s one of the big differentiators that separates a good pair of bindings from a great pair. You want them to be big enough to make quick adjustments, yet not so big that they can get caught on a wayward branch or fill up with snow.
Union Ultra ($330)
Best For: Freestyle riders who aren’t exclusively park rats
Weight: 919g
Underfoot: Foam toe and heel, plastic mid
Highback Stiffness: 3/5
Strap adjustment: Phillips
Pros: Responsive and precise with a comfortable fit
Cons: Lighter construction sacrifices some durability
Notable Features of the Union Ultra
Comfortable and Responsive Underfoot
Once we started riding, we could feel the wide bushings that protrude from the baseplate almost immediately (in a good way). The stable platform allows for a solid energy transfer without feeling overly rigid. Plus, the material is responsive enough to feel like you can put pressure and get a bit of rebound, something that makes for a good pop when hitting jumps.
Oh, and we have to mention how well these fit and feel. Union seems to be the most reliable binding brand when it comes to securing your boot in place, and we never experienced hot spots or pain points when flowing around the mountain.
Smoothness is the Name of the Game
Overall, the bindings felt pretty flexible (we gave them about a 3/5 on our scale), which should be expected on a pair of freestyle bindings. Despite the flex, it still felt incredibly durable, and we were able to make a few hard landings while still feeling connected to the board and being able to recover. For this reason, it’s a great pair of bindings for those who are looking to level up in their freestyle skills. All that in mind, we couldn’t stop thinking about how smooth this binding felt when initiating turns. It feels perfectly suited to a surfy snowboard such as the Nidecker Alpha APX, and it also fits a freestyle-oriented deck really well, too.
We tried these in a bunch of configurations and loved them with surfy decks and freestyle boards. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Asymmetry In a Good Way
The big feature that stands out with these bindings is Union’s asymmetrical baseplate. We won’t get into the nitty-gritty physics of this, because we don’t know enough about shaping and density, etc, etc. But basically, the beefed-up and slimmed-down areas work really well once you try these bindings. With less baseplate to work with, you can load up energy where other bindings put a big roadblock in the form of more binding. But with just the right areas devoid of rigidity, we felt that we had more control over more unique dimensions—such as the side-to-side movement—than bindings with a uniform baseplate underneath. In the simplest terms, you get excellent board feel with these bindings, and you’ll notice the characteristics, flex, and pop of your snowboard in the Union Ultra.
Playful rider who loves to get air? Check out the Union Ultra. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the Union Ultra
Being a more freestyle-oriented binding, the Union Ultra does fall behind other, more freeride or all-mountain bindings (such as the Union Falcor or the Jones Apollo Pro) when it comes to stiffness. If you are the type to forgo park laps to hike big lines, this might not be the binding for you. The flex is just a bit too soft to be stable at high speeds, meaning that if you’re pinning it, you might lose a bit of touch.
Not super adjustable on the fly, we liked to dial these in before hitting the slopes. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
It’s also not super easy to adjust the binding on the fly, so you want to make sure all the adjustments are done at home and not out in the cold. But seeing as these bindings are meant to be a bit more playful for hopping around and spinning, you probably don’t want to be wrenching down on your bindings every time you’re dropping in. Still, it’s a big preference for some to adjust on the fly, so it’s worth it to keep that in mind when choosing.
The footbed of the bindings also comes in a few different parts. There is a main cushion on the toe and heel, which worked great; however, under the foot, where the baseplate goes, there is just a removable piece of plastic. This helps protect the screws from coming loose, but it also gives something for the snow to stick to. It’s a bit less cushioned and secure than some competitors, but not a major drawback.
Set it and rip: Flowy runs were a blast on the Ultra. Photo: Will Sileo//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Union Ultra bindings are meant for those who like to cruise, but are beyond the linking turns stage in snowboarding, and want to really play around on the board. Side hits, butters, hops, and jumps respond well to the mid-soft flex, allowing you to load up the energy when hitting a jump and get some rebound for extra pop.
It’s impossible for one set of bindings to do everything on the mountain, and this is not a binding we’d choose for steep, speedy freeriding. You can get stiffer, more stable bindings out there if that’s your main fix. But for people who like to make big, playful turns and catch air on anything they try, as well as cruise in the open powder, these bindings are a whole lot of fun.
Related: Best Snowboard Bindings | Best Snowboards | More Snowboard Gear
