The snowboard features a series of mounting screws that allow you to fasten two bindings to the top of the board. Snowboard bindings come in a multitude of styles, including strap bindings, rear-entry bindings and step-in bindings. Regardless of the design, snowboard bindings adhere to a standard sizing guide. Perform a simple fitting test to ensure the bindings correspond with your boot size.
Binding Size Chart
The size of the binding should correspond with the length and width of your snowboard boots. Boot overhang may cause your toes to dig into the snow during hairpin turns. Snowboard bindings generally come in three standard sizes: small, medium and large. Small snowboard bindings are made to accommodate youth riders with a boot size of one to six. Men with a boot size of five to nine should upgrade to a medium sized binding.
Fitting Test
Bindings that are too large may cause your feet to slide across the deck of the snowboard. When choosing a set of snowboard bindings for the upcoming season, bring along your boots to perform a simple fitting test. Lower the underside of your boots over the footbeds of the bindings. Slide your boots backwards until the heel makes contact with the highbacks of the binding. Tighten the retention straps to test the fit. According to REI, properly fitting bindings should allow your boots to flex while preventing them from wobbling back and forth.
Men's vs. Women's Sizes
Snowboard manufacturers offer a variety of women-specific products, including bindings. Contrary to popular belief, men's snowboard bindings won't provide an adequate fit for a women's snowboard boot. Shred-O-Pedia states that a key difference in the size of men and women's snowboard bindings deals with the highback plates. Due to the fact that the female calf muscle sits lower on the leg, women's snowboard bindings feature a lowered highback. Women's bindings also tend to be more narrow to accommodate the slender dimensions of the female foot.
Wide Bindings
Most snowboard companies offer specialized bindings for riders that have a wider than average foot. If you wear a pair of wide boots, a conventional snowboard binding may feel uncomfortable when the retention straps are tightened. Unfortunately, you'll most likely have to upgrade the size of the snowboard itself when opting for a set of wide bindings. Compared to a set of conventional snowboard bindings, a wide bindings feature an extended footbed for increased comfort and ankle support.
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