Binding Review: 10-11 Technine Elements

Location: Winter Park, Colorado

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked snow conditions that softened up during the day with bluebird skies.

Setup: I rode the Technine Elements bindings on the Technine Re-enforcer with my Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Time to set up the binding: Average time to set up the binding.

Fit: I rode the women’s mediums which fits womens 6-8 boots, I probably would have preferred the women’s large binding size so that the baseplate length would have fit my boot length better.  The straps fit my boots just fine, easy to adjust into place and my boot was snug with the highback.

First Impression: These are definitely more my style than previous bindings I’ve rode from Technine, still comfortable but enough response for the mountain.

Appearance: I rode the Elements in the purple color choice which is my favorite probably (purple has grown on me this year).  The bindings overall appearance is pretty subtle compared to the rest of the women’s line, the ankle strap has the Technine all over it but done in good taste.

Comfort: I give Technine two thumbs up for comfort, they continue to offer a comfortable riding binding that you just feel good in.  I never felt any pressure points or uncomfortable spots, it absorbed rougher terrain and was a good all around easy to ride binding.  Comfortable baseplate to comfortable highbacks on the element binding.

Functionality: No bells and whistles on the Technine elements binding, I even rode them without the highback which was easy to remove from Technine bindings.  The ladders are tool-free quick adjust so easy to adjust on the mountain without needing a tool for.  The rathets I didn’t encounter any problems with them sticking while riding, easy to get off and crank down on my boot.

Flex: Overall the binding is a softer flex side to side, but the heel to forward flex is stiffer with the stiffer highback you are still able to hold your heelside turns and get response from the highback.  Easy to ride binding, super comfortable straps and a good flex for an all mountain to freestyle binding.

Response: The elements has a stiffer highback that helps give more response when it comes to quicker edge to edge and being able to hold a board into a turn especially heelside.  It felt more stable than previous bindings where it was soft but not enough response.  Technine does a tuned response that offers varied flex an padding depending on the riding style for the binding, the elements is tuned for park destruction but designed to be able to handle natural parks as well in the backcountry which helps explain the stiffer highback that won’t fold under some harder riding.

Toe Strap: The elements binding feature the Technine Baltimore strap which really gives you maximum comfort and locked in feeling from the toes.  I rocked it as a cap strap over the front of my boot and no problems with it slipping during riding, comfortable the whole time and felt really secure with something there to hold me in.

Overall Impression: The elements binding gives women riders a comfortable all mountain freestyle binding with enough response to handle the mountain, but good comfortable easy flex to take it into the park.  The elements is part of the women’s pro series, designed to give women the same comfort, response and reliability from the men’s bindings but designed for women.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I’ve ridden Technine bindings before, always super comfortable but never the right response level for me.  I like having some stiffness in the highback and enough response that the binding can help make the ride a bit quicker.  The Elements definitely won me over for the good range of in-between comfort and responsiveness in a binding.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Technine Elements or shop their full line of Technine snowboard bindings

On Snow Photos

[singlepic id=8595 w=400 h=300 float=]

[singlepic id=8365 w=400 h=300 float=]

Technine Elements Description

[singlepic id=8369 w=600 h=766 mode=watermark float=]

Review Disclosure: I rode this binding at a demo day.