Union MC vs. Union SL - Snowboarding Forum

Megatron X · 05-21-2012, 05:49 PM

I was thinking about getting the Union MC binding because prices are coming down and it's a "premium" binding but I was ready about people experience with them and it seems to be a fragile binding where the heelcup seems to break. So I was wondering if the Union SL would be a better fit due to durability. Any thoughts?

Nivek · 05-21-2012, 11:27 PM

I had SL's once. I think I sold them for $40 as I felt that's all they were worth, and gave 2 other pairs I had away for a borrowed pass and I think some Vans. Oh and I only rode the SL's like 4 days. I'll warn you though, I'm basically anti Union. I've ridden everything in their line except Flites and MC's, just lost "faith" I guess when I really started trying other companies. Union just doesn't stack up for me. Great durability in my experience though.

Now, what are these going on?

Megatron X · 05-21-2012, 11:33 PM

Thinking of putting them on a YES. Pick Your Line. Right now I have some Ride Maestros on it. Want something more responsive for the board. I settled on the Maestros because they were dirt cheap.

NWBoarder · 05-21-2012, 11:41 PM

Out of the Unions listed, go with the SL's. Otherwise, try some Rome Targas, or Burton Cartels IMO.

Nivek · 05-21-2012, 11:46 PM

Well then, more response than Maestro's...

Flow FRX, Flux DMCC, K2 Ever's (auto might kill this for you though), Salomon Caliber, Raiden Machines, or Burton Diode's (maybe Prophecy, the 2 part frame give a bit more laterally but is stiff stiff front to back).

As I said, I have not ridden MC's, but even Capo's are more responsive than the SL's were.

lernr · 05-22-2012, 01:06 AM

I've ridden MC with 3 different boots (Burton Ruler, Deeluxe Spark, Vans Cirro) and find responsiveness varies with each boot, no matter how well you fit them.

Bindings felt great for freestyle / park with Ruler. Sparks + MC was awesome for freeride but sucked for park, and Cirro is somewhere in the middle.

Nivek · 05-22-2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lernr

I've ridden MC with 3 different boots (Burton Ruler, Deeluxe Spark, Vans Cirro) and find responsiveness varies with each boot, no matter how well you fit them.

Bindings felt great for freestyle / park with Ruler. Sparks + MC was awesome for freeride but sucked for park, and Cirro is somewhere in the middle.

See, this to me says worlds about the binding. The Spark is Xaviers boot. Xavier bombs shit I can't even ride faster than I can mob a groomed steep. So the binding "feels" stiff, but the boot is doing all the work. The Ruler is a softer boot, so if its good for park with a boot that isn't stiff, means the binding isn't stiff. The Cirro is a stiffer boot for Vans, but its still Vans so its mid stiff comparatively. So there ya go. The binding isn't doing shit for you.

Experience seems to be showing the MC's for what I thought. Not responsive as I haven't ridden a single Union that really was.

I got better response out of Flow Quattro's than Data's.

Megatron X · 05-22-2012, 09:46 PM

Hmm. Maybe I have to rethink the whole binding situation. I guess I can always wait until next year. But I'm guessing the general consensus is that the SL > MC but I should probably look elsewhere?

Nivek · 05-22-2012, 11:43 PM

No the MC is "better" as its basically the exact same thing but lighter and with a stiffer highback. Its just that neither stack up to other options...

Really its just a design philosophy flaw of Union. They keep all their highbacks relatively soft torsionally. Great for park bindings but when you drive through a turn, especially heelside, you push out the top most outside corner of your highback. If the thing twists too much you get no support. So if you're riding a straight up center reverse then you're more than likely ok with a soft twisting highback, otherwise you'll be mushing it. Since this is for a Pick Your Line, camrock, I suggest something that wont fold when you push into the edges.

If you want to wait, the Charger's may finally be a binding from Union that doesn't suck, though the toe strap will still probably be ridiculous. The whole T.Rice thing is probably more marketing than meat, but it would be hard for me to say that its a musher like the rest of the line considering he seems to genuinely ride them. His caliber of riding really just will not put up with a mush binding, it would actually effect his ability to squeak out of sketchy things like he does. Of course I'm not talking about actual BC stuff as there is a fair chance he's secretly in like Sparks or something. Until Union started giving him moneys he was primarily in Cartels, which always have very solid construction.

Wait, get the new Burton Genesis with the floating 2 piece highback, and report back on how ridiculously unnecessary and odd it is.

lernr · 05-23-2012, 12:35 AM

Nivek is right on: the (carbon) highback is not too rigid torsionally, that's why you could use the MC for park, and it will give in on a hard turn. Don't know about TRice, but JJ was rocking Spark binders a couple of seasons ago (I use them too for bc, and the new Burner straps + buckles by Burton are awesome!)

I wanted the MCs with the Vans Cirro boots - there are 2 removable stiffeners in each tongue, so I can choose how stiff I want them and even carry the pieces in my backpack to change mid-day, and that's without playing with the boa to tighten them more or less, very versatile. With MC On my Smokin Superpark + Vans Cirro, I can hit park, double diamonds + slack-country in the same day, on the same setup. Sure, I'd take my NS split + Spark Burners + Deeluxe Spark for a real backcountry day, and maybe even for a dedicated lift-served slack. But for anything else, I feel I can use just one setup. My only problem is that the Vans liner is not as good at locking my heel as either Deeluxe or Burton, I may need to switch or even buy a new Intuition liner next season

I would not be opposed to riding Burton Diode or similar as high end Burton binders are very solid. But Union is local and always treated me well, and this is important to me.

05-21-2012, 05:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Megatron X Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 85	Union MC vs. Union SL I was thinking about getting the Union MC binding because prices are coming down and it's a "premium" binding but I was ready about people experience with them and it seems to be a fragile binding where the heelcup seems to break. So I was wondering if the Union SL would be a better fit due to durability. Any thoughts?

05-21-2012, 11:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nivek Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mountains of Mordor Posts: 5,416	I had SL's once. I think I sold them for $40 as I felt that's all they were worth, and gave 2 other pairs I had away for a borrowed pass and I think some Vans. Oh and I only rode the SL's like 4 days. I'll warn you though, I'm basically anti Union. I've ridden everything in their line except Flites and MC's, just lost "faith" I guess when I really started trying other companies. Union just doesn't stack up for me. Great durability in my experience though. Now, what are these going on? __________________ Snowboarding Sucks. Buy my stuff 2014 Flow Rush LTD 153 $200 2014 Flow Fuse SE Med $100 2012 Trek Remedy Carbon 9.8 $3500 http://rockies.craigslist.org/bik/3766331309.html Last edited by Nivek; 05-21-2012 at 11:30 PM.

05-21-2012, 11:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nivek Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mountains of Mordor Posts: 5,416	Well then, more response than Maestro's... Flow FRX, Flux DMCC, K2 Ever's (auto might kill this for you though), Salomon Caliber, Raiden Machines, or Burton Diode's (maybe Prophecy, the 2 part frame give a bit more laterally but is stiff stiff front to back). As I said, I have not ridden MC's, but even Capo's are more responsive than the SL's were. __________________ Snowboarding Sucks. Buy my stuff 2014 Flow Rush LTD 153 $200 2014 Flow Fuse SE Med $100 2012 Trek Remedy Carbon 9.8 $3500 http://rockies.craigslist.org/bik/3766331309.html

05-22-2012, 11:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nivek Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mountains of Mordor Posts: 5,416	No the MC is "better" as its basically the exact same thing but lighter and with a stiffer highback. Its just that neither stack up to other options... Really its just a design philosophy flaw of Union. They keep all their highbacks relatively soft torsionally. Great for park bindings but when you drive through a turn, especially heelside, you push out the top most outside corner of your highback. If the thing twists too much you get no support. So if you're riding a straight up center reverse then you're more than likely ok with a soft twisting highback, otherwise you'll be mushing it. Since this is for a Pick Your Line, camrock, I suggest something that wont fold when you push into the edges. If you want to wait, the Charger's may finally be a binding from Union that doesn't suck, though the toe strap will still probably be ridiculous. The whole T.Rice thing is probably more marketing than meat, but it would be hard for me to say that its a musher like the rest of the line considering he seems to genuinely ride them. His caliber of riding really just will not put up with a mush binding, it would actually effect his ability to squeak out of sketchy things like he does. Of course I'm not talking about actual BC stuff as there is a fair chance he's secretly in like Sparks or something. Until Union started giving him moneys he was primarily in Cartels, which always have very solid construction. Wait, get the new Burton Genesis with the floating 2 piece highback, and report back on how ridiculously unnecessary and odd it is. __________________ Snowboarding Sucks. Buy my stuff 2014 Flow Rush LTD 153 $200 2014 Flow Fuse SE Med $100 2012 Trek Remedy Carbon 9.8 $3500 http://rockies.craigslist.org/bik/3766331309.html

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05-21-2012, 11:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Megatron X Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 85	Thinking of putting them on a YES. Pick Your Line. Right now I have some Ride Maestros on it. Want something more responsive for the board. I settled on the Maestros because they were dirt cheap.

05-22-2012, 01:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
lernr Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 167	I've ridden MC with 3 different boots (Burton Ruler, Deeluxe Spark, Vans Cirro) and find responsiveness varies with each boot, no matter how well you fit them. Bindings felt great for freestyle / park with Ruler. Sparks + MC was awesome for freeride but sucked for park, and Cirro is somewhere in the middle.

05-22-2012, 09:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Megatron X Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 85	Hmm. Maybe I have to rethink the whole binding situation. I guess I can always wait until next year. But I'm guessing the general consensus is that the SL > MC but I should probably look elsewhere?

05-23-2012, 12:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
lernr Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 167	Nivek is right on: the (carbon) highback is not too rigid torsionally, that's why you could use the MC for park, and it will give in on a hard turn. Don't know about TRice, but JJ was rocking Spark binders a couple of seasons ago (I use them too for bc, and the new Burner straps + buckles by Burton are awesome!) I wanted the MCs with the Vans Cirro boots - there are 2 removable stiffeners in each tongue, so I can choose how stiff I want them and even carry the pieces in my backpack to change mid-day, and that's without playing with the boa to tighten them more or less, very versatile. With MC On my Smokin Superpark + Vans Cirro, I can hit park, double diamonds + slack-country in the same day, on the same setup. Sure, I'd take my NS split + Spark Burners + Deeluxe Spark for a real backcountry day, and maybe even for a dedicated lift-served slack. But for anything else, I feel I can use just one setup. My only problem is that the Vans liner is not as good at locking my heel as either Deeluxe or Burton, I may need to switch or even buy a new Intuition liner next season I would not be opposed to riding Burton Diode or similar as high end Burton binders are very solid. But Union is local and always treated me well, and this is important to me.