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finally sick of the unions

22K views 129 replies 42 participants last post by  blunted_nose 
#1 ·
okay so i've officially had it with the forces. ive disliked them since day 1 and have hated them more and more with every day on the hill. so now i come to my decision..

do i go with :
rome 390's (boss)
ride capo
burton cartel

I want a solid all mountain binding, preferably with canted footbeds.. ive read great things on all 3, so im curious what you guys think? does one have more positives over another? ive only ever ridden cartels out of the three.

any help would be great. thanks
 
#51 ·
I started the season with cartels and did not like the big reflex ankle strap and not as rwsponsive as the capo i rode last year. Then i finally gave flux sf45 a try and they're the most responsive binding ever. not much tech but simple is better sometimes. My capo were great but i did have an issue with the ladder strap shredding up and sliding off the rachet. not good.
 
#58 ·
fair enough, however ive had cartels, missions, even Ride Ex and LX and I can say that all 4 of them had better quality toe caps than the Unions. The Unions are also less than 18 months old and have more visible damage to the leather, the highback padding, etc than any of the other bindings..the cartels and missions were from 2009. If you like your Union toe caps, then all the power to you. Personally, I think they're worthless and the ones on my girlfriends Burton Citizen bindings are better quality
 
#61 ·
The only issue I have had with my Union's is that when I cinch down, my little toe feels a bit pinched. Never had that problem with the Cartels, but then again I feel like I have better response from the DLXs. Could just be that I need to adjust it out a bit.
 
#63 ·
Sounds like someone bitching about a product to justify shity ability. We have 40 days this season on a pair of union atlas bindings. The split toe strap works great. Between my son and I we have flux tt30, flux dmcc light, forum Shaka, Rome 390 boss x 2, flow five, flow nx2at and union atlas. I sold 4 pairs of different Burton bindings and 2 pairs of older flows this fall also.

My sons primary binding for training and competition is the union atlas. It is loose enough for park and responsive enough for pipe, slope and he even likes it for boarder cross races.....

Granted we have never used any older models of union so I don't know if they suck on the toe strap or not.....

Either way there is no reason to suck anyone off or fornicate with their moms.... Get a different binding, I'm sure you will bitch and moan about it too..... I'm gonna eat some lunch and get a few more laps in before I go to work.
 
#65 ·
actually, this thread started about asking about some other bindings. you must be super awesome with so many different pairs of bindings. pardon me for not having the same glowing experience with Unions as you do - all I know is that for a binding specific company, the quality and craftsmanship is lacking big time. Maybe that's different for the Atlas or Contacts, though they all seem to have the same exact toe cap, and EVERY shop that I go into that sells Union says that they get the same complaints all the time - the toe caps are garbage.
Explain to me how my ability has anything to do with tearing and fraying leather, pieces of plastic falling off and toe caps that slide onto the top of the boot? youre welcome to polish my sack if youre against sucking me off.
 
#67 ·
yes, thats exactly what happened. I called and spoke to someone who told me " oh dont worry, send in your bindings, well hook it up, change the ankle and toe caps (toe caps to a better kind he said), hook it up, make it worth your while".. i asked him to email me where to send them and I never got anything. that was 2 days ago. he told me he was emailing it in 10 minutes.
 
#80 ·
OP i highly recommend the 390 boss's and the new cartels. Formulas surprised me last year. Very solid bindings for the price. IMO i don't think union has changed a damn thing on the forces in the past 5 year (except the toe strap which got worse) but continue to charge top dollar. Not bashing them just saying.
 
#88 ·
lol thats alright, i plan on sticking it out this season with them. im going to call Union INHOUSE later on today to finally go over the issues.
Next season when I get a new deck ill grab a revised set of the now IPO or 390 bosses and see how they compare.
 
#95 ·
i support eastside on this one, and i think it is great that we can voice concerns about product and the vendor can choose if they want to chime in or not. that is their call. my thanks goes to moderator for letting it go...

and i would give another shameless plug for ride contraband - no stock in the company - but come on...compared to my flows they are way more locked in, one rachet...like every binding i fit to boot once when i got them and never looked back.
 
#98 ·
Union makes a great product I prefer flux but leaning towards some atlas if i find a good deal . Years ago I had an issue with some straps on my forces and i had to send pics of the issue and file a warranty claim then the same day this kid shows up to my office with new straps . Union hand delivered them. I guess its nice being in Seattle but still they didnt have to go.that far.
 
#99 ·
thats a cool story, definitely good customer service, but i do know that if i was to get parts, i was told id have to send my bindings from NJ to Seattle and back..thats at least 1, probably 2 weekends missed for me.

i didnt make this thread to bash Union but more to ask about some other Binding choices going forward. The more research I've done, the more options I've seen that might suit me better. In the meantime, I'd like to keep riding my forces and hoping that Ill get the issues straightened out.

And Union INHOUSE, sorry..i appreciate you keeping involved. Been very busy around here with the constant flooding and the hurricane damage.
 
#109 ·
Prices taken from my local shop. Source.

Union Atlas - 319.99
Union Force - 269.99
Burton Cartel - 269.99

Overpriced bindings, that work, yeah they work, but not worth the money. How are switchback ratchets bad? They release smooth, union ones actually dont. Tried it before, they require force. Maybe that's where they got the name for the Force model. Ugly colorways too.

Hmm, sorry for coming of as a douchebag, i cant stand union. My suggested options my be higher but not by much, and what you gain over union products is returned in value. Anyways, sorry for this sack of shit my posts are. If i offended anyone, my apologies. I respect anyone who rides a plank on snow. Well, i just wanted to voice my opinion. Please, don't listen to me because im obviously retarded. Good night.
 
#118 ·
Ahheeemmmm, 2006 P1's anyone? I love them.... Burton made the comfiest binding back then...

One binding i would consider below par of union is Technine. Why are they still in business? And even then, their toe strap is better....
Because of all the "low riding" ******'s with oversize coats ?
 
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