I used to be one of those nerds (sorry nerds) who obsessed over how much snowboard gear weighed.
I’d compare board weights, pick up bindings in shops and convince myself that saving a couple of hundred grams was somehow going to transform my riding. I even remember being impressed by ridiculously expensive carbon bindings simply because they felt so light in my hands.
These days, I couldn’t care less. Well, within reason. I don’t particularly want to strap two house bricks to my feet (though I’d still rather that than Clew bindings).
But I’ve spent enough years riding different setups to realise that weight is one of those things snowboarders spend far more time worrying about than they probably should.
We’re not racing. Most of us aren’t hiking for hours into the backcountry. And we’re not fragile little damsels who can’t lift an extra few hundred grams.
For the average rider, there are much more important things to worry about.
The Supermatic weight obsession
The Nidecker Supermatic is a perfect example.
When it came out, you couldn’t read a discussion about it without someone mentioning how heavy it was. And they’re right. It’s a chunky bastard.
But some people were talking about it like Nidecker had filled the baseplates with concrete.
It’s an automatic binding with a load of additional moving parts. Of course it weighs more than a regular binding.
The question is whether the convenience is worth it, and whether the thing actually rides well.
I’ve never understood why people get so hung up on the weight before they’ve even ridden something.
You can absolutely notice the difference when you’re holding two bindings, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into some enormous disadvantage once they’re attached to your snowboard.
And if you’re the sort of person who wants to save every possible gram, you’re probably not buying a Supermatic in the first place.
Your snowboard isn’t a road bike
I think some snowboarders approach equipment like cyclists trying to shave 50 grams off a bike.
Except we’re generally travelling downhill, with gravity doing most of the work.
There are exceptions. If you’re splitboarding, obviously weight matters. You’re hauling the whole thing uphill for hours, so saving weight on your feet is worthwhile.
Swing weight matters too, particularly if you’re spinning. A board with a load of weight concentrated towards the tips can feel noticeably more cumbersome than one with the same overall weight distributed differently.
But that’s partly my point. The number on the scales doesn’t tell you how something will ride.
I’ve ridden heavier boards (Lib Tech) that feel lively and lighter ones that feel dead. Construction, flex and weight distribution all play a part, and I’d take a slightly heavier board that rides brilliantly over a lightweight plank that doesn’t.
Same with boots. I’ll happily carry an extra bit of weight if it means my feet aren’t being tortured for six hours.
Anyway, stop worrying about it
I’m not saying weight is completely irrelevant. If two bindings ride equally well and one weighs noticeably less, brilliant. Buy the lighter one.
But I wouldn’t pay an enormous premium for carbon everything just to save a few grams, and I certainly wouldn’t dismiss a good product because somebody on Reddit reckons it’s too heavy.
If you’re genuinely noticing your equipment holding you back, fair enough. Look into it.
Otherwise, I suspect most of us have rather bigger problems with our snowboarding than the extra 200 grams attached to our feet.
I certainly do.
