Updated April 24, 2025
I grabbed the Union Ultras in bright red—yeah, the loud ones—and have ridden them across six different boards now. Starting on the Bataleon Surfer before moving to a few softer, less directional decks.
True to form, this isn’t a press release or spec sheet breakdown. It’s how they actually feel under your boots after a few days on snow. Let’s get it.
📝 TL;DR – Union Ultra Bindings
Super light, super soft, and surprisingly comfortable. Great for freestyle and playful boards—less great for aggressive carving or stiffer setups. Loads of board feel, minimal adjustability, and not built like a tank. But if you want surfy flex and all-day comfort, they absolutely deliver. I like 'em.
Flex & Response
These things are relatively soft. Especially laterally. Although… I am admittedly still holding onto a couple extra Christmas pounds.
The highback has loads of give—awesome for tweaking, pressing, or surfy turns. But it still holds up heel-to-toe, which is great.
If you’re the kind of rider who likes to lay trenches or rip high-speed carves on hardpack, these might feel too loose. But if you’re about flow, tweaking grabs, or just want a binding that lets your board move naturally underneath you, the flex is perfect.
Comfort & Fit
The comfort’s dialed. The ankle strap looks minimal, but I never got pressure points—even on longer days. The toe strap stays locked without any fiddling.
Baseplate padding is excellent. You can ride these on choppy snow and not feel like your heels are being punched with every bump. They’re surprisingly damp for something this light and flexy.
Board Feel & Dampening
Probably the best part. The Ultra lets the board do its thing. The underfoot system and asym base let you actually feel torsional flex, which makes butters, surfy slashes, and subtle tweaks feel very natural.
That’s where they shine: mid-line adjustments, side hits, tapping into a board’s personality. It’s a binding that gives the right feedback but holds back the unwanted chatter.
Straps, Buckles & Adjustability
Straps are solid. Nothing fancy, but they work. Buckles are smooth, even with cold fingers, and I’ve never had them ice up or stick. There’s no traditional forward lean adjustment, though—and you can’t rotate the highback to line up with your heel edge, which will bug some riders. It didn’t ruin the ride for me, but yeah, that’s a real tradeoff.
Weight & Build Quality
Ridiculously light. They basically disappear once you’re riding. That’s part of the appeal—especially for freestyle setups. But no illusions: these aren’t built like tanks. If you’re someone who beats the hell out of your setup, maybe don’t expect five seasons out of them. Having said that, mine still look brand new despite a genuine thrashing.
Boards I Rode Them On
Bataleon Surfer
Surprisingly great match. The lateral flex plays well with 3BT and the overall surfy vibe of the Surfer. Still stable enough for carving big open pow turns. Maybe not for cliffs or hardcore charging—but I wouldn’t want that out of this setup anyway.
Yes Greats
Basically ideal. If you’re into all-mountain freestyle or just want a setup that lets you get creative, the Ultra complements this board really well. Soft where it counts, enough response when you need it.
Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
Eh. It’s rideable, but this is where the Ultra (bindings) starts to feel undergunned. The board wants a more locked-in, responsive binding, and the Ultra just doesn’t push it hard enough.
Union Ultra – Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Super light and comfortable
- Excellent board feel and flex underfoot
- Great lateral freedom for surfy turning or park
- Zero pressure points, solid strap design
- Pairs well with softer or freestyle boards
👎 Cons
- Not ideal for aggressive carving or freeride
- Could feel underpowered on stiffer boards
- No traditional forward lean adjustment
- Highback angle can't be aligned with board edge
Who They're For (and Who They’re Not)
If you want surfy feel, all-day comfort, and a binding that amplifies your board’s flex instead of muting it, the Ultra is a great choice. Park riders, side-hit enjoyers, powder slashers, anyone who values board feel over brute force—this is your setup.
But if you’re into high-speed carving, big-mountain lines, or stiff directional freeride boards, you’ll probably want something more responsive. These bindings aren’t built for edge power. They’re built for feel.
Final Thoughts
I really like these bindings—but not for everything.
I wouldn’t run them on my stiffer freeride boards. I wouldn’t ride them if I was doing long, icy resort days at high speed. But for gentler pow boards, freestyle twins, or just mellow fun days where feel > force, they’re kind of perfect.
They’re not going to change your life. But they will make soft boards more fun, and they won’t punish you for riding loose.
And yeah—the bright red looks sick.
