UNION SNOWBOARD BINDINGS: STRONGER

When it comes to snowboard bindings, Union doesn’t just make gear, they make statements. Born in 2005 out of a desire to build a better binding (and a refusal to settle for mediocre plastic junk), Union Binding Company came in hot with one goal: design bindings that riders actually want to ride. No gimmicks, no outsourced BS, just raw performance, ridiculous durability, and enough style to make your board blush. Based in Seattle with its engineering HQ nestled in the Italian Alps (yep, really), Union lives and breathes snowboarding from all angles, literal and figurative.

Union isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. They’re binding nerds, and proud of it. While other companies stretch themselves thin with outerwear and energy drinks, Union stays laser focused on the single most overlooked but crucial part of your setup: where your boots meet your board. They’ve got a borderline unhealthy obsession with materials science (for real, magnesium and forged carbon?), and their factory in Italy is probably cleaner than your kitchen. Basically, they make bindings that work like hell and take a beating like a rental board during spring break.

But Union’s secret sauce? They don’t take themselves too seriously. Yes, the gear is engineered to the teeth, but the brand vibe is more “let’s go lap the park and heckle each other” than “tech seminar on heel cup stiffness.” Riders like Travis Rice, Gigi Rüf, and Jess Kimura have thrown their weight behind Union, not just for the performance, but because it’s a crew that gets it. Whether you’re chucking cliffs, bombing groomers, or just figuring out how to get off the lift without yard-saling, Union’s got your back and your bindings.