Splitboard bindings are purpose build snowboard bindings to be used with a splitboard. They are very different from regular snowboard bindings in that they are designed to be slid off splitboard pucks and attached by the toe to the splitboard as a ski.
Parts of a Splitboard Binding
Highback
A splitboard high back is designed with a much larger articulation angle than a normal snowboard binding. This allows for a boot to flex both forward and backward in the binding making it more comfortable to hike or tour in and allows for longer strides. Splitboard highbacks come in many shapes and sizes. Some splitboard binding highbacks are very rigid, they provide a lot of control in steep, hard, or icy conditions. There are also some splitboard bindings with a softer more surfy flex to them that are more comfortable and playful to ride.
Highback forward lean
Most splitboard bindings have a special lever in the back of the binding. This is very similar to the “walk” mode on alpine touring ski boots. It allows for longer strides when in an open position, but when locked it provides stable leverage when on the heel edge of the splitboard.
Heel Strap
Splitboard heel straps a very similar to snowboard ratcheting heels straps. The straps over the boot are often cutout to reduce weight and provide a bit more flex. The Buckles on the heel strap are different on some binding models and have quick-release straps to quickly pull in the case of an avalanche.
Toe Strap
The toe straps on splitboard bindings are very similar to most snowboard bindings with a ratcheting buckle.
Base Plate
Base plates on splitboard bindings are different from regular snowboard bindings because they have to be rigid enough to hold the two parts of the splitboard together. That means they are very stiff. A lot of splitboad bindings have cutouts so that you can install them on a splitboard and adjust them while they are attached to the board.
Heel cup
The heel cup on splitboard bindings is an important part to get fit correctly. Most splitboard bindings have screws on the lower sides to adjust the heel cup to fit just right around the boot, as well as adjusting the front to back movement of the boot inside the binding.
Rails and Connection
The bottom of the bindings is where the connection between the snowboard and the binding happens. Some splitboard bindings are slid onto the pucks while others are a step on. Both styles have a locking mechanism either using pins or levers to secure the splitboard binding to the board.
Rotation Hardware or Pins
The piece that connects the binding to the ski when in touring or hiking mode is usually a pin that fits through the toe of the binding allowing it to rotate. However, there are a few binding designs that have large hooks that connect around a fixed pin in the toe piece attached to the ski.
How to Adjust Splitboard Bindings
How to adjust adjusting bindings straps?
There is a lot of different style of bindings straps on all types of snowboard bindings. The most standard is a ratchet buckle with a ladder style strap
How to adjust the heel cup of splitboard bindings?
A snowboard boot should fit centered in the binding and over the board. Often time adjustments need to be made to the heel cup shortening or lengthening the binding. Nowadays we are lucky to have gender-specific sizing as well as large, medium, small sizes to find a great fit for all boot sizes. Look for screws on the sides of the heel cup that can be loosened and pull the heel cut back or push it forward. After you have made an adjustment strap your boot into the binding while it’s attached to the board in your riding position. Look to get the boot fairly centered on the board. This can be a great starting point. Additional fore and aft movement can be made by adjusting the pucks on the board.
How to adjust high back on splitboard bindings?
Splitboard binding highbacks are similar to most snowboard bindings. If you are riding with your feed at an angle typically the highback should run parallel with the edge of the board. This make the binding more comfortable and more consistant when on heel edge. When in touring mode on a splitboard this can feel a little strange, most splitboard bindings have a tour mode that opens up the highback angle in the opposite direction so this is less noticable.
The amound of forward lean a riding might want is usually dictated by rider preference or terrain. When riding steep harder lines on hard snow pack forward lean can help with leverage on the heel edge. Snowboarders who prefer a more playful surf feel ride without any forward lean on the highback.
Can you use regular bindings on a Splitboard?
You can use regular traditional snowboard bindings with a splitboard and an adapter. Bindings with a channel system like the Burton EST will not work with the adapter. Below is a picture of the adapters as you can see it has similar holes to a snowboard that snowboard bindings can be mounted to. The adapter than can be slid over the splitboard pucks or the hole in the front of the adapter slide a pin through and you can use regular snowboard bindings for a splitboard.
Splitboard Binding Manufactures
There are a few major splitboard binding manufactures listed below. Most of them have done coloborations with other snowboard binding manufactures. They usually use some parts from the splitboard bindings hardware but then incorporate their snowboard straps or highbacks for a slightly different feel.
Splitboard Bindings Colobarations
Spark R & D with Burton Snowboards for the Hitchhiker.
Spark R & D with Nitro for the Vertical Splitboard Binding.
Plum and Rossignol.