The Ultimate Kids Snowboarding Bindings Guide

After picking out a snowboard and a pair boots for your child, the next item is getting them some kids snowboarding bindings. Bindings will help keep your child’s feet strapped to the snowboard for maximum control. Depending on the age and boot size of your child there are different binding options available. We’ll look at the different types of snowboard binding construction for toddlers and youths, while also covering the anatomy of a snowboard binding and the different mounting systems that snowboard brands use.

After you finish reading the ultimate kids snowboarding bindings guide, you’ll understand how bindings work, how they can be adjusted and what type of binding is going to suit your child. Let’s get into it!

The Ultimate Kids Snowboarding Bindings Guide

Kids Snowboard Binding Sizes
How Long Do Kids Snowboard Bindings Last?
The Difference Between Kids and Youth Snowboarding Bindings
Types of Snowboard Bindings
Burton Step On Bindings for Kids
Diagram of Kids Snowboard Bindings
Different Mounting Systems
Where to Buy Kids Snowboarding Bindings

The first thing you’ll notice when going to purchase kids snowboard bindings is that they don’t come in a wide array of sizes like boots do. They are typically manufactured in three general sizes (small, medium and large) that will fit a range of boot sizes. Here’s a kid’s snowboard boot to binding size chart:

You’ll notice in the sizing chart, there are sizes labeled with a ‘C’ and a ‘K’. As mentioned in my Ultimate Kids Snowboarding Boots Guide, boots with a ‘C’ are for toddlers, while boot sizes with a ‘K’ are for youths.

A kids snowboard boot size 7K is equivalent to a men’s snowboard boot size 7. And a kids 6K is equivalent to a women’s snowboard boot size 6. So, a boy with feet that fit a 7K boot can either try a large kids snowboard binding, or they can switch to a small men’s binding. For a girl with a 6K size boot can either try a large kids snowboard binding, or they could switch to a women’s small binding.

It’s becoming more common to buy snowboarding products online but I still encourage people to go into a snowboard shop if you can. Local snowboarding shops are getting harder to come by so you might have to settle with buying bindings online.

If you know your child’s snowboard boot size, you can use the kids snowboarding binding size chart above to figure out what size bindings you need to buy.

If you visit your local snowboard shop the sales staff will be able to recommend you a few different products for your child.

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How Long Do Kids Snowboard Bindings Last?

Parents should know that a pair of kids snowboarding bindings will usually last 2 or 3 seasons before your child will grow out of them. The reason for this is most bindings have components that can be adjusted, like straps or footbeds, so even if your child goes up a size in their boots the same pair of bindings can still fit for a few seasons.

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The Difference Between Kids and Youth Snowboarding Bindings

Children can start snowboarding as young as three years old. Well-known brands like Burton have board, boot and binding options for toddlers, so you can get your child into snowboarding from a young age.

However, the product variety is limited for toddlers and young children. There’s usually only one or two binding options per brand. But as kids start to get older the construction improves and more performance features become available in kids snowboarding bindings.

Toddler’s Snowboarding Bindings (for Boot Sizes 7C–13C)

At this age, the bindings available for purchase prioritize flexibility and comfort over performance. A few brands like Burton, K2 and Salomon make snowboarding bindings for children.

For example, the Burton Mini Grom Disc bindings feature a single oversized strap, which is easy to fasten whether your child is wearing gloves or mittens. These bindings are lightweight and soft-flexing.

The construction of these types of bindings are basic. They’re made of polycarbonate, a type of plastic that is lightweight and durable for children. This gives the bindings a laid-back and relaxed feel while riding. The disc mounting system is compatible with different kids snowboards form all the major brands. They’ll cost around $130.

Youth Snowboarding Bindings (Boot Sizes 1K–7K)

At this stage, the bindings will begin to have the same performance features as adult bindings. A good example of this is the Burton Mission Smalls binding, which is a redesign of the men’s Burton Mission.

The Burton Mission Smalls are gender-neutral in their design, so both boys and girls can use them. They offer a softer flex compared to the men’s Burton Mission binding. They have an ergonomic highback with pro-grade straps, like you would see in adult’s equipment.  This cushioning and performance give kids the ability to ride for a full day on the mountain. They’ll cost about $190.

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Types of Kids Snowboarding Bindings

Burton Step On Bindings for Kids

Burton Step On bindings are a faster and more convenient way for kids to get into and enjoy snowboarding.

Diagram of Kids Snowboard Bindings

Several different components make up kids snowboard bindings, all of which are important and provide a function. As mentioned above, there are different types of bindings, but this diagram illustrates a typical strap-in binding.

Heelcup

The looping portion that wraps itself around the heel of your snowboard boots is known as the “heelcup”. These are to prevent you from sliding out of the backside of your bindings, and it also gives the highback a spot to attach itself to. There are plenty of material choices that are used for heelcups. Most often metal (aluminum or magnesium) or polycarbonate (dense plastic) are used. Magnesium is a strong but very lightweight metal and are used in the construction of heelcups for Union Bindings. This provides more durability and power potential.

Highback

This is the part located at the back of your bindings that sits vertically. The backside of your boot rests against the highback, giving you support and stability. Highbacks provide control as you twist and steer your snowboard through turns. Highbacks usually have cool shapes and holes where material has been taken out to reduce the overall weight of the binding.

Forward Lean Adjuster

Forward lean is the amount of “forward angle” on a binding’s highback. The more forward lean, the further forward your calves are pushed, which makes you bend at the knees and adds power and precision into your heelside turns. Most kids snowboard bindings feature a mechanism on the back of the highback for adjusting forward lean.

For most kids learning to snowboard, it’s recommended to ride with zero (0°) forward lean. But if your child has been riding for several seasons and is competent, you may want to increase their forward lean by a few degrees so they can power through their heelside turns even more.

Ankle Strap

The ankle straps is the primary attachment that holds your foot to the board. They wrap from the inside of your boot to the outside and their main function to hold your foot down. It’s generally best to strap into a snowboard by doing the ankle strap first.

Toe Strap

The toe strap’s main function is to pull your boot towards the heelcup of the binding. That’s why it’s the secondary attachment that holds your feet to the snowboard and should be done up second when strapping into a snowboard.

Ladders

Ladders are the hard rubber-plastic material with continuous ridges. They are what the ratchets lock into. They are made from a form of plastic that is very bendy and malleable. This prevents the material from getting rigid in cold air temperatures and possibly snapping or breaking. However, if your’s does happen to break, you can find replacement ankle ladders here and replacement toe ladders here.

Footbed

This is the inside of the base plate of the binding and it’s where you step into with your snowboard boot. Footbeds vary in support and cushioning.

Ratchets

Ratchets are the small mechanical parts that lock your straps to your ladders. They are usually made of aluminum or magnesium. They are meant to lock in securely and release effortlessly.

Base Plate

The base plate is the bottom portion of the binding. It includes a disk thats used to attach the binding to the snowboard with screws.

The disk in the base plate is considered a ‘dead zone’. It’s a part of the binding’s base that doesn’t flex torsionally with a snowboard. Different brands manufacture different base plates to improve the torsional rigidity of bindings. Burton’s EST bindings and Chanel mounting system are meant to be a solution to this problem.

Different Mounting Systems

There are 4 main types of snowboard binding mounting systems out there.

4×4 System

The 4×4 system is simple and straight forward. This system use to be more common, but nowadays the 2×4 system is more prominent. You have screw holes that are 4cm apart in rows that are 4cm apart. This mounting system works with the standard 4×4 binding disks. You use 4 screws per binding disk and the snowboard mounting points determine how wide or narrow you position your bindings.

2×4 System

This system has become the current-day standard for snowboards. It’s where you have holes that are 4cm apart width-wise but in rows that are 2cm apart along the length of the board. This system became so widely adopted because it gives you extra holes to choice where you fasten the binding. The 2×4 system is compatible with 4×4 binding disks.

Burton’s 3-Hole System

When they originally came out, Burton’s 3-hole pattern was called the ‘3D’ hole system. Burton no longer uses the 3D system anymore and has moved to the Channel. But there are still plenty of older Burton snowboards out there that you might see that still have the 3-hole pattern.

These binding disks only use 3 screws. Tip: if you have an older Burton snowboard with 3-holes, you should use Burton bindings. You’re more likely to find backwards compatible disks available straight from Burton than if you were to use converter disks from another snowboard binding brand.

Burton Channel System

Back in 2005 Burton invented a new way to fasten bindings to a board. All Burton snowboards nowadays have what’s called the Channel system that requires Burton EST bindings and it boasts a few benefits.

This design has you fastening screws on the outside of the bindings baseplate. This means the whole base of your feet can flex across the board from toe-to-heel without a dead spot. The typical fastened disk plate is a part of a binding’s baseplate that doesn’t flex; it’s a dead spot. So the Channel system creates a more responsive foot-to-board riding experience by removing the use of a disk.

Much like the 3-hole pattern, if you have a Burton Channel snowboard, you’ll want to use Burton EST bindings. If you use non-EST bindings, Burton has compatible ReFlex disks you can use to mount to a Burton Channel board. But it’s hard to find converter disks from other snowboard binding brands that are compatible with the Channel.

Where to Buy Kids Snowboarding Bindings

By using the tips and information provided above, you should be able to pick out the right type, style and size of kids snowboarding bindings that suits your child best.

Hands down the best way to buy snowboard bindings is to go to your local snowboard shop. If you shop somewhere with knowledgable snowboarding staff who have been trained with product knowledge you’ll get the best service. I like going to Corbett’s in Oakville. I use to work there for multiple seasons when I was younger so I know the staff are reliable. They have some of the largest selection of kids snowboarding products in the Greater Toronto Area, so they’ll be sure to help you get a pair of bindings that will be compatible your your child’s boots and snowboard.

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Related Articles:

• The Ultimate Kids Snowboards Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Boots Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Goggles Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Helmet Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Base Layer Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Jackets Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Pants Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Gloves Guide
• The Ultimate Kids Snowboard Socks Guide