Union Charger Snowboard Binding Review

The new Union Charger is a very responsive binding and one of the most responsive bindings in their line.

Ride #1 With Kyle and James

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  No one is perfect and we do make money from the “Where To Buy” links below, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Ride #3 with James, Peter, Jimbo, and Mike (sorry about the wind). 

2015 Union Charger Review

The 2015 Union Charger has changed a bit. Here is what is new.

1. The toe strap is smaller and better for those who put it on, the traditional way.  It’s also better for gripping your boot when you mount it over the toe.

2. The Ankle strap is thinner and smaller. Also, the ankle strap connector is shorter so if it doesn’t fit around your boot you can ask for the longer 2014 ankle strap connector and it will fix the problem.

3. There is much more shock absorption in the heel.

4. The Toe Strap is toolless now.

Days:  3
Riders: James, Peter, Kyle, Jimbo, Mike,
Boots: Burton Imperial, Burton Hail, Burton Ion, Burton SLX, Nike Lunarendor, Burton Ambush
Boards: Jami Lynn Phoenix, Jones Mountain Twin, Yes Greats

Flex: Same very stiff aggressive flex that isn’t about pairing up with mellow boards.

Adjustability: The Adjustability is better this year and completely toolless.  This is a really nice improvement.  You need a screwdriver for adjusting the heel loop to fit your boot size and screwing in the bindings to the board but that’s it.  I’d still like to see more holes in the high back so you can rotate them.  Union bindings don’t need high back rotation as much as some bindings but these high backs are very stiff and don’t auto-rotate as easy.  All in all, it’s a very good binding for dialing it out to your boot size.  The adjustable length heel loop is a nice thing and good for you in between size riders.

Comfort: These bindings are just as comfortable as previous bindings.

Turn Initiation: Same super quick turning edge to edge and it’s there to power stiffer more challenging boards to ride. I personally feel it’s arguably one of the fastest bindings when it comes to edge to edge transitioning in their line. It makes aggressive boards feel less aggressive.

Buttering: The smaller ankle strap feels like it detracts a tiny bit from our ability to butter but there is the same minimal true contact with the board making it flex a little easier underfoot for leaning out on a butter and such.  Most people will be more into turning and carving with these bindings instead of buttering and jibbing.

Boot Support: The new smaller ankle straps take me and our crew back to when Union had smaller ankle straps about 5 years plus ago.  There is more freedom of movement but there is less support. I felt much more freedom of movement but much less support and occasionally in the rough bumpy terrain, I could feel a lot more stress on my ankles.   All of us preferred the bigger strap from last year.  We like how it’s thinner but not how it’s more narrow.  That being said the wright older school rider who really prefers small thin straps will really like this. You can buy other straps here too.

Ratchet System: Some of us (not me) use to have issues with Union Toe Straps but lately, they have been working without a hitch.  Nice and easy to get on and more importantly off.

Shock Absorption: There is a lot more shock absorption this year as well and it’s got padding from where your boots touch to the board where before it had a little bridge that didn’t go to the board.

So, all in all, we were fans of every improvement except for the small ankle strap. If I owned 2015 I’d get the larger ankle strap from the Factory and put it on the binding.

2013 and 2014 Union Charger Review

The Union Charger will turn any board very well and it’s edge to edge transitioning is exceptional. If you have a stiffer board, don’t care much about adjustability and want the snappy response you can get from carbon fiber the Charger is a pretty good choice.

A quick look at the 2014 Union Charger. Not much has changed since last year except the toe ratchet is easier to release.

Days:  10+
Riders: James, Peter, Kyle, Jimbo,
Boots: Burton Ion, Burton SLX, Nike Kaiju, DC Judge
Boards: Capita BSOD, Jones Mountain Twin, Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Phoenix Series,

So Union only machine cores their top of the line binding the MC Metafuse.  A lot of people are bummed about this because normally a binding like this would be machine cored as well. I can understand being bummed about the lack of machine coring because it makes the bindings a little lighter but none of us at The Good Ride really noticed any difference in terms of performance.

Flex: This is right there with the MC Metafuse and I personally think it’s stiffer. The high back has a very rigid torsional flex and it’s super stiff when you pull it right back. Out of all the bindings in Union’s line it has a very stiff flex.

Adjustability: Sadly the adjustablity with Union falls a little short and even more so for the Union Charger compared to other Union Bindings like the SL. The heel loop slides in and out to adjust to different boot sizes and that is why they have 2 sizes instead of 3.  This is a good idea but one problem is you are stuck with one ankle strap angle where most have 2 or 3.  This might be the only reason you don’t want this binding – to us it wasn’t, but to those that like to adjust and conform bindings to their stance this can be frustrating. Many bindings have the ability to rotate your high backs to align them to the edge of your snowboard (see how to set up your gear) but you cannot do that with the Chargers which is pretty much a bummer for freeride bindings. Union bindings work pretty well without a high back rotation but it still works better with one. All other Union bindings allow you to rotate your high back. Also, nothing is tool-less like many bindings out there are so you need a tool with you if you need to adjust on the fly.

Comfort: Comfort and adjustability usually are somewhat related but the Charger is very comfortable.  The ankle straps are supportive but comfortable and so is the toe strap.  It’s a very comfortable binding.

Heel to Toe Response: Years ago I was riding a pretty stiff all mountain board and switched from an old disc Burton Cartel to the Union Force.  It felt like it changed the tun initiation of the board from challenging to moderate. I haven’t had a similar feeling until the Charger came a long. It’s right there with the MC Metafuse and the Factory.  So there might be some bindings out there that have the same “excellent” response rating as the Union Charger but this is like an “excellent +” or a spinal tap 11.  Edge to edge transitioning is exceptionally fast. Pairing this with an aggressive board makes it seem easier to ride.  If you pair it with a softer board might make it too responsive.

Tip to Tail Response: Not bad on a butter thanks to the reduced dead spot tech under foot and the newer bigger ankle strap.  You can butter pretty well on this binding. Most won’t really care about buttering with this binding but you can if you want to and pair it with a butter friendly board.

Approximate Weight: It felt like it was just a shade heavier than the Union Force MC which is very very light. This binding also feels incredibly light.

Boot Support: For 2014 the MC Metafuse has more of a locked in feel but in 2013 they were pretty even. Now days most bindings at this level have a larger ankle strap to offer a little more support.  Still it has a good feel but lately most of us prefer a larger ankle strap when riding a stiffer more responsive binding that usually goes with a harder to turn board.

Ratchet System: The 2013 Ratchet system can be a little sticky in the toe when trying to take it off but the 2014 is easier to release and doesn’t stick as much. I’ve personally never had a problem but I have heard complaints here and there about the 2013 ratchet. The ankle ratchet is pretty smooth though. Check the 2013 video review further down on the page to see how to get the toe ratchet off easier. We’d like to see an improvement with the toe ratchet’s design to make it super easy but it’s definitely improved for 2014.

Shock Absorption: Heel Shock absorption is pretty good. Its not the softest most shock absorbent binding out there but it does do a great job at dealing with chatter at speed as well as handing a bad landing or two. It just doesn’t compare to the Factory when it comes to a hard landing.  The toe is all about response but there is still a little padding there as well.

So in 2014 with the new Factory and the Upgraded MC Metafuse it’s hard to say which binding will be the best call for you.  If you want super light, the snappy response of carbon in your high back and you don’t want to spend as much as the MC then this is the call.

2013 and below Union Toe straps can be a bit sticky. For some this is a big problem and for others it’s not that big of a deal. Until Union addresses this issue here are some pointers on how to make the toe strap less sticky so you can enjoy the bindings better qualities.