NOW O-Drive 2018 - 2015 Review by The Good Ride

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The NOW O-Drive is the Drive with a little bit more mustard….in the form of lighter carbon  It’s got a little more snap out of the high back and a bit more response.  We found we like this binding best with the stiffest stoppers.

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.

Days:  5
Riders: James, Peter, Zobel, Jimbo and our friend Ren
Boots: Burton Imperial, Burton Hail, Burton SLX
Boards: Jones Mountain Twin, Rossignol XV, Rossignol Krypto

Flex

Yeah this is stiff and snappy.

Adjustability

As said on the vid we are hoping that the production model has a high back that you can rotate and not an Allen Wrench for the high back. Turns out it doesn’t allow you to rotate it and it’s set at an unchangeable 10  degrees.

Comfort

The tight heel cup is hit or miss but everything else about the binding is comfortable from toe strap to the high back.

Sway Bar Pressure Issue

One problem with all NOW and Jones bindings is the sway bar that sits under your gas pedal can cause stress on your metatarsal. Most bindings have a plastic plate keeping the pressure even on your gas pedal but NOW and Jones don’t. If you have a softer sole boot it can strain your arch and cause a lot of fatigue.

Turn Initiation

So with the stiffest stoppers on which make a lot of sense for a stiff binding, you get a pretty good response.  The minimal contact with the board really helps the board turn edge to edge in a kind of unique way.  The softer stoppers slow the response.  For most people, all you will need is stiff stoppers.

Buttering

With softer stoppers in you could put these bindings on a softer board and butter but with the stiffer stoppers it doesn’t butter as well.  The heel loop really locks you in so it feels awkward to butter.

Boot Support

The tight heel cup locks you in from the back and usually the ankle strap has the predominant grip. With the O-Drive you get a really locked in the boot as well as reduced heel lift which bindings usually don’t really help you accomplish.  So that’s a perfect choice for someone who is constantly battling heel lift but if you have your boots dialed as we do then it can be a little uncomfortable at times.  I’d rather see a wider heel cup and then an attachment you put in that narrows the heel loop for no backing.

Ratchet System

Nothing noticeable that’s bad or good. It works.

Shock Absorption

One of the best qualities of all the NOW Bindings.  It’s got minimal contact with the board and rubber contact at all the corners.  On top of that is a soft cushy footbed across the whole binding that makes boards you ride better at busting chunder and more damp at speed.