Union Source FC Snowboard Binding Review

A Detailed Objective Breakdown Of How The Union Source FC Rides Review by The Good Ride

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How the Union Source FC It Was Tested:

I borrowed the Union Source FC for an extended demo and sent it back.

Days: 4
Conditions: Good Mid-Winter Groomers to varied Spring Conditions
Riders:  James (Size 9, 5’10”, 185-190lbs). I’ve tested and compared 800+ boards, over 180 bindings, and 100+ boots
Boots: Nitro Team TLS
Insoles: Footprint Kingfoam Orthotic Elite
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Skyline Fuse 3L Jacket, Skyline Fuse Light 3L Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Skyline Faze Pant
Helmet: Smith Method
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt

Boards:
Capita Spring Break Powder Glider, Capita Black Snowboard Of Death, Jones Rally Cat, Capita SB Stairmaster

Similar (but not the same) Bindings:
Burton X EST, Union Falcor,

Weight

The Union Source FC is super light. With the two screws in, this weight is 1lb 4oz. That’s the lightest binding I think I’ve ever ridden, just for reference, my Union Force is 2 lbs 5oz. That’s more than a pound difference. And they can do this primarily because it’s all forged carbon, and it’s discless. That seems to save a shit ton of weight. There are other factors in play, too, like really minimal straps, lighter/smaller ratchets, and lighter proprietary screws/bolts. The bottom line is they went nuts on weight reduction. 2 of these bindings are lighter than 1 Nidecker Supermatic…that’s nuts!

Highback Flex

The Union Source FC highback is very stiff. There is almost no twist, and there is pretty much no give.

Adjustability / Set Up

The Union Source FC  is pretty limited when it comes to adjustability. There is no high back rotation unless you slide out the heel cup and rotate it. But that can be problematic. This requires an Allen wrench to adjust. The toe strap and the ankle strap, which sucks, but they do give you one here in this little package. That holds the screws. And the forward lean adjusters. Which I really don’t like. You have to unscrew this in the heel right here. And change out your degrees one, two, three, four, etc., just a huge pain in the ass. But that is the price you pay for this ultralight binding.

On top of that, you have no disc. So you put these little inserts in. You adjust the stance angles here. And it sucks because you can only get to 21 degrees. With traditional full-size mini disc and hybrid disc bindings, you can get any stance angle you want. At least you have this heel cup to slide in and out, so you can center your boot pretty well inside this binding. But there is no adjustability with the gas pedal.

Stance Width Adjustability

This also only allows you to adjust based on where the inserts are, so they’re every 20mm apart, whereas with almost every other union binding, you can get any stance width you want. And so this is a huge step back in terms of adjustability. And it was frustrating for me. It might be frustrating for you as well.

Flex Underfoot

The Union Source FC is excellent with Butterability and has an incredibly easy Flex Underfoot. There is soft foam underfoot, and the only real contact point is where the 2 screws are mounted. So only an incredibly small percentage of the binding is actually in full contact with the board. The rest of this is raised off the snow. So. Even compared to something like the Union Ultra, I just felt like the board had almost the same flex without bindings.

It’s a very different feel that’s hard to describe. But coming off these with all this contact with the board. To this, it just blew my mind. This felt better than the Burton EST bindings in how easy it was to flex the board underfoot. You feel strapped in and supported, yet it feels like you’re directly strapped to the board. I’ve never felt that feeling before. It really does feel like the board has ankle straps and a high back growing out of it.

Shock Absorption / Dampness

The Union Source FC does have a little padding around the bottom of the base plate, and it’s a softer Eva foam, so it does help. Still, compared to my Union force, which has a lot of shock absorption and a much damper ride than this, Atlas would be a little more damp, but I did have more shock absorption because of this foam on the bottom than I thought I would for this kind of ultra-light binding.

Turn Initiation / Response

The Union Source FC is a very responsive binding. Still, at the same time, it didn’t overpower mellower boards like my cheaper, easy-turning rally cat. So it actually blends pretty well with a wide variety of boards. I would not pair these with really stiff boards, as the stiffer the board, the less the response you get from the Source FC.

Vs. Other Union Bindings

I would say they still fall behind the Atlas Step On, especially when paired with a medium-fast-to-fast-response boot. It’s going to power boards faster, edge-to-edge, especially as the flex gets stiffer.

Same thing with the Atlas FC, but to a lesser extent. It’s going to be the same, or sometimes even a touch behind the source, with medium-flexing boards. But as the board gets stiffer, the Atlas FC will catch up and even surpass it.

Even bindings like the Atlas Pro, Atlas, and Force that you see here are often a step behind the source, just in the way that they allow the board to flex so easily and turn so quickly. But as it gets stiffer again, those full-sized disc bindings. Will catch up a little bit.

And when it comes to the Falcor, the Source and Source FC will be more responsive. And the Falcor with that easy flex underfoot has similar problems. Not quite the same, but similar to the sauce. So as the board gets stiffer, it becomes a little harder for the Falcor to power. In comparison to the Atlas, the force, the Atlas Pro, the Atlas FC, and the Atlas step on. But if you want more shock absorption. Better dampness An easier binding to set up and adjust the Falcor is a great option.

And as you’re picking up from all of this, this response isn’t set. It’s kind of on a sliding scale according to the board. And the boot you use. So it’s a hard one to nail down. But that’s a general guideline for you.

Support / Straps

I really love these Union Source FC ankle straps. They’ve got support where you need it and weight reduction where you don’t. The toe straps grip really well, too, and pull your boot up to the high back.

Ratchets

These ratchets are ultralight but functional. I do prefer regular union ratchets, but they’re very smooth on and off.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the lack of stance-width adjustability, the need for an Allen wrench, and the lack of shock absorption are deal breakers for me. I’m sticking with my Union forces. That being said, the response and flex underfoot are truly special, and it’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being directly connected to the board. In a time where so many brands are sacrificing feel for quick release, I really appreciate Union innovating to increase the flex/feel underfoot and response. If they could give this more shock absorption, better adjustability, and a lower price, I’d love to ride these. It almost feels like you have a new board when you put these on.

This could be an excellent choice for those who see a lot of amazing powder, do a lot of hiking, and want a light, responsive binding that truly enhances the flex and feel underfoot. Unlike anything else I’ve ever tried. If you own a Powder Racers or Powder Glider, this could be a great pairing.

If you want to save 300 bucks but still spend more than a lot of snowboards, check out the Source Pro, which has normal screws, a normal heel loop, more supportive straps, and a slightly softer flex with an easier twist in the high back. That could be a great choice as well, because it’s still going to be super light and have that really special feel underfoot. So there you have it. I hope this helps.