I first laid eyes on the OG Supermatic bindings when riding with girl friends on a cold crisp January morning in Le Tour, Chamonix. The cobalt sky was cloudless melting into a dazzling, almost empty post New Year piste. Fresh corduroy lines stretched out before us.
Approaching almost three decade’s of snowboarding I’m not ashamed anymore to be sat ratcheting up my bindings for a good few minutes before starting a run. On a family snow day, my kids and husband are half way down the piste before I’ve even strapped in.
I watch with acknowledged envy as skiers ski gracefully off the chairlift seamlessly smooth into their run, before turning my attention back to the here and now. My friend’s already strapped in and waiting, while I’m still tightening my first binding.
‘Bridget, what the hell?’ I’m gobsmacked. ‘Seriously?’
Bridget’s 11 years younger than me, having just brushed past 40. We’ve sailed, hiked and snowboarded on and off for years. I put her speed down to youth. “No”, she snorts with laughter “it’s my new Nidecker step in bindings”. “Ooooh what?!”
I ogle them. They are beautiful.
The pastel pink hue, of course, is the first thing I’m drawn to. But then she shows me the good stuff – the slick intro system that in one beautiful motion – would solve my slow starts in a heartbeat.
I want them.
Bowling through the door of our chalet on my return, I enthusiastically pour out my intel to Scott, my husband. Yes. He knows about them.
I’ve suddenly got it all figured out. I’d always wondered how I was going to still be snowboarding at 70 – all that bending down wasn’t going to cut it in my senior years. I’d even considered learning to ski.
When my OG bindings arrive in a sleek black box, my excitement is palpable. My loyal long standing bindings are sadly removed and placed to one side (sorry) and the spotless, slick OG Supermatics unwrapped and screwed in, making all the adjustments for my forward lean, stance and all that jazz.
My husband, an ex-pro rider was a little more skeptical. I know he just wanted to hate them. Together we’ll give our opinion on the LT and the OG Supermatic Nidecker bindings – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Taking them up for the first time, I skip out of the car and practically run to the gondola. Something I rarely do.
For me the last big change I made in my snowboarding set up was the Orca. The Orca effect was so huge it literally changed my life, re-ignited the joy for me in riding again. A real game changer.
I anticipated the Supermatic’s to be as big in weight as the Orca. No pressure then.
The Supermatic bindings have something called an automatic entry system. It means you can just slide your boot into the binding in one smooth motion, click and ride.
Nidecker’s automatic entry system is a huge breakthrough for snowboarders! It relates to more runs on the mountain and a stop to slowing down the group (especially when you’re out with skiers)
The gubbins has a black lever that releases the back of the binding wide open so you can insert your foot in. This is Nidecker’s Nylon+ Ultraback Reclining Hiback – the action works seamlessly and does create a large entry opening for my boot. You then have to push down hard to click the binding in. The motion of the binding parts works perfectly. You should hear a reassuring audible click.
The two webbed straps are wide and cover the majority of my foot so I feel well strapped in. They’re solid for sure and feel secure when riding.
Both the OG and LT Supermatic bindings are a little heavier than a traditional binding because of the metal components in the step in gizmo, so this is definitely a factor. And you can feel the extra weight slightly when for example you’re carrying your board. Is that a compromise? For some maybe, but for me it makes no difference. Once I’m in, I’m loving these bindings and it didn’t notice it when riding.
I’m not going to lie, it takes a while to seamlessly strap in. I assumed it was going to be super simple but its a little clunky at first.
My kids laugh in my face. At 15 and 18 now (where did that time go?) they ski harder and faster than I ever could – my 18 year old straps in so fast its bloody ridiculous. She definitely doesn’t deserve a set of strap in bindings. Leave them for the people that actually need them.
They mock me as I practice again and again releasing the back lever and punching my foot down. It feels easy on the flat but tricky on terrain anything other than flat. I guess practice will make perfect – just like the videos online.
It’s comforting that I can still ratchet up the bindings as I would traditional binding if I feel I need to. Whether thats because I’m on different terrain or maybe in powder. I’m told that I should be able to automatically drop into these bindings on any terrain and once I’ve practiced getting into them more, hopefully I’ll be able to do so.
What’s clear is the build quality. They feel solid and robust and I’ve no doubt they’ll stand the test of time in terms of endurance.
What else is to love about the Supermatic? The colour ways. Many snowboard brands offer females the most dull colours but Nidecker have nailed this to perfection with some beautiful colour ways for the female rider. Thank you.
Can the Nidecker Supermatic bindings be used with any snowboard boot?
Absolutely, one of the huge selling points of the Nidecker Supermatic bindings is that they can be used with ANY snowboard boot – something that wasn’t possible from other model attempts from various brands in the past.
What’s the difference between the OG Supermatic and the LT Supermatic?
The OG Supermatic is designed for beginners to intermediates whilst the LT Supermatic is stiffer and aimed at harder, more advanced riders.
One thing we noticed is that the Supermatic LT XL are MASSIVE. Scott’s a size UK 10 and a large would have fitted him comfortably. So only size up if you need to as the extra weight is considerable.
Scott is impressed. “They feel good whilst carving” he admits before hitting the snow park. Scott’s totally at ease on a snowboard. It’s part of him. So only after one run he’s arranging the bindings before even getting on the chairlift. It’s going to take me a lot longer to get my foot at the right angle… I’ve realised I just need to prep more.
Scott reckons in big lift queues the prep would “be a bit of a pain in the ass”. That’s when I read that this year’s version, the 26/27 model, has a new adjustment. LSR2 ratchets. The Quick-set Latches let you set your preferred strap tightness so you don’t need to adjust your binding straps every time. This means I’ve got a consistent fit every time.
The OG Supermatic retails at approximately £370 whilst the LT Supermatic are around £50 more expensive at approximately £420.
Verdict: would I recommend the Supermatic OG or LT binding?
The answer is a resounding YES. I’m really impressed with the Supermatic bindings from Nidecker and I’d recommend them to anyone, in particularly middle aged women who just want to make their life easier. Because that’s what they do on the tin – GENUINELY make your life easier.
Frozen bum in the strap in – gone. Plus, no more heaving myself up from sitting before every run. Energy saved. I’m a convert.
Nidecker Supermatic bindings simply give you more quality time on the mountain.
Undoubtedly I need to practice more for faster entry but as I tested them at the end of last winter I didn’t have a lot of time for them to become seamless. I know it will happen. I can’t wait to get back on them come December. Bring it on!
Disclosure: Nidecker provided us with the supermatic bindings for the purposes of this review however all opinions are our own