YES Bindings

What happened to NOW Bindings?

If you came here looking for NOW, this is the right place. NOW is no longer sold as its own brand, and the binding design it was built on now lives under YES. The drivetrain idea is the same one riders bought NOW for, so if you rode a set and want the same feel again, you are looking at it.

Worth saying plainly: your existing NOW bindings are not obsolete. They will keep working for as long as the hardware lasts. This is about where to look when you replace them.

What makes the baseplate different?

Most snowboard bindings mount the baseplate flat and rigid, so a lot of the energy you put in through your ankles gets absorbed by the binding before it reaches the edge. The design here works more like a skateboard truck, pivoting around a central point so that pressure from your heel and toe is levered directly into the edge of the board.

In practice you notice it as a board that responds earlier in the turn and takes less effort to hold on edge. Riders coming off a conventional binding usually describe it as feeling more connected and slightly more sensitive underfoot. It is a real difference rather than a marketing one, and like most real differences, some riders love it and some prefer the familiar feel of a standard baseplate.

Which YES binding should you get?

The range is compact, which makes choosing simpler than most.

• Airmaster sits at the freestyle end, softer and more forgiving for park riding and progression.
• Drive is the all-mountain option for riders who want response across the whole hill.
• IPO covers the mid-flex all-rounder ground.
• Select and the Select Kowalchuck sit at the more responsive, performance end.
• Conda, Rebel and Vetta are the women's-specific models, built on a women's chassis rather than scaled down.

As with any binding, flex is the decision that matters. Softer for park and for building technique, stiffer for speed, bigger terrain and precise edge control. If you are between two, call the shop.

Do they suit Australian conditions?

They suit them well. Australian resorts freeze overnight and stay firm through the morning, and man-made snow sets harder again. Firm snow is exactly where a binding that transfers input quickly earns its keep, because holding an edge on a hard surface is a response problem more than a grip problem.

If you ride mostly soft park laps in spring slush, the advantage is less pronounced and a softer, more forgiving setup may suit you better.

Sizing and setup

Binding size follows your boot, not your board, so start from your boot size. Check the disc pattern suits your board's insert setup before ordering, particularly on channel-mounted boards. Once mounted, the highback should sit flush against the heel edge and the ankle strap should cross the flex point of the boot rather than riding up onto your shin.

Buying YES in Australia

Twelve Board Store is an authorised Australian YES dealer, so everything carries full manufacturer warranty. Free shipping on orders over $90, with same and next-day dispatch from our Richmond store in Melbourne. Bring your boots in and we will check the fit properly rather than guessing at it.

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