Top Splitboard Bindings

Shane and Mark Have a detailed conversation on the differences , benefits, and overall impression on the BURTON HITCHHIKER & UNION EXPLORER.
Both Bindings are in our TOP SELLERS LIst and we get many questions on the differences.
More questions on Splitboarding? Please comment below - we would love to hear from you and gather ideas for future shows!
Filmed by - Fitz McGoey - FSM Productions
Music - Shane Johnsen
Rider - Mark Fawcett
www.tributeboardshop.com
IG : tributeboardshop

[@checker_boarder]

Great discussion and comparison! I’m biased to Union but have ridden the Burtons too and they both rip! Splitboarding rules❤️

[@dawidjuros474]

Not only You Man made my view brighter. You made it a Adventure to listen to You. God bless You on Your Rocky ways. 😎🔥💪

[@jonbrown9490]

I've got to say, I've got the Hitchhikers and I love them....with the exception of the climbing wires. The little tab is super hard to hit with a pole and half the time you( or rather I ) don't seat it in the right setting. Plus they pack with snow and freeze. I think the old school voile is a much better and more foolproof set up. Which leaves me wondering why there aren't more reviews of the voile speedrail( K2 farout) bindings? There are even fewer moving parts on those than a Spark R&D.

[@claritean]

good stuff guys.I am on Solution + union v2 and all the guys in snowboard shops give me theese looks when I say that I don't have a board for slopes, cause there is no need.

[@RobWhelan]

Awesome review, thanks! I ride the hitchhikers and I've always felt that they are sloppy on the downs, but great on the ups. Nice to see that Union has addressed that. I'd be curious to give them a try! ....but also, kinda want to try a hardboot tech set up. Any thoughts?

[@tributeboardshop]

We will Wait for fawcett to weigh in on that one! He is in China right now coaching the Canadian Para Snowboard Team!

[@AlreadyAUser]

This was a stellar comparison video. Really appreciated this.

[@tributeboardshop]

Stoked - thanks for the support!

[@Matttarro]

no bashing tips 😂 appreciate the details and personal input 👊

[@rossr1942]

Hilarious...here I am taking notes for a split binding seminar I'm doing in the a.m. and finally I realize...this is my old shop! Okay, so maybe I was over at Ripping Giraffe a bunch too, but still, excellent vid guys. Would have came in to tell ya'll personally if I hadn't moved two winters ago. Enjoy that coldsmoke!

[@Strayafication]

17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 :59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17: 17:59 59 :59 59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17: 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 1 17:59 17:59 7:59 17:59 17:59 17: 17:5 17:59 9 17:59 :59 17:59 17:59 17:59 :59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17 17:59 :59 :59 :59 17:59 17:59 17: 17:5 17:59 17:59 9 17:59 17:59 17:59 17: 17: 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17:59 17 17:59 :59 17:59

[@bersonlee]

Really nice video explaining everything. How do they compare in terms of weight?

[@tributeboardshop]

Very close in weight - the Union get the slight advantage there!

[@user-ox6zv3rc3x]

One consideration not mentioned here is that you're going to get snow/ice build up on the top of your split skis. Being that the Union system rotates on the pucks, that means a lot more ice clearing than with the Spark system. Another thing, from experience, getting your Union bindings to line up at the correct rotation is not always easy, the plastic end stops are not accurate so it does often require tweaking manually.

[@jarethjackman6915]

Good comparison, I agree with all points VS. The only thing I noticed with the Union bindings is on the mounting phase, the plate guide is crucial! and if you don't have the board lined up perfect, try again because once you make that twisting motion to secure the binding it may shift your "skis" slightly so your two tips wont line up perfect. Also, your stance width is limited to the factory holes, there is no further adjustments you can make with the plates. So, if you like 22.5 width or 23 or something specific, you might not get it.

[@claybornegordon9790]

Can you link the Voile riser pack you pair with the unions that are mentioned in the video? Or just point me in the right direction.

[@cascadiandirtbag]

My hitchhikers broke across the base plate. I switched to union and never went back.

[@helloworld8250]

I am us8 in Burton ion, which is in between size on the union explorer. Should I go for small or medium?

[@tributeboardshop]

Medium For Sure :)

[@bl00df4rt]

What do youhave below the heel on the Unions during touring mode (14:57)? is that necessary? I was underthe impression that nothing else needed to be beneath the binding on the ski during touring mode. Can the binding rest on the ski without any additional padding?

[@joshvieira9976]

Can you show a board setup of the Union bindings on the TRice Splitbord? I’m lost and have no idea what I’m doing.

[@tributeboardshop]

Hi Josh! Union has a great set up video on you tube - search that out , very helpful!

[@loganjames82]

Hey Shane great videos man! I’m wondering what Splitboard clips and hooks you’d recommend. Just grabbed a pair of explorers to put on an old s-series you sold me over a decade ago, it still has the old voile hooks and I’m wanting to upgrade it.

[@tributeboardshop]

Logan!! - We all love the Karakoram Tip Lock and new 3.0 latches - best we see in the field ! Cheers man

[@PeterPlaunt]

Hi Guys, I have stepons and am looking for input on splitboard boots. My Photons will not work. What boots do you and Mark tour in. Thanks.

[@tributeboardshop]

Hi Peter , Mark often uses a pretty soft Vans model , and in more challenging conditions his Regular Photons. Shane uses Ions and likely looking at the Tourist in the Future ! Choosing a boot that allows for “negative” forward lean is key !

[@PeterPlaunt]

@@tributeboardshop Thanks for that. Do the Tourists fit like the Photons?

[@tributeboardshop]

@@PeterPlaunt yes and the liner is a upgrade in mold -ability too

[@TwistedAnkles]

I’m trying to squeeze some info out of you guys. Mark mentioned in one of the videos about mounting union splits on a Burton channel split. Curious what mods are needed? I’m wanting to grab some Unions and mount them on my Hometown Hero split. It’s a lot of money for me to experiment with and was hoping for a brief summary of what needs to be done before I pull the trigger.

[@markfawcett8142]

Go with the Burton hitchhikers for Burton boards...100%. they work great ! I'm in the Yukon currenly and riding a full burton set-up with 2024 step-on Hitchhikers. Love em'.

[@tXQezQAK]

Hey, did you find the solution for mounting Unions to Burton split? Or what setup have you ended up with?

[@yannickschulz5354]

I put the Unions on the channel systen of K2 Split Bean and there are no mods needed. It is a bit tricky to catch the sliding insert with the screw but then it s all ready to go. K2 an Burton channel system should be the same.

[@michaelpeternixon]

Are Spark R&D splitboard bindings sold at Tribute?

[@kaidegomez2678]

Can you create a video showing your setup with the voile riser bar on union expedition bindings? I'd like to go with the unions but want a second riser bar, Thanks

[@tributeboardshop]

Kai, since the flood we havent filmed but we will get a photo of Shane's set up asap!!!!

[@Bogdanstevenson]

@@tributeboardshop is the pic still avalible?

[@Oleganuss]

is the union binding compatible/functioning with the burton Splitboards? Thanks for your help :)

[@tributeboardshop]

No - requires disk drilling and not recommended!

[@thomasgauthier8139]

Hi, I’m wondering if it’s possible to mount the union bindings on a Burton board since it’s what I have. If yes, how? Thanks!

[@tributeboardshop]

Short answer is No - requires some mods that we dont recommend :)

[@kygdrugge7]

What piece is that under the heel of the Explorer? Does that piece come with the bindings when you buy them?

[@tributeboardshop]

Everything comes with this system! Mount it up and go!

[@markmolinari7304]

On the explorer with US 10 Vans infuse should i go M or L? With force I went with M because they have adjusteble gas pedals but with Contact pro I went with L.

[@tributeboardshop]

Go With MED - we have a few shop guys that are happy with the exact model combination!

[@jayce63b]

I have the expeditions I like how they ride but they are not a solid mount. I can strap in for downhill and both feet can swivel a little left and right. Almost like they are loose, but they are definitely setup correctly and mounts are tight. Are they defective or is this how they ride? I bought a new split and want to get new bindings to have 2 setups, trying to cross over friends by having somethingfor them to ride. Vails fault not mine. Did they fix the problem with the explorer? If this is a common problem? Appreciate the videos you guys are 👍

[@tributeboardshop]

The V 1 Launch had about 2mm of play - nothing to be alarmed about at all - BUT , they did address that on the later Versions!

[@patrickelliott1947]

@@tributeboardshop when did V2 launch? Are 2022's v2?

[@zigapisar6740]

@@patrickelliott1947 There are currently three versions. The one with the most play was the V1, then there are the 2.0 Expeditions which are mostly sold today (blue, yellow, black), and V3 is considered the Chargers for 22/23 season I believe. The V1 reportedly had a lot of play. I have the 2.0 and there is some, but you have to learn to live with it because they are the cheapest bindings out there. The thing that bothers me most on my Nitro Nomad is an issue that @Jon Brown mentioned here. That is a deal breaker.

[@benjaminlangsam5953]

I have the k2 clicker bindings and I don’t want to get a split board and not be able to use them. Is there some type of adapter I can use for a split board to put regular bindings on it?

[@collinandrus6584]

I bought a voile split adaptor and used it last season. You can use standard bindings with it. It words great it’s just a little bit heavy

[@christophmuller3511]

K2 made special split board bindings as well, called the K2 kwicker. Don’t know whether it’s any good though, but at least a start to research for you.

[@gregory49]

Size 11 vans and burton boots, can I make a medium split binding work or should I go large so I don’t smash toes when climbing?

[@tributeboardshop]

This is a case by Case - bring your boots in to check as the over hang ( toe) is for sure something to be sure is correct! The hitchiker will work in MEDIUM as the heelcup can be extended.

[@gregory49]

@@tributeboardshop do you mean the explorer has an extendable cup?

[@dagong6408]

Hi guys! I have a Burton family tree hometown hero splitboard. Can I choose any Spark R&D split board binding? or Can I use Union Explorer on the burton splitboard? Thank you!

[@tributeboardshop]

Hi !! Any Spark R&D binding will Be compatible , unions however , due to the different puck design , will only work with some modifications that only a shop should perform - easiest To stay with the Spark / Hitchhiker setup!

[@dagong6408]

@@tributeboardshop Thank you!

[@TwistedAnkles]

Can you please elaborate on the modifications required. I have ordered a Hometown Hero split and really want to go with the unions.

[@Simon-bu4kc]

"anything over 45° is exessive.." wtf? I never ever saw anybody climb a 45° slope straight up xD

[@eriknodland8352]

Leaving my Karakorams out of the discussion ;)

[@tributeboardshop]

Truth is - we were sold out by time of filming! Next year we will do a epi on the Grizzly model

[@FourT6and22]

Burton Double Take buckles are NOT as durable as their standard buckles/ratchets. The Double Takes freeze more often and the spring inside the floor of the mechanism tends to break more often, leaving you with either a buckle that can't release or can't lock. This has happened three times on a pair of Malavita bindings. Once I switched to Cartel X with standard buckles, no more issues.

[@jasonzipprich3120]

I have the hitch hikers, they’re okay but the riser is god awful. It works horribly inside. On the mountain huge time waster.

[@randallgd]

Cheesy car salesmen.