REVIEW
Nidecker Supermatic Bindings
“Whoa, that was cool,” the guy said to me as I rode away from the top of the lift. My suspicion was confirmed: It really does look as awesome as it feels to stomp into Nidecker’s new Supermatic bindings.
At first glance the Nidecker Supermatic seem like most other snowboard bindings. They’ve got highbacks, heel cups, webbed straps, etc. But these bad boys aren’t your average binders. Nidecker Supermatic are the world’s first step-in bindings that snowboarders can use with any traditional boots in their arsenal. Unlike other step-in systems which utilize clips and locks on snowboarders’ boots and bindings, the Supermatic bindings have an innovative “triggered highback,” which is part of what Nidecker calls Drop In technology.
The Nidecker Supermatic bindings in the cyan colorway.
Rather than unclasping and reclasping straps over the front of the boot, a lever situated on the inside of each binding releases the highback, which drops down to allow the rider to step into the bindings. When the highback releases, the back section of the binding’s baseplate also comes up and away from the board. When the rider puts their foot into the open binding and steps their heel down onto that piece of the baseplate, the highback reconnects and locks together with the rest of the binding frame, securing the boot in place. To get off the board, the rider simply hits the lever and pulls their foot out the same way it went in.
Nidecker Supermatic bindings have a mid-stiff flex rating, and they love to charge hard and aggressively. After several days of testing, my assessment of the Supermatic bindings has them excelling on groomers and performing well in the park, which turns out to be pretty in line with how Nidecker advertises them. Given that I completed this review at ski areas in upstate New York and southern Vermont in February 2024, my deep powder tests of this binding will have to wait. Although, judging by Shin Biyajima’s riding in the Supermatic bindings, it’s safe to say they offer ample support for highly skilled snowboarders who ride burly lines and big jumps in backcountry terrain.
I tested the Nidecker Supermatic bindings with both stiffer and softer flexing boots, as well as stiffer and softer flexing snowboards. The bindings worked best with a mid-stiff to stiff flexing boot. Using those stiffer boots, the bindings performed well on both softer and stiffer decks. My key takeaway: the board these bindings are paired with doesn’t affect the overall ride nearly as much as the boots, and stiffer boots paired a lot better with the bindings than the softer boots did.
Nidecker Supermatic bindings are built for the sort of snowboarder who loves riding fast and getting in as many laps as possible on a lift-serviced day. Riders who don’t want to dilly dally at the top or bottom of any run—or the middle of it, for that matter. Riders with strong feet and ankles who enjoy a stiffer binding. Throughout my few days of riding the Supermatics, the phrase “No B.S. Bindings” repeatedly popped into my head. Calling them “No B.S. Bindings” seems a little funny considering all the bells and whistles of this newfangled tech, but when it comes to the actual snowboarding, that’s how they feel. Again, these bindings want to charge.
Taylor Gold boosting a method using the Nidecker Supermatic bindings.
Taylor Gold putting the Nidecker Supermatic bindings to the test in deep powder. The mid-stiff flex performs in all conditions.
The main learning curve I found was when I was in the park on a very firm day and wanted to hike a feature to have another go at it. I had a hard time lifting my foot out of the binding while also maintaining enough weight on my edge that I wouldn’t fall or keep sliding down the hill. Although, in those instances when you can’t comfortably step your foot out, you can simply use the straps like you normally would with any other binding.
Like anything new the Nidecker Supermatic take a little tinkering and getting used to, but if mid-stiff flex is your cup of stee, you’ll likely feel right at home in these bindings in several runs’ time. By my third run, I had them dialed. And despite how many times I’ve now seen it, every time I stomp down into the Supermatic I can’t help but think, “Whoa, that is cool.”
Nidecker Supermatic bindings retail for $399.95 and are available in a variety of colors and sizes M, L and XL. We recommend supporting your local shop and looking for them there first.
| M | 5.0 – 8.0 | 6.5 – 9.5 | 37.0 – 41.0 | 4.0 – 7.0 | 23.0 – 26.0 |
| L | 8.5 – 10.5 | 10+ | 41.5 – 44.0 | 7.5 – 9.5 | 26.5 – 28.5 |
| XL | 11.0 – 13.0 | – | 44.5 – 47.0 | 10.0 – 12.0 | 29.0 – 31.0 |
ABOUT THE TESTER
Age: 31
Years Riding: 23
Height: 5’10’’
Weight: 165 lbs
Home Mountain: Jiminy Peak, MA
Local resort: Mt. Snow, VT
Riding style: Freestyle focused all-mountain