• Price: £150 / €170 / $170
• Sizes: M, L, XL
• Flex: 4/10
• Entry System: Rear Entry
• BUY DIRECT FROM FLOW

The phrase ‘entry-level’ conjures up a lot of preconceptions, with ‘basic’ probably being the first one that springs to mind. ‘Wallet-friendly’, we’re guessing, comes a close second. And while the latter is definitely a fair assumption of the rear-entry Flow Nexus, you’d be way, waaay off the mark if you thought these beginner-friendly bindings were prehistoric simpletons. Waaay off.

“Tonnes of tech and thought have gone into this ‘entry-level’ binding”

New for 2021, Flow have introduced the Nexus to their Axis-Series platform, making them even more of a serious contender for the hallowed space on your first ever snowboard. This means they’re home to glass-filled nylon baseplates for optimal energy transfer, whilst their asymmetrical design and slight rocker centre on upping comfort, natural flex and stability. Slightly wider than the other Flow baseplates, these are the easiest-to-enter options of the lot – a big plus point when you’re starting out and spending a lot of time cultivating your butt bruises.

That ease is amplified even more, with the use of Flow’s Speed-Entry reclining highback, which folds right down and fully up – the simplest and quickest mechanism for getting in and out of bindings. And when you’re paying a small mortgage for a lesson on the slopes, do you really want to be spending that precious (and expensive) morning wrestling with your straps? Exactly.

Oh, and don’t think for one second that Flow have pulled a bottom-of-the-barrel strap out and fitted it to these, either. That is extremely not their style, instead opting to use their 3D-designed Fusion Comfort Fit strap, which is as snug around your boot as it is secure. In short, tonnes of tech and thought have gone into this ‘entry-level’ binding, and if building skills and confidence without sacrificing on fun is your idea of a snowboarding break, these should do the trick.