• Price: £345 / €350
• Sizes: M, L, XL
• Flex: 4
• Entry System: Rear-Entry
• flow.com

Most people associate Flow bindings with beginners, as their signature rear-entry design definitely takes some of the faff out of learning to shred. However, they are in no way confined to the nursery slopes; models like this one, the Flow NX2 snowboard binding, boast a serious amount of tech.

“Confident riders looking to refresh their ride whilst keeping things stiff and stable might want to check out the Flow NX2”

As you flip the highback down, the ‘strap’ part of the Flow NX2 actually lifts up a little – and the opposite is true when you secure the highback for shredding. Not only does this solve the old rear-entry problem of not having proper pressure over the top of your boot, it also gives you more room to kick your boot in.

Rather than the large sock-like strap of old, the modern Flow NFX2 features the same targeted support as you’d find on a normal pair of binders (for obvious reasons there’s a small extra bit of perforated fabric connecting the two straps, but that’s it). There’s also two smooth aluminium ratchets, so fine-tuning isn’t out of the question.

The baseplate is made of tough, lightweight aluminium, and is also gently rockered from edge to edge to aid energy transfer. It can handle a good thrashing, but slow surfy turns are improved too.

Rear-entry systems still aren’t for everyone, but neither are they to be dismissed out of hand. Confident riders looking to refresh their ride whilst keeping things stiff and stable might want to check out the Flow NX2.