I feel like I finally got my bindings sorted this year. 

One thing that never seems to be discussed/advertised is the ankle strap height.  I have a higher instep, but I also like some height for toeside leverage/drive.  I measured on the lateral side (canting will make it smaller) from the top of the footbed to the centre of the ankle strap screw (in the highest position possible).  Here's what I got:

’23 Union Force 32mm
’22 Ride C9 42mm
’23 Salomon Highlander 46mm
’18 Burton Genesis X 47mm
’23 Burton X 48mm
’23 Jones Mercury 50mm
’23 Burton Lexa X 52mm
’19 Flux TM 52mm
’24 Flux CV 52mm
’14 K2 Company 62mm
’22 Rome Cleaver 60mm (with no cant footbeds), pivot can go up to 82mm

I absolutely HATED the Ride C9.  The ankle strap was too low and was not at all supportive.  It felt like my boot would fold over it.  The Union Force (classic) were actually a bit better due to the fatter strap... but I sold them both.  You see the Korua guys ripping around on the Union bindings in the Yearning for Turning videos, but while I'm sure they provide more dorsiflexion, they just didn't work for me.

I really like the adjustability of the pivot mount on the Rome bindings.  I actually bought another pair of Cleavers for a powder board and the Vice for a softer all-mountain board (they were actually last season bindings at almost the end of this season).  You do loose some transfer/drive from the medium-sized disk underfoot, but they're very comfy, truly all-day riding bindings.

I should note that I've adopted the Burton Hammock straps to the majority of my bindings.  It's soft on the instep, but offers lots of support around the sides, allows some lateral mobilitly, but has lots of drive.

I bought the '24 Flux CV this year because the LTD didn't come to Canada.  They're fine on a surfy carver, but there is a noticeable flex in the chassis.  I've got them on a Korua Trenchdigger, but modified the hammocks for better drive & comfort.  If you really want drive, go for the LTD (it's the same carbon composite as the XV, but with a higher heelcup and a softer highback).  Some people like a stiffer highback, but I actually like a little lateral maneuverability.  I ordered the CV-LTD from Asia and they feel way better than the old Flux TM on my Stranda Shorty.  Better drive, better mobility and not quite as harsh.

Also note that next year the Flux XV get a newer designed base (like the XF base with the corner bushings).  It'll still be a carbon composite (hence stiffer than the XF), but probably have a little more lateral mobility than the current XV (which have a lot of lateral drive and feel pretty locked in).  Depending on the board & boots, the old Flux can feel kinda harsh underfoot, but they seem to be improving that.

The Salomon Highlander do have a smaller heelcup, but I've got them on a surfy pow board.  I like the Flux on my carvers.

I've got the Mercury on my Freecarver 6000, but actually wish I had the CV on it as well.  I just hate swapping bindings around all the time.

Thanks to James, I got to try the Flow bindings... but they really didn't work for me.

I gave up on Flow's last year after using them for the past 10 years.  My NX2 Fusions were just too....much?  I like stiff boots and bindings, but I also want progressive flex out of them, whereas the Flow's seemed like hitting a wall.  Also having to use an XL for my 29.0 boots makes for some pretty hefty dead spots.  I switched to A9's for softer conditions and pow, A10's for pure carving.  My wife has been riding her Flow CX's for a few seasons and is making the switch as well- besides needing a Large for her 26.0 boots, in order to get out of the binding, she has to undo the straps a fair amount before the highback will release- at 62 and with arthritis in her thumbs, it sort of negates the whole system.  She tried Yes Conda's last year on her pow fish and liked them, so I bought her a pair of Yes Drives for her Coiler's this year.  I still think the Flow's are great bindings, but no longer are my daily's.  

I ended up buying the Flow NX-2 Fusion bindings that were on sale for 50%. I did this mainly on the recommendations regarding bindings from "Secrets of Snowboarding II The Interface" Youtube video. I originally wanted the NX-2 Carbons but they were sold out. in any case, I think that the non-carbon NX-2's will match well with my Ride Lasso Pro Wide boots. Not the most responsive setup but that combo should still work with the Jones Freecarver 9000 for someone new to the trench digger game. Any tips on setting up the Flow Fusion straps?

@board-doctor indicated that he had some comfort issues with the NX-2 Carbon's Fusion straps when he tried of @wild-cherry JJA boards. @board-doctor attributed this to his high arch/instep and its incompatibility with the Fusion strap. I have some high arch issues as well but perhaps not as pronounced as @board-doctor. I think these is a conversion kit that will allow me to change to hybrid straps if this is an issue for me.

I have read that for some people the lower overall position of the Fusion strap could be an issue due to less ankle support than a traditional two-strap ratchet binding, where the upper strap rests much higher. Some reviewers like James over at The Good Ride have said that there is more support on heelside than toeside for the Fusion straps. He describes the feeling of the Fusion strap as "surfy." Besides the advantage of less "boot-out", how have people found the support for the turns with the Fusion straps on your Carbon/non-Carbon NX-2's? How do they compare to traditional two-strap ratchet bindings or Flow hybrid straps?

This could probably be it's own thread... but when I saw a new pedorthist this year he said I "had the signature foot of a snowboarder with some grey in his beard".  I was surprised, as I had only said that I might wear the insoles in my snowboarding boots.  Anyway, I've got a bit of a dorsal exostosis (tarsal boss or humped bone):

I had never heard of this before, but apparently clamping down the ankle strap (particularly on crappy old bindings and soft boots like Sorrels) can lead to this.  People with a high arch/instep are more prone to developing it as well.

So this causes a serious pressure point for me and I really need to get the ankle strap up above it.  The Flows clamped down on it like a medieval torture device.

The other thing to note is that people can ride quite differently.  At one extreme you've got people that largely shift their centre-of-mass over the edge in order to weight it and turn (I think Cherry leans this way with his epic up-unweighted/cross-over style).  At the other extreme you've got people that really power through their bindings and basically just use ankle-steering to get the board on edge (more-so for retraction/cross-under turns).  But those are two extremes and I think most people probably land somewhere in the middle, leaning one way or the other depending on the situation.

I should stress that I don't think there's a right or wrong way, it's really just preference.  As another example, I've heard Jeremy Jones say that he runs the bottom of his boots tight, but the top loose (like 1" between the tibia & tongue).  Then there's Knapton that extends his highbacks and uses a 3rd strap.  Both are obviously expert riders.

Posted by: @deuxdiesel

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in order to get out of the binding, she has to undo the straps a fair amount before the highback will release- at 62 and with arthritis in her thumbs, it sort of negates the whole system.

I do this too, but it's still faster than a regular two strap because I don't have to kick the buckles out of the way before I step in, and it's still easier than the traditional two strap because I only have to reach down with one hand.  Plus, I can do the kick-off-step-in and keep some momentum on the flats. 

Posted by: @kagurasnowsurfer

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Any tips on setting up the Flow Fusion straps?

They're stiff at first but they will form to your boot soon enough.  The 24/25 model has some upgrades too like foam under the web and the buckles don't stick anymore.

Posted by: @kagurasnowsurfer

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How do they compare to traditional two-strap ratchet bindings or Flow hybrid straps?

No idea.  Haven't tried the Hybrid.  I don't have any issues with the one-piece Fusion, but to be honest, I only chose them last season because they were more expensive than the Hybrid and so I assumed they were somehow better.  

I don't notice extra ankle flex on toeside probably because of the stiffeners and straps in my boots.  They're too stiff to flex noticeably

Posted by: @board-doctor

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I think Cherry leans this way with his epic up-unweighted/cross-over style

The mega stiff boots and bindings help with that.  I remember my first day last season on the NX-2 thinking "these are almost as stiff as hard boots!".  I like to lean into my boot top and even relax my feet when the surface is smooth.

@wild-cherry I’ve been riding Flow bindings for 15 years - switched to them for their step-in like convenience. As a big guy and hard all mountain rider I found that their stiffest bindings really improved my riding. When I got into softboot carving 6 years ago I got the NX2 GT and now have the NX2 CX, NX2 TM and 2 sets of NX2 Carbon on my five carving boards. The all are stiff and ultra responsive. All have the fusion power strap which I find completely comfortable. I am able to use the set it and forget it feature as designed - making entry on the go possible and mostly ease of exit at the lift as long as the high back is released all the way down. I also ride with risers on all my boards which help the high back levers not catch on the edge of the board when opening the up. 

lately I’ve ridden with many different boots, including Flow Talon, Nidecker Index, Deluxxe Edge Pro and K2 Thraxis - all work wonderfully withe the Fusion power strap and haven’t caused and painful pressure points in my feet. 

i definitely highly recommend the Flow NX2 bindings for aggressive soft boot carving. 

if anyone has any specific questions I’d be happy to respond to you

FYI - I have size 12US and size XL bindings - I ride at F39/R30 angles. 

I contacted Flow/Nidecker.  I can upgrade the highback to the carbon  and switch out the fusion straps to hybrid straps. Neither option is cheap but definitely cheaper than buying new NX-2 Carbon Hybrid bindings.

I had my first two days on the Flow/Nidecker non-carbon NX-2's with the fusion strap. As I recall, @board-doctor had some issues with the placement of the fusion strap in regards to his high instep but I did not have any problems with my high instep and the fusion strap. Overall I liked the feel and responsiveness as a result of the larger surface area of the fusion strap. The one issue that I did encounter is that I hard trouble lifting the highback into position if the fusion straps are set too tight. The boot just doesn't slide in that easily. So much for "set it and forget it". That said, I was able to loosen the straps, slide my boot in, and lift the highback... all while standing.  IMHO the Nidecker Supermatics are a much better step-in system but as @wild-cherry has noted it has a much bigger footprint than most bindings which could lead to boot out. I will try both bindings with my Jones Freerider 9000 in the coming weeks and and see which works best. Since my Supermatics are the smaller size M (for my 25.0 mondo feet), boot out with the Supermatics may be less of an issue due my small feet.

For fast entry, another one to watch will be the FASE... coming to other Nidecker Brands.  If they do that to the Cleaver, it could be quite good, though the heelcup is bigger.

FASESYSTEM.COM "https://www.fasesystem.com/"

FASE™ | Fast Entry Snowboard Binding System

The next generation two-strap binding: a revolutionary Fast Entry System, featuring the rider-trusted performance and comfort of two-strap bindings, compatible with any boots.