Quick Entry Snowboard Bindings

Strap in, strap out, strap in, strap out. It's a ritual every snowboarder knows all too well, and it gets old fast. If you're tired of sitting in the snow fumbling with your bindings every time you get off the chairlift, you're not alone. Quick entry bindings have revolutionized snowboarding by eliminating the hassle without compromising performance on the slopes.

Once dismissed as a gimmick, today’s quick entry systems have earned the trust of riders competing at the highest levels. From Freeride World Tour champions to weekend warriors, more riders are discovering that spending less time strapping in means more time doing what they love most: riding.

This guide will help you understand the different quick entry binding systems available, how they work, and which one is right for you.

What Are Quick Entry Bindings?

Quick entry bindings represent a fundamental reimagining of how you connect to your board, allowing riders to get in and out in seconds without the tedium of manually fastening straps every time.

Consider the traditional approach: you arrive at the top of the lift, find a spot to sit, reach down to your board, attach the ankle strap, tighten, then repeat the process with the toe strap. Do this imperfectly — straps too loose, too tight, or unevenly tensioned — and your riding performance suffers. Multiply this 15-20 times across a whole day, and you've spent a good chunk of time just managing your equipment.

Quick entry systems simplify this process with various ingenious mechanisms. Some use integrated cleats that click your boot into place with a simple step. Others employ reclining highbacks and straps that open wide for easy entry, then automatically snap closed to secure your boot in one easy motion. Whatever their approach, all quick entry systems share a common goal: getting you up and running faster.

FASE Fast Entry System

The FASE Fast Entry System represents the latest approach to quick entry bindings, combining easy entry with the familiar feel and performance of traditional two-strap bindings. Developed over seven years with extensive rider feedback, FASE delivers proven performance in a lightweight design while dramatically reducing entry and exit time.

How Do FASE Bindings Work?
FASE bindings have three distinct components that work together to function as one system. The Autoback highback opens wide when the boot is out of the binding and automatically closes when it enters. The Faststrap ankle strap features an extra long ladder that remains connected when open for easy, one-handed operation. Finally, the Locked-In Toe Strap is set and forget, designed to remain in position at all times.

When your boot enters the binding, the Autoback snaps closed and all you have to do is reach down and tighten the Faststrap with one hand. When it’s time to get out, simply open the Faststrap, pop your heel up, and pull your boot out.

Key Features

Universal Boot Compatibility
FASE works with normal snowboard boots, giving you maximum flexibility and choice for your boots. It also means you can upgrade your bindings or go in a different direction without having to replace your entire boot collection.

Two-Strap Performance
These bindings perform just like traditional bindings, delivering the familiar locked-in feel and board control that you’re used to. Riders transitioning to FASE report virtually no adjustment period in terms of riding feel.

Easy Adjustment
This system allows you to make quick strap adjustments on the fly, just like a regular binding. Need more ankle support? Tighten it up in seconds. Boots packed out? Adjust accordingly. Want a different feel for groomers and powder? Fine-tune it. This adaptability means you can optimize your setup for peak performance from first chair to last.

Lightweight
The FASE system doesn't have any bulky mechanisms or heavy-duty hardware, so these bindings feel light, nimble, and responsive.

FASE bindings are ideal for riders who want the convenience of fast entry without compromising on the traditional binding feel they know and love. Compatibility with traditional snowboard boots creates a lower barrier to entry, allowing riders to keep using their favorite boots instead of having to buy both up front.
 

Click to shop FASE bindings from the following brands

Step On Bindings

Burton's Step On system reinvigorated the quick-entry binding market with a fresh approach starting in 2017. The Step On system features a cleat-based design with specialized boots that click into the binding. This boot to binding interface eliminates the need for straps, creating a fast, lightweight, and minimalist system. The caveat is that you'll need Step On boots to use Step On bindings, and vice versa.

How Do Step On Bindings Work?
Step On boots feature special metal cleats on both sides of the toe, and one on the heel. To engage the binding, step in heel-first to lock the heel cleat into the binding's heel clip. Once the heel clicks, press down with your toes to engage the toe cleats into spring-loaded toe hooks. You'll hear distinct clicks confirming you're locked in.

To exit, simply pull the lever on the binding heel cup to release and twist your boot out. As you step out, the system automatically resets for your next entry.

Key Features

Lightning-Fast Entry
Arguably the fastest entry and exit system available. With practice, riders can engage both heel and toe cleats in under two seconds, often while still gliding away from the chairlift. This means no more stopping at the top to strap in while your friends wait, and no scrambling to get ready.

Secure Connection
The three-point locking system (heel cleat plus two toe cleats) provides excellent board control and responsiveness that rivals or exceeds traditional bindings. The direct connection eliminates the slight flex found in traditional straps, resulting in immediate power transfer and precise edge control.

Lightweight
Step On bindings themselves are notably lighter than traditional bindings because there’s simply less hardware. With no ratchets, ladders, or straps to add bulk, they feel light and nimble.

Requires Step On Boot
The Step On system won't work with regular snowboard boots, which means you need to purchase both boots and bindings together as a complete system. This increases the initial investment and restricts your choice of boots to certain styles and brands.

Step On is perfect for riders who prioritize speed and convenience above all else and don't mind committing to the Step On boot ecosystem. It's excellent for resort riders, those seeking maximum simplicity in their setup, and anyone with mobility issues that make traditional strapping difficult. The system has proven itself across all types of terrain and all ability levels, and there’s more choice than ever as an ever increasing number of brands offer Step On compatible boots and bindings. 
 

Click to shop Step On bindings from the following brands

Supermatic Bindings

The Nidecker Supermatic bindings take a hybrid approach by combining automatic entry with traditional two-strap functionality. It was the first fully automatic binding to work with any snowboard boot, offering the best of both worlds for riders who want convenience without sacrificing boot choice. Unlike other quick entry bindings, Supermatic bindings can function just like a traditional binding too, giving you a little more flexibility in awkward terrain.

How Do Supermatic Bindings Work?
The Supermatic uses a reclining highback system for entry. Press the release lever on the binding's inside edge and the highback automatically drops back while pushing the straps up and open. This creates a large opening where you slide your boot in from above. Step down on the heel pedal, and the highback snaps up while the straps automatically close around your boot at the tension you previously set. To get out, press the lever to drop the highback and lift your boot out.
 

Key Features

Universal Boot Compatibility
Supermatic works with any snowboard boot from any manufacturer, allowing you to keep your favorite boots and never worry about proprietary systems.

Dual-Entry System
Use automatic entry or manually strap in like traditional bindings when the terrain demands it. This versatility is Supermatic's secret weapon — when you're hiking a steep ridge line, posting up in waist-deep powder, or dealing with icy slopes where footing is tricky, simply flip the highback forward and strap in the old-fashioned way. Then you can return to using quick entry once you're back on mellower terrain. It's the best of both worlds in a single binding.

Two-Strap Performance
Maintains the familiar feel and performance of traditional bindings with ankle and toe strap pressure distributed across your boot.

Setup Required
Supermatics require some experimenting with strap position, tension, and highback angle to dial in the sweet spot. Too tight and the binding will have difficulty closing; too loose and you sacrifice performance. Once dialed, the system works flawlessly, but expect to spend a few runs fine-tuning things to start.

Supermatic is a great choice for riders who want the convenience of quick entry without being locked into a specific boot brand. It's well suited for all-mountain riders who spend most time at resorts on groomed terrain, riders who already own boots they love, and anyone who wants the flexibility to manually strap in when conditions demand it. The additional hardware from the automatic closure system makes these bindings a little heavier than other options, but the ability to function as a traditional binding makes Supermatic a versatile choice for varied terrain and snow conditions.
 

Click to shop Supermatic bindings from the following brands

Other Quick Entry Binding Systems

While FASE, Step On, and Supermatic represent the current leading quick entry systems, there are a handful of other options worth considering.

Flow Bindings
Flow pioneered the rear-entry binding concept decades ago and continues to offer bindings using their NX2 and Fuse platforms. Flow bindings feature a hinged highback that drops down for entry and exit, allowing you to insert your boot without touching the straps. While they don't have the automatic highback closure of Supermatic or FASE, they work with any boot and provide quick entry for riders seeking a more budget-friendly option. 

K2 Clicker X HB Bindings
K2 Clicker X HB is an evolution of a design first introduced in 1995. Like Step On, Clicker uses a proprietary cleat interface that requires a compatible boot. While it is fast and effective, the Clicker system has not seen widespread adoption, and there are only a handful of compatible boot and binding options available from K2. 

Clew Bindings
Clew bindings feature a unique design that detaches the straps and highback from the baseplate, allowing you to walk freely. You strap in at the beginning of the day like a regular binding, and when you need to get on a lift the straps and highback remain attached to your boot, while the baseplate remains attached to your board. Bananas.

The Bottom Line

Quick entry bindings are here to stay, having evolved from niche products to legitimate high-performance options embraced by all kinds of riders. The choice between systems comes down to your priorities:

Choose FASE  if you want lightweight bindings with a traditional two-strap feel, on-the-fly adjustability, and the freedom to use any boot.

Choose Step On  if you want the fastest entry / exit and don't mind committing to the Step On boot ecosystem.

Choose Supermatic  if you want automatic entry with any boot and value the ability to strap in manually when needed.

Whichever system you go for, you can look forward to spending more time riding and less time sitting in the snow. With technology continuing to improve, quick entry bindings represent the future of snowboard binding design. Happy shredding!