Get creative with franken-bindings

Franken bindings have been around for years as riders would make their bindings last longer by replacing old parts with new parts or upgrading their bindings with features like cap straps. They allow each rider to become more familiar with their bindings, the construction, the adjustment and getting creative by playing binding god. By creating Franken bindings it allows companies to re-use excess parts to create an original product for consumers.

Union Binding Company has stepped up to the plate by letting customers purchase their own Franken-Bindings built from excess parts and creating a new binding from them. They even have their own names and come in limited availability.

The other option is to create your own which works easier if you have multiple parts from the same company.   You can pick your way through the baseplate, highback, straps, ratchets to make your own binding from your favorite or in better shape parts.  I’ve found it’s also a good way to get familiar with your binding and how it’s constructed.  In the end you’ll want to test it and make changes if you don’t like it or love the new look you created.

Currently I’m working to create a Rome Madison/Shift binding out of the spare parts and just playing around with it to see if it works.   As you can see, it’s a playground of pieces in the work.

Since I’m working with a plastic baseplate and a metal baseplate it’s a bit tougher but still fun like a puzzle to figure out what I want to work together.  The Madisons took a beating and cosmetically have issues but the Shifts are brand new and still in great condition so hoping to piece them together where they work as one.