For years, the biggest knock against Burton’s Step On bindings was the lack of options a rider had. Want to use Step On bindings? You were going to have to commit to using Burton’s boots, too. That is all about to change.
Union Binding Company has teamed up with Burton to announce a partnership on a Step On version of the Union Atlas binding. The announcement was made today. November 14, 2024:
“Available in a limited release of men’s small, medium, large and extra-large sizes in January 2025, the latest Step On® partnership is the result of Union and Burton’s shared commitment to establishing an industry-standard mechanical entry system for the wider binding ecosystem,” a press release says.
Photo: Union Binding Company
The move is monumental in the landscape of snowboard bindings. Other brands – like Nitro and DC - have hopped on board Burton’s Step On movement since it launched in 2016, but they have joined by making compatible boots. Union is the first industry leader to dip its toe into compatible bindings.
“I could not be more thrilled to see this partnership come to fruition and happily welcome the Union team into the Step On® family,” Chris Cunningham, the chief product officer at Burton, said in a press release. “What makes this partnership incredibly unique to me goes beyond our two brands and comes from a shared, deeply rooted history in snowboard binding development and passion for evolving the sport of snowboarding.”
The deal has been years in the making. In 2021, the two companies reached a prototyping agreement, according to the press release. The partnership was finalized in 2023.
“The Burton Step On ® system is proven,” said Martino Fumagalli, Union Binding Co. CEO and General Manager, in a press release. “It is the time and age to give something back, and this is a good way to collaborate on a project that can evolve the sport and industry. This partnership will continue beyond this one product — we want to evolve the system at all levels. Now that we’re in, we are all in.”
Photo: Abby Young
A limited size run will be released, and the bindings will be on sale in January 2025. A second release will drop in 2025 with new colors. An additional Step On model is in development for 2026, and will cover all of men’s and women’s sizes.
Union rider Gigi Rüf is quoted in the press release.
“The aluminum heelcup and the unique, sleek highback design caught my eye right away,” says Rüf. “The setup quickly felt familiar as I focused on carving to really test the response and pressure on the equipment. I told my son about my excitement, and now he wants a pair too!”