Now Brigada Snowboard Bindings Review: Playful Park Performance With a Punch

Introduction

Only a couple of seasons in the line and the Now Brigada has already worked its way to the top of the must-have list. A few choice upgrades for this season have kept it there, and it remains an instant favorite for park-focused riders who want a cruisy feel without giving up high-end performance.

The Brigada is the brainchild of JF Pelchat, the founder of Now bindings and a longtime shaker-upper of the binding industry. As Now moves into its tenth year, this is the brand’s premier women’s freestyle offering, and it shows a decade of experience distilled into one binding.

Who the Now Brigada Is For

The Brigada can handle any terrain, but it is no secret that it excels between the park ropes. This is purpose-built park perfection: gip-happy, kick-hungry, and butter-friendly. If your season is measured in laps of the terrain park, rails, and jump lines, this binding is aimed squarely at you.

That said, it is not a one-trick park pony. The overall character is loose and surfy enough for cruisy top-to-bottom runs, so riders who split their time between freestyle laps and all-mountain cruising will still feel at home.

Skate Tech: The Real Game Changer

Now bindings are recognizable anywhere on the mountain, but the skate tech is the real headline. Instead of a traditional baseplate, Now uses four corner bushings and a kingpin to transfer energy down the hanger directly to the edges of your board.

The practical result is that your board can flex more naturally and rider input stops getting lost underfoot. Everything you put in, you get straight back out.

The Hanger 2.0 design keeps the setup from being all softness. Energy is efficiently transferred directly to your edges, and an additional beam between the heel cup and the kingpin gives a direct transfer of power for instant response when you need it. Playful on the surface, but with a real punch underneath.

Flex, Feel, and the Women’s Specific Highback

The ergonomically designed women’s specific FM highback is shorter and softer than the men’s version to help eliminate calf bite, and it works with the contours of your leg to cut out pinch points.

The overall flex is really malleable, ideal for tweaking, pressing, and boning out grabs. The easygoing character pairs nicely with the medium bushings that come with the Brigada, giving that loosey-goosey, surfy feel for cruisy laps while also damping some of the vibration that comes hand in hand with hitting park features.

If you want to take the range of motion a step further, the Brigada is compatible with Now’s Mini Cups, miniature highbacks that add extra freedom for days when you want to get super twisted.

Straps, Footbeds, and Season Updates

The asym selector straps can be swapped over and flipped depending on how much precision and power you want. They are reinforced on the lateral side, so you can fine-tune the amount of response simply through positioning.

The ankle ladders have been repositioned for this season with a milled-out section that lets them sit in an open position, ideal for strapping in on the move or throwing down one-footers. They contour around your boot for a seamless fit, and the updated 3D contour toe straps mold around the toe box to keep your boot locked in.

The foam foot pad soaks up excess chatter at high speed, takes some of the slap out of big landings, and provides a comfortable, stable base for long days on the hill. New for this season, the Brigada comes with a combo disc compatible with both 4x4 and channel mounting systems, plus updated strap adjustment mechanisms and upgraded ladders.

Buying Advice

If your riding is dominated by park laps, presses, and creative freestyle, the Brigada deserves a place at the top of your shortlist. The skate tech delivers a natural board flex and direct edge response, while the softer women’s highback and medium bushings keep the feel playful and forgiving.

If you prefer a stiffer, more aggressive all-mountain or freeride binding, the softer flex may not be what you are after. But for riders who want a binding that looks clean in a stealth colorway and rides with genuine freestyle intent, it is hard to argue with.

Conclusion

The Now Brigada might look nice and pretty, but at heart it is built for freestyle mayhem and park destruction. With thoughtful women’s specific ergonomics, clever energy transfer, and meaningful season updates, it is an easy recommendation for riders who live for the park and still want comfort for long days on the hill.