NOW Drive Snowboard Binding Review: A Damp, Responsive All-Mountain Charger

Introduction

The NOW Drive is a binding aimed squarely at all-mountain riders who spend most of their day charging. We rode it on a warmer, sunny spring day with creamy snow that held its character even as clouds rolled in later, paired with a K2 Tree Manifest snowboard and Ride Fuse boots. The short version: it feels locked in, it is stiffer than the middle of the road, and it carries the classic NOW signature of a damp, responsive ride.

Adjustments: Simple On the Go, With Limits

Setup is refreshingly straightforward. The binding offers toolless adjustment out of the box, or you can pop in a Phillips head screwdriver if you prefer. The highback adjuster is equally easy: a flip of a tab and you can change the angle on the go, no tools required.

The one gap is the footbed. You cannot adjust it, so once you have your stance dialed, that is where the adjustment story ends.

Bushings: The Firmest Ride NOW Makes

Out of the box, the Drive comes with the firmest bushings in the NOW range, which is a big part of its responsive character. The upside is flexibility: you can swap in soft or mid bushings to dial in a slightly softer, more dampened feel if the stock setup feels too aggressive for your taste.

Straps and Ratchets: Locked In, With an Aging Toe Strap

The headline change is the new Asym ankle strap, which adds an exoskeleton that makes it a bit more rigid than a standard strap. The toe strap, however, is an older design. It works and grips most boots well, but it feels like it should have been upgraded alongside the ankle strap.

These straps do allow a little side-to-side play, but the size and stiffness of the straps mean you feel noticeably more locked in than with an average binding. The ratchets themselves are very standard in the best way: one finger to release, the strap slides on easily, and ratcheting is smooth with a good grip.

Ride Feel: Damp and Responsive

Heel to toe, the Drive is very responsive. There is a little lateral play, but once your boot is strapped in, the highback’s curvature stiffens things up and you feel secure. The highback also has lateral play when unloaded, but on snow with a boot in the binding it tightens up nicely. Forward lean is a simple flip-tab affair: flip it, slide it down, flip it back, done.

The flex is definitely stiffer than the middle of the road. What makes it fun is the classic NOW feel: a big foam foot pad underfoot combined with those firm bushings produces a genuinely damp ride that still responds immediately when you want it to.

Who the NOW Drive Is For

This binding is built for the all-mountain charger who lays down turns all day, maybe drops a bigger cliff, and only unbinds at the end of the day. If you charge hard 90% of the time, this is your lane. It also feels very familiar if you have ridden the NOW version of a Jones Mercury-style damp, locked-in binding.

If that description matches how you ride, it is easy to recommend checking the current price below.

Comparisons and Verdict

Comparable bindings to consider are the Jones Mercury, Union Atlas, or Salomon Highlander. The Drive holds its own against them as a damp, responsive charger, and the only real gripe is the dated toe strap, which will hopefully be refreshed soon. If a stiffer, well-dampened all-mountain binding sounds like your kind of tool, the NOW Drive deserves a spot on your shortlist.

Conclusion

The NOW Drive delivers a damp, responsive, locked-in ride for aggressive all-mountain riders, with easy toolless adjustments and a new Asym ankle strap as genuine highlights. The old-school toe strap is the lone weak point. For chargers who want a binding that does everything asked of it, it is a strong contender.