Supermatic Bindings Compared: Bent Metal vs Nidecker vs Salomon

Introduction

Supermatic started as a Nidecker invention, and now the system is being licensed out. That means multiple brands offer essentially the same step-in style binding: Bent Metal, Nidecker, and Salomon all have versions on the market. This comparison breaks down what is shared across all three, what genuinely differs, and which one makes sense for you.

What Is Supermatic, and Why Is It Everywhere Now?

Nidecker invented and perfected Supermatic, and is now licensing the platform to other brands. The benefit for riders is significant: unlike step-on systems, which limit you to compatible boots, Supermatic works with any boot you want across various bindings.

For the licensees, the advantage is that they do not have to reinvent the wheel or invest heavily in R&D. They license the platform and put their name on it. It also gives shops that are not Nidecker dealers a way to offer the technology through the Salomon or Bent Metal versions. Think of it like the way Boa technology spread: a few boots had it at first, and now the market is full of Boa options.

What All Three Share

Across Bent Metal, Nidecker, and Salomon, the straps and the chassis are the same. The ratchets are rebranded with each brand’s logo, but by and large it is the exact same ratchet across the board. Same straps, same chassis.

One practical benefit worth knowing: if something goes wrong while traveling in an area that only sells Bent Metal or Salomon and you ride the Nidecker, the parts are interchangeable. That is a real safety net.

Highbacks: Where the Real Differences Live

The differences come down to the cosmetics on the foot pad and, more importantly, the highbacks. Highback height and flex are what separate these three.

The Nidecker Supermatic LT is the softer one, with some give in the highback. The Bent Metal still has some give but sits a little lower and cups differently. The Salomon sits a little higher and is the most malleable highback of the three; on a heelside edge you can feel right away that it is not offering as much rigidity.

Forward lean adjustment differs too. The Bent Metal uses a forward lean block, while the Nidecker and Salomon use a flip tab you pop up and slide to adjust. The block disperses pressure differently across the heel cup than the narrower tabs do, which subtly changes how the heelside edge feels. In fairness, most riders will not notice that difference.

Foot Pads: Purely Cosmetic Differences

The foot pads are the same width and thickness across all three, and they are interchangeable. The Nidecker has smooth plastic with ridged foam. The Bent Metal’s foam does not come up as high and covers a broader area. The Salomon has a different shape but the same slick plastic and foam combination.

These differences match the branding more than anything functional. You could put any of these pads on any of the other bindings and they would work.

How to Choose Between Them

The highback is the real decision point, and choosing comes down to what kind of play you want; you are largely splitting hairs. On the flex spectrum, the Salomon is the softest, then the Bent Metal, then the Nidecker LT.

Note that Nidecker also offers the Carbon Supermatic and the regular Supermatic, so there are three versions in its lineup, while Bent Metal and Salomon each offer one. If you are thinking of going Supermatic at all, keep in mind the bigger base tray means a bigger dead spot underfoot, and these bindings carry more weight than traditional options.

Conclusion

The Supermatic platform is remarkably consistent across Bent Metal, Nidecker, and Salomon. The shared chassis, straps, and interchangeable parts mean you are really choosing a highback feel and a look. Softest to firmest, it runs Salomon, Bent Metal, then the Nidecker LT. Pick based on that flex preference and the brand you trust, and any of the three delivers the same core step-in convenience with any boot.