Jones Mercury Snowboard Binding Review

If you don’t know about Jeremy Jones and Jones Snowboards, then you’ve probably only ever vacationed at the beach. But if you already love making big powerful turns on the snow, what you might not know is that Jones has an incredible lineup beyond snowboards: outerwear, layers, splitboard accessories, and a variety of snowboard bindings including the Jones Mercury.

The Jones Mercury Snowboard binding is built using Now Skate-Tech binding technology and is a mid-stiff option for all mountain use or freeriding. Jeremy and Jones Snowboards also have a strong connection to Protect Our Winters, or POW, which is another bonus to supporting this legendary brand.

Jones Mercury Binding Features

The Jones Mercury Bindings use Now Skate-Tech binding technology. In the center of the binding, there is a pivot point that helps transfer energy into swappable bushing feet at the front and rear of the binding. The idea is that this allows a more powerful transfer of power edge to edge, similar to the truck on a skateboard. The bushings can be swapped for varying response and dampening.

The 4×4 mounting discs on the Jones Mercury Binding snap into place at the usual 3 degree increments and the slotted mounting holes make binding centering or micro stance adjustment very easy. Once the bindings are mounted, you can securely snap the EVA foam footbed into place to find tons of comfort and support in the 3d molded footbed surface.

The Power Spine ankle straps and the 3D Flex Fit 2.0 toe straps are very easy to adjust for your boot size without the need for tools. My favorite part of the Power Spine strap is the Freeride or Surf mode adjustment. By swapping the strap to the opposite foot, you are changing how far up the webbing comes up on your boot. Therefore, if you want a more free or loose feeling binding, you can run the strap in the clearly labeled Surf mode, but for a more secure or powerful feeling ride, you can setup the strap in Freeride mode. This makes the binding accommodate riding style to for your mood or terrain.

Hitting up some morning groomers to lay down some carves? Surf mode! Going to ride the bigger lines in the afternoon? With only two screws and you’ll be in Freeride mode. The ease of setting up this binding will not make you miss more advanced adjustments such as an adjustable heelcup or hiback rotation. Lastly, the buckles and ratchets are great. The pre-curved ratchet straps and hinged ankle strap make it fast and easy to strap in while the buckles offer secure and strong levers to crank down or unbuckle in one motion.

On Mountain Performance

I had the lucky opportunity to get comfortable with the Jones Mercury Binding at my local resort in Park City, UT before heading off to Points North Heli Adventures in Cordova, AK to really push the limits of my riding and this binding. From the first turns at the resort, you can tell this binding is very comfortable. On a day with soft choppy groomers and some fresh snow in the trees, you can immediately feel how comfortable and confident the binding makes you feel.

They can eat up chunder while still feeling responsive carving edge to edge. Because the Jones Mercury bindings and on the stiffer side of the range and ship with the harder Freeride bushings, they are best paired with a soft to medium flex boot or a boot that has some adjustability ro run looser on the upper cuff. Then, with the upper strap in surf mode, you can have a real good time making some groomer turns or getting wild in the trees.

But then on bigger, steeper lines or in more open terrain, the Freeride strap setting on this Jones Binding provides all of the upper boot support you need for it to be an ultra responsive binding. In both settings, your ankle is always locked down. But, the small difference in the strap location makes a big difference in ride feel. The Freeride mode can handle any amount of hard charging you can throw at it. And, it still remains comfortable if you run into unexpected chunk, avalanche debris, small sharks under the snow, or stomping some landings.

Jones Mercury Snowboard Binding Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Features Now Skate-Tech binding technology
• Easy adjustment for boot size
• Accommodates various riding styles and terrain

Cons:

• Stiff boot may be overwhelming
• Some riders may prefer more adjustability

Overall Impression

The Jones Mercury Snowboard Binding ($349.95) is for advanced-intermediate to expert riders who like a small amount of binding and boot fiddling to accommodate their riding style for the moment. With the strap in Surf mode and a softer or looser boot, you can show off your carving style. In Freeride mode and the boot tightened up, you can ride any line you dream about.

The only downside would be that a stiff boot paired with this binding could be overwhelming for some riders. But if you enjoy a straightforward setup that still has tweakable style, the Jones Mercury Snowboard binding will not disappoint.

Related Snowboard Bindings

1. NOW Brigade Snowboard Bindings
2. Burton Cartel X Snowboard Bindings
3. Union Force Snowboard Bindings