Fastec Rear-Entry Bindings Review | Affordable, Lightweight & Easy Riding on the Lib Tech Cold Brew

I paired the Fastec rear-entry snowboard bindings (branded as 5th Element) with my 2023/24 Lib Tech Cold Brew 157, and I’ve been seriously impressed—especially for the price.

I paid around $180 shipped, which is a steal compared to other rear-entry systems like Supermatics, Flow, or FASE bindings, all of which cost nearly double. I went with a size Large, and they fit my size 11 boot perfectly.

These bindings are lightweight and feel very similar to a traditional strap binding when riding, but getting in and out is incredibly easy. Not having to sit down and strap in made my days on the mountain way more enjoyable—especially at my age. I had more energy, stayed riding longer, and got more runs in.

If you’re interested in rear-entry bindings but not ready to commit to the higher price tags of other brands, I highly recommend giving Fastec bindings a try—I think you’ll like them.

The only thing I’d like to see improved is a micro-adjustment on the main strap, though I believe this feature is available on higher-end SP Fastec & GNU Fastec models.