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The biggest change is at the top of the binding, which is called AutoBack in the FASE system. While it can still fold all the way forward for travel and low hanging lifts, when open it tilts back much further than your standard high back. At the bottom of the high back, on the inside, is a durable plastic lever.
When you step into the binding, your shoe presses on that lever. This turns the high back into its full, straight position, pressing it into the back of the calf as usual. Then you just tighten the ankle strap, and off you go. When you want to go out, just reach down and open the ratchet on the ankle strap. It launches, and you can exit directly.
The Jones Mercury FASE binding I tested shares a lot of DNA with Mercury’s standard Jones bindings. It’s a fairly stiff binding, designed primarily for freeriding (i.e. off-piste) and powder rather than terrain park riding, but it works well as an all-mountain binding. It has a layer of foam padding above and below the footpad, which does a great job of dampening vibrations and giving you a little cushioning from hard landings.
High Jones players aren’t known for their ability to customize, and that trend continues here. You have two forward lean settings, but that’s it. If you’re used to Union bindings, which allow you to adjust the rotation of the upper back, you may find that disappointing, but for me, this top fits my legs like a glove. They are firm, which provides great responsiveness, but are lightly padded on top, and I found them very comfortable.
The biggest departure from the standard Mercury model is that most of Jones’ traditional links use something the company calls Skate Tech. There is an fulcrum point in the sides of the binder that allows you to put a little more weight on your edges for more control. I’ve become a big convert to SkateTech over the years, so I was disappointed that they weren’t included here, although I quickly adjusted them, and they still felt very responsive while using them. but!
In use
Photo: Brent Rose
I tested these bindings on a snowy road trip through British Columbia and put them through a wide range of conditions, from steep, deep powder to icy tools of death. I’ve also tried it while snowboarding and heli-skiing in the backcountry, which is where I’ve found fast bindings usually fail me. I tested them using Jones Hovercraft 2.0 (which I spent two seasons on and reviewed for WIRED), as well as a fairly solid series 2025 Jones Major Prowhich is my new choice for unclear, scary or mixed terrain.