Designer: Michael Chilton on the new FASE® Binding Technology

Q&A with Michael Chilton on the new FASE® Bindings.

Michael Chilton is the Director of Product at Low Pressure Studio, overseeing design and development across snowboards, boots, apparel, bags, and the new FASE® bindings. In this Q&A, he covers FASE®’s seven-year arc – why it updates two-strap, works with any boot/pattern, holds up at speed, how Rome vs. Bataleon differ, and what’s next.

“FASE does not intend to define an industry standard for Fast-Entry; instead, the goal here is to provide a platform for other brands to build off of and use in defining their own approach to the system.”

Hey Michael. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us about the new FASE® system. What problem were you trying to solve in day-to-day resort riding that traditional two-strap or Step On or Supramatic didn’t, and what made 2025/26 the right time to ship a fast-entry solution?
I don’t think there is a single problem that we were trying to solve with FASE®; we were working to make the experience of strapping in more efficient, simpler, and more universal for all riders. We look at FASE® as the logical evolution of two-strap bindings, working seamlessly with any standard boot on the market and following the same motions/setup procedure as traditional two-strap bindings. 

Seven years is a long R&D arc. Was there a single prototype or on-snow day when you said, “Okay, FASE® is ready”? What changed between the version before that day?
Seven years of R&D tells you that moment didn’t come right away, haha. It took us a while to perfect the recipe and get the right combination of convenience, fit, and simplicity. The moment that changed everything for me was actually when we got our initial Bataleon/Rome samples on snow and realized how much faster the system actually was, how easy it was to adjust to the new system, and how much of a better boot-to-binding fit the system provided. 

Traditional two-strap feel is sacred. What ‘rule’ of classic bindings did you knowingly break to achieve fast entry, and who pushed back the hardest? What convinced them?
I would say the biggest ‘rule’ we had was to keep two separate straps on the system. It’s easy to come at a first concept and want to simplify until it becomes something totally different – it took a lot of restraint and thinking from our side to figure out how to create a new system that was still recognizable as a regular binding. The biggest rule we broke, if you had to call it a rule, was the reclining highback – that feature elicits a lot of emotions in the binding world, but was necessary to get the functionality we needed. In the end, we were able to convince skeptics to the system by pointing out that nearly all of our standard two-strap parts are used in the new system, with only a few changes to accommodate the FASE® technology. 

Fast entry is great, but how did you make sure it still feels like a true two-strap ride once you’re bombing? What tests did you run to balance quick engagement with high-speed support?
We started this project with the intention and goal of using as many of our tried-and-tested two-strap binding components as possible. While there were a few parts needing flexibility to accommodate the FASE® Hub, much of the system is a direct copy of our existing bindings that have been on the market for years. Supporting our historical knowledge and experience with standard binding design, we worked with a team out of Vermont to model and simulate forces applied to the binding through what is called FEA (Finite Element Analysis). Using our standard two-strap designs as a baseline, we were able to measure, compare, and optimize the amount of deflection between the two-strap and FASE® designs to ensure performance and durability were unaffected. These results were then confirmed through physical destructive testing at our factory’s Test Lab, again comparing the deflection and durability of our standard two-strap bindings against the FASE® versions. 

Same FASE® concept, several brand philosophies. Where do Bataleon’s Blaster / Blaster Pro and Rome’s Katana/390/Brass platforms diverge in feel, and why would a rider pick one over the other?
Each Brand’s version of FASE® best relates to the type of rider in question. Rome’s Katana Asymwrap FASE® focuses on performance and adjustability – providing industry-leading comfort and performance with the new OmniFlex Ankle Strap and nearly unlimited adjustability with Pivot Mount. The standard Katana features a medium to stiff highback, again supporting riders who seek a performance-focused binding. The Katana Pro version is an elevated example of this, with a stiffer, more responsive carbon-infused baseplate. 

Bataleon’s Blaster Asymwrap FASE® maintains much of the adjustability mentioned above, focusing more on simplicity and versatility. The Blaster’s highback is more of a medium flex while still providing support more aligned with freestyle versatility. The Kink strap and Cradle ankle straps allow for a wider ankle strap opening and simplified design. The Blaster Pro designed for Tor Lundstrom, follows a similar approach to the Katana Pro for Stale – using carbon-infused glass and a stiffer highback – while maintaining the overall simplicity in design of the inline Blaster.  

You’re saying FASE® works with any boots and any board insert pattern. What engineering choices make that possible, and what are the edge cases riders should know about?
Because we are using the exact same baseplate and disc as our standard two-strap bindings, the Rome and Bataleon FASE® systems are fully compatible with all board insert patterns and fit any standard boot on the market. There are no special considerations required for wide boots. However, it is best to always check the sizing charts provided on our website and on the FASE® boxes to confirm you are using the correct binding size for your boot. 

How did you design around snow build-up in the heel cup and straps, and what simple habits should riders use to keep entry smooth?
We designed the Katana and Blaster FASE® to reduce build-up in the heel cup and straps by utilizing our encapsulated FASE® hub and ice-shedding designs on exposed FASE® components. The FASE® pedal, which actuates the AutoBack slides against the highback post, easily sheds and removes buildup from ice or debris. The pedal itself is made from plastic, chosen for its low-friction properties, to ensure smooth movement between parts and prevent ice or debris from sticking directly to it. Toe and ankle straps are the same as those used on our current two-strap bindings, with the addition of a garage on the ankle strap to keep the long ladder held close to the boot. The same snow-shedding design philosophy has been adopted in the garage, with additional open areas to allow for maximum snow removal when strapping in and out of the system. 

What are the known wear points, and what components are rider-replaceable without a bench? How are you handling warranty/support as adoption scales?
There are no real wear points outside of what would be expected on normal two-strap bindings. Our internal testing has demonstrated significant durability of the FASE®  pedal and Highback slider, with no issues observed during prolonged cycle tests of the system. To demonstrate our confidence in the system, we are offering a lifetime warranty on all components specific to the FASE®-mechanism – for Rome/Bataleon products, this includes the Pedal, Spring, Axle and Nut, HUB, FLA Block, and FLA lever. To further simplify the warranty/replacement process, we plan to ship the HUB as a completed sub-assembly (with Pedal/Spring/Axle/Nut) ready to be installed directly onto the binding.  

As standard with many of our two-strap bindings, the Katana FASE® and Blaster FASE® come with our Never Miss a Day package, which includes spare straps and hardware in the event you break a strap or lose some screws.

Looking ahead, what parts of FASE® are ‘locked’ versus still evolving? And, do you see a path to a cross-industry fast-entry standard?
There is always room to evolve and improve the system, and we are already making strides towards this effort in the coming year. The system, as a whole, will not be changing; instead, we will explore ways to adapt it into new formats, further simplifying and enhancing convenience for the rider. 

FASE® does not intend to define an industry standard for Fast-Entry; instead, the goal here is to provide a platform for other brands to build off of and use in defining their own approach to the system. The FASE® system itself is only a small part of the entire binding, and we see a lot of opportunities in building the bindings of the future around it.