Spark R&D Arc ST Bindings

Medium-Flex Soft Boot Splitboard Binding Spark R&D Arc ST Bindings The Spark R&D Arc ST is the medium-flex binding in the Spark line, built for riders who tour into trees and powder rather than chase the stiffest platform available. A cutout baseplate and medium-flex Asym Rip 'N' Flip highbacks put it at 628 g per binding in a Medium, and the flatter upper highback section leaves superior lateral mobility for a surfy ride down. Smooth Touring brackets overmold a thermoplastic blend through the aluminum base to form bushings Spark rates at four times the life of the brass version they replaced, which is the part that decides whether a binding still tours quietly in its fourth season. Expert Review Ratings and setup guidance verified against manufacturer specifications. Is This the Right Binding for You? Best For Splitboarders who want a light, medium-flex soft boot binding for trees, powder and long tours, and who value quiet, durable touring hardware over maximum stiffness. Consider Another Binding If You ride hard, fast lines on a stiff board and want maximum response, or you ride hardboots. The Arc ST is the surfier of Spark's two soft boot bindings. CCBB Binding Ratings Uphill Efficiency 5/5 628 g per binding (Medium) Descent Security 4/5 Medium-flex highbacks and straps Transition Speed 5/5 Tesla T1 snap ramp, no pins or cables Serviceability 5/5 Every wear part sold as a spare Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited. CCBB Binding Profile Brake WidthNone. Splitboard bindings do not use brakes Riser HeightsStowed, 12 degrees, 18 degrees Crampon CompatibleYes, via integrated Ibex mounting claws on the touring brackets Boot CompatibilitySoft snowboard boots only AdjustabilityTool-free forward lean adjuster, toggles tour and ride mode Mount PatternSpark Flat or Canted Pucks, sold separately Why We Like It Smooth Touring brackets overmold a thermoplastic blend through the holes in the aluminum base, forming bushings Spark rates at four times the life of the brass bushings they replaced. That is the wear point that decides how a touring binding ages. The ST Whammy Bar climbing wire is built into the baseplate and switches from stowed to 12 degrees to 18 degrees with a pole tip, so the riser changes without stopping or taking a glove off. Individual left and right highbacks with a flatter upper section give genuine lateral mobility, and the ankle strap is cut smaller around the boot than the Surge ST with a flex window, which is what makes the Arc the surfier of the two. Every wear part is sold separately, from baseplates and heel loops to buckles, ladders and adjusters, and the Spark Pocket Tool ships in the box. A binding that can be rebuilt beats one that has to be replaced. Best Uses Splitboard touring in trees and powder Long tours and multi-day objectives All-mountain backcountry riding on a medium-flex setup Riders who want to service and rebuild their own hardware Soft boot splitboarders across XS to Large Mounting and Setup Advice Spark runs one unisex size line rather than men's and women's versions, in XS, Small, Medium and Large, so size on boot size alone. Weight is quoted at the Medium, and the other sizes differ. The board side of the setup is the part to plan: the Arc ST needs a set of Spark Flat Pucks or Spark Canted Pucks, sold separately, and the binding then works with any puck-compatible splitboard. Canted pucks add a few degrees of inward tilt at the feet, which some riders find easier on the knees over a long tour. Two compatibility details matter if you are mixing generations of hardware. ST bindings work only with ST Whammy Bars, and 2021/22 or older T1 bindings need the standard Whammy Bar instead. Going the other way is fine: ST bindings run on older Tesla brackets with brass bushings, and older T1 bindings run on ST brackets. Check which generation your existing parts are before ordering spares, because the whammy bar is the one part that does not cross over. Mounting and setup guidance reviewed by CCBB splitboard staff. Confirm puck spacing and stance against your board before drilling. 📐 Technical Specifications Full spec table · Click to expand Fit and Setup Sizes: XS, Small, Medium, Large. One unisex size line Weight: 628 g per binding (Medium) Colours: Black, Red, Copper Riser Positions: Stowed, 12 degrees, 18 degrees Forward Lean: Tool-free adjuster toggling tour and ride mode In the Box: Bindings, ST Brackets, T1 Heel Rests, mounting screws, Spark Pocket Tool Sold Separately: Spark Flat Pucks or Spark Canted Pucks Construction and Compatibility Touring System: Tesla T1. Slides sideways into an offset touring bracket and locks with a snap ramp, no pins or cables Baseplate: Cutout design for weight reduction Highbacks: Asym Rip 'N' Flip, medium flex from a moderate glass fiber fill, individual left and right, flatter upper section Straps: Pillow Line, one-piece molded and waterproof, made in-house. Ankle strap cut smaller than the Surge ST with a flex window Touring Brackets: Smooth Touring. Thermoplastic overmolded through the aluminum base, rated at four times the life of the previous brass bushings Climbing Wire: ST Whammy Bar, built into the baseplate, overmolded at the contact point Buckles and Ladders: In-house thermoplastics holding flex across a wide temperature range, with Burton buckles Boot Compatibility: Soft snowboard boots. Splitboard soft bindings only. Not compatible with ISO, GripWalk, pin-tech or telemark bindings Board Compatibility: Any puck-compatible splitboard, with Spark Flat or Canted Pucks Crampon: Integrated Ibex crampon mounting claws on the touring brackets Hardware Generations: ST bindings require ST Whammy Bars. Compatible with older Tesla brackets Recommended Use: Splitboard touring Compare the Spark R&D Arc ST Arc ST vs. Spark R&D Surge ST Same Tesla T1 system, different flex. The Spark R&D Surge ST runs stiffer highbacks and a larger ankle strap for riders driving a stiff board hard on the descent. The Arc ST is the lighter, surfier one, with a smaller ankle strap and a flex window. Riding style decides, not quality, and the touring hardware is identical. Shop the Spark R&D Surge ST Arc ST vs. Spark R&D Arc ST Pro The Spark R&D Arc ST Pro is the same geometry with premium materials: carbon reinforced nylon highbacks, Pebax straps and ladders, 7075 aluminum heel loops and aluminum hardware. Spark rates the saving at 72 g per binding. Riders shaving weight for big objectives take the Pro; everyone else gets the same ride and the same touring system for less on the Arc ST. Shop the Spark R&D Arc ST Pro Arc ST vs. Nitro Vertical ST Splitbindings Both are soft boot splitboard bindings that need pucks. The Arc ST runs Spark's Tesla T1 system with a pole-operated climbing wire and a full spare parts catalogue behind it. Compare on interface and on how serviceable you want the binding to be over several seasons, since the two systems are not cross-compatible. Shop the Nitro Vertical ST Splitbindings Common Questions Who should buy the Spark R&D Arc ST? The Spark R&D Arc ST suits splitboarders who tour for trees and powder and want a light, medium-flex binding rather than the stiffest option. At 628 g per binding in a Medium, with medium-flex Asym Rip 'N' Flip highbacks and a flex-window ankle strap, the Arc ST rides surfy and tours quietly, and every wear part can be replaced rather than the whole binding. What boots and boards work with the Spark R&D Arc ST? The Spark R&D Arc ST takes soft snowboard boots only. It is a splitboard soft binding and is not compatible with ISO, GripWalk, pin-tech or telemark bindings or the boots that use them, so alpine touring and hardboot setups are out. On the board side it needs a set of Spark Flat Pucks or Spark Canted Pucks, sold separately, and then works with any puck-compatible splitboard. Confirm your board takes the puck interface before ordering. Do I need to buy anything else to ride these? Yes, pucks. The Arc ST ships with the bindings, ST Brackets, T1 Heel Rests, mounting screws and the Spark Pocket Tool, but not the pucks that mount to the board. You need a set of Spark Flat Pucks or Spark Canted Pucks. Skins and a crampon, if you want one, are also separate. Will these work with my older Spark parts? Partly, and the exception is worth knowing before you order spares. ST bindings work only with ST Whammy Bars, so a standard Whammy Bar from a 2021/22 or older T1 binding will not fit. Everything else crosses over: ST bindings run on older Tesla brackets with brass bushings, and older T1 bindings run on ST brackets. The whammy bar is the single part that does not. Are these crampon compatible? Yes. The touring brackets carry integrated Ibex crampon mounting claws, so a Spark Ibex ST crampon installs and removes without tools or extra hardware. The crampon is a separate purchase. How much do the Spark R&D Arc ST bindings weigh? Spark publishes 628 g per binding, which is 1,256 g per pair, at the Medium size. Other sizes differ, so read that figure as the Medium rather than the whole size run. That places the Arc ST among the lighter soft boot splitboard bindings, and the Arc ST Pro saves a further 72 g per binding on the same geometry. Our Verdict The Spark R&D Arc ST is the soft boot splitboard binding to pick when the season is mostly trees, powder and long days rather than steep, fast lines. Medium-flex Asym highbacks with a flatter upper section and a flex-window ankle strap give it a surfy feel at 628 g per binding in a Medium, and the Tesla T1 snap ramp transitions without pins or cables. The part that earns the money over years is less visible: overmolded Smooth Touring bushings Spark rates at four times the brass version, and a spare parts catalogue deep enough that a worn binding gets rebuilt rather than replaced. Budget for pucks on top, since they are sold separately.