A universal binding apparatus (10) for detachably securing footwear (16) to an article is disclosed . The apparatus includes a base plate (14) and a foot plate (18). The base plate (14) attaches to the article while the foot plate (18) attaches to the footwear (16). The base plate (14) includes a toe latch (20), a heel latch (22), and a first release (24). The toe latch (20) is disposed at a front portion of the base plate (14) while the heal latch (22) is disposed at a rear portion of the base plate (14) such that the first release (24) is also disposed between the toe latch (20) and the heel latch (22). The first release (24) enables either the toe latch (20) or the heel latch (22) to be disengaged from the foot plate (18). The foot plate (18) includes a toe support (28) and a heel support (30). The toe support (28) is disposed at a front portion of the shoe plate (18) similar to the front portion of the base plate (14) and while the heel support (30) is disposed at a rear portion of the shoe plate (18). The shoe plate (18) removably attaches to the base plate (14) with the toe support (28) engaged with the toe latch (20) and the heel support (30) engaged with the heel latch (22). The first release (24) operates to disengage either the toe latch (20) or the heel latch (22) or both from the foot plate (18).