 Poster: A snowHead
|
Convenience isn't a massive issue if you never take your board off during a run, but it's still difficult to argue for less convenience.
I'm told the the responsiveness is the key feature, but I ride AT boots so have no direct experience of it. That's what I hear all the same.
@boarder2020 You're arguing against people's direct experience but not providing your own. Have you tried these yourself?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Anyone know of rental shops in L2A that do Step-ons? My lad is desperate to try them and I don't fancy shelling out for a setup if he could rent some
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
| boarder2020 wrote: |
Again, I spend a lot of time riding with skiers and they've never had to wait around for me. |
Of course they have.
Unless you're clipping in while still on the lift every single time you will always take longer than a skier, even if it's only a few seconds. Yes, if it's a large group there may be others faffing and working out which way to go, or of course there are those that insist on putting their pole straps round their hands every time. I do not, and even in his step-ons I always had to stop and wait briefly for my mate last week. I could have skied straight off and been a couple of hundred metres away by the time he was clipped in if I had chosen to do so.
I'm not saying it was ever a problem, he was as quick to strap in as anyone I've skied with, but he's done a few mountain-guided trips with skiers and is hyper-sensitive to anything that may annoy the skiers, particularly some of the SCGB crusties he's been out with a few times who are (or were) looking for any excuse to whinge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@phil_w, I regularly ride phantoms + dyno bindings and step ons and regular strap bindings.
I don’t think there’s much in it in terms of ride feel or whatever between any of them. I think the phantoms are most responsive, but they aren’t much fun on icy hard pack machine chewed up cat tracks, definitely gonna shake a few fillings out on those, but that’s not really the point of them. I would opt for a soft boot setup if that kind of riding was on the menu.
I think board feel on ions + step on is marginally improved over my soft boot setup - now drive + malamutes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Like I said before - wait till you have a back problem @boarder2020!
Once you've had one (and it doesn't have to be because you are a lard ar$e) you try everything you can to limit the possibility of a twinge or a spasm, and bending down 20/30 times a day to do your 1980's technology bindings up is one thing that can now be eradicated from this list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
A half competent snowboarder should be able to strap in/out in less than 30secs without needing to sit on a bench/floor
|
| Quote: |
Wrong sport My point is if bending down to do up bindings is a physical hardship you probably want to look at your overall health and flexibility.
|
You are coming across like a bit of a pillock tbh!
Personally I find getting in and out of bindings a right faff. Especially noticeable on my cat ski week a couple of weeks ago - in/out/in/out/in/out. Boring! Skiers had it worse tho with the faff constantly getting snow/ice stuck to their boot/binding and being unable to get in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
does anybody know if step-on are somewhere in Flaine available to rent for a few days?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Regarding the flexibility required for regular bindings - don't all these step on/ins require you to reach down to release them? I haven't really looked in detail but isn't Burton's release lever on the base plate, even further down than straps would be? Unless the Supermatics have something on the top of the highback I'm assuming it'll be a similar situation?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Snow Hound wrote: |
| Regarding the flexibility required for regular bindings - don't all these step on/ins require you to reach down to release them? I haven't really looked in detail but isn't Burton's release lever on the base plate, even further down than straps would be? Unless the Supermatics have something on the top of the highback I'm assuming it'll be a similar situation? |
Yes, the Supermatics have a release you press on the inside of the binding, so you have to reach down to press it.
I think it’s more about the stepping in phase though, rather than the stepping out, that people are talking about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Just because I got bored and had the stuff at home to do it, I extended the release lever on a pair of my step ons to the top of the high back.
Works well. Wouldn’t use it in trees n stuff though because I reckon it could accidentally release if it got caught on something.
It’s a very quick and easy mod, and reversible.
It’s also easy on the burton step ons to swap the release lever to the inside of the binding. I’ve done that and it makes popping them off a bit simpler. But no big deal either way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Bit late to this convo, but just take care with release levers for step ons etc. One of our party clipped the end of the ski/board rest bar when getting settle on a lift, and that unlocked the binding. We were still in the fenced area at the bottom of the lift, but could have been a danger otherwise. Plus also meant an extra run to retrieve the board. I'd be tempted to fit a neat little leash between front boot and board if I owned a pair. (Or mod the lever to prevent accidental release.)
As for doing away with faffage... I found the biggest benefit was riding away from the top of a lift through busy crowds, and clicking in whilst still keeping my head up and it being easy to steer. I can do up a normal binding on the move, but the body position does limit my manoeuvring and sight. I liked coming off the lift and just boogeying on down the mountain!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@BigSouthernJesse, There is a thread/posts about step-on’s needing to be leashed.
One mod is people swap the leaver to the inside.Easier to get to the inside of the left foot with the right hand than to the outside of the left foot with the left hand.
I clip my back leg in in the queue, then get my front foot locked & loaded while on the lift. Then launch myself off the lift like I am doing a bunny hop.
I just need to make sure I am on the outside seat though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
They are super useful for riding surface lifts with both feet strapped in. Still not my first choice for fun, but in and out of bindings and on and off of lifts all day with a pack on they are very convenient.
Have also managed to modify crampons to fit on my step on boots, which is a result.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I have rented for three days in Flaine.
Although the boots were too Soft (ruler) I really enjoyed it. Still didnt manage to be so quickly and i do not know how to step in without sitting when the surface is steep, however i love them
And i think the Response was slower for heel side as my normal bindings but quicker by toe side turns.
Maybe with burton ion its quicker both sides
Such a pitty that they are too expensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
After considering the various options available I have elected to pre order a pair of Bataleon Blaster FASE bindings for this season. I see it as a nice compromise between the convenience of a true step in and the familiarity of a standard two strap set up.
I've wanted a step in option for a while but for various reasons was never willing to take the plunge on a pair. Here's hoping I don't completely hate them! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Skeeezo, look like a similar idea to the old Flow bindings or the Cinch ones. Never got on with them as I could never get them snug enough to not get movement without making them impossible to get into or out of without basically releasing the straps off like trad bindings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Ive just bought a pair of the "fase" system which are pretty much normal bindings with a step in that keeps the strap on . It
seems so obvious they should have been made years ago . I get fed up stepping on the straps etc im hoping these are a nice inbewteener .
I never got on with the flows or cinch's as i step back of the board.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I've been riding step ins/ons for 25 or 26 years now, first with the original Burton and then the K2 chinch. Two pairs of each, all eventually failed (3 or 4 weeks per year) but not complaining as I feel I got fair use out of them. Now looking out for something new for next season and was thinking about the new Burtons but have been put off.
I was chatting to a punter in Ischgl at the end of the season on a Burton rental set up he was complaining about the lack of rigidity, they seemed to be too soft and pliable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
The Burton steps ons are fine, they aren’t too soft. If it’s rental boots that’s probably the issue.
I’m using them on a Rossi xv, and I’m 90kg plus pack and zero complaints about responsiveness - ion boots, daily driver setup for work - gets a lot of use.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Skeeezo, they look pretty cool. seems there are numerous hybrid systems on the market, so we're a bit spoiled now.
After returning to boarding last holiday, and dealing with some woeful rental standard bindings, I'm deffo tempted by something that has a step-in type design. Used to love my old FLOWs, but felt they were never quite perfect. Might have to do some pre-season shopping
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have to say my boots are deffo in for replacement this year. My bindings are still going strong after tenor twelve years, but with a random selection of cap straps, buckles etc they do have an air of triggers broom about them, Union forces.
I wonder whether it’s time to try out the step in thing. My current boots are Salomon F22s, which were a medium/stiff low volume mountain boot. Apart from ‘the ones which fit’ anyone got an idea which boot or range I might be looking at.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I avoid step ons on deep days or for back country use. In bounds they are great imo - have a couple hundred days use on the burton system and no issues with it. The convenience and ease of use is great.
The fase system looks interesting, I will give it a go for sure. The most obvious benefit is being able to use any boot with it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
@phil_w, @hang11, I get the idea... but it does look like you're about to start a small 2-stroke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| ..... but it does look like you're about to start a small 2-stroke. |
Kenny's product is a push button, so it's more like electric start, not a pull start. That's quite important.
I think Peter Bauer has a product out also.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Richard_Sideways, it can sound like that when I bend over and give it a good tug
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
My point is if bending down to do up bindings is a physical hardship you probably want to look at your overall health and flexibility. I don't mean to be insulting, but it's only going to get worse as you age, so better to fix it now.
