Binding Preferences?

[dankboarder]

Which is better for bindings: traditional straps; flow system; or step ins?

[gerard]

Moved to the binding section...

I have only used strap ins, and have never had any problems.

[CrazyOldFart]

I've used Straps and Steps. I prefer K2 Stepins. The burton step-ins connect on the sides of the boot which is not as good, IMHO.

I'd guess that 99% of the boarders will tell you to go with straps, non of whom are pros by the way, but they all use straps because thats what 99% of the pros use.

The bigest reason I've heard against step-ins is snow buildup while standing in powder. Being from NJ, I guess I've never been in that much powder to notice.

The Flows look good. Haven't anything, good or bad, bout em.

[XrightcoastdriverX]

I've ridden the Flows, regular straps, burton step-ins and rossi step-ins. I prefer the regular straps. Why?

The Flows have great pressure control but I had difficulty with effortlessly inserting and removing my feet into the bindings. Great power transfer as with regular straps.

The step-ins just didn't feel quite right. Maybe that is me growing up with riding regular straps but still... I had trouble getting the right pressure distrubtion and was getting a lot of heel lift. In deeper snow I had great difficulty getting latched into the bindings/board.

At the end of the day I go with Burton regular strap bindings with a super stiff baseplate and tall but relatively flexible high-backs and real leather straps. The fit is like a glove (not O.J's glove) no matter if you are running Burton boots or some other manufacturer's (I run Salomon boots). You can fine tune the feel on the fly and can very quickly strap in and be off as fast as a skier can tighten down his/her boots. You also have the flexibility of boot choice as well. which is key when you have feet greater than size 9.

[redace24]

I don't feel as if I have the support I need with the clickers. I will stick to my straps.

[christine]

I also have Flows and i think they are great. The only problem I have experienced is they sometimes get ice build-up where they close, so if you don't make sure you clean it out they can sometimes pop open when you are riding!!

[SnoChick]

Definitely straps!!! Flows are too heavy and I usually crank my bindings down when I'm riding and loosen them while on the chair... straps makes it easy for me to do that...

[Stuffed Tongues]

im on my second set of Burton Customs.
Light and Flexible.
i really liek them

previous bindings...
switch step in, burton step in, drake f60, technine.

[americanbb]

I rode K2 clickers for a few years, thinking they were alright, then I rode a pair of straps, and then threw on the clickers and there's a world of difference, so we all know that clickers and step-ins of the such aren't that good. I've ridden a few pair of Flows, Cinches, and too many strap bindings to count. I think that the high-end flow system is better than straps, but the low-end isn't that good. For a good comparison, I like my Ride SPI's more than the Flow Amp-9's, and a little bit more than the Pro-11's, but when you add in the simplicity and easy adjustment of the flow system, they're even. That's why I've got the Flow Team bindings coming in the mail right now. Flow was definitely better than Cinch. My verdict is that if you have the cashflow, I'd throw down for some nice Flows, but if you havent the dough, for the same price of mid-line Flow's, you can get some killer straps.

[MaXx_BoOsT]

strap-on...i mean strap-in! :madgrin:

[Bonzai_OMFG]

I have a set of burton SI step-ins with high backs that I used to ride. They are good bindings and I never had any problems with them. I switched over to strap-ins to try them out and I prefer them now. They are definately less convienent, but the boots aren't as stiff and I personally feel that the response and flexability that I get from strap-ins is better for my type of riding. I like a healthy mix of freestyle and freeriding. I don't prefer one over the other. I like it all. If I was only going freeride, I would probably still be using step-ins though.

I've never ridden flows, but I've heard the same thing over and over and over again about them. If you're going to buy flows, buy the high end ones because the low end flows are horrible.

As for the K2 cinch, I was going to try them this year until I picked them up. They seemed really heavy. The idea behind them is pretty solid though. A cross between flows and strap-ins is a great idea. Make them lighter withought sacrificing durability and I could see them being a big hit.

[IRideASnowboard154]

Flows pop out in mid air, and on hard landings, and crack even easier than my drakes.

step ins get build up in them and you need to clean them out every few runs

straps are almost flawless.

[americanbb]

I've sold over two dozen pair of flow bindings this year, and haven't had any complaints, except for that the highback is hard to step into, until it's broken in. No one has shown me, nor have I ever heard of the highback cracking, or releasing, I know friends that would ride mad freestyle with Ice in the closing system, and just the pressure their boot had on the highback kept it in the right spot.

[Bobby]

I've been using Switch bindings for 8 yrs and love them. It's tough finding new boots but I found some on sale (50% off) last year so I got them. I don't have problems with snow jamming the latches even in deep powder.