[Closed] Snowboarders, binding recommendations please

Well, I've not been for a few years (snapped ACL) but the last year I went Burton had not long brought out there 'toe cap' strap.
So instead of a thin strap coming across your foot and cutting off the circulation to your toes, it's sort of a hammock shape (think chin strap for a hard hat type affair) so comes around the front of the toes and not only holds the foot down but pushes the boot back into the bindings.

I found these to be the biggest improvement in any new kit I bought. (I think other manufacturers may have caught on to this design now ?) Would definitely recommend this type over the normal flat toe strap.

burton missions or cartels.

used both for the last 10 years, never had a problem, very comfortable and backed by an amazing warranty if the worst happens and a base plate cracks.

spares such as straps are readily available all over the world too.

We all use Burton ones

'upper intermediate' sounds like me too...

I ride with flows, they are a couple of years old now (amp 9s). I tend to ride with lots of skiers, so it is a big advantage to me to be off the lift and ride off straight away, with no stopping - kick in foot, click the high-back and go.

i've never found any problem with them holding my foot in. The only disadvantage is when trying to strap in in deep powder, or on steep slopes - however, the higher end flows (including mine) have ratchet straps as well, so i can leave the high-back up and clip in like normal bindings (albeit not quite as quickly).

Dave

<awaits the flow haters>

I have Drake Supersports. Wide straps, fairly adjustable & easy to ratchet up with mits on. Am considering some Flow's though.

I'd be inclined to spend some money & get some decent boots first though

I have normal bindings that take five seconds longer to tighten up than Flows. 😆

I think the easiest way to comfy bindings is matching them to the boots. I've always had Burton for both but there are lots of combinations where the shape of the boot and binding helps avoid pressure points.

Cheers chaps, I was thinking missions as i find my old bindings are really painful when i sit and rest have to loosen them, I love the Idea of flows, have heard that your boots need to be bang on to get the brst out of them as they dont hold you as tightly?

I think i will look at boots too as there may be some deals around if you get both

I bought (without trying anything else because it's not easy to demo) Salomon Relay Bindings.
They are different to most because the allow a lot of sideways movement. I instantly loved them, really comfy (they also have the toe cup like the Burtons).
It's like having really soft boots left/right, but still completely rigid heel/toe control.

Anyway - I'm no pro boarder or anything, but it's worth reading up about them and seeing what you think.

I'm a big fan of the K2 Auto bindings:

Lots of nice flex, loads of adjustment and the auto thing is great - especially when riding in domes where you are constantly doing straps up. All the advantage of Flows - without being rubbish 😀

I have normal bindings that take five seconds longer to tighten up than Flows.

I know you can do normal bindings up fairly quickly, but my flows don't take any time to do up - so no sitting down OR stopping - I push off from the chair lift and that is it, I am off.

If I lose all my speed on a flat section, i can take my foot out and punt, then bind back in an keep riding.

Lots of people think that flows aren't as good for control or 'feeling' (at my level, I can't tell the differenc), but you can't really dispute that they are vastly less faff for everyday use.

Dave

I must say I am likely to go burton as they were really helpful getting a spare part for my boots send in time for a trip last year, free of charge too, does make you think of them when buying again

It's a minefield. I'd been in step-ins for years before I picked up some Cartels - can't go too wrong with Burton.

I'd been in step-ins for years

I rode Switch step-ins for years.

Great step-in bindings: the Crank Bros style open system meant it never got clogged with snow. Only stopped using them cos I couldn't get boots any more.

But moving to modern boots and bindings was a revelation!

My Ride SPI's have been pretty good, going on 6 years old now I think. It's a good solid binding, not a flexy freestyle binding, more for general "all-mountain" riding. The ratchet on the toe strap is annoying though and gets a bit stuck when you try to loosen it. I think they fixed this in later years.

When these eventually die I will replace with Union Force. The feedback I have heard says Union Force are the go to bombproof all-mountain binding these days.

I really dislike Burton bindings. Non standard baseplates, highbacks that don't fold right for packing your board bag and I've see lots of bust highbacks etc. Maybe ok if you have a burton board.

Ride bindings get my vote, much better materials, more adjustment, fantastic. My GF and I have both had Rides for a few years now and they've been uber comfortable and faultless. You can run the toe straps conventional or as a cap strap out of the box.

I'd echo what it says above about taking you boot to the shop and trying in in a couple of bindings to get the right size.

We both tried flows for a while after we started out, I think the disadvantages outweigh the perceived advantages. (They're harder than normal bindings to do up if there's deep snow or no flattish bit near where you disembark the lift) I'd use them if I rode the snowdome or the park a lot though.

Hi there,

def echo the mate boot to binding approach - as an ex saisoneur I have tried a number of systems - flow work well enough now on piste but I dont personally use them as I dont like having to push the highback down to strap in or release - have had clearance issues in the past -plus I think straps are easier to release if stuck in deep powder or say in a tree well etc... or you have a scary steep entry and a lack of a flat section to strap in on...

Burton are good - I have seen a number of heel cups crack and I am not a fan of 3d baseplates - I have tried their step in system was ok - but flawed as all step ins are...

Like Nitro bindings / Like Ride / Love Drake - all strap bindings

Have a chat to other snowboarders and see what they get on with - personally I would go with straps but Flow could work also if you want to be quick off the lifts - I dont worry too much about that as I am so used to straps I am good to go fairly fast and the guys I ride / ski with generally faff more than me....

enjoy!

paul

Thanks for the advice guys!

I've always had Burton Mission, been faultless

Started out with ex rental Customs. Rode Flow Pro for years and bought 2nd hand Cartels for last winter.

I can't say it makes much difference to me as far as riding goes but the Cartels really hurt my leading foot compared with my comfy old Flows. It's made me consider wether my boots are too narrow in the toe box. I've replaced them with a pair of Burton Hail but first ride at a Snowdome suggests it might be the Cartels.

I loosened my boots of a little and it seemed to help. How tight do people do their boots up? I made sure the bindings were not to tight?

Have ridden Burton Missions for 2.5 seasons with no problems, from park to piste to pow. They perform well and I'd say are a good, forgiving binding for an intermediate.

Having said that I've got a pair of Rome 390 bosses for next season but can't say how they ride as I haven't been able to test yet. Less than 100 days now though...

How tight do people do their boots up

I have wondered that too- myself as tight as I can get them so that possibly means they dont fit!

good fitting boots are weay more importnat than what bindings. Some bindings will be aimed at park riding so will be a bit flexier than backcountry onoes. Something like the missions are middle of the road do everything bindings so you can't go wrong really.

All burton non ESP bindings come with standard baseplates as well as their 3D ones. So they can be easily fitted to non burton boards.

I have a set of missions from about 2002 and there still fine. I normally ride a set of P1's (2008ish), which are seriously comfy with the toe strap and better padded ankle strap than the (old)missions.

Ride, Saloman, Rome, Union to name buit a few are all very good just pick the ones that match your board!!

as for boot tightness, get them cranked right up, I don't want any movement.

My opinion seams to go against what everyone else seams to say but....

I think a lot of people would benefit from using 'lower range' equipment - in this case 'custom' bindings instead of Missions or Cartels. Especially 1 to 2 week a year warriors (myself included). Its just more forgiving in the chop and ice. Pro gear level gear for pros.

Note: I was told that the last seasons missions had effectively been 'upgraded' to the prev seasons cartels in terms of performance.

My 2 cents....

[i]Trouble is you dont really know what they are like until you get out there![/i]

So why not wait until you get out there and hire/demo some?
It's fairly cheap to rent bindings and the shop will match your boots to the right bindings. (You could then buy online when you get back, if cost is an issue)

Dez Not a bad thought, do hire shops have much of a choice though?

So why not wait until you get out there and hire/demo some?

Or pop along to the Big Bang Snowboard Show and try out half a dozen different bindings on real snow in the space of a couple of hours.

http://www.bigbang-show.com/

[i]Dez Not a bad thought, do hire shops have much of a choice though?[/i]

Decent ones do! Or ones that think they are getting a sale out of it - shop I hired from said I'd get a discount if I bought bindings from them. I waited til I got home and bought some K2s in Snow&Rock's sale though.

Hmm might be worth a go at least i'd know for sure

Burton 'Mission' bindings are a pretty solid 'all round' binding that fit a wide range of boots. The cap-straps are good, but the build quality esp. the high-backs isn't as good as it used to be I think. Spares straps are available worldwide though.

The Burton 'Cartels' have greater forward lean and are a bit stiffer than the Missions - however this can force your foot further forward leaving a gap at the heel with some boots - definitely worth checking that your boot fits!

Flow bindings are definitely 'marmite' bindings, but the general consensus seems to be that the 'rear entry' system is potentially unsafe in off-piste/powder conditions. Personally I like my bindings cranked up real tight to get good responsiveness - I wasn't able to get this with Flow bindings.

I've also had good experiences with Ride and especially Salomon - in particular their Relay & Code models.

Without knowing more about your riding style/aims etc it's hard to be more specific. Like as678 says, I would probably go for a mid-price, mid-flex binding [i.e. good enough for mixing up a bit of park, piste & powder] that fits your preferred boot.

If you decide on Flows, check your boots fit and work well with them first. The heal can often get caught on the back plate when you try to release. It can be a case of spending more time setting them up. I pulled the base of my boots away and had to reglue due to me not setting up the straps properly. I dont find them any more comfy or less comfy than my old Ride Jeff Brushie bindings, but they are a damn site quicker in/out and that is a big plus IMO.

I have wondered that too- myself as tight as I can get them so that possibly means they dont fit!

If your existing boots have 'packed down' a bit but there's still some life left in them, then try adding another custom footbed.

Cheers again guys, I feel a visit to a retailer coming on when stuffs back in stock to see whats about,I have a snow and rock nearby but might look further afield for another opinion

Whereabouts are you xcgb?

The Big Bang Show is at Tamworth, Braehead, Castleford, Milton Keynes - starting end of this month.
Def worth going if you want to try new gear.

Also if you are planning to buy new then it might be worth getting an [url= http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/ ]SCUK membership[/url] (£15 for a year and gets you 10-15% off in a lot of snow shops).

I am surrey based so MK is doable, looks like it might be worth a trip, thanks for the SCUK tip too

Issue I had with Flows is the weight. My board is half the weight since I swapped to straps!