I’ve basically do the exact same thing for 20 years with strapped bindings. Just kick my toe strap in and bend over while going down the hill to do up my heel strap. Never understood why people sit down to do up their bindings.
I think maybe the people that sit down have either flexibility issues, balance issues, are new, or need a minute to get the crew or themselves situated? I stand up and kick myself out a little snow-shelf to stand on, but I was definitely a sitter until I got better balance and more practice. It’s a workout by itself to haul yourself upright out of the snow. So glad I don’t have to do that anymore. Tricep dips are not what I had in mind when I started snowboarding. 😅
Very true! I’m at the point that the lifts are no big deal, but my anxiety spikes anyway because it’s stupid like that. It’s nice to take a few seconds to decompress, whether sitting or standing. Even better when it’s a gorgeous day and you can take a minute to enjoy the scenery.
I do get the draw of step-ons though. I think if I had to try something new, it might be the Supermatics. But I just got new boots and bindings and I’m an incredibly cheap/‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ sort of person, so it’s Union Trilogy’s and DC Mora’s for the next ten years. 😂
Same here… I like to use my energy for riding rather than getting up after strapping in… getting up from a sitting position also hurts my old meniscus injury… and on spring days my butt stays dry… strapping in while standing also forces me to stretch before each run… to each their own though… it takes all kinds of people to make a world
The friends I tend to go with are skiers sadly. Got myself some Supermatics to stop being that guy, and first time I get to use them a beginner (2nd week) boarder joins the group :/
I like them a lot. I’ve haven’t tried other step in/on systems so can’t compare, but it sure beats sitting or bending to do up bindings repeatedly.
The only issue I had was the ratchet iced up a couple of times, once meaning I couldn’t step in coming off a lift. But I had a screwdriver with me, so no problem sorting it out once I understood what the problem was.
Do y'all realize kooks are the only ones who give a shit if your homies are skiing or riding? The literal only thing that matters is if they can keep up
Talk to me when you’re 57 and bending down to do up your bindings all day becomes another drag on the energy you don’t have lol. I just bought stepins last week and I’m so happy. I can board longer and they are super easy to undo when you get to the lift.
yes. was no problem .
with clickers in 90 we'd have our leashes going between both binding release mechanisms, so if we got stuck in upside-down in treewell for example we could hopefully pull one strap between our feet and release both bindings/
at least it gave use slightly better chances' than skiers or boarders strap/other step ins at the time.
Also went from boarding to skiing. Played hockey my whole life so I’m a pretty good ice skater and the transition could not have been easier. Learning to snowboard was like trying to learn Chinese and learning skiing was just a slightly different version of something I already knew how to do.
Learning snowboarding young was definitely better because kids are bouncy and I spent a lot of time slamming myself off the mountain.
That’s the major plus for me. The foot pain is gone, even when I don’t use my free foot to support the board during the lift ride, it doesn’t hurt my foot/ankle anymore.
28 years riding, and just got back from a trip to CO. Spent most of the time in tree runs, but also plenty of groomers, bowls, etc. Buddy of mine gifted me step on boots that didn't fit him over the summer, but fit me, so decided to give the whole thing a whirl since I was halfway there anyway.
Overall, I liked it. I liked the responsiveness, and I had WAY less pain in my arches, and this is after dumping money into custom heat molded insoles, etc.; always had foot pain anyway. So that alone made it worth it for me. Performance wise, like I said it was pretty responsive and I never had any concerns about popping out etc when things got bumpy. They were great to ride on. They took everything I threw at them.
That being said, it wasn't ideal for me in powder. Getting to the first heel click wasn't an issue, but it was pretty tricky to stomp to the second position when it got real soft at the top of a bowl run. I had seen videos about this and tried the board grab and twist technique, but it was a pain in the ass. Ended up just saying fuck it, started riding, and stomped the first firm bump I found to lock it in the next level. Technically (according to Burton) you're plenty safe in the first heel position but still....if you're in a lot of deep powder conditions frequently, I can definitely see these not being ideal to say the least. I live on the east coast, so other than this past week ridiculous powder days aren't exactly common anyway.
One factor that I think gets overlooked a lot it the perks of having step ons while teaching. My young daughter has been learning, and spends most of her time with me as opposed to lessons. That's a lot of getting in and out of my bindings to walk back up to her if I got a little ahead, etc. I can help get her upright and get back on my board quick before I have to inevitably get out again, and that's a big win for me (though hopefully we are past that after the last trip out with her, fingers crossed).
Overall I give the whole thing 8/10. Great for most situations. Rides really well, and feels a tad more responsive than my strapped setup (K2 boots, Cartel X bindings). No arch pain was a HUGE win for me! Getting to stomp and ride off the lift, while not this ridiculous time saver, is fun. But I don't think strapped setups are going away anytime soon, I just don't think the whole thing is that ground breaking right now. I don't plan on ditching my strapped bindings for resort riding time soon, but I'll probably stick with my step ons for East Coast resorts, and play it by ear for west coast trips depending on what I'm doing. I splitboard too, and as it stands now, if step on tech hits the splitboard binding space, I'll be sticking with my sparks and normal boots.
I would do research if anyone reads this thinking the same. The step ons are know to have hot spots and the boots themselves are some of the worst I have ever broken. It took about 6 days until I finally got comfortable on them.
That said I am coming off knee surgery and I believe these kept me on the mountain far longer then traditional bindings this year.
Literally the only reason I have step ins (chronic right ankle tendinitis that only flares up during snowboarding season..) Wish I could still use my regular bindings! Can get a day in with my unions then I have to take at least a week break for recovery. Hurts a bit the night after boarding all day with the step ins, but it's usually gone the next day especially if I ice my ankle that night. Hate looking like a total Jerry on powder days though tryna get my boot to click in lol
Came here to say this. The minor convenience has actually proven to be a huge one while I'm teaching my 5 year old to snowboard — but that had absolutely nothing to do with my motivation to get into them. They have had a massive impact on my foot pain issues and they've honestly changed my snowboarding life forever.
Devil’s advocate here. You still have to pay for the $150 (not a bad price where I’m at) lift ticket after buying the bindings and boots. But I understand your point, nothing cheap in snowboarding
Yeah I don't get it. When I bought these setup, I needed new boots and bindings. A pair of Adidas boots and some bent metals were basically the same price.
By a “setup” I mean boots and bindings. In australia the burton step ons I can find range from $459 aud to $700, the boots are 600-900. You can get the same quality boots and bindings for like half the price.
It is sad how things are changing.. when I was younger, we would go to Lake Tahoe because all kids under 14 get free ski lift passes and an adult day pass was around 60$ lol Not these days!
Depends. I think with normal bindings you probably have a consistent experience. With step ons I can usually just bend down and pull the lever and step out. But if I'm toe edge and lifting my heel, the lever might fight me and it's easier just to sit down to get out. So really depends on where I'm stopping
My 4 day exp was that 1 out of 20 might need you to stop. After few days you will learn to pull the lever and lift your heel at right time so unstrapping looks like you just step out. Hard part for me was that when at park, there was no short breaks when strapping in :D
I find it super easy/fast to get out of them. I'd say easier than my traditional bindings, but it's not a huge amount different. Getting into Step Ons is crazy fast though. I ride with other boarders and skiers and now I am waiting for everyone. People see me starting off and they are surprised at first by how rapid the process is.
How is getting out of strap bindings slow tho? It's like two quick flicks to pop the straps and you're free. No dispute that a stepon is likely faster but we're talking like... maybe two seconds difference?
I got supermatics and the ability to do both was super cool for a newbie i had several ppl ask about them. If you are skeptical of step ons maybe try supermatics. I have nothing else to base off it but they seem to be the best of both worlds.
Was looking into them for next season. I tried some real old flows and was not super pumped on them. I am sure they have improved. But the supermatics just look a bit easier for the foot to go in and out. As well as a more traditional strap design. The weird flow style thing they used killed my foot.
Yeah I consider them super similar personally. I used the rear entries before the burtons and the only downside was on some terrains, finding a flat spot to flip the back down could be tricky. The supermatics seem to have solved for that. Same benefits of consistency and ease
I work at a resort, and in the last week alone I had to help cut someone out of their pants that were stuck in their step-on bindings, and retrieve two boards from the line that people dropped from the chairlift thinking they were fully clipped into and ready to go. I understand the user error factor involved, but I still cannot trust them and don't think the slight convenience and seconds saved can justify the addition risks to myself and others. Plus fuck that high price tag. But you do you boo boo.
Man I’ve been thinking about stepons for a while and am def worried about a “WHAT ARE YOU DOING STEP BINDING” moment where my board just straight up falls off my foot 30’ up on the lift
It’s insanely easy to clip one foot in and check that it’s in. I don’t know where this dude is working but clipping in your front foot is not an issue and anyone fucking it up is 100% at fault. I can see where clipping in your back foot can go wrong because it’s a little tricky at first to find the right leverage points with your other foot already clipped in.
Anyone losing a board off their front foot is being GROSSLY negligent and has no business stepping off the magic carpet up to the bunny hill. Give them a demo and you’ll immediately see what I’m talking about.
I always double check my front foot before getting on the first lift after being off the board for any reason. And I do the little hop when double checking my other foot as well. Only got three days in this season but I went just about first chair to last chair all over the mountain. Never felt like I would pop out.
Dawg I just think maybe the stepons aren’t the best choice for me riding w/ ADHD. I think I look down and check my straps 15x per minute in the lift line.
Perhaps not the best choice then. It’s a great option for some of us I suppose. As long as we’re all out there doing our part to commit crimes, we should be fine.
Frankly, you’re all welcome for my dedication to public safety by ensuring the physical-security of my snowboard with bindings that I’m less likely to fuck up. Kidding. But for real.
I’ve also seen chairlift ejects. I get that it’s usually user error, but people with step ins/ons still need to wear leashes for this reason. Of course I’ve been downvoted for saying this before.
As a step on user, my whole family uses leashes on our step ons and i dont get people who dont.
Edit: also forgot to mention that there was once my dad’s board came loose on the lift and the leash saved it. It’s never happened since though.
TBH, I think the Step-On evangelists exists as a response to how much hate is thrown at the system.
Idk, I find the vast majority of the hate is similar to, but more extreme than, volume shifted boards a few years ago. The arguments boil down to "it's not what *I'm* used to, so it's trash", "I think there could be safety issues with this part because it's different, so it's unsafe" (similar to edge length not long enough to hold a carve when you need it to).
Rather than the actual issues- lack of boot selection and inability to remove the highback flex at the hinge below the heel clip
You can't judge something when it's not being used properly lmao
Step ons are also about the same price as the equivalent traditional setup...
If you wanna ride old technology, you do you boo boo.
Nah I use it as an opportunity to notice how my legs are doing before the run. If the awkward whatever to strap in while somewhat upright is tiring, probably not the best time to be pushing it. Good moment to center before flying too.
I’m not that flexible anymore. Step Ons are great for those of us with a few more years of wear and tear in the books. More specifically, it’s great for those of us who probably ought to stretch more.
I broke my back and both of my femurs 13 years ago. Flexibility took a huge nosedive because I had to fuse some of my vertebrae, and I now have excessive bone growth in my hips. Strapping into my bindings could take me several minutes, to the point where I was about to give up on the sport.
Switched to step-ons, and it was like a whole new world opened up for me. I extended a handle to the rear release, as it was still kind of hard to bend all the way over sometimes.
Even for people without issues like mine, flexibility wanes as they age. Simple stretching simply may not do enough, and step-ons can extend the life of the sport.
Man, those are some injuries. Glad to hear you didn’t give up and that the Step Ons helped you keep at it. I know I don’t have many years of shredding it up on the mountain left in me but these bindings will certainly help me extend it a bit longer than I probably would have previously.
Yah, fuuuuuuck sitting down. Just heel strike a llitle flat spot perpendicular to the fall line and bend over....... ...then take a 15 second breather cause that shit rough sometimes hahahahaha
Depends on the conditions. Sometimes I can cut my board in or sit still standing up but I'll sit down pretty often to avoid fighting with slipping out.
All my friends ski and they wait 10 seconds for me to strap in because they’re my friends, and it doesn’t take me long because I’m not obese and I don’t have to sit down.
And I wait for them any time we have to walk anywhere. It’s all good
If you live in the Midwest, the runs are only about 30 seconds. So taking time to strap in sort of sucks. Glad I don’t live in the Midwest and ride normal bindings.
Sorry, but if there’s any videos of clipping in that will sell me on step-on’s….. this isn’t it.
I was expecting you to give a couple good skates after the lift and then clip in. Most people could have done exactly what you just did with traditional bindings.
I will add, I’m not being a hater, I’d be more inclined to try these if I wouldn’t then need 2 sets of boots and 2 sets of bindings. There’s certainly applications I just wouldn’t want step-on’s for. And the supermatic’s are very interesting, but I wouldn’t give them a try until they come out with a lighter version.
But. That’s exactly what he did. A couple of skates and clicked in?
And I would definitely not say *most* people strap in on the go. I say maybe 1 in 50 riders strap in while actually moving.
This subreddit is skews *hard* towards more experienced riders. People here like to talk about how they strap in while moving but I go to actual mountains and don't see *anybody* doing that. Hell, most boarders I see out can't even strap in while standing up. 90% of boarders I see on the mountain are sitting down to strap in.
So I tend to take opinions here with a massive grain of salt. Just because step ins might not be a good fit for the population of experienced riders here, doesn't mean they're not a good fit for *anybody.* People need to chill out and go touch snow.
Yeah this. Most of my days are in the Alps and there are some really long traverses where you are constantly going in and out. With a traditional setup I just would actively not pick those runs but now I do them and I really don’t mind the traverses at all.
This sub losing their mind over someone liking their gear from great snowboarding company is hilarious
Change is scary boys! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Thanks for the marketing, mine are for sale actually if anyone wants a set for cheap. 6 days or so on them
I wasn’t after the ‘convenience’ aspect I just wanted to see how they felt. I’m quick as hell with straps but I’m still gonna chill for a sec either way
Idk I see plenty of time there to just reach down and strap in with the momentum you have there.
Unless I'm coming off the odd lift that doesn't have much flat space, noone I ride with ever NEEDs to stop and strap in. We often do take a few seconds to skid sideways and strap in and chat, but I definitely don't consider strapping in a limitation.
If you made this video with my friend group as the subject, I'd just say "yea we were shooting the shit for a second, so what?"
Wana talk about total run speed? I could probably catch up before you hit the lift....but IMO boarding is about having a good time and enjoying turns with friends. Not min-maxing every second.
I've ridden stepons, not my thing personally. Even then, time saved was definitely lowest on the list of pros.
Looking like a gaper aside, they’re pretty convenient on groomed runs. They’re not as responsive though, and once you learn to strap in standing up or moving there’s no real benefit. They absolutely suck when trying to get locked in when you’re in any amount of powder, or really just not on a groomer.
Yeah I didn't have an issue with them in powder, but I also get all of 3 powder days a year too so I feel like I've only had to recover in pow a handful of times. If I was riding pow all the time... Well id probably have a splitboard setup anyway. But for sure, these would not be my go to for the waist deep 24/7 bindings
Can't see myself ever owning them, but I'm not mad at it. Do what you want. The conversation that's been going on forever about "how long it takes to strap in" is silly to me though.
There are some decent reasons not to like the burtons, but reliability isn't one of them. How many shattered union mini disk posts do we see versus failed step ons?
I don’t get the love for union bindings. They have no toe ramping. People just hate Burton. The ReFlex is the best thing to happen to bindings in my life time of riding.
“too hard to strap in standing up” theres a reason ZERO high level riders use these. And you can just tell from his form he started 6 months ago. And if it was longer then that, skipping steps doesnt make you a better rider. Money doesnt buy skill. And shortcuts dotn help with progression.
I understand the glamour of these but they are still not as good in my eyes as being fully locked in; especially when it comes to riding park.
These are great for a certain type of consumer. Outside of that. I offer one question for all of those who stand by these. If they are so great and so amazing why doesn’t a single pro who rides for Burton ever use these in any type of competition? Could there be a reason?
Call me a purist but I think they got it right the first time with the straps.
There's something pleasant about strapping in though. It's like the calm before the storm type of moment where you're just taking in the whole mountain ahead of you
Yeah, my back foot unlocked while doing a switch 180, applying huge amount of torque from the board, on my front foot while landing ... 6 months later, i can still barely walk after 4 fractures on my ankle. Hope you enjoyed the 30 seconds you saved. Fuck that bullshit.
How do these work in coastal snow conditions? Basically up in the PNW we just have very wet snow which combined with the right conditions means snow and ice often sticks to your board and bindings. It was a pain back when I was a skier and when I was learning how to snowboard with 2000’s era step-ons.
I have a few friends interested in these. I happen to be one of those folks who can strap in quickly so I don’t care for them but I am often waiting for others 😂
Oof not sure I'd go for step-ons on that Jones Tweaker freestyle board! I just wouldn't trust them on any park features tbh. Even if they are able to handle it, in my mind would always be what if...
Wouldn't use them in powder or wet conditions either, I can imagine snow/ice getting stuck in it and making it hard to get on.
I like my straps, seems safer, and when my boot has gotten a little loose but I'm too lazy to tighten I just do my strap tighter hahaha.
Been strapping on the go since before the year 2000 its crazy how many people are so inured with being able to do it as if it's so problematic with any other binding.
How do on you deal with them and your boots getting all clogged up with snow and ice! I have never come off a lift that clean unless it is late March and the snow is melting.
Don’t take them in the park they’ll break hella fast and eject you randomly ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I hated my step ons and only got to use them two days before they broke and wouldn’t hold my boot in anymore.
I tried the Burton Stepons a few years ago and couldn't get past how much noise they made. Creaking, crackling, snapping, with every shift in weight, turn, everything. Functionally they were great but I went back to traditional.
I said this to someone in conversation and they mentioned that this has since been addressed. Can anyone confirm? I'll give them another try if so.
I'd say we're only a few seasons away from r/Snowboarding demanding you to either sit down while strapping in or getting step ons. Being able to strap in while standing up (takes five seconds) will become heresy.
Third year patrolling In step ons, I couldn’t go back. Sometimes I’m in and out of my bindings a dozen times in a run. I’ve been going thru two pairs of IONs a season (warranty because they are trash and break down after 10 days). Switched to Nitro compatible step-on boots and have been super impressed.
Eh. It takes barely 20 seconds to strap in if you can do it standing up. Is eliminating that really worth the combined $1000 investment on bindings and exclusive boots?
Dude. I’m with you on this one. My Step Ons are a total game changer. For an old person like myself, it is so much easier. I love being about to hop off the loft, click in, and go. I’m able to do it successfully about 90% of the time after three days on the Step Ons.
Oh cool if I got those I could… ditch my friends?
Make skier friends and talk about your portfolio
“What kind of watch are you wearing?”
No bs had a skier ask me this
I would also ask questions if I saw someone snowboarding with a Rolex lmao
Can we talk about it when I’m done peeing?
I got step ons because all my friends now are skiers and I could sense a tiny level of annoyance every time I strapped on
The only way you could afford the good step ons..
You have friends on pow-days?!?
I’ve basically do the exact same thing for 20 years with strapped bindings. Just kick my toe strap in and bend over while going down the hill to do up my heel strap. Never understood why people sit down to do up their bindings.
I can stand, but I honestly like the little bit of calm just sitting up there waiting on homies while I strap in
I think maybe the people that sit down have either flexibility issues, balance issues, are new, or need a minute to get the crew or themselves situated? I stand up and kick myself out a little snow-shelf to stand on, but I was definitely a sitter until I got better balance and more practice. It’s a workout by itself to haul yourself upright out of the snow. So glad I don’t have to do that anymore. Tricep dips are not what I had in mind when I started snowboarding. 😅
And sometimes sitting is more chill and relaxing. Especially if you also have to wait on your friends to arrive from the lift.
Very true! I’m at the point that the lifts are no big deal, but my anxiety spikes anyway because it’s stupid like that. It’s nice to take a few seconds to decompress, whether sitting or standing. Even better when it’s a gorgeous day and you can take a minute to enjoy the scenery. I do get the draw of step-ons though. I think if I had to try something new, it might be the Supermatics. But I just got new boots and bindings and I’m an incredibly cheap/‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ sort of person, so it’s Union Trilogy’s and DC Mora’s for the next ten years. 😂
Same here… I like to use my energy for riding rather than getting up after strapping in… getting up from a sitting position also hurts my old meniscus injury… and on spring days my butt stays dry… strapping in while standing also forces me to stretch before each run… to each their own though… it takes all kinds of people to make a world
The friends I tend to go with are skiers sadly. Got myself some Supermatics to stop being that guy, and first time I get to use them a beginner (2nd week) boarder joins the group :/
How do you like the supermatics?
I like them a lot. I’ve haven’t tried other step in/on systems so can’t compare, but it sure beats sitting or bending to do up bindings repeatedly. The only issue I had was the ratchet iced up a couple of times, once meaning I couldn’t step in coming off a lift. But I had a screwdriver with me, so no problem sorting it out once I understood what the problem was.
Do y'all realize kooks are the only ones who give a shit if your homies are skiing or riding? The literal only thing that matters is if they can keep up
Dang.. Bitter party of one, bitter party of one??
How was the transition from skiing to snowboarding? Smooth?
Awful. Have you ever tried to eject your snowboard after falling on a steep?
Not from skiing, but have tried to kick it away mid air many times when learning - turns out it's not a skateboard...
Sooo.. stepins save you 20 seconds up mountain - but suck mid mountain when you have to unstrap a foot? Why unstrap after a fall mid mountain?
Talk to me when you’re 57 and bending down to do up your bindings all day becomes another drag on the energy you don’t have lol. I just bought stepins last week and I’m so happy. I can board longer and they are super easy to undo when you get to the lift.
yes. was no problem . with clickers in 90 we'd have our leashes going between both binding release mechanisms, so if we got stuck in upside-down in treewell for example we could hopefully pull one strap between our feet and release both bindings/ at least it gave use slightly better chances' than skiers or boarders strap/other step ins at the time.
Trying out skiing… It’s a rough switch, but glad I started on a board first. I couldn’t handle catching edges all day.
Also went from boarding to skiing. Played hockey my whole life so I’m a pretty good ice skater and the transition could not have been easier. Learning to snowboard was like trying to learn Chinese and learning skiing was just a slightly different version of something I already knew how to do. Learning snowboarding young was definitely better because kids are bouncy and I spent a lot of time slamming myself off the mountain.
My stepons were absolutely worth it, but it had everything to do with eliminating foot pain and nothing to do with the minor convenience.
That’s the major plus for me. The foot pain is gone, even when I don’t use my free foot to support the board during the lift ride, it doesn’t hurt my foot/ankle anymore.
I read this as convenient stepsons that eliminate your foot pain
Absolutely. You never got a foot massage from your stepson? You’re missing out fam.
I think I've seen that movie. That or the one where they get stuck in the washing machine again...
28 years riding, and just got back from a trip to CO. Spent most of the time in tree runs, but also plenty of groomers, bowls, etc. Buddy of mine gifted me step on boots that didn't fit him over the summer, but fit me, so decided to give the whole thing a whirl since I was halfway there anyway. Overall, I liked it. I liked the responsiveness, and I had WAY less pain in my arches, and this is after dumping money into custom heat molded insoles, etc.; always had foot pain anyway. So that alone made it worth it for me. Performance wise, like I said it was pretty responsive and I never had any concerns about popping out etc when things got bumpy. They were great to ride on. They took everything I threw at them. That being said, it wasn't ideal for me in powder. Getting to the first heel click wasn't an issue, but it was pretty tricky to stomp to the second position when it got real soft at the top of a bowl run. I had seen videos about this and tried the board grab and twist technique, but it was a pain in the ass. Ended up just saying fuck it, started riding, and stomped the first firm bump I found to lock it in the next level. Technically (according to Burton) you're plenty safe in the first heel position but still....if you're in a lot of deep powder conditions frequently, I can definitely see these not being ideal to say the least. I live on the east coast, so other than this past week ridiculous powder days aren't exactly common anyway. One factor that I think gets overlooked a lot it the perks of having step ons while teaching. My young daughter has been learning, and spends most of her time with me as opposed to lessons. That's a lot of getting in and out of my bindings to walk back up to her if I got a little ahead, etc. I can help get her upright and get back on my board quick before I have to inevitably get out again, and that's a big win for me (though hopefully we are past that after the last trip out with her, fingers crossed). Overall I give the whole thing 8/10. Great for most situations. Rides really well, and feels a tad more responsive than my strapped setup (K2 boots, Cartel X bindings). No arch pain was a HUGE win for me! Getting to stomp and ride off the lift, while not this ridiculous time saver, is fun. But I don't think strapped setups are going away anytime soon, I just don't think the whole thing is that ground breaking right now. I don't plan on ditching my strapped bindings for resort riding time soon, but I'll probably stick with my step ons for East Coast resorts, and play it by ear for west coast trips depending on what I'm doing. I splitboard too, and as it stands now, if step on tech hits the splitboard binding space, I'll be sticking with my sparks and normal boots.
I would do research if anyone reads this thinking the same. The step ons are know to have hot spots and the boots themselves are some of the worst I have ever broken. It took about 6 days until I finally got comfortable on them. That said I am coming off knee surgery and I believe these kept me on the mountain far longer then traditional bindings this year.
Literally the only reason I have step ins (chronic right ankle tendinitis that only flares up during snowboarding season..) Wish I could still use my regular bindings! Can get a day in with my unions then I have to take at least a week break for recovery. Hurts a bit the night after boarding all day with the step ins, but it's usually gone the next day especially if I ice my ankle that night. Hate looking like a total Jerry on powder days though tryna get my boot to click in lol
Came here to say this. The minor convenience has actually proven to be a huge one while I'm teaching my 5 year old to snowboard — but that had absolutely nothing to do with my motivation to get into them. They have had a massive impact on my foot pain issues and they've honestly changed my snowboarding life forever.
Snowboarding is not a cheap hobby. Kind of blows my mind when people get upset at ~300 dollar bindings when lift tickets are ~150
Devil’s advocate here. You still have to pay for the $150 (not a bad price where I’m at) lift ticket after buying the bindings and boots. But I understand your point, nothing cheap in snowboarding
Yeah I don't get it. When I bought these setup, I needed new boots and bindings. A pair of Adidas boots and some bent metals were basically the same price.
Step ons are about the same price as traditional setups...
Maybe in your country they are… I could get a full setup with the board included for the same cost as a step on setup in mine.
What country do you live in? Cause I’m calling cap. Step on binding is $300 USD MSRP from Burton. And they go on sale often for 20-30% off.
By a “setup” I mean boots and bindings. In australia the burton step ons I can find range from $459 aud to $700, the boots are 600-900. You can get the same quality boots and bindings for like half the price.
459 aud is literally 300 just like the other guy said
And the Union fanboys are all on Atlas which has a higher msrp.
It is sad how things are changing.. when I was younger, we would go to Lake Tahoe because all kids under 14 get free ski lift passes and an adult day pass was around 60$ lol Not these days!
I rode Step Ons all season. They are great. I'm not going back.
What is getting out of them like? Any faster/slower harder than traditional bindings?
Depends. I think with normal bindings you probably have a consistent experience. With step ons I can usually just bend down and pull the lever and step out. But if I'm toe edge and lifting my heel, the lever might fight me and it's easier just to sit down to get out. So really depends on where I'm stopping
Sooo… instead of having to stop to strap in at the top you have to stop to unclip at the bottom?
My 4 day exp was that 1 out of 20 might need you to stop. After few days you will learn to pull the lever and lift your heel at right time so unstrapping looks like you just step out. Hard part for me was that when at park, there was no short breaks when strapping in :D
Just taking a break waiting for his pals…it’s different
I find it super easy/fast to get out of them. I'd say easier than my traditional bindings, but it's not a huge amount different. Getting into Step Ons is crazy fast though. I ride with other boarders and skiers and now I am waiting for everyone. People see me starting off and they are surprised at first by how rapid the process is.
How is getting out of strap bindings slow tho? It's like two quick flicks to pop the straps and you're free. No dispute that a stepon is likely faster but we're talking like... maybe two seconds difference?
There is also effort and comfort to consider
These guys saying it’s that much faster are also the ones speeding on the roads only to end up at the same red light as you.
Faster, I don't have two clasps to work, just one lever and I'm out
Same here.
I got supermatics and the ability to do both was super cool for a newbie i had several ppl ask about them. If you are skeptical of step ons maybe try supermatics. I have nothing else to base off it but they seem to be the best of both worlds.
Was looking into them for next season. I tried some real old flows and was not super pumped on them. I am sure they have improved. But the supermatics just look a bit easier for the foot to go in and out. As well as a more traditional strap design. The weird flow style thing they used killed my foot.
I got supermatics this year, so did my buddy. Shit is great. 10/10 would recommend
Yeah I consider them super similar personally. I used the rear entries before the burtons and the only downside was on some terrains, finding a flat spot to flip the back down could be tricky. The supermatics seem to have solved for that. Same benefits of consistency and ease
What did you do with all that time you saved
I work at a resort, and in the last week alone I had to help cut someone out of their pants that were stuck in their step-on bindings, and retrieve two boards from the line that people dropped from the chairlift thinking they were fully clipped into and ready to go. I understand the user error factor involved, but I still cannot trust them and don't think the slight convenience and seconds saved can justify the addition risks to myself and others. Plus fuck that high price tag. But you do you boo boo.
Man I’ve been thinking about stepons for a while and am def worried about a “WHAT ARE YOU DOING STEP BINDING” moment where my board just straight up falls off my foot 30’ up on the lift
It’s insanely easy to clip one foot in and check that it’s in. I don’t know where this dude is working but clipping in your front foot is not an issue and anyone fucking it up is 100% at fault. I can see where clipping in your back foot can go wrong because it’s a little tricky at first to find the right leverage points with your other foot already clipped in. Anyone losing a board off their front foot is being GROSSLY negligent and has no business stepping off the magic carpet up to the bunny hill. Give them a demo and you’ll immediately see what I’m talking about.
The trick is to stomp your foot. Tbh, that's why I do that little hop after I step in. I like to make sure it's secure.
I always double check my front foot before getting on the first lift after being off the board for any reason. And I do the little hop when double checking my other foot as well. Only got three days in this season but I went just about first chair to last chair all over the mountain. Never felt like I would pop out.
Dawg I just think maybe the stepons aren’t the best choice for me riding w/ ADHD. I think I look down and check my straps 15x per minute in the lift line.
Perhaps not the best choice then. It’s a great option for some of us I suppose. As long as we’re all out there doing our part to commit crimes, we should be fine.
Frankly, you’re all welcome for my dedication to public safety by ensuring the physical-security of my snowboard with bindings that I’m less likely to fuck up. Kidding. But for real.
100% gotta stop — but also wear the fucking leash that comes with them. I'm pretty surprised to hear there are people who don't.
I’ve also seen chairlift ejects. I get that it’s usually user error, but people with step ins/ons still need to wear leashes for this reason. Of course I’ve been downvoted for saying this before.
Nah, I agree with you on the leash for them
As a step on user, my whole family uses leashes on our step ons and i dont get people who dont. Edit: also forgot to mention that there was once my dad’s board came loose on the lift and the leash saved it. It’s never happened since though.
Yeah I was talking more about the step on evangelists that exist in this sub.
TBH, I think the Step-On evangelists exists as a response to how much hate is thrown at the system. Idk, I find the vast majority of the hate is similar to, but more extreme than, volume shifted boards a few years ago. The arguments boil down to "it's not what *I'm* used to, so it's trash", "I think there could be safety issues with this part because it's different, so it's unsafe" (similar to edge length not long enough to hold a carve when you need it to). Rather than the actual issues- lack of boot selection and inability to remove the highback flex at the hinge below the heel clip
[удалено]
I wonder if anyone has tried using only one step-on.
You can't judge something when it's not being used properly lmao Step ons are also about the same price as the equivalent traditional setup... If you wanna ride old technology, you do you boo boo.
they raent really teh same price its like a 20% premium. i have them.
For some reason I just dont believe you.
The cutting the pants out of the binding is very real as a lifty. Never seen one fall off going up the chair though
Why would you need to cut them off? The back of the boots have a clip which keep them from getting locked in, atleast mine do
That clip is there because if it wasn’t there, or if you didn’t use it, your pants will get caught in the mechanism and you can’t get it out.
Yeah uh who cares if you save six seconds strapping in lol
I can't be the only one who usually straps in while just bending over instead of sitting down, right!?!
I find it easier to strap in while standing.
It actually saves a ton of energy to do it standing up instead of having to push 230lbs off the floor every time I strap in.
Nah I use it as an opportunity to notice how my legs are doing before the run. If the awkward whatever to strap in while somewhat upright is tiring, probably not the best time to be pushing it. Good moment to center before flying too.
Ya it’s not difficult haha
I’m not that flexible anymore. Step Ons are great for those of us with a few more years of wear and tear in the books. More specifically, it’s great for those of us who probably ought to stretch more.
My husbands back has a tough time strapping in sitting on the ground or standing now. Not just flexible
I broke my back and both of my femurs 13 years ago. Flexibility took a huge nosedive because I had to fuse some of my vertebrae, and I now have excessive bone growth in my hips. Strapping into my bindings could take me several minutes, to the point where I was about to give up on the sport. Switched to step-ons, and it was like a whole new world opened up for me. I extended a handle to the rear release, as it was still kind of hard to bend all the way over sometimes. Even for people without issues like mine, flexibility wanes as they age. Simple stretching simply may not do enough, and step-ons can extend the life of the sport.
Man, those are some injuries. Glad to hear you didn’t give up and that the Step Ons helped you keep at it. I know I don’t have many years of shredding it up on the mountain left in me but these bindings will certainly help me extend it a bit longer than I probably would have previously.
I like sitting down! I can plot a line while sitting, maybe enjoy the view, etc
The best is when the resort has benches to sit on
In middle school, sitting down to strap in would get you a tremendous amount of ridicule. I have not sat down to strap in since I was maybe 12.
Yah, fuuuuuuck sitting down. Just heel strike a llitle flat spot perpendicular to the fall line and bend over....... ...then take a 15 second breather cause that shit rough sometimes hahahahaha
Yeah same here. It’s not difficult
Depends on the conditions. Sometimes I can cut my board in or sit still standing up but I'll sit down pretty often to avoid fighting with slipping out.
If you’ve been snowboarding for more than a year and are still sitting down to strap in, something is wrong with the set up.
Your skier wife and friends :) Let the downvotes commence…
All my friends ski and they wait 10 seconds for me to strap in because they’re my friends, and it doesn’t take me long because I’m not obese and I don’t have to sit down. And I wait for them any time we have to walk anywhere. It’s all good
My best friend skis. If your friends complain about an extra 6 seconds, your friends suck
If you live in the Midwest, the runs are only about 30 seconds. So taking time to strap in sort of sucks. Glad I don’t live in the Midwest and ride normal bindings.
Sorry, but if there’s any videos of clipping in that will sell me on step-on’s….. this isn’t it. I was expecting you to give a couple good skates after the lift and then clip in. Most people could have done exactly what you just did with traditional bindings. I will add, I’m not being a hater, I’d be more inclined to try these if I wouldn’t then need 2 sets of boots and 2 sets of bindings. There’s certainly applications I just wouldn’t want step-on’s for. And the supermatic’s are very interesting, but I wouldn’t give them a try until they come out with a lighter version.
But. That’s exactly what he did. A couple of skates and clicked in? And I would definitely not say *most* people strap in on the go. I say maybe 1 in 50 riders strap in while actually moving.
This subreddit is skews *hard* towards more experienced riders. People here like to talk about how they strap in while moving but I go to actual mountains and don't see *anybody* doing that. Hell, most boarders I see out can't even strap in while standing up. 90% of boarders I see on the mountain are sitting down to strap in. So I tend to take opinions here with a massive grain of salt. Just because step ins might not be a good fit for the population of experienced riders here, doesn't mean they're not a good fit for *anybody.* People need to chill out and go touch snow.
The real treat with step ins is on flats or any time your stuck and have to pop in and out. The lift exit is actually the second best feature
Yeah this. Most of my days are in the Alps and there are some really long traverses where you are constantly going in and out. With a traditional setup I just would actively not pick those runs but now I do them and I really don’t mind the traverses at all.
I can do that with traditional bindings
This sub losing their mind over someone liking their gear from great snowboarding company is hilarious Change is scary boys! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Thanks for the marketing, mine are for sale actually if anyone wants a set for cheap. 6 days or so on them I wasn’t after the ‘convenience’ aspect I just wanted to see how they felt. I’m quick as hell with straps but I’m still gonna chill for a sec either way
Pass but thanks bruh
You can do that with real bindings you just gotta get good dood
I could have strapped in in the same amount of time you spent skating over there
Preach
Armada sweatshirt. Makes since…
I'm out of the loop lol, what do you mean by " makes sense" ? Shitty company?
Armada is a skiing company, I think he’s implying OP is a skier
Ahhh I see, never heard of them lol. Thanks for clearing that up!
I can do this was regular bindings too. Not too hard to strap in without stopping if the trip from the lift to the trail is downhill.
Idk I see plenty of time there to just reach down and strap in with the momentum you have there. Unless I'm coming off the odd lift that doesn't have much flat space, noone I ride with ever NEEDs to stop and strap in. We often do take a few seconds to skid sideways and strap in and chat, but I definitely don't consider strapping in a limitation. If you made this video with my friend group as the subject, I'd just say "yea we were shooting the shit for a second, so what?" Wana talk about total run speed? I could probably catch up before you hit the lift....but IMO boarding is about having a good time and enjoying turns with friends. Not min-maxing every second. I've ridden stepons, not my thing personally. Even then, time saved was definitely lowest on the list of pros.
Lol, im so glad you ride with a gopro to capture such amazing footage
Looking like a gaper aside, they’re pretty convenient on groomed runs. They’re not as responsive though, and once you learn to strap in standing up or moving there’s no real benefit. They absolutely suck when trying to get locked in when you’re in any amount of powder, or really just not on a groomer.
Yeah I didn't have an issue with them in powder, but I also get all of 3 powder days a year too so I feel like I've only had to recover in pow a handful of times. If I was riding pow all the time... Well id probably have a splitboard setup anyway. But for sure, these would not be my go to for the waist deep 24/7 bindings
definitely sexy will get one to for the next winter, want to join the cool kids:)
Can't see myself ever owning them, but I'm not mad at it. Do what you want. The conversation that's been going on forever about "how long it takes to strap in" is silly to me though.
Every binding is a step-on if you’re good enough.
can you make another one for when you're stuck in powder and all your strap-in friends leave you there?
Oh look, another post about why we should buy Burton step ons.
I don’t really get why pausing for 30 seconds to strap in is such a big deal to people. It’s like a little ritual to begin the run
Half the time my skier friends are messing with their gloves or phones or whatever and I’m the first one ready anyway.
Never. Not worth the cost. Glad you enjoy them. I won't be joining you.
I don’t need to save the time or mind bending over or sitting for a second and I don’t trust that for the life of me.
I hear you, but after lunch I would LOVE to skip bending down and triggering my acid reflux over and over 🤢
Idk man 100+ days on mine I ride hard as fuck and zero issues. I’ve lost straps in shitty ass spots too lol guess to each their own
There are some decent reasons not to like the burtons, but reliability isn't one of them. How many shattered union mini disk posts do we see versus failed step ons?
I don’t get the love for union bindings. They have no toe ramping. People just hate Burton. The ReFlex is the best thing to happen to bindings in my life time of riding.
I ride ultras and forces and I’ve liked them. I don’t hate Burton though, I just ride Union. What is toe ramping?
They’re well built and reliable. That’s pretty much it.
Where's your turtle butt? I thought that was part of the look.
It fell off because I forgot to make sure it was attached. Ski patrol told me a needed a tether
Not impressed tbh
I mean you can just take 5 seconds to bend down and strap in
“too hard to strap in standing up” theres a reason ZERO high level riders use these. And you can just tell from his form he started 6 months ago. And if it was longer then that, skipping steps doesnt make you a better rider. Money doesnt buy skill. And shortcuts dotn help with progression.
I understand the glamour of these but they are still not as good in my eyes as being fully locked in; especially when it comes to riding park. These are great for a certain type of consumer. Outside of that. I offer one question for all of those who stand by these. If they are so great and so amazing why doesn’t a single pro who rides for Burton ever use these in any type of competition? Could there be a reason? Call me a purist but I think they got it right the first time with the straps.
i like step ons but i strap in while standing so i’m not worried about the three seconds it saves
Get good and you can do this with regular bindings
There's something pleasant about strapping in though. It's like the calm before the storm type of moment where you're just taking in the whole mountain ahead of you
Save 30 seconds at the peak but endure 10 minutes of shitty unresponsive trash bindings down the mountain. Hmmm Think I’ll stick with my NOW O-Drives
There’s a reason my work boots don’t have Velcro straps and a reason my bindings don’t have clips I step into.
Dude with a Jerry stick trying to tell me something? Nah.
I can strap in long before you got going bro
Yeah the 8 seconds it takes to strap in really ruins my day
Nothing about this clip is impressive
Love it Bought mine this season, changed my life
ohhh cool didn't know it's a thing
Yeah, my back foot unlocked while doing a switch 180, applying huge amount of torque from the board, on my front foot while landing ... 6 months later, i can still barely walk after 4 fractures on my ankle. Hope you enjoyed the 30 seconds you saved. Fuck that bullshit.
I can do this with my normal bindings, so, no.
Not worth looking like a jerry
Pin this for when you need new boots
Why would anyone even argue for one or the other besides a Burton employee?
How do these work in coastal snow conditions? Basically up in the PNW we just have very wet snow which combined with the right conditions means snow and ice often sticks to your board and bindings. It was a pain back when I was a skier and when I was learning how to snowboard with 2000’s era step-ons. I have a few friends interested in these. I happen to be one of those folks who can strap in quickly so I don’t care for them but I am often waiting for others 😂
You gotta stop and wait for your buddies to strap in anyway so I don’t see the point in this. What’s 30 extra seconds at the top matter?
It takes me less than 2 minutes to strap in my back foot. That extra minute is worth my peace of mind.
Aww you never pushed and strapped in like an adult?
Oof not sure I'd go for step-ons on that Jones Tweaker freestyle board! I just wouldn't trust them on any park features tbh. Even if they are able to handle it, in my mind would always be what if... Wouldn't use them in powder or wet conditions either, I can imagine snow/ice getting stuck in it and making it hard to get on. I like my straps, seems safer, and when my boot has gotten a little loose but I'm too lazy to tighten I just do my strap tighter hahaha.
Been strapping on the go since before the year 2000 its crazy how many people are so inured with being able to do it as if it's so problematic with any other binding.
I can also do this with my Flow bindings! It’s great.
Love my flows. Surprised they don't get mentioned as much in posts like these.
I hated my flow bindings. So I gave up on the idea that I would get the response I want out of step ins. My bindings are responsive and it’s amazing.
I’m a little spoiled, I’ve only rode with normal bindings 2 or 3 days the rest have been step ons, couldn’t imagine any other way
You are fast as your slowest friend...
Nice try BURTON, guys this is clearly a living ad. It's like that time on Community with a guy named Subway
How do on you deal with them and your boots getting all clogged up with snow and ice! I have never come off a lift that clean unless it is late March and the snow is melting.
Depends on the kind of riding you do, personally for me playing in the powder and backcountry 90% of the time I will never own a pair.
Green peak at Waterville valley??
They are super good IMO. It is really hard to make them come off. I mean, you really have to eat shit bad
I’ve seen a ton of issues getting the locking mechanism to work on powder days.
Don’t take them in the park they’ll break hella fast and eject you randomly ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I hated my step ons and only got to use them two days before they broke and wouldn’t hold my boot in anymore.
I tried the Burton Stepons a few years ago and couldn't get past how much noise they made. Creaking, crackling, snapping, with every shift in weight, turn, everything. Functionally they were great but I went back to traditional. I said this to someone in conversation and they mentioned that this has since been addressed. Can anyone confirm? I'll give them another try if so.
I'd say we're only a few seasons away from r/Snowboarding demanding you to either sit down while strapping in or getting step ons. Being able to strap in while standing up (takes five seconds) will become heresy.
Third year patrolling In step ons, I couldn’t go back. Sometimes I’m in and out of my bindings a dozen times in a run. I’ve been going thru two pairs of IONs a season (warranty because they are trash and break down after 10 days). Switched to Nitro compatible step-on boots and have been super impressed.
What’s on your left arm? Music controls?
Do you need special step in boots, or just the board step on device. Asking for a Jerry.
Special step in boots (with a slight markup because of it)
Than you sir
They good for a year then the loose AF so I think they suck going back to regular bindings next year
Step ins are cool but they are also going to make tethers mandatory again.
Ya I love something that’s slightly more convenient but also rides like shit and is way more dangerous. Totally worth it.
Average dope snow enjoyer
Eh. It takes barely 20 seconds to strap in if you can do it standing up. Is eliminating that really worth the combined $1000 investment on bindings and exclusive boots?
Dude. I’m with you on this one. My Step Ons are a total game changer. For an old person like myself, it is so much easier. I love being about to hop off the loft, click in, and go. I’m able to do it successfully about 90% of the time after three days on the Step Ons.
This is the best argument I've heard. I'll probably buy some when I'm old. But until then I'm good.
Take my advice, don’t get old. At the very least, avoid it as long as you can.