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Apologies if this has already been answered, the snow thread hasn't been resurrected yet as far as I can see.
Does anyone here have any real life experience of Burton StepOn bindings? I'm about to replace my boots after many years and this is a good opportunity to switch if I want to. I'm used to the Flow NX Hybrid and they work well enough but I'm wondering if the Burtons are a better solution now. Are they a pain to click into if you aren't standing on a hard surface or if you have to put the board on sitting down? Do they become a pain to use with snow trapped under your boots?
Oh well, I found the thread now. I did look but I'm guessing the search isn't fully indexed yet:
⛷️ ❄️ The STW Ski and Snowboard thread : the 2024-2025 season – Page 3 – Chat Forum – Singletrack World Magazine Forum
Please feel free to close this or add wisdom 🙂
No idea about the Burtons, but they look great and I'd love to try some. You're kind of stuck with limited boot maunfacturers though, they've let DC make boots and I think someone else is now as well, but if you don't like their stuff....
Have you thought about the Nidecker supermatics if you're used to Flows? You can use any boots with them, although they'll be a bit heavier than the Burton step ons I would expect. I really want to try the Nideckers though.
I have the supermatics as none of the boots fitted me when I was replacing last year.
They are heavier than normal bindings but they work really well.
I think with the burtons they are great if you can get boots that fit you, but then you have to hope the fit doesn't change when you replace
we bought some for my other half as easier than bending over.
Needed new boots, the bindings and a older style plate to mount to an older burton board.
Easier to step on, but she never leaves the ground or pushes much so I can't advise on the reliability
Have you thought about the Nidecker supermatics if you're used to Flows?
Oh, that doesn't help. They look great as well
I think as mentioned above it will be a case of finding boots that fit well first but they look a good option
I really like my supermatics, but they are very expensive. I only bought mine as I managed to get a pair with 30% off
Nidecker Supermatic user here and they are fantastic. Still a pain waiting for everyone else to strap in though, but for an old man that doesn't bend as well as he used to, they're great
As above, only a 30% discount made the purchase viable!
Another supermatic user here, I’ve had the V1 Burton step ons , switch and flows.
Super easy to use and loads of compatability with older hole patterns too , PS it does work on the M5 channel boards , just remove the plastic spacer under the bolt head.
Really like having the choice of boots as even though Burton are licensing the step on to Union and another boot make its still not much choice of fit , plus if you go the EST version you’re tied to burton boards.
Union are now making bindings with the Burton Step On system and next season there's the Fase hybrid binding from Jones, Bataleon, Rome and 32 (the Nidecker group of Co's) which looks like an interesting compromise. The big advantage with that is that they'll also be using conventional boots.
Had step ons since they were first released, can't remember when that was though, maybe 2018ish? They're really good, no issues with reliability etc, my original set of boots and bindings are still going strong, although the boots are a bit worn out, but that's worn out as in the fit is a bit baggy now, the step in system still works as well as it did on the first day.
Can whole heartedly recommend them - if your feet fit the boots.
The fase system looks interesting although i can’t decide if it really offers much benefit over conventional bindings.
question for the step on users…….
I had the original Burton step ins and they worked pretty well but……..
I don’t know if others find this but, I quite often like to crank my bindings tight if I’m hitting something steep / exposed / big but it’s not comfortable to spend all day with my feet that constricted and I often want to relieve the pressure on my feet when I reach the lift. With the original step ins , wanting to adjust the pressure on my feet slightly negated the benefit of the stepping in ( apart from at the snowdomes I guess)
im assuming that with the new step on boots you need to have them pretty tight and that presents the same issue?
Showing my age but I remember the original clicker snowboard binding which I think was licenced from Shimano and basically had an SPD cleat on the boot base. All the board had was a small disc plate but the boots were heavyweight monsters. Didn’t really catch on.
Supermatics are the answer...unlimited boot choice, and they work really well
I’m running some K2 cinch bindings. They are a good few years old now but does look like you can still get them. Flip up back like Flow but twin strap so can be adjusted to fit pretty much any boot.
Quicker to strap into. Have been able to do it on the lift in the past. Heavier than standard bindings but not too bad
Went for the 1st time in about 5 years and were great for a 50+ year old who isn’t quite as flexible as he used to be.
Those Nidecker Supermatics look even better though about double the price
if you can get boots that fit you
I’d like to try some but burton boots just don’t fit me, I actually have issues with ever finding anything that fits.
I’ve just bought some Northwave boots and for the first time in years had mostly comfortable feet for my holiday! So until NW start making boots for the step ins I doubt I’ll get to try them.
I went from Flows to Step ons and they are better in every way, easier to enter/exit and so much more board control. The boy is on supermatics and they seem awesome too, keep meaning to do a direct comparison but never get round to it. Get one or other, you won't regret it.
Showing my age but I remember the original clicker snowboard binding which I think was licenced from Shimano and basically had an SPD cleat on the boot base. All the board had was a small disc plate but the boots were heavyweight monsters. Didn’t really catch on.
I've still got some!!!
(Not that I've used them in about 15 years.... Or ever will!
im assuming that with the new step on boots you need to have them pretty tight and that presents the same issue?
I think you'd have to try them and see how they work for you. But because with the step ons its the whole boot holding your foot in place rather than just the ankle strap and toe strap with a regular binding, you can have them pretty tight without causing pain.
I tend to have my back foot tighter than my front and once I have them set correctly for the day I dont tend to adjust them.
With steps ons I do find that the edge to edge response is loads better than I ever got with regular bindings, theres no slack/play at all. whereas with regular bindings it always felt like if I had them tight enough to have no slack I'd have to loosen them at the bottom of each run because they caused too much foot pain.
whereas with regular bindings it always felt like if I had them tight enough to have no slack I'd have to loosen them at the bottom of each run because they caused too much foot pain
That's pretty much where I am right now with the added factor of boots that are now old. This is all great info, thanks
Burton have an interesting new step on boot just out, looks like you can really dial in foot hold with comfort….