The Step On thread

[eleveneightnate]

Im with 6 pairs Adidas

**jealousy intensifies**

Wish I had grabbed 6 more pair of Acerras when I could.

[jsil]

I posted in another thread and I'll repost here:

Guys... it does not feel goofy. In fact, in my opinion as an advanced/expert rider who has gotten between 60 and 80 days most of the last 8 years (with a couple off years due to a horrible car crash), it feels even more locked in and powerful than any of my previous setups. I normally freeride when there is pow and carve around and/or play with side hits when we're in a dry spell. I've ridden them for five seasons (Reflex, X and Genesis bindings with Ions in a 8.5) and absolutely love them. The convenience is the cherry on top.

Quick story on how I ended up in them. I was riding Union bindings and K2 Maysis boots that felt fine, but I had a buddy who comes out once or twice a year from Florida to ride. He's your typical vacation snowboarder who sits down to strap in after every lift. I believe that it was winter 2019/2020 (weird covid winter), and Step Ons had been out in limited release for a couple of seasons. When helping him set up his gear (he finally bought his own before this trip), I realized that his boot was a full size too big which is typical of people who just don't really know what to look for and go to a crap shop or order online. I explained that he needed new boots and I recommended we demo Step Ons together (local Burton shop here in Park City so close and easy). I went with him to get him on a fast system (totally selfishly) and had no intention of liking/buying them, but after the first few turns I knew I would be getting a setup. I couldn't believe the edge to edge performance improvement due to "pulling/pushing" the board without pressing into straps. Also never having to stop to ratchet down a binding after a few turns was very nice. Gotta say I was just blown away even though I had some foot pain in the demo boots.

As for coming off the lift and stepping on... ya it's very sweet especially if you ride with skiers (or other Step On riders). I could strap in while moving and this is still way easier/faster. IUnstrapping and stepping out take about the same amount of time once you get over the initial learning curve. At first you will find it annoying, but you just need to twist out a bit like MTB pedals. After a few days of doing it, you'll be getting out just as quickly as with your tried and true straps.

When COVID hit in March 2020 and the resorts all shut down. I spent the rest of the season (March to April) splitboarding, hiking and playing around in empty resorts. During this time, I believe that Burton didn't allow anyone to sell Step Ons for a discount (or they always sold out), but the shops that got screwed in Europe (even earlier season ender) had a lot of stock for 40% to 50% off. I ended up ordering everything half off during this time for myself and a few riding buddies. I've gotten a lot of good riders into them (my main riding partner is an absolute ripper who's been riding for 30+ years) and all of them were totally skeptical. I only know one guy who went back to straps and it was totally boot fit, he just couldn't get them to feel right and not give him pain so he gave up.

I would say that the Genesis is my favorite binding. Nonexistent heel bite and just about as stiff as the standard binding while being more comfortable. The new EST (updated Genesis really) looks fantastic and hopefully the changes will filter down to the standard reflex genesis for 25/26 as I don't have any Burton boards.

I have low volume ankles with a high, small calves (yes I do calf raises ), and I've found that the speed lace in the Ion just doesn't get tight enough at the top for me. I'm going to give photons a try this season (in the standard and soft variety) and in the 8.5 and a 9 just to see how it goes. I believe that my perfect boot would be a triple boa Ion Step On, but that may never happen. I've also tried the Nitro Darkseid and while its a great Step On boot, it just doesn't have the same heel hold (for me) that the Burtons do.

Pros:

Amazingly quick and powerful edge to edge performance
Very locked in
No need to ever ratchet the straps down after a turn or two to get the right tension
Convenience, of course

Cons:

If you live in the park and like your bindings loose for more lateral movement, these probably aren't for you.
If you prefer a very loose feel, these probably aren't for you. Even their softest binding is a medium/stiff
Price of the new system (they aren't expensive, per se, but they require a lot of new equipment especially if you have a quiver and don't like swapping bindings)
Having to admit you were wrong


Also:

Mark Fawcett daily drives step ons for all of the same reasons I listed (and he explains in some of the tribute lounge videos).

He rides Burton Photon Step Ons with Genesis Step On bindings and has for the last five seasons.

One more reason I love step ons... No floppy bits when I'm walking to the lift. I've actually had less binding failures with step ons than any of my strap bindings. I think it's just because they are less complicated. Less moving parts.

[jsil]

I'd like to try Supermatics too, it'd be nice to wear whatever boot you want. Someone gave me a set of step-ons the first year they came out and I only rode them one day before selling them. They felt "twitchy" to me for lack of a better word, almost too responsive edge-edge, and I say that as a person likes likes responsive bindings. Despite all that, I've been told by people I trust that the current generation step-ons are vastly improved over the first version, so I'd probably give them another shot.

They are definitely super responsive edge to edge, but I love that. I came for the ease of entry and stayed for the performance.

Another reason to stay lean and fit as you age. And work on strapping in without sitting. Yoga is key.

There's so much more to step on than strapping in without sitting IMO

[coleslawed]

i've never understood sitting down to strap in.

[jsil]

i've never understood sitting down to strap in.

It's only a thing because lifts exist. There's a lot of unfit people skiing and snowboarding because it doesn't take as much physical effort to just cruise groomers. I'm not saying that is a bad thing (except they are way more likely to be injured), it's just that a certain level of fitness/flexibility isn't really required because everyone isn't hiking/touring.

The mistake I made with Step Ons is that I assumed it was just for lazy/unfit people. The performance gain of the setup was great for me, and as for the stepping on part... I can step on way faster than I can strap in, and I can strap in while moving. Stepping out takes longer than straps at first and after a day on the mountain (don't forget to twist your foot as you come out) it's as fast as straps.

[jota]

I posted in another thread and I'll repost here:

Guys... it does not feel goofy. In fact, in my opinion as an advanced/expert rider who has gotten between 60 and 80 days most of the last 8 years (with a couple off years due to a horrible car crash), it feels even more locked in and powerful than any of my previous setups. I normally freeride when there is pow and carve around and/or play with side hits when we're in a dry spell. I've ridden them for five seasons (Reflex, X and Genesis bindings with Ions in a 8.5) and absolutely love them. The convenience is the cherry on top.

Quick story on how I ended up in them. I was riding Union bindings and K2 Maysis boots that felt fine, but I had a buddy who comes out once or twice a year from Florida to ride. He's your typical vacation snowboarder who sits down to strap in after every lift. I believe that it was winter 2019/2020 (weird covid winter), and Step Ons had been out in limited release for a couple of seasons. When helping him set up his gear (he finally bought his own before this trip), I realized that his boot was a full size too big which is typical of people who just don't really know what to look for and go to a crap shop or order online. I explained that he needed new boots and I recommended we demo Step Ons together (local Burton shop here in Park City so close and easy). I went with him to get him on a fast system (totally selfishly) and had no intention of liking/buying them, but after the first few turns I knew I would be getting a setup. I couldn't believe the edge to edge performance improvement due to "pulling/pushing" the board without pressing into straps. Also never having to stop to ratchet down a binding after a few turns was very nice. Gotta say I was just blown away even though I had some foot pain in the demo boots.

As for coming off the lift and stepping on... ya it's very sweet especially if you ride with skiers (or other Step On riders). I could strap in while moving and this is still way easier/faster. IUnstrapping and stepping out take about the same amount of time once you get over the initial learning curve. At first you will find it annoying, but you just need to twist out a bit like MTB pedals. After a few days of doing it, you'll be getting out just as quickly as with your tried and true straps.

When COVID hit in March 2020 and the resorts all shut down. I spent the rest of the season (March to April) splitboarding, hiking and playing around in empty resorts. During this time, I believe that Burton didn't allow anyone to sell Step Ons for a discount (or they always sold out), but the shops that got screwed in Europe (even earlier season ender) had a lot of stock for 40% to 50% off. I ended up ordering everything half off during this time for myself and a few riding buddies. I've gotten a lot of good riders into them (my main riding partner is an absolute ripper who's been riding for 30+ years) and all of them were totally skeptical. I only know one guy who went back to straps and it was totally boot fit, he just couldn't get them to feel right and not give him pain so he gave up.

I would say that the Genesis is my favorite binding. Nonexistent heel bite and just about as stiff as the standard binding while being more comfortable. The new EST (updated Genesis really) looks fantastic and hopefully the changes will filter down to the standard reflex genesis for 25/26 as I don't have any Burton boards.

I have low volume ankles with a high, small calves (yes I do calf raises ), and I've found that the speed lace in the Ion just doesn't get tight enough at the top for me. I'm going to give photons a try this season (in the standard and soft variety) and in the 8.5 and a 9 just to see how it goes. I believe that my perfect boot would be a triple boa Ion Step On, but that may never happen. I've also tried the Nitro Darkseid and while its a great Step On boot, it just doesn't have the same heel hold (for me) that the Burtons do.

Pros:

Amazingly quick and powerful edge to edge performance
Very locked in
No need to ever ratchet the straps down after a turn or two to get the right tension
Convenience, of course

Cons:

If you live in the park and like your bindings loose for more lateral movement, these probably aren't for you.
If you prefer a very loose feel, these probably aren't for you. Even their softest binding is a medium/stiff
Price of the new system (they aren't expensive, per se, but they require a lot of new equipment especially if you have a quiver and don't like swapping bindings)
Having to admit you were wrong


Also:

Mark Fawcett daily drives step ons for all of the same reasons I listed (and he explains in some of the tribute lounge videos).

He rides Burton Photon Step Ons with Genesis Step On bindings and has for the last five seasons.

One more reason I love step ons... No floppy bits when I'm walking to the lift. I've actually had less binding failures with step ons than any of my strap bindings. I think it's just because they are less complicated. Less moving parts.

Great review!!! Thank you very much!!

Ok, the question is the following, in the step on system, what is the purpose of the boot strap? I was looking at the swath but since in the B boots my ankle rises, I was left waiting. I don't like the strap on the boot.Photon or ion. I don't like it at all aesthetically.

The strap has a function which is to transmit the order that you give it through the boot to the binding

But if you eliminate that function of transmitting orders to the binding, since now in step on it’s not connected to the binding, a piece like this is absurd … it’s a design error... when the function now is to tie the ankle to the boot so that it does not rise, you can use a simple system similar to the one used by Vans and some other brands. is that so? or is my analysis wrong?

[Spenser]

I could do the stepon connection at toe & heel, but I couldn't do without being able to tighten around my ankle like a traditional strap. I also don't think it looks great aesthetically, but your pants cover it. Your boot laces & ankle harness won't make up for that feeling of security you get from a strap, whether or not it's actually connected to the binding. You could loosen and tighten as needed, between riding and sitting on the chair, like normal. At least that's the purpose I see for the strap. Even if it were only mental, I still don't think I could do without it.

[jsil]

Great review!!! Thank you very much!!

Ok, the question is the following, in the step on system, what is the purpose of the boot strap? I was looking at the swath but since in the B boots my ankle rises, I was left waiting. I don't like the strap on the boot.Photon or ion. I don't like it at all aesthetically.

The strap has a function which is to transmit the order that you give it through the boot to the binding

But if you eliminate that function of transmitting orders to the binding, since now in step on it’s not connected to the binding, a piece like this is absurd … it’s a design error... when the function now is to tie the ankle to the boot so that it does not rise, you can use a simple system similar to the one used by Vans and some other brands. is that so? or is my analysis wrong?

I could do the stepon connection at toe & heel, but I couldn't do without being able to tighten around my ankle like a traditional strap. I also don't think it looks great aesthetically, but your pants cover it. Your boot laces & ankle harness won't make up for that feeling of security you get from a strap, whether or not it's actually connected to the binding. You could loosen and tighten as needed, between riding and sitting on the chair, like normal. At least that's the purpose I see for the strap. Even if it were only mental, I still don't think I could do without it.

It helps hold your heel back a bit (similar to the boa conda from k2), but like Spenser wrote below you it does help "simulate" the strap to an extent. I have ridden boots without the strap and I can say that I prefer the strap to be able to cinch down that point in your foot/boot better. That being said, I've heard some people say they cut the strap off of the Ion because it was stupid.... so I think it is a bit personal preference.

If you're interested in the setup, the Nitro Darkseid is a stiffer step on boot without the strap (dual boa) that may be the best of both worlds.

For me, the fit of the Burton boots is better but that is totally subjective/case-by-case.

[alex]

But if you eliminate that function of transmitting orders to the binding, since now in step on it’s not connected to the binding, a piece like this is absurd … it’s a design error... when the function now is to tie the ankle to the boot so that it does not rise, you can use a simple system similar to the one used by Vans and some other brands. is that so? or is my analysis wrong?

Yes, basicly strap just tight the boot around the ancle, some non-step-on boots from other manufacturers have exactly same function, but of course, hidden. Burton did it in form of strap for mental reason, as Spencer wrote.

Also strap makes the boot fill stiffer, when tighted. Personally I cannot use it to adjust stiffness as there is only one correct adjustment to make boot properly tight around the ancle.

Very useful to fight / untight between runs to get blood to circulate better in feets, as people do with ancle straps on normal bindings, and located in same place. This along makes it not a design error.

[McK21]

I think that the strap on the boot is linked to the part on the back of the boot that lock to the binding.