BINDINGS

[pow_hnd]

It makes me think maybe I don't like SkateTech per se, but I like the high heelcups on NOW bindings.

Well that high heel cup is a part of Skate-Tech, so….

[Spenser]

Can't knock the whole binding for the straps - just use something else

[kimchi]

Nope, not allowed. You can’t get me hyped on Now and then jump ship. We’re in this together.

I'm still onboard, but might not be ride or die any more. I'm pretty salty; that ratchet failure nearly ended my day. If I hadn't noticed the misaligned pin, might have failed on slope and blown out a knee or worse losing my front foot out midturn.

I dealt with maybe two or three faulty ratchets in my first 13 years riding, then at LEAST once a season in 5 years since. Burton figured out the ratchet game 10+ years ago, should not be that hard.

And yea I know well enough to source other components to frankenbinder, but I shouldn't have to bother on $350 retail bindings.

[Snowdaddy]

The toe buckle on my Mercury is slipping when the tension gets higher so they’re a pain to fasten. I don’t dislike the bindings per se, but the angled high backs and the toe buckles are enough to not bring them on trips.

[scrub]

B399B038-1856-4BB9-B22B-D1033E6EA528.jpeg (3.84 MiB) Viewed 1219 times

I waxed the spring board ready for action and remembered that I really like the Flux SR bindings I have in there and it makes me consider another set of Flux with their great straps, ratchets and the amazing snow shedding baseplates.

[eleveneightnate]

Nope, not allowed. You can’t get me hyped on Now and then jump ship. We’re in this together.

I'm still onboard, but might not be ride or die any more. I'm pretty salty; that ratchet failure nearly ended my day. If I hadn't noticed the misaligned pin, might have failed on slope and blown out a knee or worse losing my front foot out midturn.

I dealt with maybe two or three faulty ratchets in my first 13 years riding, then at LEAST once a season in 5 years since. Burton figured out the ratchet game 10+ years ago, should not be that hard.

And yea I know well enough to source other components to frankenbinder, but I shouldn't have to bother on $350 retail bindings.

I totally get it. The ratchets on my Select Pros are so flimsy and do not inspire confidence at all. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before they break. Also agree on spending all that money just to make them rideable. That’s why I went the Jones strap route, they were cheap, but it still doesn’t solve the buckle issue. Wish they had just used a Burton mounting pattern or something.

[bksdds]

I agree NOW has some quirks left to work out with their ratchets and ladders. I snapped a ladder on my 2019 pilots mid run at Vail. I have Union bindings from 2009 with original ladders still going strong. Wear and tear on NOW ladders seem easier compared to other brands I have (Rome, Ride, Union). NOW ladders seem pretty thin as well. Im still in agreement with what has been discussed here and prior Ez forums with upgrading certain components on NOW bindings. Last Friday I ordered more dt components to finish converting to a full dt setup. DT ratchets and ladders have been and still are the most robust for me. Yep, burton figured that out.

[C.Fuzzy]

All we can do is hope that one day, somewhere, someone is born with the intellect to take on this unsolvable problem of making a decent ratchet... and hopefully this leap in technological advancement won't make bindings cost more than something as basic and unimpressive as a home microwave

[Spenser]

I'm still running 2011 flux ankle straps on both of my pairs, with 2014 union toes, mixed with the original union buckles and Burton from around the same time. Finally snapped one of the unions this season, but I'm okay with that, knowing they have hundreds of days and countless ratcheting on them. Probably going to source new Burton toe buckles for next season, though. Have never used anything from the NOW strap package.

[pow_hnd]

As I love the current Drives, and to be honest not as stoked on next years version. I went ahead and bought a new pair on sale from NOW directly. Then ordered 8 sets of ankle straps and ladders from Burton. When toe caps and toe ladders are back in stock I'll grab 8 sets of those as well and this should carry me for many, many years of use. So now I'll have two sets I run and keep a new backup pair.

Future proofing is my jam right now.

Rolling 5 new extra sets deep on boots, this is the last year for Anon M2 googles, so went and grabbed two new sets of those on sale, and grabbed a bunch of replacement lenses...