The Step On thread

[AyAyRon]

I hate the egress out of step on bindings. I've ate shit so many times trying to do the completely bent in half lever pull foot lift and twist bullshit. Super fun when your pants are caught in the mechanism too, or if they catch the high back on the way out. I'll quit snowboarding before I'd ever resort to using them.

[alex]

I guess exactly the same can be said other way around, if someone started snowboarding 6 years ago with Step Ons and tried conventional binding first time now.

For me Step Ons are not about fast entry / release, but about better boot to board interface. So I have absolutely no interest in any other current fast entry system, but I am interested in other bindings with improved boot to board interface, like new Union Falcor...

[coleslawed]

I was a little disappointed in the StepOn discussion in the recent Group Chat from Bomb Hole. they kept saying how they're not for "performance riders," when they meant it's just not for their kind of freestyle riding, see Niels Schaak or Mark Fawcett, who are definitely "performing" in StepOn's. just a little irk there.

[benjinyc]

prob just a difference on how you define 'performance' — they define it as hucking booters

at 1:46:48 Greiner basically say if you have a korua board and are just ripping groomers, step ons are perfect

[jsil]

2 sessions in with step ons... first, I can firmly say the Photons do not fit my fukkn feet. Specifically the built in J-bars in the liners are in the wrong spot entirely for my ankles. Pushed though the discomfort and rode until it became entirely unbearable. Not a surprising result for me with Burton boots.

I think I'm going to take out the cinch cord for the internal liner gusset and try a different liner. See what happens.

Secondly, I have a concerning amount of play in the heel cleat on my front boot. Shit rattles when I'm sitting on the lift, and it's interesting watching the binding flex off the board when I'm putting torque on it. Seems a bit jank. I do not notice the play while riding though. I know folks have said there are replacement cleats to cure this. I'll explore that if I can make the boots work for me.

Hard getting comfortable feeling secure when I've clipped in. It's so quick and simple that it never feels like it's secure, but... it is.

There's a noticeably more locked in feeling when riding. Trad bindings just have more play or movement between the boot and binding. Straps flex, contort, the boot moves inside the binding...

My analogy is the difference between skating with loose trucks vs. tight trucks.

This will just be a personal preference of the rider. And my expectation is you'll get use to whichever one and then the other will feel off. A bit like if you like tight trucks and you try riding someone's board that has loose trucks... just feels weird. But if you rode it enough you'd adapt all the same.

Edit: could also partially be the difference between the skate tech which I've been riding exclusively for a decade now, and just normal bindings.

Initially I thought I'd ride the stepons at the little home hill with kids and stick to traditional for my more serious riding by myself... and now I'm not sure if I get use to one or the other if it'll feel 'off' to go back and forth.

If I can figure out the boot thing, then my next experiment will be to ride SO's and strap, same board, same day, and see what stands out to me. I'm really curious if I get that sort of "OMG this IS better" when I get back into my Nows... or if I go, "meh, pros and cons, give or take".

Getting into the binding is easier. Virtually no need to make a little heel divot with the board before strapping in. I haven't tried clipping into the binding while seated on the lift yet, but I think it's possible... I haven't tried clipping in while getting off the chair yet either, but I think that's probably possible too.

I think I prefer traditional straps for getting out of the binding. With traditional straps I can unstrap and keep momentum... like keep my foot in and then take it out to push and keep skating. With the step ons I've had to come to a complete stop to release because of the way the foot comes out of the toe cleats.

If the boots don't work for you, the system is a no go. 100%

I have hundreds of days on the system on photons, ions and standard, genesis and X bindings. If you are having heel play, you either aren't in the second click or there is some other issue going on. I've never experienced that.

You can get "step on" while on the lift if you want. It's a PITA to do for me (leverage? dunno), but my riding buddy can do it no problem. That being said, there's really no need to (unless you have an empty lift and just want to take the load off one leg) as it's so easy to step in while getting off / sliding away from the lift.

Getting out is quick and easy without losing momentum once you get used to it. Getting out definitely has a bit more of a learning curve than traditional bindings for sure, but I can easily get out of the back foot, skate a few times on a cat track, and pop back in with no issues. I can also get out while sliding into the maze before the lift with no issues.

I actually was about to buy a pair of Now Drives before I demoed Step Ons, so I can't comment on SkateTech vs Step On (or standard bindings). I would love to give them a shot as I always heard amazing things about the bushing system. What you said about loose trucks vs tight trucks is pretty fair. I don't ride park much anymore and maybe I wouldn't love Step On if I did, but for carving, freeriding and side hits... I love them.

I hate the egress out of step on bindings. I've ate shit so many times trying to do the completely bent in half lever pull foot lift and twist bullshit. Super fun when your pants are caught in the mechanism too, or if they catch the high back on the way out. I'll quit snowboarding before I'd ever resort to using them.

Again, same as what I said before. It's super easy IMO but it took a week of riding to really feel that they are as easy as regular straps. Also... yeah, use the pant clip. Either way, they are fine for me... sounds like you just didn't get used to them enough but to each their own.

I was a little disappointed in the StepOn discussion in the recent Group Chat from Bomb Hole. they kept saying how they're not for "performance riders," when they meant it's just not for their kind of freestyle riding, see Niels Schaak or Mark Fawcett, who are definitely "performing" in StepOn's. just a little irk there.

prob just a difference on how you define 'performance' — they define it as hucking booters

at 1:46:48 Greiner basically say if you have a korua board and are just ripping groomers, step ons are perfect

I enjoy bomb hole, but let's be honest, a lot of these guys are of just average intelligence or maybe less. They are just above average riders. Sometimes they say and do really stupid shit. You can absolutely hit booters in the BC in Step Ons and they aren't going to come flying off. In fact, I've had less binding failures with Step Ons than traditional bindings by far. They have a lot of biases and are very set in their ways (as are a lot of people, stupid smart or whatever).

[Spenser]

By average, I have to assume you must mean average pro....?

[AyAyRon]

2 sessions in with step ons... first, I can firmly say the Photons do not fit my fukkn feet. Specifically the built in J-bars in the liners are in the wrong spot entirely for my ankles. Pushed though the discomfort and rode until it became entirely unbearable. Not a surprising result for me with Burton boots.

I think I'm going to take out the cinch cord for the internal liner gusset and try a different liner. See what happens.

Secondly, I have a concerning amount of play in the heel cleat on my front boot. Shit rattles when I'm sitting on the lift, and it's interesting watching the binding flex off the board when I'm putting torque on it. Seems a bit jank. I do not notice the play while riding though. I know folks have said there are replacement cleats to cure this. I'll explore that if I can make the boots work for me.

Hard getting comfortable feeling secure when I've clipped in. It's so quick and simple that it never feels like it's secure, but... it is.

There's a noticeably more locked in feeling when riding. Trad bindings just have more play or movement between the boot and binding. Straps flex, contort, the boot moves inside the binding...

My analogy is the difference between skating with loose trucks vs. tight trucks.

This will just be a personal preference of the rider. And my expectation is you'll get use to whichever one and then the other will feel off. A bit like if you like tight trucks and you try riding someone's board that has loose trucks... just feels weird. But if you rode it enough you'd adapt all the same.

Edit: could also partially be the difference between the skate tech which I've been riding exclusively for a decade now, and just normal bindings.

Initially I thought I'd ride the stepons at the little home hill with kids and stick to traditional for my more serious riding by myself... and now I'm not sure if I get use to one or the other if it'll feel 'off' to go back and forth.

If I can figure out the boot thing, then my next experiment will be to ride SO's and strap, same board, same day, and see what stands out to me. I'm really curious if I get that sort of "OMG this IS better" when I get back into my Nows... or if I go, "meh, pros and cons, give or take".

Getting into the binding is easier. Virtually no need to make a little heel divot with the board before strapping in. I haven't tried clipping into the binding while seated on the lift yet, but I think it's possible... I haven't tried clipping in while getting off the chair yet either, but I think that's probably possible too.

I think I prefer traditional straps for getting out of the binding. With traditional straps I can unstrap and keep momentum... like keep my foot in and then take it out to push and keep skating. With the step ons I've had to come to a complete stop to release because of the way the foot comes out of the toe cleats.

If the boots don't work for you, the system is a no go. 100%

I have hundreds of days on the system on photons, ions and standard, genesis and X bindings. If you are having heel play, you either aren't in the second click or there is some other issue going on. I've never experienced that.

You can get "step on" while on the lift if you want. It's a PITA to do for me (leverage? dunno), but my riding buddy can do it no problem. That being said, there's really no need to (unless you have an empty lift and just want to take the load off one leg) as it's so easy to step in while getting off / sliding away from the lift.

Getting out is quick and easy without losing momentum once you get used to it. Getting out definitely has a bit more of a learning curve than traditional bindings for sure, but I can easily get out of the back foot, skate a few times on a cat track, and pop back in with no issues. I can also get out while sliding into the maze before the lift with no issues.

I actually was about to buy a pair of Now Drives before I demoed Step Ons, so I can't comment on SkateTech vs Step On (or standard bindings). I would love to give them a shot as I always heard amazing things about the bushing system. What you said about loose trucks vs tight trucks is pretty fair. I don't ride park much anymore and maybe I wouldn't love Step On if I did, but for carving, freeriding and side hits... I love them.

I hate the egress out of step on bindings. I've ate shit so many times trying to do the completely bent in half lever pull foot lift and twist bullshit. Super fun when your pants are caught in the mechanism too, or if they catch the high back on the way out. I'll quit snowboarding before I'd ever resort to using them.

Again, same as what I said before. It's super easy IMO but it took a week of riding to really feel that they are as easy as regular straps. Also... yeah, use the pant clip. Either way, they are fine for me... sounds like you just didn't get used to them enough but to each their own.

I was a little disappointed in the StepOn discussion in the recent Group Chat from Bomb Hole. they kept saying how they're not for "performance riders," when they meant it's just not for their kind of freestyle riding, see Niels Schaak or Mark Fawcett, who are definitely "performing" in StepOn's. just a little irk there.

prob just a difference on how you define 'performance' — they define it as hucking booters

at 1:46:48 Greiner basically say if you have a korua board and are just ripping groomers, step ons are perfect

I enjoy bomb hole, but let's be honest, a lot of these guys are of just average intelligence or maybe less. They are just above average riders. Sometimes they say and do really stupid shit. You can absolutely hit booters in the BC in Step Ons and they aren't going to come flying off. In fact, I've had less binding failures with Step Ons than traditional bindings by far. They have a lot of biases and are very set in their ways (as are a lot of people, stupid smart or whatever).

I spent an entire season on them, but thanks.

[jsil]

I spent an entire season on them, but thanks.

If you spent a season in them and ate shit getting out... Then it's a you problem.

[BFBF]

I spent an entire season on them, but thanks.

If you spent a season in them and ate shit getting out... Then it's a you problem.

This
I had yr 2 step ons and rode step on genesis end of LY

If you’re eating shit getting out just eject bro and ski There’s no hope

Step ons work as intended as long as you as the boots fit correctly

That’s it. That’s all. Discussion over

[C.Fuzzy]

If the boots don't work for you, the system is a no go. 100%

I have hundreds of days on the system on photons, ions and standard, genesis and X bindings. If you are having heel play, you either aren't in the second click or there is some other issue going on. I've never experienced that.

You can get "step on" while on the lift if you want. It's a PITA to do for me (leverage? dunno), but my riding buddy can do it no problem. That being said, there's really no need to (unless you have an empty lift and just want to take the load off one leg) as it's so easy to step in while getting off / sliding away from the lift.

Getting out is quick and easy without losing momentum once you get used to it. Getting out definitely has a bit more of a learning curve than traditional bindings for sure, but I can easily get out of the back foot, skate a few times on a cat track, and pop back in with no issues. I can also get out while sliding into the maze before the lift with no issues.

I actually was about to buy a pair of Now Drives before I demoed Step Ons, so I can't comment on SkateTech vs Step On (or standard bindings). I would love to give them a shot as I always heard amazing things about the bushing system. What you said about loose trucks vs tight trucks is pretty fair. I don't ride park much anymore and maybe I wouldn't love Step On if I did, but for carving, freeriding and side hits... I love them.

I shoved a pair of my northwave liners into the photon shell. Seems okay when standing in them. Will know if it cures what ails this weekend.

I still need to look into the heel cleat issue further. It was on my forward foot so, not clipping in and out. If it wasn't hitting the double click, I guess I need to look atwhy and figure out what adjustments there are.

The clipping in on the lift was 1.) something I saw a kid do with clickers 25 years ago and I guess the envy still sticks with me. and 2.) There's one particular lift I have in mind where there's a pretty dramatic (and often icy) ride down from where the chair drops ya, and it would be cool to just ride off instead of doing a one foot 'paper boy' impression around others eating shit. Not a big deal in the grand scheme.

Good to know there's the possibility of unclipping while still moving and keeping momentum whole skating... If I decide to keep riding SOs I expect I'll figure out the Step Off process.

I was a little disappointed in the StepOn discussion in the recent Group Chat from Bomb Hole. they kept saying how they're not for "performance riders," when they meant it's just not for their kind of freestyle riding, see Niels Schaak or Mark Fawcett, who are definitely "performing" in StepOn's. just a little irk there.

prob just a difference on how you define 'performance' — they define it as hucking booters

at 1:46:48 Greiner basically say if you have a korua board and are just ripping groomers, step ons are perfect

I enjoy bomb hole, but let's be honest, a lot of these guys are of just average intelligence or maybe less. They are just above average riders. Sometimes they say and do really stupid shit. You can absolutely hit booters in the BC in Step Ons and they aren't going to come flying off. In fact, I've had less binding failures with Step Ons than traditional bindings by far. They have a lot of biases and are very set in their ways (as are a lot of people, stupid smart or whatever).

A certain amount of bias towards 'name the tech or brand' will never go away. Ho Hum. Some folks going to talk down anything that isn't what they like or use...

I think that's normal. Who doesn't o that? I do. Sometimes we have reasons, sometimes we just want to hate on anyone that drives an Audi because they're all assholes. Doesn't make it right, or fair, but c'est la vie. How many board recommendations are simply based off what someone else had ridden and likes? like, pretty much all of them?

Korua's and step ons come from the same brands and factories as cheese wedge meat huck boards and bindings. It's a bit funny that in the same podcast that they hype someone doing a corked double on a splitboard; then they insinuate that more capable gear is just for groomers. So does someone need to hit chads with them? Ride Natty Selection?

I happen to think FASE and Supermatics are womp. And if I'm honest it's mostly because the people that like them, also chew the waxy paper wrapper with their starbursts and eat the shells with their peanuts, and that's disgusting.

A Korua with SO's sounds like a pretty nice setup. I've had fun on much worse.