r/snowboarding • u/noob_tube03 • Mar 18 '24
Gear question Whenever someone asks if steps-ons are worth-it
Yes. Yes they are
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Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/noob_tube03 Mar 18 '24
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
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Mar 18 '24
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u/Calyptics Mar 18 '24
I got supermatics this year, so did my buddy. Shit is great. 10/10 would recommend
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u/VikApproved Mar 18 '24
I rode Step Ons all season. They are great. I'm not going back.
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u/Turtletech69 Mar 18 '24
Armada sweatshirt. Makes since…
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Mar 18 '24
I'm out of the loop lol, what do you mean by " makes sense" ? Shitty company?
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u/noob_tube03 Mar 18 '24
You know how hard it was to find a waterproof hoodie with thumb holes and a pocket?
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u/Turtletech69 Mar 18 '24
pretty much every snowboard brand under the sun makes a “tech” sweatshirt….
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u/Rus-T_Shackleford Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/KingKong_at_PingPong Mar 18 '24
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
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u/noob_tube03 Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/free_beer Mar 18 '24
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.
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Mar 18 '24
good idea, but it is still combating user error. there will be a day it's gotten a little icy, you've had a beer at lunch, maybe it's your first day back, you're chatting in line and you forget to do this.
user error is a real thing and it's not stupid if people like to buy products that don't fail from user error.
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u/HairyWeinerInYour Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/halfbreedADR Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/Rus-T_Shackleford Mar 18 '24
Nah, I agree with you on the leash for them
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u/ash_elijah Mar 18 '24 edited Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/halfbreedADR Mar 18 '24
Yeah I was talking more about the step on evangelists that exist in this sub.
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u/ArguablyTasty Mar 18 '24
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
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Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/I_RIDE_SHORTSKOOLBUS Mar 18 '24
they raent really teh same price its like a 20% premium. i have them.
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u/Shift642 Mar 18 '24
For Burtons, if you're in the market for new boots and bindings anyway, they're really not any more expensive than other conventional mid-range options. If you already have boots you like, yeah it's expensive.
Nideckers are a bit expensive compared to conventional bindings, but I got mine steeply on sale. Still would have paid full price for them. No regrets, they're fantastic.
Clews are a joke at $500
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u/I_RIDE_SHORTSKOOLBUS Mar 18 '24
I'm really not sure what you mean
The equivalent Burton boot and binding for non step on version is literally like 20% less. That's the most apples to apples comparison you can make.
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u/free_beer Mar 18 '24
You could absolutely spend the same amount on traditional boots/bindings as a Step On setup.
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u/Rus-T_Shackleford Mar 18 '24
You 100% can, though. I have already said several times I understand it's user error. What I do not like is the easy availability for user error in multiple ways, which causes problems that can be detrimental and unsafe to others on the mountain. Once they figure out ways to avoid the common issues, then I'll probably get behind them. Also, as the other user stated, they are more expensive, even if only slightly. But if you need to replace pants that you had to cut to get free from your bindings, or break your bindings to get free, or replace your setup that falls from the lift and takes off downhill, or pay for medical bills and lawsuits from injuring other guests if your board falls on them from the lift, then the difference in price skyrockets and the inconvenience overtakes the convenience ten fold. Personally, I don't think spending 20% more for equipment that raises the chances of those accidents occurring is worth it for minor conveniences they do undoubtedly provide.
I do not hate them, and don't dislike them to be cool or edgy. I simply don't like the inconveniences and safety hazards I've seen firsthand while working around plenty of them. With all of that said, I honestly have not tried them, so I may be overlooking some advantages that step ons bring to the table. I just want everyone to be happy and enjoy the mountain however they see fit, without bringing more danger to others on the mountain trying to do the same.
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u/King_O_Walpole Mar 18 '24
There’s a reason old tech is still around. Easier, better, more robust. For the ever so slight saving in time.
Not worth it IMO
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u/TinCanFury Mar 18 '24
not easier, not better, definitely not robust. I've never had an issue with mine in 7 yrs. Every snowboarder I know has had to fix or replace a part of their binding in the first 5yrs of ownership.
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u/amongnotof Mar 18 '24
If they fit any boot, it would be one thing, but you have to have a foot and leg that fit into a pretty narrow range of Company's boots.
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u/Double_Jackfruit_491 Mar 18 '24
For some reason I just dont believe you.
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u/blueballsmaster Mar 18 '24
The cutting the pants out of the binding is very real as a lifty. Never seen one fall off going up the chair though
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u/Rus-T_Shackleford Mar 18 '24
Ha, well, that is a very good reason. But if you come through and lose your board like the others, I'll still gladly go get it for you 🤗 like I said, I understand user error which is what causes these things, I'm just not comfortable with a product that hasn't found ways to minimize the user error issues yet.
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u/FuckFaceMcQueefer Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/noob_tube03 Mar 18 '24
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
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u/TinCanFury Mar 18 '24
you've obviously never rode them in powder, they're way easier than strap bindings to get into. but I get to watch as my friends all take forever in powder cause they haven't switched yet.
people keep saying they're not as responsive, but I've yet to see strapped boots that are as locked to the board as my step ons are. maybe "responsive" means something different to snowboarders?
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u/Early_Lion6138 Mar 20 '24
How do you deal with the slop as your boots pack out and break down?
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u/FuckFaceMcQueefer Mar 23 '24
Definitely wrong. But sure ya, I just love talking out of my ass and telling people what they do and don’t know on the internet. Have a day guy!
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u/supersonicdeathsquad Mar 18 '24
Oh look, another post about why we should buy Burton step ons.
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u/Shmanti Mar 18 '24
Where's your turtle butt? I thought that was part of the look.
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u/PaversPaving Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/noob_tube03 Mar 18 '24
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?
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u/GBJEE Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/lhsonic Mar 18 '24
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 😂
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u/G0rri1a Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/probably_no_pants Mar 18 '24
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.
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u/Legitimate_Speed2548 Mar 19 '24
Do you need special step in boots, or just the board step on device. Asking for a Jerry.
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u/johnnymoha Mar 18 '24
My stepons were absolutely worth it, but it had everything to do with eliminating foot pain and nothing to do with the minor convenience.
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u/SolidLikeIraq Mar 18 '24
How was the transition from skiing to snowboarding? Smooth?