Snowboarding :: Step-ins vs. Straps

While step-ins have been around for several years, they are still relatively new on the market.

Since their introduction, step-ins have been primarily plagued by a lack of support for a standard mechanism. This has led to each step-in binding manufacturer having a limited selection of compatible boots, which may or may not fit well.

Boot fit is the primary reason for rider switching from step-ins to straps. If your boots don?t fit well, your riding will suffer. As riders gain experience they tend to also gain insight into the characteristics of gear that will suit their particular riding style best. Straps simply give you the most options in selecting a boot that fits both your feet and budget, while providing the stiffness level you want.

Convenience, in terms of getting in and out of bindings, is where step-ins tend to provide more advantages than straps. Especially for beginners who are more likely to catch an edge on the flats. The advantage is slim though, once you get used to straps, the time to get in and out tends to be close, due to the tendency of step-in mechanisms to clog if you don?t take the time to brush snow out of them before trying to click-in.

When you consider cost, straps are typically cheaper than step-ins. It?s easier to find strap bindings and boots on sale.

For maintenance, step-ins tend to be fairly rugged, however, if you do end up loosing a screw or breaking an important piece of plastic, parts can be hard to find, usually requiring ordering through the dealer. This can ruin a multi-day trip. On the other hand, straps tend to be fairly easy to fix, even if you have to use parts from other binding manufacturers.

Step-ins are worthwhile considering, however, be very careful about the fitment of the boots. Considering the cost of step-ins, replacing them after a year or two due to ill fitting boots, is not a wise investment. With straps, you can easily replace bindings and boots independently as your needs evolve, or wear takes place. No comments yet.
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