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thief 
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Post subject: Bindings - can you REALLY tell the difference between them?
 Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 07:09 AM
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First post: Apr 25, 2010
Total posts: 922
Status: Offline
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I think bindings are one of the bits of gear that people get too hung up about
For a start, what a rip off for what is essentially just moulded plastic. Secondly, I don't think people can honestly tell the difference between them
Certainly not by people who are just fun riders, maybe the top pros can tell, but not your average Joe public
Just go out and buy a pair of bindings and stop trying to think they're going to make much of a difference, they're not.
Asking if one pair is better than the other is a waste of time for us none pros |
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adam_2005
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Post subject: RE: Bindings - can you REALLY tell the difference between th
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 07:31 AM
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First post: Nov 20, 2005
Total posts: 850
Location: Manchester
Status: Offline
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I'd say that's a good rule to apply to a snowboard as well. As long as you've got the correct size, it doesn't matter as an average rider.
The better I get at snowboarding, the cheaper the board I've ended up using. My board is a forum Reckon which was £140, and there's nothing wrong with it.
I can tell the difference with bindings, due to weight and stiffness affecting how quickly I can manipulate the board. Plus the better bindings have more adjustment options.
I agree that beginners / intermediates can't tell the difference in bindings, but that's because they generally ride in such a way that doesn't take advantage of the equipment's design. For instance, if you ride down the hill using your upper body to turn (75% of snowboarders I see do this) then it pretty much doesn't matter if you're lashed to the board with duct tape. Whereas is you learn to ride using you're lower body joints, then the bindings will affect the board's performance to a greater degree. |
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i82q
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 07:36 AM
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First post: Aug 24, 2009
Total posts: 128
Location: canterbury, kent
Status: Offline
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| all i look for is solid, strong, reliable....really dont want a broken ratchet at top of the groomer.. |
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kieren24
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 07:56 AM
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First post: Nov 13, 2004
Total posts: 3613
Location: Portsmouth
Status: Offline
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Agree and disagree...
I'd say comfy bindings that don't feel dead are the key... Union, most Burton, Rome and Ride... but I can tell the difference between good bindings and bad ones... If you foot pedal hard and try and carve you'll struggle with some soft binders, likewise if you are trying to jib with some Alphas... or I do anyway. |
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If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
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nickmotture
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Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 07:57 AM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10221
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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| bindings are the least important bit of kit but getting the right one is still important. Some are really stiff some are floppy as hell, get a realy stiff one as a begginer and youre likely to end up on your ass all the time as you have to turn more aggresively. Equally if you get a binding thats really soft and offers no support then you wont feel in control of the board when going fast. Its like driving a car with a really high bitting point on the clutch, anyone can drive it once their used to it but you have to move your foot further inorder for the car to follow, theres more room for error so its not as jerky but you'l also find it hard to pull off quicker as you can move your foot miles without it doing anything. A really stiff responsive binding is hard to ride as a begginer as every little movement and wobble you make will be transfered to the board and can make it move in ways you hadnt intended. Once youre to a certain level you can ride any binding or board happily but when learning some will hinder your progess. Most important is getting one thats not too stiff for your standard and riding style and one that fits your boot well. |
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charlie
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 09:17 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 8763
Location: York
Status: Offline
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Is there a key that looks like this on your keyboard Nick?
There is a difference between bindings, the obvious difference is how stiff they are but then there's adjustability, comfort, how well your boots fit into them, etc, etc.
I think the most important aspect is like boots, comfort. Things like the footbed, straps and forward lean adjustment have an impact.
Second most important is how stiff they are. You're probably not wrong when you say that Joe Public doesn't know the difference between the majority of bindings, that's because the majority of bindings are medium stiffness. Stick a beginner in a pair of very stiff bindings and they really won't be having fun.
Personally I like fairly soft bindings, I don't mind sacrificing a bit of carving performance in order to make it easier for freestyle in general. |
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ColdComfort
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 10:15 AM
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First post: Dec 03, 2009
Total posts: 1306
Location: Vancity
Status: Offline
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Its common knowledge that your riding ability is inversely proportional to the age of your bindings - if u haven't spent £200 on this seasons fluro-tastic jib stomper pros then obviously u will be laughed out of the park / dome / back country / bar although u can compensate a little for some of this lost ability with a rad sticker job...
Oh and to add to what the others said - Reliability and weight are a big issue too - I have snapped 2 toe straps on a single day on shockingly poor salomon bindings last year not what u need to see half way down a mountain at -30 |
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charlie
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 10:30 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 8763
Location: York
Status: Offline
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| I think there's a big difference in quality across the range for Salomon bindings. I have a pair of Relays and they've been absolutely fine. Best bindings I've had were a pair of '04 Burton Missions, absolutely bomb proof. |
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227angrydonkeys
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 11:04 AM
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First post: Dec 08, 2007
Total posts: 1131
Status: Offline
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| i reckon bindings are like skateboard trucks. you cna ride any of them , but you know when you find a pair that suits you, i feel alkward in some bindings, like theyre kinda fighting against my legs but some just feel nice, like i dont notice theyre there. none of it has ever made a difference to what i can actually do or not though. you cna either do it or you cant and some brand new bindings arent gonig to make the difference as much as spending that money going riding. |
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SquishyBG
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 11:14 AM
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First post: Nov 13, 2005
Total posts: 1354
Status: Offline
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| I certainly noticed a difference between the ones that had a definite "fisher price rollerskate" quality to them on the rental when I was learning and my first purchased pair. But that was all down to comfort, I finally found I could feel my toes as the blood supply wasn't being chopped off by the plain plastic toe strap! I also know that on the whole I prefer men's bindings because the highback tends to be bigger and I can notice the difference on my heel edge. All the tech means precious little to me, it's all about comfort and boot fit. |
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nickmotture
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 12:04 PM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10221
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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R1ch
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 01:09 PM
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First post: Jan 07, 2005
Total posts: 572
Location: London
Status: Offline
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With boards, it's obvious how they ride differently and that's a given.
With boots, you want ones that fit you well above everything else. Then it's down to personal preference whether you want a responsive boot, which is stiffer, or a more freestyle boot which tends to be softer with more lateral flex.
As for bindings, I think they've reached a stage where anywhere in the main range from a decent manufacturer, you can't really go wrong with.
Obviously the cheapest, beginner type bindings are going to be too soft for most riders, but then I'd also imagine that not many people use those for very long.
I think we've actually seen a move away from really stiff, freeride orientated bindings. I seem to remember about 5 years back, Burton had quite a few different stiff bindings. I think it was the C60, which still exists that sat at the top of the stiffness scale, even with a full carbon fibre model at one stage.
I don't think too many people are opting for the stiffest bindings anymore, so they clearly aren't bothering to make them so much.
It's for that reason that you can buy a binding anywhere in the mid-range of most manufacturers and ride anything with it really.
They key noticeable difference more than anything I'd say is between plastic and metal bindings, as you can feel the change in weight and also you get more flex in plastic based bindings.
It's then more down to what you personally prefer and also another factor is warranty... as obviously if something fails, how easy is it to walk into a resort shop and them give you the piece to fix it straight away?
I notice people are really harping on about Union Bindings lately, but ultimately, they aren't going to make you a better rider than using a similar binding from a rival. They've just become the flavor of the month through, marketing, promoting 'core', a good team and hype. |
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eldi
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 01:40 PM
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First post: Oct 18, 2004
Total posts: 1593
Location: London
Status: Offline
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R1ch wrote:
It's then more down to what you personally prefer and also another factor is warranty... as obviously if something fails, how easy is it to walk into a resort shop and them give you the piece to fix it straight away?
Exactly why i am still riding some burton missions from a few years back - the spare parts are soo easy to come by and usually given to you for free or perhaps for a couple of euros/dollars. I have found its mainly ratchets and ladder straps i have needed |
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charlie
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 01:44 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 8763
Location: York
Status: Offline
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| [quote="nickmotture"]
charliebuoy wrote:
Is there a key that looks like this on your keyboard Nick?
Sorry Charles damn iPhone makes it hard to see what youve written to format it.
 |
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HandD
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 02:33 PM
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First post: Feb 09, 2005
Total posts: 1763
Location: Medway
Status: Offline
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| sorry can't be botehred to read all the rubbish on some threads, but you can tell the differnce between bindings and borads. If you buy crap expect to get crap unresponsive stuff. Buy high end bindings or board that you're not ready for and expect some hard work, but kit you're too good for expect to have some great laughs |
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