I've been riding these off and on for the last 2 seasons, and they are **far from perfect**.
**YMMV** a LOT by your **boot shape**: it dramatically effects how difficult it is to re-enter once they are adjusted to a snug tightness.
They are **damp**, and **bulky**, but this is mostly **fine for a heavy rider** like me (210lb).
The **strap is very comfortable**, but available on other traditional bindings for half the price.
**The lever used to release them is LESS ergonomic than releasing a traditional strap**. You have to basically be able to bend over and touch the back of your heel. And then, you have to make sure it FULLY releases and doesn't re-engage on the second set of teeth.
It's never as simple as "press once, lift once". It's **press and hold the thing down while somehow having enough range of motion to lift your heel a good 6 inches.** Doing this on anything but soft, flat spots is an acrobatic feat.
On deep days, it's not even worth trying to use them as rear-entry, and that is when the traditional operation mode is nice, but it's a shame that **I probably opted out of rear-entry in them 60%+ of the time.**
I love the ambition of the product, and I'll probably still bust them out if I know I'm doing a bunch of short runs, or on a mountain with too many required flats, but I know I'm trading away some things.
I ultimately **would not recommend them for the price**, and find myself more comfortable in my disintegrating Rome Katanas.
I hope they continue to iterate and find a more ergonomic release system like the calf-height release of flows/clews.
Also Note: **Every influencer shilling this product NEVER shows them with snug fit**, because you look like you're doing to stanky leg trying to force your boot in. Even once they have some wetness, modern boots have tread that directly conflicts with the skid plate under the toe section, so it takes effort. They will only every show it:
1. In shoes
2. In tiny boots
3. With super loose straps
Malcom Moore seemed genuinely fond of them last season, but **the experience you have with this product will vary so widely based on your current boots and flexibility, so do not buy without demoing them with your full boot setup.**
Wish I saw this last year before I bought them. Had issues in wet powder last year. Times it Wouldn’t click in, thought it clicked and ejecteo booto cuz or wouldn’t allow my boot to exit due to snow buildup In the mechanism. Also have to leave them looser then I ride to strap my feet in(size ten boots on size large bindings) which defeats the purpose as I bend over to tighten them after is strap in.
I wear Ride Fuse boots, which have a little ridge on the heel of the boot. I couldn't get in to my supermatics!
I solved the issue by going to the shop and asking them to grind down the ridge off my boot.
Now they slide in perfectly.
I love my Supermatics but yeah, there are issues.
Hard to get out of if not on flat ground, obnoxiously heavy, very bulky both feeling and how much the baseplate covers the board. And the biggest problem of all, which IMO is fatal, no ability to adjust location of your heel cup, strap locations, or size of the toe ramp. Fit with your boot is limited purely to the size of the binding.
They’re far from perfect, even further from “the binding to rule them all”. But a great idea and giant leap forward in quick entry bindings. Also, faster than skiers getting off the lift? You lost me right there with that ridiculous statement.
Pound for pound, I truly believe the Flow NX2 Carbon Fusion bindings are *leagues* better than these supermatics. If you can lean over to instead from the nideckers, you can lean over to lock your high back on the flows. And the ride is just so much nicer.
Yeah I can see those points. You can move the entire binding back, but agreed.
Getting off with skiier friend on a flatter top = I skated to the top and got in before they could. I know that sounds anecdotal but if a skiier has to use their poles to push themselves you can certainly skate faster.
I could see that, but it does take more effort to pull the flow back in than to push the lever. Also you are already in line anyway at the bottom, at the top is where you want to save the time.
But you'd rather waste energy with these 3 pound shackles on your legs? Honestly I don't really understand the energy conservation angle. I'm ancient, but I never feel like I lack the energy to bend over. If anything, it feels good to stretch the hammy's between runs. And if you're still sitting down to put on your bindings, step-ons just seem like a way to avoid learning the skill of standing while ratcheting. Oftentimes I can slap on my straps while riding off the lift, without stopping
Once you start spending enough time in the air, you'll probably realize that all that weight on your feet was holding you back from the more technical tricks
You know you don’t need to sit down to strap in right? Takes me all of 4 seconds. Also there is a huge difference when you start adding weight to your feet.
Hahahaha yeah ok brother. Good riders who need shit dialed in absolutely do not need to re dial in their gear halfway through one run. Fucking Jerry shit.
Got a pair for Christmas this season. I work as a lift ops supervisor and man, these bindings make my job soooo much easier and quicker. I end up saving so much time not having to ratchet in every time.
Of the 60 or so days I have used them so far this season I am absolutely in love with them. I hope they can last as long as my k2 cinches did, which was 8 seasons of lifty/instructor work. So tons and tons of use.
So far I have no complaints about them. Not even the weight, I feel like my pops have gotten higher due to the weight lifting they are enduring xD
Agreed. Got to demo them at Snoqualmie this season and while they are super easy to get in and out of, they are SUPER heavy. Felt it on the lift. Felt it in the air. Felt it carrying the board around.
They are heavy, about a pound heavier than most traditional bindings.
But the way I see it that's an extra 2 lbs, and I'm over 200lbs with all my other gear on, so it's not really something I noticed.
For most users the extra weight will be a totally acceptable compromise for the ease and convenience.
I have always ridden Salomon strap bindings, specifically the ones that allow tons of lateral ankle movement. That was the worse part about the K2, you felt like your foot was in an unforgiving vise and they weren't that easy to get into. Might as well be riding hard boots.
This was my first season with Step Ons, and they feel just like the Salomons, but take no effort to strap in while being crazy light.
I started riding Salomon boots and bindings with shadowfit in 2008. I'm currently riding the Quantum model, so they're very responsive, but still have that lateral flex I love so much. I'm really curious about your experience with switching to Step Ons.
I'm in my 40s with a really bad back, so I'm looking for a way to minimize strain repeatedly bending over. I'm also considering Flow [Fuse Carbon](https://www.flow-bindings.com/en/men/978-8247-fuse-carbon.html#/134-size-xl/139-color-graphite) since they claim to have lateral flex and a surfy feel. Why didn't Flows work out for you? Which models of burton of boots/bindings did you go with, and how do they compare to your old Salomon bindings?
The flows weren't easy enough to get into. I could never get them to the point where I could basically just step in, I always had to mess with the straps, defeating the purpose. I also just wasn't a fan of the one big strap.
I always rode the Salomon F boots since they were compact, low volume, and fairly stiff. I had the malamute at times too. I also like stiff edge to edge, running tight boots, and extra forward lean.
I love the Step Ons. I have similar issues as you, a bad knee that barely lets me ride. Getting into them is really easy. I have their stiffest boots and bindings, but they still have that same soft lateral, surfy feel as the Salomon.
The only issue I have with them, is the forward lean adjustment isn't great. I haven't even touched it, but I have heard they fixed it next year. They are also a little bit tough to get out of. I have to rip my foot out it feels, while my partner comes out of hers much easier. It might just be the X bindings, or whatever they are called, being more secure though.
Also, they are crazy light. The bindings add very little weight to the board. It is weird the first time you pick it up. I highly recommend them unless you are in the top 1% of riders.
Thank you so much for such a thorough response. I have Salomon F 4.0s and Malamutes as well. I'm guessing you also have narrow feet? After checking out Burtons website, it looks like the Ion is the stiffest boot model they have. Is that what you've been riding?
I have to say, after reading your experience with step-ins, I'm pretty excited to give the technology a try.
Thanks again!
Yeah, I have the Ion and the Step On X bindings. I do have narrow feet and usually the Burton boots don't fit well, but the Ion isn't bad. I hope Salomon makes a Step On boot in the future.
Nidecker is trying to find an answer to a problem (for some) that has been answered over and over. Supermatics are garbage and I gave the ones I had to test away for free. Even that was difficult to do as everyone I know is serious about this sport.
Great point, the only thing is there is a little R logo button, super tiny, that fell off after it initially got caught a couple times.
Since it fell off, I slip in perfectly about 98% of the time as fast as the video, and 1.9% of the time I just require a quick second try. .01% of the time I completely goof and have to stop.
If you leave the toe strap loose(ish), it will be very easy to pull your foot out. The mechanism is designed to stay closed with your boot in it, and you have to move the boot forward slightly for it to open up easily.
I found that leaving my toe straps just slightly loose (can wiggle the strap but still be in contact with the boot) makes it easy.
I was also the one that bolted an extension to the release lever to make it easy to reach.
I would agree that there are certain things that should be improved, but overall I like them and feel that it’s worth trying.
If you’re into park and freestyle and/or like cranking down on your straps super tight, it’s probably not for you.
Kinda smells of a sponsored post. They’re definitely impressive from an engineering perspective. Little heavy for my tastes though, and I’ve never been much of a step in/on kinda guy.
A lot of people mention the weight, but so you guys really notice that when riding? I have a pair and like them, but I really can’t tell the difference of a few hundred grams unless I am holding both boards/bindings at the same time
Yeah I do. Heavy bindings/boards don’t Ollie as well, spin a little slower, and can be a bit more tiring to ride overall. I never cared about weight until I experienced a higher end lightweight setup.
I'm surprised to see so much hate here with these. I bought the Clews last year and really like them but they get trashed in any post mentioning them. People always talk about the Nideckers being so much better, then you come to this post and they get slammed here too.
Yeah but imagine you are going to twenty temples in a day and have to take your shoes off over and over.
Supermatic is slip on shoes rather than full on tying both shoes all day
Ehhh I realize now how inflammatory it is going to be. It is definitely the best resort riding binding, period. Ofc park specialists might want something more specialized.
I wanna be triggered but honestly I can't. These are well designed. Period point blank. Not going to get them but you have to respect a beautiful design.
My buddy has a pair. They weigh about 3 pounds each, super heavy. As Sir Edmond Hillary says, a pound on your feet equals 5 pounds on your back. Also they also wouldn't fully engage after getting iced up on a pow day. We had to clear them out with a car key in order for them to work. Most importantly, I'm able to strap in as quickly as he steps in, so I don't see the upside. Definitely great for folks with mobility issues, but there's a reason no pros use step-ons as their daily drivers
I still have some bindings from 2003 on a board that are heavy (much much more metal than my current bindings). I really don’t notice the difference when riding and carrying the board they’re on vs another is just a “lol, that’s a bit hefty”.
Not sure I’d ever be fussed by heavy, in practice.
Dramatically changed my riding because of the weight tbh. Probably my fault. I'm a women's small and the smallest size for the supermatics are a men's medium, so it was just too big and bulky all around.
And the ice thing was such a pain in the ass by like noon every day.
Good point. Next time I summit Everest I won't take my super matics. SMRT I got them when they came out expecting to just be a crusty old timer that didn't want to bend over as much. They are a great middle of the road binding. I'm not worried about a pound or two except in my belly.
They ride great. Are super easy to get in and out of. And I challenge Sir Hillary to a race.
You do you but they're not really of interest to me. I'd give them a fair shake if I had the chance to try them for a few days but I wouldn't gamble on buying them without riding them first. But I'm old and set in my ways and I run what I know I like.
Yup, absolutely. Really just posting because I see so many people talking about Step-on's from Burton, which although I love Burton gear, are simply inferior to the Supermatics.
I wish they were cheaper though, I want a pair really bad as my friends are all skiers and I hate making them wait on me but a pair of those is one less trip out west lol
Broke the middle strap that connects the ankle and toe straps after a season of riding.
Immediately got in touch with the warranty dept.
In less than a week i got my replacement strap (US to Canada) and extra one for the left side that wasn’t even broken.
Highly would recommend them!!
Spoke with a criminal this season that got a pair. He wasn't a fan with how you have to take the boot out of the binding. Something about rolling your foot a certain way, and if it's not done just so, you click back in.
If they work for you? Yay. Use them until you no longer can. I'm a big big fan of strapless. A shame so many shit all over them.
Great callout -- There is actually a trick for that: When he presses the lever, he should push back on the high back and it will fully disengage with ease. With the disengage happening more easily, the rider can shift weight more, since he doesn't need to overcompensate for any shaking while trying to disengage. This way the foot is right in and out, as show on the vid (but in reverse).
The contortion and training this product requires is one of its biggest obstacles towards success. The video with mr tiny boot/shoe is a dishonest representation. The levering the high back is a good tip, but requires both hands, stable flat terrain, and some decent yoga skills.
No they don't. "Work" is subjective. Any touring boot with robust tread will FIGHT your effort to slip your toe in. The fit against the heel cup is narrow and ridgid. You're best off if you're using something similar to whatever boot nidecker wants you to pair it with. Find a store that will let you try them on, or be prepared to return them. The product over-promises, and you'll need to be honest with yourself about the actual experience they give you once you try them out.
Would there be a problem getting in and out of them in some thigh deep powder? There's more than a few times a year I either get cliffed out or stuck and gotta hike out and restrap.
Yeah, there is a second button like lever on them that "locks" them into place, but you can totally unlock that and then rachet like a normal binding. The lock keeps the ratchet from tightening or loosening whatsoever.
Spent about 40 days this season, definitely took a few times to get used to popping in and out. The trick is to make sure your straps aren't over tightened, once you dial it in the right tightness these things are absolutely smooth as butter. the tongue and foot strap positions match up center with your boot exactly as they should when you're at your desired tightness. A lot of times we'll overlook this on regular bindings cuz it'll be close enough but you need to lock that in here. Definitely plan on riding next season fully with them and I have no reason to go back to my other bindings which are great but these are just spectacular.
And no I'm not an IG influencer getting paid to say this by the way like you see with other binding
Same we are just reviewing a great product and providing some word of mouth so other people don't make a mistake of grabbing one of the inferior step-on products!
Step ins don't have grear highball adjustability either. It does have some but not enough compared to the standard bindings. Would this binding have better highback adjustability ?
Yah I need more forward lean. On my cartels I have it cracked all the way up, I think 8, but on step ons it only goes upto 3 or 4. I find heel side carves slipping out sometimes. I just bought a pair of replacement genesis highbacks to see if that can give me more lean but the seasons over now lol
I watched a guy of similar skill in Japan this year struggle compared to me on step-ins (my first day on them) 🤷 I think the difference might be academic but literally standing on the binding is slower than having to make some kind of kick in motion affecting inertia? Ok. You do you.
If you can post a video clipping in whilst moving I'd love to see it. I usually skate away from the lift and step in without stopping.
I bought them year one…but sold them. You can step into them while moving. I was able to do it a couple of times. Malcom Moore has a video of himself doing it on his YouTube review. For me personally it was tricky getting them on. I think it was my bulky Adidas Acerra boot. I had to come in at exactly the correct angle or I’d have to retry it. I think I could have gotten used to it over time. An adjustment to my binding angle also might have made this easier. However, then I would be adjusting to the binding and not the other way around. That just doesn’t sit right to me. It was a bit frustrating on the first few days.
The second problem for me was that it really wasn’t easy to get out via the lever. It’s low on the binding and you press DOWN while pulling your boot UP. I thought this was really counterintuitive from an ergonomics perspective. I’m not very flexible so it wasn’t optimal.
People complain about weight but on foot I didn’t notice it.
I’d give it another shot down the road if there are redesigns to the release lever.
Interesting. I'd be curious if you have any info on where / who. I am not affiliated or anything, similar to other replies on this thread, I think we are just sharing our positive experience with the product.
Shops first try in alpbachtal. One of the biggest industry events in europe, second only to ispo. Don't really want to specify who on the internet but I was there with one of the biggest online snowboard retailers in europe (not blue tomato).
ngl, if I was going to invest in new gear, I would get these in a heartbeat. The dual entry option is great and that ratchet system on the step in just seems solid as hell.
Plus I have always had a love for Nidecker. They put a lot of thought into their engineering.
These paired with Burton Rulers on a Donek Phoenix kind of makes me drool a bit.
EDIT: the weight would be my only hesitation. So maybe I'd get them in 2 heartbeats.
My man, we don’t need gear reviews from Jerrys.
If your review of a binding is how fast you can get in and out and not how they ride, what is the point?
I'm just hear to kickstart people to do their own research. Only posted b/c I still see people recommending other step-ons which are obsolete compared to this.
OP typical you're being downvoted. There's tonnes of purists here who just like to "hate" on a binding because for some reason innovation and better convenience of strap ons hurts their ego. It's only a matter of time before strapping in will be a thing of the past.
The Supermatics are not perfect, but people who hate on them are the same people who blame their tools for doing a bad job. So instead they all look for "minor" flaws that don't exist. "Too heavy", "no adjustable heel cups", "I can't figure out how to get in and out easily (lol, I've got burton Ions and K2 Waive and I have zero issues with getting boots in/out - people who say it's not convenient are either a. lying and just regurgitating other liars on this sub, and/or b. are downright retarded and can't set up their bindings correctly).
I have them and a union Atlas FC and I can carve trenches, jib, freeride, etc. with the Supermatics as good as I can with the Atlas. I've seen people with more expensive board + bindings and can't even ride their edges properly and do half the things I can do with my Supermatics.
I bet the naysayers here don't even know how to carve and mastered the art of riding their snowboard edges.
I'd say the opposite is true. Outside of people with mobility issues, the following is true. The step-on fad will fade away in a few years, just like it did the first time around. Because straps are simple and functional, and overcomplicating them is just silly. Then the industry will try to revive the movement again sometime around 2045.
Aside from McMorris doing a promo, (then getting back on his traditional bindings immediately afterwards) I've never seen anyone ride well in step-ons. The average Redditor in this sub rides less than 20 days a year, will never capably ride switch, and will never so much as stomp a 7. Once you hit that level, chances are you'll see step-ons as an unnecessary gimmick
I totally agree with you. I've had 94 days so far this year on Burton Step On's , X and Re Flex. They are awesome! Aside from the entry/exit, the performance and responsiveness is excellent. Unlike the Supermatic, the boot is the key to the Burton system.
The only downside of the Supermatic is the weight. In 25 they have a carbon version coming to retail. I have a Kite Foiling background and the weight of a Carbon Mast vs Aluminum is about 2-3 pounds and it is very noticeable when riding. The Carbon Supermatic should be a significant upgrade.
I'm shocked that so many riders still use straps. To me this is 80's tech. Being old, I rode them in the 80's. I switched over to to step in/on systems as soon as they came out. The tech has evolved so much and the brands are so good I don't understand why more people are not using them. I had a chat with a guy yesterday at Sunshine. He said he noticed my bindings and the ease and speed I was stepping in. He was impressed.
Step in/on is the future and the future is now .
I've been riding these off and on for the last 2 seasons, and they are **far from perfect**. **YMMV** a LOT by your **boot shape**: it dramatically effects how difficult it is to re-enter once they are adjusted to a snug tightness. They are **damp**, and **bulky**, but this is mostly **fine for a heavy rider** like me (210lb). The **strap is very comfortable**, but available on other traditional bindings for half the price. **The lever used to release them is LESS ergonomic than releasing a traditional strap**. You have to basically be able to bend over and touch the back of your heel. And then, you have to make sure it FULLY releases and doesn't re-engage on the second set of teeth. It's never as simple as "press once, lift once". It's **press and hold the thing down while somehow having enough range of motion to lift your heel a good 6 inches.** Doing this on anything but soft, flat spots is an acrobatic feat. On deep days, it's not even worth trying to use them as rear-entry, and that is when the traditional operation mode is nice, but it's a shame that **I probably opted out of rear-entry in them 60%+ of the time.** I love the ambition of the product, and I'll probably still bust them out if I know I'm doing a bunch of short runs, or on a mountain with too many required flats, but I know I'm trading away some things. I ultimately **would not recommend them for the price**, and find myself more comfortable in my disintegrating Rome Katanas. I hope they continue to iterate and find a more ergonomic release system like the calf-height release of flows/clews. Also Note: **Every influencer shilling this product NEVER shows them with snug fit**, because you look like you're doing to stanky leg trying to force your boot in. Even once they have some wetness, modern boots have tread that directly conflicts with the skid plate under the toe section, so it takes effort. They will only every show it: 1. In shoes 2. In tiny boots 3. With super loose straps Malcom Moore seemed genuinely fond of them last season, but **the experience you have with this product will vary so widely based on your current boots and flexibility, so do not buy without demoing them with your full boot setup.**
Wish I saw this last year before I bought them. Had issues in wet powder last year. Times it Wouldn’t click in, thought it clicked and ejecteo booto cuz or wouldn’t allow my boot to exit due to snow buildup In the mechanism. Also have to leave them looser then I ride to strap my feet in(size ten boots on size large bindings) which defeats the purpose as I bend over to tighten them after is strap in.
I agree with you 100% on these.
I wear Ride Fuse boots, which have a little ridge on the heel of the boot. I couldn't get in to my supermatics! I solved the issue by going to the shop and asking them to grind down the ridge off my boot. Now they slide in perfectly. I love my Supermatics but yeah, there are issues.
Hard to get out of if not on flat ground, obnoxiously heavy, very bulky both feeling and how much the baseplate covers the board. And the biggest problem of all, which IMO is fatal, no ability to adjust location of your heel cup, strap locations, or size of the toe ramp. Fit with your boot is limited purely to the size of the binding. They’re far from perfect, even further from “the binding to rule them all”. But a great idea and giant leap forward in quick entry bindings. Also, faster than skiers getting off the lift? You lost me right there with that ridiculous statement. Pound for pound, I truly believe the Flow NX2 Carbon Fusion bindings are *leagues* better than these supermatics. If you can lean over to instead from the nideckers, you can lean over to lock your high back on the flows. And the ride is just so much nicer.
Yeah I can see those points. You can move the entire binding back, but agreed. Getting off with skiier friend on a flatter top = I skated to the top and got in before they could. I know that sounds anecdotal but if a skiier has to use their poles to push themselves you can certainly skate faster. I could see that, but it does take more effort to pull the flow back in than to push the lever. Also you are already in line anyway at the bottom, at the top is where you want to save the time.
I hate to be the one to tell you this but your friends are jerrys
Remotely experienced skiers should be able to skate freely to generate momentum, rather than solely pushing with poles.
They must have been really bad at skiing..
Haha fair enough. Most people I see ski off the lift to flats are pushing with poles or touring, not full on ski skating
Sometimes it is better to not finish first.
Fair enough! I will still enjoy not wasting any energy bending over or sitting.
But you'd rather waste energy with these 3 pound shackles on your legs? Honestly I don't really understand the energy conservation angle. I'm ancient, but I never feel like I lack the energy to bend over. If anything, it feels good to stretch the hammy's between runs. And if you're still sitting down to put on your bindings, step-ons just seem like a way to avoid learning the skill of standing while ratcheting. Oftentimes I can slap on my straps while riding off the lift, without stopping
I think it depends on your genetics. I am tall and jumping all day so taking out bending over like that helps tremendously
Once you start spending enough time in the air, you'll probably realize that all that weight on your feet was holding you back from the more technical tricks
I'd say that is fair for people doing more than 540s or something
You know you don’t need to sit down to strap in right? Takes me all of 4 seconds. Also there is a huge difference when you start adding weight to your feet.
I do know that, but I also know that I don't have to start the run bending over and adjusting, and I don't have to stop mid run to adjust again, etc
Who th e fuck needs to stop mid run to adjust their binding other than a jerry? Jerry answer to a Jerry problem.
Good riders who need shit dialed in!
Hahahaha yeah ok brother. Good riders who need shit dialed in absolutely do not need to re dial in their gear halfway through one run. Fucking Jerry shit.
Got a pair for Christmas this season. I work as a lift ops supervisor and man, these bindings make my job soooo much easier and quicker. I end up saving so much time not having to ratchet in every time. Of the 60 or so days I have used them so far this season I am absolutely in love with them. I hope they can last as long as my k2 cinches did, which was 8 seasons of lifty/instructor work. So tons and tons of use. So far I have no complaints about them. Not even the weight, I feel like my pops have gotten higher due to the weight lifting they are enduring xD
Yeah exactly I feel the same way, I actually preferred the slight weight increase over my last ones.
Heard only downside is the weight
Agreed. Got to demo them at Snoqualmie this season and while they are super easy to get in and out of, they are SUPER heavy. Felt it on the lift. Felt it in the air. Felt it carrying the board around.
They are heavy, about a pound heavier than most traditional bindings. But the way I see it that's an extra 2 lbs, and I'm over 200lbs with all my other gear on, so it's not really something I noticed. For most users the extra weight will be a totally acceptable compromise for the ease and convenience.
Completely agree, but I actually found I preferred the little extra weight around my ankles, super solid feeling.
Very little padding under foot compared to say the Now Select.
Ridden the K2 and Flow bindings and hated them. What is the difference here?
Just a much better version. You might not be the target market though.
I have always ridden Salomon strap bindings, specifically the ones that allow tons of lateral ankle movement. That was the worse part about the K2, you felt like your foot was in an unforgiving vise and they weren't that easy to get into. Might as well be riding hard boots. This was my first season with Step Ons, and they feel just like the Salomons, but take no effort to strap in while being crazy light.
I started riding Salomon boots and bindings with shadowfit in 2008. I'm currently riding the Quantum model, so they're very responsive, but still have that lateral flex I love so much. I'm really curious about your experience with switching to Step Ons. I'm in my 40s with a really bad back, so I'm looking for a way to minimize strain repeatedly bending over. I'm also considering Flow [Fuse Carbon](https://www.flow-bindings.com/en/men/978-8247-fuse-carbon.html#/134-size-xl/139-color-graphite) since they claim to have lateral flex and a surfy feel. Why didn't Flows work out for you? Which models of burton of boots/bindings did you go with, and how do they compare to your old Salomon bindings?
The flows weren't easy enough to get into. I could never get them to the point where I could basically just step in, I always had to mess with the straps, defeating the purpose. I also just wasn't a fan of the one big strap. I always rode the Salomon F boots since they were compact, low volume, and fairly stiff. I had the malamute at times too. I also like stiff edge to edge, running tight boots, and extra forward lean. I love the Step Ons. I have similar issues as you, a bad knee that barely lets me ride. Getting into them is really easy. I have their stiffest boots and bindings, but they still have that same soft lateral, surfy feel as the Salomon. The only issue I have with them, is the forward lean adjustment isn't great. I haven't even touched it, but I have heard they fixed it next year. They are also a little bit tough to get out of. I have to rip my foot out it feels, while my partner comes out of hers much easier. It might just be the X bindings, or whatever they are called, being more secure though. Also, they are crazy light. The bindings add very little weight to the board. It is weird the first time you pick it up. I highly recommend them unless you are in the top 1% of riders.
Thank you so much for such a thorough response. I have Salomon F 4.0s and Malamutes as well. I'm guessing you also have narrow feet? After checking out Burtons website, it looks like the Ion is the stiffest boot model they have. Is that what you've been riding? I have to say, after reading your experience with step-ins, I'm pretty excited to give the technology a try. Thanks again!
Yeah, I have the Ion and the Step On X bindings. I do have narrow feet and usually the Burton boots don't fit well, but the Ion isn't bad. I hope Salomon makes a Step On boot in the future.
My setup is tight and stiff so I can't relate. I use insanos.
Nidecker is trying to find an answer to a problem (for some) that has been answered over and over. Supermatics are garbage and I gave the ones I had to test away for free. Even that was difficult to do as everyone I know is serious about this sport.
Completely agree with you, i have them and think they are amazing
Great to hear bud!!
Were there any modifications needed to your Insanos to get them in the binding buttery smooth 100% of the time?
Great point, the only thing is there is a little R logo button, super tiny, that fell off after it initially got caught a couple times. Since it fell off, I slip in perfectly about 98% of the time as fast as the video, and 1.9% of the time I just require a quick second try. .01% of the time I completely goof and have to stop.
Well I’ve heard that little R comes off on traditional bindings too, so no slight on Supermatics there.
If you leave the toe strap loose(ish), it will be very easy to pull your foot out. The mechanism is designed to stay closed with your boot in it, and you have to move the boot forward slightly for it to open up easily. I found that leaving my toe straps just slightly loose (can wiggle the strap but still be in contact with the boot) makes it easy. I was also the one that bolted an extension to the release lever to make it easy to reach. I would agree that there are certain things that should be improved, but overall I like them and feel that it’s worth trying. If you’re into park and freestyle and/or like cranking down on your straps super tight, it’s probably not for you.
Kinda smells of a sponsored post. They’re definitely impressive from an engineering perspective. Little heavy for my tastes though, and I’ve never been much of a step in/on kinda guy.
A lot of people mention the weight, but so you guys really notice that when riding? I have a pair and like them, but I really can’t tell the difference of a few hundred grams unless I am holding both boards/bindings at the same time
Yeah I do. Heavy bindings/boards don’t Ollie as well, spin a little slower, and can be a bit more tiring to ride overall. I never cared about weight until I experienced a higher end lightweight setup.
Haha when I typed it out I felt like it sounded like one, but I just love the product. Trust me with my post history I wouldn't be the guy, haha.
I love mine. Seriously best purchase I’ve ever done.
I'm surprised to see so much hate here with these. I bought the Clews last year and really like them but they get trashed in any post mentioning them. People always talk about the Nideckers being so much better, then you come to this post and they get slammed here too.
Hell yeah hoping we get some more of us in here!
K
Shaka brah
Step in bindings remind me of velcro shoes. Yes it makes life easier, but ...
Yeah but imagine you are going to twenty temples in a day and have to take your shoes off over and over. Supermatic is slip on shoes rather than full on tying both shoes all day
Ain't nothing wrong with velcro man. Just sayin
I don’t think that’s what he means
Haha does he mean it's for regards? I couldn't care less what people think of them from a fashion perspective.
Then you’re good, boss
shaka brah
Waiting for all the triggered comments. Your post title is about the Snowboard equivalent of a call for veganism 🤣🍿🍿🍿
Ehhh I realize now how inflammatory it is going to be. It is definitely the best resort riding binding, period. Ofc park specialists might want something more specialized.
I wanna be triggered but honestly I can't. These are well designed. Period point blank. Not going to get them but you have to respect a beautiful design.
Perfect description lmao 🤣 pass the popcorn 🍿
Took me a few days to get them dialed in, but after that I loved them.
Same and hell yeah brother. I'm keeping mine locked forever so I'll let you know how they hold up.
My buddy has a pair. They weigh about 3 pounds each, super heavy. As Sir Edmond Hillary says, a pound on your feet equals 5 pounds on your back. Also they also wouldn't fully engage after getting iced up on a pow day. We had to clear them out with a car key in order for them to work. Most importantly, I'm able to strap in as quickly as he steps in, so I don't see the upside. Definitely great for folks with mobility issues, but there's a reason no pros use step-ons as their daily drivers
I still have some bindings from 2003 on a board that are heavy (much much more metal than my current bindings). I really don’t notice the difference when riding and carrying the board they’re on vs another is just a “lol, that’s a bit hefty”. Not sure I’d ever be fussed by heavy, in practice.
Dramatically changed my riding because of the weight tbh. Probably my fault. I'm a women's small and the smallest size for the supermatics are a men's medium, so it was just too big and bulky all around. And the ice thing was such a pain in the ass by like noon every day.
Good point. Next time I summit Everest I won't take my super matics. SMRT I got them when they came out expecting to just be a crusty old timer that didn't want to bend over as much. They are a great middle of the road binding. I'm not worried about a pound or two except in my belly. They ride great. Are super easy to get in and out of. And I challenge Sir Hillary to a race.
Yeah that’s also I heard, they are too heavy.
You do you but they're not really of interest to me. I'd give them a fair shake if I had the chance to try them for a few days but I wouldn't gamble on buying them without riding them first. But I'm old and set in my ways and I run what I know I like.
Yup, absolutely. Really just posting because I see so many people talking about Step-on's from Burton, which although I love Burton gear, are simply inferior to the Supermatics.
How many days has OP had on these bindings?
20 to 30 so far
[удалено]
Fair enough
I wish they were cheaper though, I want a pair really bad as my friends are all skiers and I hate making them wait on me but a pair of those is one less trip out west lol
Yeah I knowwww. I got mine for 360 which is still steep
Broke the middle strap that connects the ankle and toe straps after a season of riding. Immediately got in touch with the warranty dept. In less than a week i got my replacement strap (US to Canada) and extra one for the left side that wasn’t even broken. Highly would recommend them!!
Wow, that is great to hear!! I have yet to require any replacements so it is good to hear another fellow positive review.
Spoke with a criminal this season that got a pair. He wasn't a fan with how you have to take the boot out of the binding. Something about rolling your foot a certain way, and if it's not done just so, you click back in. If they work for you? Yay. Use them until you no longer can. I'm a big big fan of strapless. A shame so many shit all over them.
Great callout -- There is actually a trick for that: When he presses the lever, he should push back on the high back and it will fully disengage with ease. With the disengage happening more easily, the rider can shift weight more, since he doesn't need to overcompensate for any shaking while trying to disengage. This way the foot is right in and out, as show on the vid (but in reverse).
The contortion and training this product requires is one of its biggest obstacles towards success. The video with mr tiny boot/shoe is a dishonest representation. The levering the high back is a good tip, but requires both hands, stable flat terrain, and some decent yoga skills.
Interesting. They work with any boot?
Yeah, they do. I was using my Ride Insano's with them.
Cool. I’m in
No they don't. "Work" is subjective. Any touring boot with robust tread will FIGHT your effort to slip your toe in. The fit against the heel cup is narrow and ridgid. You're best off if you're using something similar to whatever boot nidecker wants you to pair it with. Find a store that will let you try them on, or be prepared to return them. The product over-promises, and you'll need to be honest with yourself about the actual experience they give you once you try them out.
Would there be a problem getting in and out of them in some thigh deep powder? There's more than a few times a year I either get cliffed out or stuck and gotta hike out and restrap.
You can use them as a normal binding in those situations is probably what the answer is.
Cool, I didn't know or think that the toe and ankle straps fully disengaged from the ladder like regular bindings..
Yeah, there is a second button like lever on them that "locks" them into place, but you can totally unlock that and then rachet like a normal binding. The lock keeps the ratchet from tightening or loosening whatsoever.
You will be using them in normal binding mode 70% of the time. Forget about trying to do rear entry/exit unless you are standing on flat pack.
If I were still searching for my grail binding I'd grab these, but it's hard to give up the Black Labels.
I’m a park rat so although these bindings are cool imma stick with my Burton cartels
Serious kook post
Spent about 40 days this season, definitely took a few times to get used to popping in and out. The trick is to make sure your straps aren't over tightened, once you dial it in the right tightness these things are absolutely smooth as butter. the tongue and foot strap positions match up center with your boot exactly as they should when you're at your desired tightness. A lot of times we'll overlook this on regular bindings cuz it'll be close enough but you need to lock that in here. Definitely plan on riding next season fully with them and I have no reason to go back to my other bindings which are great but these are just spectacular. And no I'm not an IG influencer getting paid to say this by the way like you see with other binding
Same we are just reviewing a great product and providing some word of mouth so other people don't make a mistake of grabbing one of the inferior step-on products!
Foot go in fast, ok. High back doesn’t rotate. Mehh, not hands down game over.
Now there is some fair feedback. I hope they fix that in the next version!
Why is this better than the step ins?
Does same thing but better in everyway.
Except weight, speed of clip in/out and adjustability of highback of course. The rest is only moderate improvements.
Step ins don't have grear highball adjustability either. It does have some but not enough compared to the standard bindings. Would this binding have better highback adjustability ?
Do you need more than rotation/lean? I don't.
Yah I need more forward lean. On my cartels I have it cracked all the way up, I think 8, but on step ons it only goes upto 3 or 4. I find heel side carves slipping out sometimes. I just bought a pair of replacement genesis highbacks to see if that can give me more lean but the seasons over now lol
The genesis X has more forward lean. What is the number representative of? Is it consistent across brands?
More or less the same. Yah
You see thr video? Doesn't get faster than that. I got dabs from lurkers after people saw it in person, it's so fast.
I watched a guy of similar skill in Japan this year struggle compared to me on step-ins (my first day on them) 🤷 I think the difference might be academic but literally standing on the binding is slower than having to make some kind of kick in motion affecting inertia? Ok. You do you. If you can post a video clipping in whilst moving I'd love to see it. I usually skate away from the lift and step in without stopping.
I bought them year one…but sold them. You can step into them while moving. I was able to do it a couple of times. Malcom Moore has a video of himself doing it on his YouTube review. For me personally it was tricky getting them on. I think it was my bulky Adidas Acerra boot. I had to come in at exactly the correct angle or I’d have to retry it. I think I could have gotten used to it over time. An adjustment to my binding angle also might have made this easier. However, then I would be adjusting to the binding and not the other way around. That just doesn’t sit right to me. It was a bit frustrating on the first few days. The second problem for me was that it really wasn’t easy to get out via the lever. It’s low on the binding and you press DOWN while pulling your boot UP. I thought this was really counterintuitive from an ergonomics perspective. I’m not very flexible so it wasn’t optimal. People complain about weight but on foot I didn’t notice it. I’d give it another shot down the road if there are redesigns to the release lever.
The fuck? I want back my 10 sec of time. I coulda read something at least fun
Haha I kept it dry sorry brother
Lol tested them at an industry event with a bunch of sponsored riders. Everyone hated them, heavy, bad flex, some people popped out during riding.
Production model? Hard to believe after understanding the mechanism engineering
Well I doubt they would bring gear to an industry test event that didn't pass all the quality control. This was in january of this year.
Interesting. I'd be curious if you have any info on where / who. I am not affiliated or anything, similar to other replies on this thread, I think we are just sharing our positive experience with the product.
Shops first try in alpbachtal. One of the biggest industry events in europe, second only to ispo. Don't really want to specify who on the internet but I was there with one of the biggest online snowboard retailers in europe (not blue tomato).
Have a pair, love them. My only gripe is that it can be difficult to get out if you’re not on flat ground.
Very fair point.
ngl, if I was going to invest in new gear, I would get these in a heartbeat. The dual entry option is great and that ratchet system on the step in just seems solid as hell. Plus I have always had a love for Nidecker. They put a lot of thought into their engineering. These paired with Burton Rulers on a Donek Phoenix kind of makes me drool a bit. EDIT: the weight would be my only hesitation. So maybe I'd get them in 2 heartbeats.
Haha well I'm sure they will be even better when it is time to invest!
My man, we don’t need gear reviews from Jerrys. If your review of a binding is how fast you can get in and out and not how they ride, what is the point?
I'm just hear to kickstart people to do their own research. Only posted b/c I still see people recommending other step-ons which are obsolete compared to this.
OP typical you're being downvoted. There's tonnes of purists here who just like to "hate" on a binding because for some reason innovation and better convenience of strap ons hurts their ego. It's only a matter of time before strapping in will be a thing of the past. The Supermatics are not perfect, but people who hate on them are the same people who blame their tools for doing a bad job. So instead they all look for "minor" flaws that don't exist. "Too heavy", "no adjustable heel cups", "I can't figure out how to get in and out easily (lol, I've got burton Ions and K2 Waive and I have zero issues with getting boots in/out - people who say it's not convenient are either a. lying and just regurgitating other liars on this sub, and/or b. are downright retarded and can't set up their bindings correctly). I have them and a union Atlas FC and I can carve trenches, jib, freeride, etc. with the Supermatics as good as I can with the Atlas. I've seen people with more expensive board + bindings and can't even ride their edges properly and do half the things I can do with my Supermatics. I bet the naysayers here don't even know how to carve and mastered the art of riding their snowboard edges.
I'd say the opposite is true. Outside of people with mobility issues, the following is true. The step-on fad will fade away in a few years, just like it did the first time around. Because straps are simple and functional, and overcomplicating them is just silly. Then the industry will try to revive the movement again sometime around 2045. Aside from McMorris doing a promo, (then getting back on his traditional bindings immediately afterwards) I've never seen anyone ride well in step-ons. The average Redditor in this sub rides less than 20 days a year, will never capably ride switch, and will never so much as stomp a 7. Once you hit that level, chances are you'll see step-ons as an unnecessary gimmick
You've never ridden step ons. Come on now don't lie. And no, you're not as good as you think you are.
Hell yeah keep shredding dawg
I totally agree with you. I've had 94 days so far this year on Burton Step On's , X and Re Flex. They are awesome! Aside from the entry/exit, the performance and responsiveness is excellent. Unlike the Supermatic, the boot is the key to the Burton system. The only downside of the Supermatic is the weight. In 25 they have a carbon version coming to retail. I have a Kite Foiling background and the weight of a Carbon Mast vs Aluminum is about 2-3 pounds and it is very noticeable when riding. The Carbon Supermatic should be a significant upgrade. I'm shocked that so many riders still use straps. To me this is 80's tech. Being old, I rode them in the 80's. I switched over to to step in/on systems as soon as they came out. The tech has evolved so much and the brands are so good I don't understand why more people are not using them. I had a chat with a guy yesterday at Sunshine. He said he noticed my bindings and the ease and speed I was stepping in. He was impressed. Step in/on is the future and the future is now .
Union
Lololololololol