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[crisdecuba]

Hi everyone!

Long story, short - went snowboarding for the first time last weekend and I'm hooked. Now I gotta get my own equipment. The part I hate about the sport is the time it takes to get the bindings on each time, so I've been considering flow-in bindings - here is my question:

1. With the bindings I rented this past weekend (strap-in bindings), I liked the fact that I could tighten them really tightly - I felt a lot of support, so to speak. Can I get this same feel with flow-in bindings?

2. If money wasn't an issue, would you experienced snow-boarders out there go with strap-ins or flow-ins?

3. What does 'freeride' mean (the bindings I'm looking at are divvied up in the following categories - freestyle, park, all-mountain, freeride, big mountain. What do these mean??

Thanks in advance for any info you provide.

~Cris

 

[element]

flow bindings are the best.

ease the pressure on your feet, great control.

 

[jenov4]

Hey Cris, I've started snowboarding at the end of last season, but I personally prefer the strap in. I find them a lot more tighter than the flows (but it could be that I had some really crappy ones) Sorry I can't answer the rest of your questions tho! Have fun!!

 

[crisdecuba]

Hey Kitty!

So you've used both? Any idea which model you used?

Hey Element!

So is it possible to get the same level of support/tightness/control with flow-ins? Any specific ones you recommend?

Thanks again!

~Cris

 

[element]

I find my new Flow bindings to give more support then my old burton bindings. I also can snowboard much longer because the pressure is evenly distrubited across the top of my entire foot instead of pinching my toes.

They do require adjustment to get the comfort perfect, but they are awesome.

 

[crisdecuba]

Okay, I'm almost sold. Final questions:

1. Would I be able to do the adjustments myself, or is it so difficult that I'll have to get an experienced person to do it for me? (I'm not an inept person, just inexperienced )

2. After the initial adjustment, will I be needing to adjust it all the time? As an example, let's say I go on a week-long snowboarding trip (2 days riding, 1 resting, 3 more riding), would I need to be adjusting it as I go?

These questions might sound silly (as I might not know enough to form the right questions yet), so any help or insight is appreciated.

Thank you!
~Cris

 

[jenov4]

Mine are called RIDE LX, which is pretty much an entry level binding. I got them at a pretty decent price from the annual snowboarding/ski show here.

But you'll have no trouble adjusting your bindings, they'll naturally get loose over a week of boarding so I suggest you take a screwdriver with you. But I haven't been to a resort where they didn't have tools for you adjust your stuff though. Just have fun!

 

[element]

they stay pretty set for a good weekend of snowboarding. Mostly due to changes in your boot. You can see on the picture that you can just change the tightness really easy for the pressure coming down on the top of your boot in like 5 minutes. There is also a tention wire in the back you can change, but I haven't felt a difference.