Is it worth changing your snowboard boots and bindings to the Step On system?

The Burton Step-On is a new system for quickly connecting boots to a board. The Step-On is often confused with the old Step-In system, which, frankly, didn't quite work, but it had its fans, and I still see boards with these bindings, even though they were manufactured years ago.

The latest boot-to-boot bindings feature completely different solutions than those from years past. The main difference is that the boot-to-binding connection points are located above the sole of the boot, making it easier to clip in even with snow stuck to the binding or boot. There are three points where the boot engages the binding.
The main cleat is located at the heel of the boot, with two others at the toes on the left and right. Release from the binding is achieved by a lever, which simply needs to be lifted and a step taken. Seems easy, right? And it is!

I have been a snowboard instructor for 12 years and have been working in the Fun Wind store for 6 years, and I know the opinions of customers who bought their kits from us, because they like to come back to us and share their observations.

I often hear our clients smiling as they tell us how their skiing family or friends finally don't have to wait for them! "Mr. Kubo, I'm pushing off, pop pop, and I'm going down."

Imagine the looks on your skiing friends' faces as they stop to wait for you again and you zip past them, fastened in your bindings, and now they have to chase you, not you them!

I often hear people saying that they finally don't have to sit in the snow, and sometimes even that their pants are finally dry, and in such cases I half-jokingly, half-seriously suggest buying new pants.

Step On can be a great help in the work of any instructor, I use them myself at work on the slopes, as do many of my colleagues in the snowboarding industry.

When teaching students at a snowboard school, we spend 80% of the time with one leg clipped into the board and the other unclipped because we have to support the beginner, run up in case of a fall, walk up a hill and then we have to clip in again to demonstrate the next move we have to make on the board. Now imagine doing all this without strapping in and how much time and energy we saved.

Someone's probably smiling right now and thinking, "You're an instructor! It's vacation for you, and you can ride!" Imagine spending eight hours unfastening and fastening your bindings, teaching, running, jumping, climbing, descending, and not having to go for an Aperol and dinner at 1 p.m. like you're on holiday in Italy because your schedule is set from morning to evening. Doesn't sound like much of a vacation, does it? But I think being an instructor is another good topic, so I won't go into detail. Now imagine that one of these tasks is taken away from you. If it could be easier, why not take advantage of it?

Frequently asked questions:

● Is it safe, does it not come off?

I think a company like Burton could lose too much if something they put on the market didn't work.

as it should or it was hurting us, because let's imagine that while driving one of our legs sticks out

from the binding. It would probably end in tragedy, pain, and a hospital visit. Burton for a few years

He worked on this system and it passed numerous tests proving there was no chance of the binding releasing. They only released the Step On to the market when they were 100% sure it was safe and nothing like this would happen. It's been on the market for four years now, and I haven't heard of anything like this happening.

● Can this be zipped up in a down jacket?

Sure, it's possible to fasten in deep snow; it would be a poor solution if you could ski in some conditions but not others. Just clear the snow off your bindings like any other and press down. The boot won't release after the first click, and when you press down while skiing or on slightly harder terrain, it will fasten completely.

● Can anyone ride this?

Step on is good for both beginners and advanced riders.

● Does the Step On boot fit other bindings?

No, the shoe has special snaps that do not fit into regular bindings.

● It probably costs 3 times more than the normal solution?

The boot and binding cost the same as a set without the Step On solution.

● This system probably holds worse than a normal binding?

I didn't feel it while riding, bindings and boots can be bought in different hardness.

● So what are the disadvantages?!

I've been snowboarding with classic bindings for years, and when I first put on the Step On, I tried to find any flaws, but I couldn't really find anything to complain about. You get up from the chair, put your foot in the binding instead of on the board, and you're off down the slope. At first, I had trouble clipping in on steep slopes—oh, I have them!—but after a few trials and errors, I found the best way and it didn't bother me anymore. The only downside I've heard is that the bindings make a creaking sound while riding. It didn't bother me personally, but if someone wants to find something, they'll always find something.

I hope I managed to dispel all your doubts about the latest Step On system, and if you have any more questions, feel free to call us, write or simply visit us and try to connect it "dry".

See you on the slopes!