So I have done both and I have both. This was figured out and sorted already in the snowboard world but it has risen again and sometimes for some reason skiers wanna chirp in lol. Answers to these types of questions are so practical I’m just going to rapid fire them?
Examples of quick entry bindings: Burton's Step Ons, Fase bindings, Nidecker Supermatic, Flow bindings.
Who are you to talk about this?
I have both. I use both. I used Burton Step Ons extensively and am current using traditional again (strictly due to preference, not that one is better than the other)
Which is better?
Neither or both. Ride. What. You. Want.
Honestly, quick-entry bindings have gone a long way. They’re sturdy and reliable. I know. I’ve been using it and I can prove it.
So the only difference here is that few seconds difference in getting in. Getting out of any bindings are all the same, so even quick-entry bindings’ advantage is negligible.
Traditional strapped bindings too have been continuously improved, as always.
So. They. Are. Both. Good.
It’s all preference. Get what you want. For the others, stop chirping at other people’s decision. Your insecurity is showing.
Who is quick-entry bindings for?
It can be people who just wants to try it. It can be as simple as that.
But if you want to be technical about it, sure I’ll humour you.
The main selling point of QE bindings is how easy it is to get your boot in. That’s pretty much it. You could argue that Burton Step Ons is more responsive, and sure I’d agree to that. Although it’s not like a comparison of bad vs good, but rather: “great vs slight-better-than-great”.
Honestly I think QE bindings are perfect for people who live in small hills (let’s say 500m or less), because in these situations, there are lots more strapping/unstrapping that’s happening. You’re probably doing this 10x or more per day. For people who are living in big mountains, the allure of “quick entry” doesn’t appeal as much because it’s easy and comfortable to strap up there, and they’ll probably be strapping/unstrapping 1-3x per day.
If you’re new and learning too, I think these may be good for you. Snowboarding is hard enough as it is when you’re starting. You only have so many energy per session, so if you can conserve your energy in actual skill-building, rather than balancing and bending over or standing up when strapping, that significantly helps.
If you have any mobility/bending over issues, then this is good for you too. Although if you have physical discomfort. Talk to a medical professional first. That’s your bigger problem. This is not a medical advice to excuse you with your specific medical concerns.
“I heard they accidentally come off a lot”
First of all, if you’re getting that information from a skier or a snowboarder wearing traditional bindings, they’re probably biased.
Yes, if you misuse them. Most reports (and there. are. barely.) are due to people not clicking in or securing in properly to begin with. So yes, it’s not a binding problem but a user problem.
Of course the trolls are going to latch onto that and make you feel bad.
I’ve never been accidentally ejected out of my Step Ons before. I have ragdoll’d and yardsale’d and even buried my step ons in deep snow and kept on yanking it up, no accidental ejects.
Do you need a leash?
Here’s the funny part, every time I hear this, I always hear it from a skier. It’s like a man mansplaining how vaginas work. Did you see that video of that boomer skier complaining that snowboarders are a hazard because they have no breaks?! haha dafuq do you think your skis are lol.
Listen, the one time I’ll agree to that is, if your bindings are so new and it’s a totally new tech (e.g.: Unknown company makes ProductA bindings), yes, maybe you should leash that. Nothing against the QE bindings but rather it’s a quality assurance concerns. It’s the alpha version, so maybe there are bugs lol.
Or maybe if you’re snowsurfing (the snowboard with no bindings, just spikey pads for your shoes).
In most situations, just stash your leash in your snow pants. If someone asks (which is rare), then sure, clip it just to avoid the headache.
They’re allowed almost everywhere. I’ve never had a situation where I was called out. Like seriously, you think the liftie’s gonna make an effort to check everyone’s boots while also making sure the lift onloading is safe? bruh.
Should I change to quick entry bindings?
Still using traditional bindings? That. Is. Ok. There is nothing wrong with strap bindings.
Do you need to change to QE bindings? No.
Do you want to anyway or just try it out? Sure. Go for it.
“So why did you go back to traditional bindings?”
Like I said, preference. I still have them and it’s all set up for quick ride. I’m loving my Union Force bindings, though I can see myself being lazy at one point in switching bindings, and I would just grab my other board set up and ride it with StepOns since it’s installed in that one already.
True to what I said, I mainly wanted the Step-On’s because I live beside a small hill (so lots of un/strapping happening). Also I was burning a lot of energy just trying to strap in before. So true to my explanation above, the less energy I burn strapping in, the more energy I’ll have to improve my snowboarding skills.
And I did.
but now (for me), it became a “what got you here, won’t get you there” situation. I’ve been riding with stronger, faster riders and skiers. They’re more technical too. So in order to get (even) better, I need to be stronger so I can last longer outside and survive deep pows, or demanding snowboard tricks.
So now I eat better, work out, and anything I can tweak, I tweak.
Going back to the bindings, I realized that with this goal, the quick entry bindings was becoming a handicap for me. Like, if I don’t even have the strength to strap in standing with no problems, then I probably don’t have strength and energy to do the complicated tricks.
So I challenged myself to go back to traditional bindings and basically “work out” my legs instead of assisting it with tech. Instead of QE bindings, I just strengthened my legs even more (plus traditional bindings).
Yes, I can have stronger legs + use Step Ons again. I’m not against that. Maybe I will in the future.
