Boots vs Footstraps?

[dyyylan]

If you're looking for easy to get in and out of make sure you get boots with velcro instead of laces. The laces are such a pain in the ass and require both hands. Not to mention the laces wear out and can break, mine are about to pop on my ronix ones. As soon as these boots blow up (had them 6 months, already shredded) I'm probably going to pick up another pair of LF cradles, or maybe vantage.

[TheJoe]

Anyone come across any boots on sale for a fair price?

Don't need top of the line, just something easy to get in/out of with a kite in the air.

Buywake.com and Evo.com just get close outs. You can all so hit up ebay for close outs. Velcro is the easiest in and out and closed toe is the way to go.

[jats2k9]

I Dont know your foot size, but if you use a small number. Slingshot has the 2013 rad size 8 for $149.
I wear 8.5- 9 on shoes and the 8 on the rad bindings is just perfect for me.

[rynhardt]

Don't make up your mind regarding laces/velcro unless you actually go and fit some boots.

I've got LF Raph's with laces and LF Vantage's with velcro, and I find the Raphs are actually easier to work with one hand.

Best is go to a wake shop, sit on your ass and try putting on the boots with one hand.

[Starsky]

+1 for laces.

Both can have their issues, but having dealt with both, I generally prefer laces. Both could be done better. Velcro should have no sharp edge (that they always have) to tighten over that chew up the cheap fake leather they use in no time.

Laces you get better heel hold, but eventually they all begin to slip when exposed to the extended use of kiteboarding.

I never lace up until a few minutes into my session and out of harms way. Lacing up on land is a bad idea. Our typical launch is a hop in off a breakwall, so its a step in and boost off into the water. None of the hassle people put themselves through or site as inconvenience associated with boots.

Velcro is definitely faster, but I would only opt for velcro upper. Lower .... lace all the way.

[Tiago1973]

do you guys got any trick for easiness of getting in?

for me is really, really a major pain... making sure the boots are wet and wearing some lycra socks seem to help but wonder if there is anything else i can do

[live2play]

Just curious if there is a type or style of twintip that more favour or benefit with using boots? (ie. stiffer or more squared tips)

[KiteCulture]

i usually put the kite down on a wingtip, get in, launch and ride. I'm at a pretty shallow spot though.

[KiteCulture]

i usually put the kite down on a wingtip, get in, launch and ride. I'm at a pretty shallow spot though.

[Starsky]

I find getting in to dry boots much easier. I make sure my laces are wide open and pull the tongue forward before I launch the kite and can generally just step in nice and smooth. Once their wet, I typically have to put one hand down and grab the handle on the back of the boot to tug a bit while stepping in. If your using an older style boot with no lycra lining and just the foam, then yeah, there is no easy way. Even wakeboarders used to keep a bottle of dish soap in the boat for those.

Undo laces to full loose while out in the deep and wiggle the foot and ankle on the way back in to the launch is enough that I can just pull out one foot, place it on the board and pull out the other nice and quick.

Boards that suit boots are going to be a bit wider, longer, stiffer, with more rocker than standard kiteboards. They often have some bottom channels these days so they suit small/no fins. At 5'11" and 180 lbs I have settled around 142x42ish. Most are fairly typical freeride kiteboard outline and not the super fat square tip that some more freestyle oriented kiteboards use.