edt wrote: ↑Mon Dec 23, 2019 12:12 am
The reason people like step one or flows is because they snow kite like they water kite. First they launch their kite then they grab their board and struggle to get into their bindings with the kite over head. If this is how you kite then flows or stepins are for you.
DEAD ON! I have seen used and used lots of bindings and observed the techniques that go with each system. I even have a pair of Flow "Freeballer(?)s" backless bindings. Regular "flip up" Flows are great for getting into standing and without fuss, as you can ride carefully for a short distance with the highbacks down. Then you can sit and lever them up. Or if you use foil kites, you just do everything with the kite braked in the back of the window. Then you can sit down to launch the kite or use the front lines to launch while still standing.
The biggest draw back of flows is how hard they are to get on when in deep snow from a sitting position. It is hard to get to the highbacks, and you always pack a ton of snow up against the boot back.
To me, I would assume the big problem with step in bindings is how positively they lock on. The biggest danger with any snowboard binding system is having one foot secured and the other unsecured, then the kite launches unexpectedly.
The other problem with step in bindings is that all of the support comes from a super stiff boot. I own at least 7 pairs of snowboard boots. I have 2 pairs of the super cheapest Chinese knockoffs boots that are the only ones that are comfortable to kite in. They are extremely flexible, and I only like them for kiting, not when riding lifts. Then I own one pair of the cheapest Burton boots made, and they are tolerable for snowkiting. All of the mid-range price boots that I own are waaaayyyyy too stiff for kiting with.
My advice to aspiring snowboardkiters is that you should get the cheapest binding (so long as it is has the most flex), and the cheapest boot (so long as it is also flexible AND has a more upright leg angle).