Kite surfers with large feet (US13-15). What bindings do you use?

[Major Holley]

Hi,

First post on this forum, please don't bite!

I am new to kitesurfing and planning on buying my gear in the next weeks.

My foot size is US14 (EUR 48-50, depending on the shoe maker). I could not use Fone bindings during kite lessons, but was quite happy with Cabrinha H1s. I have not used anything else and do not have easily access to kite shops.

Which pad/strap bindings work the best for large feet (let's say >US13)? (my feet are pretty narrow if it matters). This information is usually missing in the description provided by most of the brands!

Also, and can 'X bindings' be used on 'Y boards' ? or do I need to pay attention to this? Is there a rule? or a webpage that references compatibilities btw binding/board brands?

Thanks for you help!
(could not find anything with the search function)

[jeromeL]

Welcome,

Is your issue length of feet going over heel and toe bump or how thick your feet are and you are not able to close the straps?
Some local with very thick feet had to take his new naish apex strap to tailor to extend the velcro... Looks like cabrinha can accommodate big feet, Nick Jacobsen seems like a big guy

I use naish apex, they are quite popular, some people don't like V2 complaining that it's too stiff, I have v1.
I think Naish apex has pretty much same range as the old fone strap velcro wise.

If you are board is F-one, it uses standard width so it will fit Naish binding. Usually if you google a given board it's easy to check. I have a Nobile board which has a bunch of different threads so seems to fit a wide array of strap, though took me a while to figure which set of threads to use for naish apex.

PS: lol, le forum Francais n'a pas pu t'aider, ca ne va pas arranger les stereotypes France/US

[iriejohn]

Also, and can 'X bindings' be used on 'Y boards' ? or do I need to pay attention to this? Is there a rule? or a webpage that references compatibilities btw binding/board brands?

There isn't one standard for binding/strap spacing holes on TT's - they are sometimes only a few mm different but enough to make life difficult.

I'm now using North Entity (NTT) straps which have two width settings which accommodate from small to very big feet with boots on. It's tight but they do (just) fit on my new Shinn TT as long as everything is carefully lined up before engaging the screws. Obviously they fit North boards perfectly.

Some local with very thick feet had to take his new naish apex strap to tailor to extend the velcro

I had that problem with Naish Apex straps when wearing winter boots and made some velcro extensions (the straps have now been sold).

[Major Holley]

Thank you JeromeL and IrieJohn for your help,

Don't own a board yet, I want to solve the pad/strap issue first.
My feet are quite narrow, and long (obviously).

At my kite school, I could not put my feet in Fone straps (foot too wide, I think the pad was also too short).
Bare foot was quite perfect in H1 Cab, so-so with 3mm boots. With boots on, I am a bit afraid of potential failure bc of minimal velcro attachment. Cabrinha website states that H1s are designed for EUR49 size, which makes me quite confident though - they are cheap too).

Thanks for the Naish and North suggestions.
Just curious, what is your foot size? Could your bindings accommodate 1 inch longer feet?

THANKS!
Will update if something new and worth sharing.

(Jerome: I did not ask on french forums. I prefer english/international forums in general, as there are more people, more brands, more diversity and less "joutes verbales" or "prises de têtes 'sémantiques' ". They are just much better. Merci

[jeromeL]

(Jerome: I did not ask on french forums. I prefer english/international forums in general, as there are more people, more brands, more diversity and less "joutes verbales" or "prises de têtes 'sémantiques' ". They are just much better. Merci

you are right, yesterday I checked out forum.flysurf.com it's pretty funny. I think the french candadian forum is pretty chill though.

My friend with big feet ended up getting rid of his naish apex... If there is a kiteshop with plenty of strap I would try that. I might see Nick Jacobsen this weekend at a kitefest in NJ, I will check his feet out and ask him about it haha

[badgb21]

I have US 13
Crazyfly fit very well and would take a bigger foot.
I struggled a bit with Shinn Sneaker straps/pads.

[nothing2seehere]

Check out the Nobile bindings. They come in 2 sizes. The large size should be plenty big enough for you. They are pretty comfortable too.

[iriejohn]

(double post)

[iriejohn]

Thanks for the Naish and North suggestions.
Just curious, what is your foot size? Could your bindings accommodate 1 inch longer feet?

My feet are also long and narrow, about Euro 46.
I think the North NTT's would take 1" longer but maybe not the Naish straps because the heel area is more 'dished'

[Dave_5280]

You don't even a board with feet that big!

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)