Answering Your Comments On Burton Step Ons Versus Nidecker Supermatics Video

My Gear List

[jasong]

On the step-ons, point of clarification. You DO NOT need to pull the lever while simultaneously lifting your foot. When you pull the lever all the way, it stays in the unlocked position until you withdraw your foot from the binding. So you can pull the lever while gliding and pull your foot out when ready. That said - i agree that the traditional is slightly quicker to get out, but not that much.
I am curious why the lack of adjustability is not mentioned that much. The highbacks on the step-ons cannot be adjusted and the forward lean adjustment is rather terrible.
Step-on boots need to fit perfectly for the system to give max performance. You cannot have any looseness. (as you cannot compensate with tight straps)

[arjanvijselaar]

Good on you for doing this even though you clearly didn’t have to. An honest review is the best review.
Ignore the hate, keep the content coming.

[SeanOzz]

Powder days.
I always grab my step ons over my straps now as they are faster off the lifts and easier in and out in the deep stuff. No need to push.

For sure something is wrong with yours. Come on out and let’s ride this season and we can do a collab video with an update for your subs with mine. All three pair work and have used most the boots out there for them (Burton ones at least) they are also easy to get out in motion in a lift line.

It’s just learning them.
Six seasons now with mine. My Straps collect dust unless I have to use some for a video.

It’s not harder to get on when on a lift. It’s sorta easier but I don’t recommend people put them on while on the lift with any bindings.

[superucheck]

Every new snowboarder I’ve spoke with prefer step on. It’s much easier for them to even sit down and stick their foot in compared to reaching forward and strapping on. I’ve been told many time that step on for new boarder are a game changer. They found they were able to progress way faster cause they spent way less energy trying to bend forward and strap in. For seasoned snowboards there isn’t that issue cause it’s already built in to our muscle memory. but for someone new sticking the strap in and tightening it take a lot out of them.

[craigrchee]

Adding 2 cents here as a 2-year user of the v1 Step Ons. I'm advanced/expert level that almost entirely does freeriding (steeps, off-piste, trees). I previously used Union Atlas/Burton Leather Ions for 2 years as I wanted to read more reviews on the Step Ons before committing. I then sold that setup for the v1 Step Ons and Photons. For my riding style, I felt a performance increase over the Atlas/Ion setup due to the responsiveness with a less stiff (but still stiff) boot. The only downside is slightly less board feel due to the baseplate, but I'm okay with that compromise. I agree that these are not ideal for beginners for the reasons Kevin states. Getting out smoothly took me a while to figure out, but I can do it easily now as I cruise up to the lift line. Those of you who run a lot of front binding angle like me (+21*) may find the front foot harder to remove with the twist. What I do now is remove my back foot first (heel twist inward), then step in front of my board with that foot so I can twist my front heel out more easily. My favorite thing is the consistency. Since these clip in, there's no micro-changes in the tightness if there's any snow between boot/binding. I have a stomp pad that scrapes off snow from my boot so I rarely have an only-1-heel-click issue. If I am having trouble getting a second click, just do an ollie! I have no plans to go back to straps. Using these on a v1 Orca. Happy shredding people!

[davidpearson]

Good recap on your impressions. Rode traditional for 20 years, now in year 3 with Step Ons, and definitely never going back. You’re 100% correct that getting out (at first) is harder than traditional, but this does get significantly easier the more you do it. When you said the bindings “felt loose” and were “less responsive”, I wonder if you hadn’t done all the heal clicks? Especially when very new, may need a firm push to engage the Step Ons completely. Most people find these nicely snug, and very responsive. Just a thought. Keep up the awesome content.

[cwang]

Clarification on step on. You just pull the lever and it stays there. You don’t need to pull and lift your heel at the same time.

I made the same mistake when I first started using them. Then at home I realized the lever stayed up and next time it was much easier.

I actually didn’t step in completely on my first trip and the board fell off when I just got on the lift. Now I check to make sure I’m in by looking at the back of the step on. As I lift my foot there is a lever that moves. No more issues since

[masterastro]

I don't understand how it says that Supermatic are not for people who are just starting out, remember that it gives you the option of using it as regular binding, and when you are going to use them on 2 black diamonds only in that ovation you can adjust them to 100% and the binding step on does not give you that option, you must clarify all those that it says since

[jcolonna]

The reason you may not have felt completely locked in with the Step Ons is because your boots aren’t the Boa version. For Step Ons you rely on your boots to get that extra clicks and when you have laces you don’t get that

[Casprthefriendly]

You’re the man Kev. So cool that you just went “Ok then, let’s unpack this”. Good on you! 😂🤘🏼

[brunoespindola]

I feel this back-to-back video reviews Kevin posted is the best place by far for step on discussions. Kevin gave his candid point of view and many other followed with theirs. This live session in particular, helped many of us to understand the nuances/rationale of some of things Kevin mentioned in the first video that did not seem that clear back then (at least the few original comments that caused more controversy). I guess for anyone wondering whether step on could be an option, this series (including viewers comments) is pretty much a reliable source for what you need to know about step on, it gives loads of info from many different point of views, different riding styles, terrains, profiles. Awesome content.

[heshamsaleh]

I got the step ons for 1) when riding with skiers, so that they don’t wait for me to strap in, and 2) for skating on flats and locking in while speeding up. But I’m still keeping my traditional bindings for more challenging snowboarding situations.

[wishsrdk]

Love these series. Thank you so much for making an unbiased review of the options.

[lp_]

Fair point on the difference in reach difference and powder day challenges. I’m glad you made this video and stood up for your review experience!

[hoboman]

I just got step on this season. I agree with everything u said. performance just isn't there for me. but the convenience is great for me. find myself sending it less hard but overall I don't really wanna go back to straps

[christophermatthews]

I tried my old boots and bindings after riding my Step Ons for a while and they felt way less responsive. With straps, there's a noticeable elastic band effect when you initiate a turn. The straps feel like they're stretching out a bit before anything happens and it takes noticeably more effort to initiate a turn. On the plus side, traditional bindings give you more finesse in making turns but that's at the expense of responsiveness.

[christisaari]

I really appreciate you giving your honest opinion on gear. I trust your judgment and it helps with my buying decisions - if people have a problem - that's their problem - keep doing what you are doing

[apluspool]

You don't have to hold up on their lever you pull up and then let go and step out as long as you don't push back down again you're good to go

[joshuasills]

Try the Ion (most adjustable) or the Photon with the strap and revisit the review imo. The lace boots are not the best for the step on system. Also, the Photon Soft is out for people who like softer boots and still want the snugger strap over the foot.

I appreciate the video and the response, but if you are a high performance rider, you'll have a much better experience with a stiffer boot in this system. Saying that "not all people like a stiff boot" doesn't refute what I said. This system performs better with one and you may think different about it. Step ons are not for everyone, but when I tried a softer/mid stiff boot I didn't like it like I did with the Ion.

[venderbos]

Thank you for the honest review. It opened my eyes for the advantages of my traditional Nitro Team bindings. Saved me a lot of money!