We get alot of people asking what set up we ride. I have 10 snowboards from park and pipe, to extra wide powder snowboards and 3 sets of bindings however, my go to is still my 2008 Flow quantum custom GiGi Ruff signature snowboard with Burton custom 2008 bindings and The DC Mtn lab park boots 2009 with BOA FitSystem, super soft and flexible taking all the hits, knocks and vibration while riding and walking pretty simple. All performing very well still, after many seasons of hard riding and long days and nights shredding over the years. Those of you who know me and ride with you will know I absolutely love my setup, but I’m starting to question… “is it time?”

While doing a season back around 15 years ago, we had the opportunity to test the Burton FSI step in bindings and boots.

After around 4-5 weeks, they went back to the rep with some constructive criticism feedback. This included too much play and movement between the binding and the boot.

They just weren’t performing for me. There was too much flex and movement, and we found they made initiating turns very hard work. I was put off with step on bindings since then.

Moving on, 15 years later, Step ON and Step IN bindings and boots have progressed so much I’m starting to question, “is it time” to move with the times and purchase a new setup!?

Upon chatting to a good friend, Pat Meurier, who has been in the snowboard industry since forever, has been heavily involved with K2 snowboards, and a UK Sales agent for many years. He has been riding step on bindings for a few years now, and he has written a stunning review on his experience with them. So much so that we wanted to share this love with you all!! Will he convince us?

So here is what he has to say…

David Pulman (and all), in answer to your comment of step on bindings, Here are my findings with the Burton Step ON.

Burton SI step INs are way different to the new Step ONs.
SI was a side mount system.
Step On is a Toe and Heel mount System which is far superior in response even in comparison to straps and equal Shimano/K2 clicker which I spent 9 years riding, 5 of which as a sponsored rider and it didn’t hold me back. After K2 dropped the High back system, I stopped riding them. K2 relaunched it mainly for use in the split board market as the boot tech had come on leaps and bounds with internal boa mechanisms etc, it made transitioning from splitboard to riding much easier. But it still uses the metal shank in the sole of the boot. Therefore, the sole doesn’t flex like a boot/shoe does making walking around awkward.
I went on to the Burton demo stand and requested a pair to try. Dan Crichton and Lizzie Holloway were happy to hand me pair to try out on my K2 board, I wanted to keep one of the 3 variables the same for consistency and fairness as I wanted to test the system first. I’ve known Dan for more than 30 years and Lizzie 20 plus years now, and they wanted to know my opinion of them knowing the amount of time that I had spent on Step Ins. I spent nearly a whole days’ worth of riding on them with time on my board and a couple of Burtons too.
Photon SO boot for me was a 9.5 out of 10 fit for my feet, which is the most critical part in any step in system, with no discomfort at all from the boots for me.
The engagement points are 1 on the back of the boot acting as the heel engagement and 2 pieces either side of the metatarsals for toe engagement This means the sole of the boot flexes in the same way as a regular boot for walking. Next big plus is the Photon boot weight wise felt same as my boots, then step on binding weight wise with my board felt same if not a shade lighter due to lack of dangling straps, but importantly overall system weight felt the same or lighter as my strap binding setup so there’s no sacrifice there. Need scales to confirm the weights.
The system felt less fatiguing on my feet due to the use of mechanical systems to hold the boot in place to eliminate vertical movement, instead of straps, you don’t realise how much you crank down on ankle straps to stop boot movement in the bindings, a feeling that was brought back to me from time in my step in riding days and reinforced after returning back to my strap bindings making them less comfortable hence the foot fatigue.
Obviously getting in and out is far easier and again less fatiguing, no bending over especially if you have a bad back and tight hamstrings, it meant I had more time to chill and relax whilst your friends are strapping in or you can get more laps in.
The BOA ankle strap on the Photon boot and the liner did such a good job at holding my ankles/feet in place that I could ride the boot with the full length BOA outer closure loose/undone. I like to ride from my ankles for a more skate like feel and the freedom of movement instead of using the front of the boots. It showed how responsive the system is and how adaptable it is to your riding style.
I did do a fair bit jumping around and riding through the park with them, not once did I feel insecure with the system, even after going deep on the landing of a kicker when using the side of the tabletop as a kicker, watching the landing disappearing further away.
I can’t vouch for getting in the system in deep snow. But from my days of using Clickers I learnt how to work with the system in that scenario, clearing the boots and bindings of snow, building a solid base in the snow to be able to step into when the depth was deep for instance, It’s part of learning to adapt. The Step ON does have a 2 stage engagement in the heel unit to cope with snow on the bottom of the boot and on the binding, as that snow clears it will drop into the designed riding setting.
In conclusion I like this system lots it’s the best one out there that balances weight (big factor personally for me), control, ease of use and not least of all comfort, mind you all of those factors are important. Anything that helps me in continuing to enjoy snowboarding in my advancing age is good thing, right?
Going back to strap bindings felt primitive, like reaching across the other side of your car to wind down the window, do-able but far from ideal. Don’t worry about what the pros are doing they get paid to snowboard, we the majority pay to snowboard, find what helps you do that in the best possible way more often and more enjoyable.

Pat Meurier

We hope you found this review as helpful as we did, and thank you for reading it. Most of all, thank you to Pat for letting us share the sterling review of Burton Step ON bindings with you all, much appreciated.

We think Pat has convinced us to move forward with the times. Make things easier while “strapping in” or should we say just “stepping ON”

Keep an eye out with our retail products, especially when visiting. You may notice a few tweaks in the workshop since your last visit!

Exciting times for Pulmans ski and snowboard services!