Do any shops offer demo for bindings, seems like the best place to get them is the wake/ski shop. Would be nice to test them out before spending that kind of money on gear to find out you should stick with your straps.....!
And just on the side who has gone boots and never gone back....!
Boots all the way? If your from a snowboard or wake background you'll wonder why you waited.
I would never ever EVER go back to straps. So dangerous! Iv been in boots for about 3 years and in that time Iv had zero ankle/ knee problems. In straps, broken ankle, twisted knee, and so on.
If your into rotations, loops, boosts or the od unhooking, you will never go back!
Don't know anyone who went back to straps. Used to use heel straps at first to have a bit more locked in feel but then got boots 5 years ago and that was so much better. You can ride more powered as you can hold your edge down longer. You may need a bit more power but this is mainly as most having their boots on a high rocker board. You can find a low rocker board, just make sure it is strong enough for boots.
Don't think anyone will demo them though. Perhaps try and grab a mates board or go to the cable park if you just want to get a feel for it.
I've heard a lot of guys say, while boots are good they are very unforgiving if you boost big and get into trouble. I guess you can get a better edge in boots but if you come down hard....could be bad...I would compare it to when you snowboarding and you get your backside edge caught even worse if it is off a kicker and get body slammed....!
Back edges suck either way. Only time I've wanted straps was a big kiteloop where my kite stalled and i couldn't kick the board off.
I dont do big loops anymore. Pretty sure if it happened in straps I'd still not do big loops also!
You learn now to not catch an edge. Just find your local team rider and ask to have a go if his boots. He will let you ride them. Gave my board to a local kid earlier this week, loved them. Now has a new set coming in the post.
