the snow is falling, i have my new charger, and snowkite season is almost here! I'm trying to find out what type of bindings people are using on their boards. I have the opportunity to get either Flow bindings or the K2 Cinch bindings.

Comparing the two, the Flows seem a lot more solid with less play in the hiback once snapped in place. But i like the opening mechanism on the Cinch which seems like it would make it easier to get a boot in

anyone have experience with both?

only experience with the Flow flite4 and very pleased. I paid 70$ and does it well. Not too stiff, and getting in and out of the binding is as much easy as my previous step-in

no exp for K2 sorry.

I opted for the Flow as well and feel way better in them over traditional bindings. I needed a quick in / quick out solution and they are perfect. No experience with the K2s either though so a bit biased : )

I have Nidecker Carbon 860s on my snowkite board and Carbon 960s on my downhill board. Expensive bindings, but I love them. I am not sure how these relate to what you have, but its all I use. The 860s are what I had on my other board that I sold last winter. They take a little bit of work to get into, but once you are in, they rock. Easy to get out of though.

I have some old school K2 clicker high-back that I love, you can pick them up VERY cheap on ebay, and they are extremely quick in and out.

I use the GNU Fastec Bindings for snowboarding. Haven't tried snow kiting yet. These are easy in and out.

Gorge performance has some step in Boots like Clicker and Switch at low prices.
http://gorgeperformance.com/html/snowboard_boots_cheap.html

I have the K2 cinch biindings. They are an awesome binding, except when I take out my back foot the ratchets don't lock causing the straps to tighten. When I go to put my foot back in I almost always have to re-adjust my straps for my boot. I tried a pair of flows last year and they were awesome in every way. Locking straps and I found the back supports easier to put on and off. The flows were less restricting as well. If I had known I would get into kiting I would have bought the flows. It would be nice if there were a binding out there that swiveled to give more of a feel that you would get from riding a kiteboard. In my opinion the K2s will be awesome for Alpine kiting as they give a lot of ankle support when jumping. The flows feel as though they will be nicer when riding over flat terrain. Just my two cents

Shaggs

the one thing i like about the k2 cinch is that you get your boot in and THEN tighten down, what i didn't like was that the back doesn't recline as much of the flows, so you have to lift your leg and then guide your foot down and in.

when i was playing with the Flows, the pad is set in place, so you have to kick your foot in. if you have the straps set quite tight (like i would have them while riding) i thought it was a bit tricky to get your foot in enough to get the back up smoothly but that could probably be fixed with some more tinkering with the straps

thanks Shaggs! thats some real valuable advice! when snowkiting i'll be going over flat terrain exclusively

that GNU Fastec binding looks really awesome! i may try to track down a set the back looks like it reclines quite far back for easy entry and the ankle strap loosens/tightens. looks much better quality than the set of K2 Cinch which i thought looked kinda cheap. seems like it would address my concerns and have features that i like from both sets. very interesting :bigok: not to mention that my downhill board is a LibTech so i'm a bit biased towards Mervin Manufacturing

i thought of clicker type bindings but i don't want to have an extra pair of boots hanging around, though no doubt theyd probably be fast as all get out

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my downhill board is a LibTech so i'm a bit biased towards Mervin Manufacturing

Mervin has always put out quality equipment and Magnatraction is the way to go. I had to buy a new board just to try it out. I think with snowkiting the magnatraction is going to give you better up wind traction. Less side slide than a standard sidecut.

http://gorgeperformance.com/html/2009_snowboardgearlist.html Link to close out on GNU Fastec binding size Medium

for lib tech. My buddy who has boarded for 15 years tried my skate banana last winter whlie he was down. The next week he sold his $1300+ Burton Custom. He loved the way the magnetraction cut into hard packed and ice. Reverse camber is an amazing thing as well. One thing I wish it had was an edge that wrapped all the way around to prevent the nose and tail from chipping as easy. NOT that I have had that problem yet but others have

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Originally posted by shaggs2riches for lib tech. My buddy who has boarded for 15 years tried my skate banana last winter whlie he was down. The next week he sold his $1300+ Burton Custom. He loved the way the magnetraction cut into hard packed and ice. Reverse camber is an amazing thing as well. One thing I wish it had was an edge that wrapped all the way around to prevent the nose and tail from chipping as easy. NOT that I have had that problem yet but others have

the Skate Banana is exactly what i have though i'll save it for the slopes since i'm not about to risk hitting a rock or something in the middle of a field while snowkiting with THAT board. The Never Summer gets that priviledge (not that its exactly a cheap board itself, but it's older so thats the way the cookie crumbles) not even my brother in law, who is a die-hard Burton fan, could say that he didn't like the SkateBanana better than his Burton.

Both LibTech and Never Summer are pretty hard to find around here. alot of the dealers dropped them because they are too hard to sell. they just aren't marketed as heavily as Burton and others

I second the thought about the edge not running all the way around nose and tail. i thought that that was kinda cheaping out...

Mervin explained it as
Less swing weight
and safer is you were to hit somebody with the nose or tail.
full wrap edges are dangerous.
The only reason for full wrap edges is to keep unskilled labor from grinding the tips to nothing.

This was back in the late 90's so who knows now.

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Originally posted by shaggs2riches I second the thought about the edge not running all the way around nose and tail. i thought that that was kinda cheaping out...

i don't doubt they put some thought into it and have their reasons but i'm just used to seeing it

well i just ordered myself a pair of the Gnu Ag Fastec bindings even though they are pricey, i can't help but feel i'll be happier with them.

thought i would throw a quick little update in here. the Gnu bindings are amazing! i'm totally in love with them and won't be using anything else. So good i bought a second pair for my regular snowboard so that i don't ever need to worry about swapping them between my downhill snowboard and my kitesnowboard. super solid, super quick, super recommended!

I have been using my Gnu stepins for regular snowboarding. Been up 10 times this season and like them. Easy in and out.

i'm glad you mentioned them, otherwise i'd never have known