Binding setup help

rickwetherald · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 11 City: San Marcos

Quick background:
I spent plenty of time riding back in high school, and am just now getting back into the sport 10+ years later. Back then, I always had bindings that were all rubber straps - next to nothing for adjustments, and you had to use shaving cream or dish soap to get your feet jammed in. Now, 10 years later, almost everything is lace up and infinitely more comfortable and easy to use.

Here's my problem - The first trip out using my buddy's board, I cinched the bindings down 'kinda' tight. They felt great until I nailed the requisite edge-catch-to-faceplant. My feet popped out, but the bindings were tight enough that I sprained my ankle a bit on the way out. Back in 'the day' the rubber bindings felt tight but would flex when your feet hit the eject button. So, my question is: Should I run the bindings looser so I don't get an ankle injury every time I crash hard (which is quite often right now), or should I crank them really tight so my feet don't come out at all? Seems sketchy from an injury standpoint, but then again I spent years living in Colorado with a snowboard locked down to my feet and that didn't seem too bad.

TheHebrewHammer · Addict Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Posts: 526

There is no right answer on this one. It's personal preference. Whatever is good for your ankles tends to be bad for your knees. One joint or the other has to take the stress. Personally, I like to stay in my bindings on a hard fall rather than get ejected.

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

rickwetherald · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 11 City: San Marcos

They are open toe - 08 LF Watson. I've read that ct is much better, but can't swing the $$ for new bindings right now; a new (used) board/binding/vest setup is straining my grad student budget as is. The few ot bindings I've ridden so far are light years ahead of my old bindings in terms of comfort and support, so I'm going to stick with them now.

I did make the 'mistake' of trying on some Ronix Franks in the shop the other day, and they certainly were awesome, at least as much as I could tell on dry land. I don't really think the Watsons will be holding back my riding at all, though, so I'm going to save $$ right now.

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

open toes work fine, and the modern ones are indeed very comfy. the pros of opening toes are even better comfort and a bit of protection for your toes, but they're also a bit more limited in terms of range of feet sizes that can be accomodated.

don't think to yourself that you're being held back by open toe bindings, they can work just as well.