Getting Ultras On & Off

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 11:15 am Post subject: Getting Ultras On & Off

Just got some new '05 Ultras but they are sooo hard to get on and off...any tips??? They are starting to loosen up but I still can't put them on in the water and can barely get them off when I'm done...also, they bruised my feet up pretty badly! Anyone else experience this?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

If they're bruising your feet it sounds like you need to loosen the overlays. Take them off your board and underneath there are some screws you take out.

They do stretch out over time and you can stick tennisballs in them to loosen them up faster while you're not using them.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

Wakebrad, yes they are bruising my feet. While out on the boat, I removed the screws and loosened one side of the overlays (heel portion) and they are a little better but still can't put them on in the water. I think they are stretching out a little...I'll try the tennis balls over the winter!

salmon_tacos · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 11:50 am Post subject:

IMO, you shouldn't be able to put Ultras on in the water most of the time. If you can, they are too loose. For some reason, I can get mine on in the water every once in a while but usually there's no way.

The easiest way I know of to get them on is to sit on the deck and pull them on while swinging your knee back and forth (thereby rotating your foot and ankle). Getting them on while standing on the swim step is slightly harder for me but it still works.

Disclaimer: I don't have experience with the '05 Ultras, which look a little different.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 12:02 pm Post subject:

salmon_tacos, do you have the '03's or '04's? I tried on '03's and they don't have the neoprene liner like the '04 and '05 version. Also, once you break them in a bit, do they still hurt to remove them? Mine hurt at the last second before I get them off!

salmon_tacos · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject:

Mine don't have the cloth liners and they don't hurt to remove.

That's a good point about the cloth though. Maybe you don't need lube to get them on anymore but I kind of doubt it. If there is no way to loosen the bindings, it should be pretty tough to get in and out of them. Otherwise, you might just come half way out in the air and shatter your foot when you land (not fun from what I hear).

SMCboarder · Outlaw Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 111 City: Copperopolis

Hey fergie23,

I have a pair of 05 ultras, I know how you feel. The easiest thing I can suggest is just using soap to get in and out. Coat your whole foot in soap when you are getting into them and you should have no problem. I wouldn't suggest loosening up the overlay unless your feet are really getting bruised. After about a week straight of riding my bindings molded to my feet and now they are unbelievably comfortable. When its time for me to get out of them I just get back on the swim deck and shoot some soap into them and I get out fine. P.S. What size foot are you cause I'm an 11 which is right on the border and they told me to buy the XLs even though the larges go to 11. If all else fails just go for a big trick at the endo f the day and hope the board gets ripped off your feet when you eat it Rolling Eyes

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 12:20 pm Post subject:

SMCboarder, I did use the boot goo to get into them and it works well...but unless I climb back into the boat afterward, it's hard to use it to get out! I don't have a nice low swim platform and it's a bit more difficult to climb up on. I have an 8.5 foot and the Medium size goes up to 9. I used mine all weekend and they only came off once on a wipeout even after I loosened the overlay. I'm not sure why they pinch so hard when taking them off though!

acurtis_ttu · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 499 City: Houston

try putting them in warm water and sticking beer bottles in them. worked for me. Kee the beer bottles in them when your not using them and it will make it easier to get on, belive nme they will still be tight. I used to have the 04's and it worked for me.

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

Ultra's take a while to break in. Once you have worn them several times getting into and out of them isn't a problem. It took a few weeks for mine to get broken in.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject:

Do they still bruise your feet and hurt to take off once they're broken in???

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

fergie23,
Nah, once you get the broken in they are super comfortable. When I first got mine my feet would fall asleep after maybe 10 minutes and would turn kind of blue. Now I can slide them on and off with no problem. Trust me, once ultras are broken in they are one of the most comfortable hassle free bindings out there.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 1:33 pm Post subject:

brad ruleman, cool - I love the design and they are starting to feel good while I'm riding...it's just the pain of removing them and the bruised, purple feet I'm worried about. How many session would you say it took to break them in pretty well? thx

SMCboarder · Outlaw Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 111 City: Copperopolis

At least one week of constant riding if not two I would say. Mine took a little while to break in. I didn't have the problem of physical bruising but my feet did hurt a little bit.

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

fergie23,
I'd say about 5 sets, and the water was cold, so I'm sure the rubber wasn't stretching as much as warmer water would make it.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I've had mine broken in forever they are '02s but if the water is cold I can't get them on without lube...

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 1:45 pm Post subject:

brad ruleman, yeah I was out for three solid days in the rain and cold trying to break them in...probably 12-15 sets and I had my friend using htem as well trying to break them in! getting there, I guess!

bluefish86 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 2:24 pm Post subject:

To take them off, try pulling the toeside of the board towards you while pulling your foot out. It feels awkward at first, but it's really fast once you get used to it.

If you haven't adjusted all the overlays and underlays after you bought them, you really should. They probably aren't set right for you size of foot, especially if it's near the upper or lower limit of the range.

I have 03 Ultras (but only used for 1 season), and now that they're broken in and adjusted right, it only takes like 15 seconds to put them on with lube, and like 5 seconds to take them off without lube. It's not that mine are too loose, because they only come off for me on hard falls. It just takes adjusting them and the right technique.

Brit Rider · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject:

Maybe go up a size Question

I had an issue with 03 ultras, those things hurt so bad to get on, crmaped my feet when they were on, then i couldn't get them off. I ended up stripping a bolt and bending the base plate on one of them when trying to get them off. I really have a loathing for Ultras now. I sold them and got some 04 alphas. which in my opinion kick their ass! little less support but you get them on and off super easily, and wow! they are soooo comfy! Very Happy

Might be an option for you fergie23 unless you are totally set on ultras.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject:

bluefish86, I have adjusted just one side of the overlays on each boot (heel portion)...did you adjust both sides? Think this would make them just a little bit looser and maybe perfect? Also, How do you adjust underlays? Thx

sperbet · Outlaw Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 208 City: Truckee

mine are pretty broken in and I can't get them on in the water. You shouldn't be able to or want to get them on in the water. If you can they are too loose

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 3:24 pm Post subject:

sperbet, but can you take them off in the water?

Do most people adjust the overlays on the Ultras or just leave them at the original settings?

northof49 · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Posts: 432 City: Toronto

best way to get out is to 'stand' in the water (so your board is completely under you.)...and give it a jump up or two..you'll be amazed how good that water pressure works at getting off the bindings..

I ride Exo's, and would die getting out if I had never found this trick....couple of jumps and I'm at least 1/2 way out, if not all the way out...

LFADAM · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject:

salmon_tacos, I have 04' Alphas with cloth liners and the key is,

DO NOT JUST WET THEM AND TRY TO GET THEM ON!

Either put them on DRY! or with lube. The lube sorta soaks in so put it on your foot, not on the liner. They are designed to be put on dry so you can do it. If you just wet them though, then they stick to your foot and are near impossible to put on.

O yea, there is a few strategies for getting binidngs off. An insturctor at my wakeboard camp got Medium Ultras OFF in 6 SECONDS and he wears size 12 shoes!!!! Its all in the technique.

As someone said before, pull on the toeside edge and step forward and out. sorta roll your foot forward. Thats how I do it. Some people find another method easier.

Push the board underneath you while in the water. Then jump up and down and they sometimes come off. It works for my friend with my Substance 141 with CWB Zeus's (DEATHTRAPS-hardest bindings I have ever had to get off, people that use them with us SCREAM, CRY, and Bruise their feet trying to get them off with the rubber strap all the way loose. It takes me 30 mins or more when I use that board! Shocked

)

It doesnt work for me. Just try different methods Eventually You'll find the right one. Wink

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 4:17 pm Post subject:

Jim M · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 2933

Nope, dont bother Laughing

Its accepted that when I come out of my bindings, you gotta just come pick my ass up for a min.

T-Star · Newbie Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 40 City: Harrisburg

I've ridden my '04's for one month, probably 12 - 15 times, and they're breaking in nicely. I started w/the feet asleep after 10 min or so - now I can ride a 1/2 hour. No problem getting them on w/lube in the water (I have no platform). Getting them off is about 15 seconds per binding and improving. I'm a 10.5 and I'm Large's, overlays opened all the way. Bindings are still snug enough that they've only come off a handful of times after stacking hard. If I shake the cobwebs quickly enough, I can pull them on w/o re-lubing.

Re: break-in tricks: I tried the tennis balls in the toe area, but the footbeds are so soft, that all it has done is compressed/dented the footbed. Not a problem, but I don't think it stretched the overlay at all, which was the point.

bluefish86 · Posted: Oct 19, 2004 8:55 pm Post subject:

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 20, 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:

bluefish86, thanks for the info. I just did one side because I felt like the overlay was too tight on the heel portion and I couldn't pull it down far enough to get my foot in...also, I was out in the boat. maybe I'll do the other side too during the long winter months! Has anyone else adjusted just one side or do I need to make sure they are symmetrical?

Also, I'll have to try putting them on dry...interesting if that's easier...but I guess it only works once though! Lastly, I guess I'll just have to tell my friends that when I come out of the bindings they will have to pick me up too!!! Cool

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I've always adjusted the toe pieces. And I always do both sides... When I first got mine I loosened them up for about 4 trips to the lake and then tightened then back up and they fit perfect.

fergie23 · Posted: Oct 20, 2004 12:59 pm Post subject:

Wakebrad, OK good idea to loosen them for a few trips and then tighten once they are broken-in...I was afraid to do both sides in case they were too loose!

boarder52002 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 454 City: Chicago

to get them off go for a raley and then dive head first into the water Laughing

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: Oct 21, 2004 7:03 am Post subject:

boarder52002 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 454 City: Chicago

WCR, how did u land in the water

ttuclint · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 984 City: Lubbock, TX

there is a reason the ultra's arent as popular as they used to be.