To lube or not to lube?

[irishrk]

I am bringing a new binding lube to the market and I want to get some feedback as to the ratio of people who use lube to the people that don't.

Seeing some of the other storms that have been started on this subject let's try to keep it as easy as possible!

Oh and just a couple quick points on the new product; yes it is eco friendly, yes it goes on easy and washes off easy, yes it will help condition your bindings so as to make them last longer, and yes it will cost under $10 bucks!

Thanks very much for your input everyone!

[hco]

As bindings get harder and harder to get into I love soap, but toe jame is wayy overpriced and I didn't even like it that much. Skiers use lube more than boarders.

[bridges]

[Thomas P.]

IMO binding lube is a thing of the past. the last time i used binding lube was with ultra suction bindings or comparable wrap-style bindings with no laces or any other tightening mechanism. also the inner liner material was so tacky it was extremely difficult to get in without some type of slime.

now my bindings today can be opened up so wide and easy i dont even need to used my hands to get into them. plus the inner liner material is so easy to deal with i can slip them on bone dry with or without socks. sorry to say but with the advancements in binding designs recently there is no way i would ever consider using binding lube ever again. maybe skiers would though.

[ky1e]

there is absolutely no need for binding lube anymore unfortunately unless you make it dual purpose lol

[bridges]

ky1e, i dont think i want any wakeboard binding lube for dual purpose haha but i guess u cud always use ky for binding lube and it wud be dual purpose

[Wakeboarder3780]

Always remember to lube up if you're going to be doing any grabbing around the ankles.

In seriousness, I think it depends on the bindings you have. When I rode the ultras it was a necessity (those bindings were the sh*t btw). But even when it's a necessity I always use shaving cream because it's a dollar a bottle.

So I doubt there is really much of a niche for binding lube anymore. Everyone I know that has ever used lube uses shaving cream. Sorry man.

[irishrk]

Thanks for the responses so far everyone!

I've used soap and shaving creme as well but have looked for alternatives since I realized they both usually contain phosphates which is not the best thing for bindings as they can break down and shorten the life of some materials, nor is either product good for the water/enviornment.

I will agree that bindings have gotten better over the years and some are much easier to get into, but I know there are still a lot of riders out there that continue to have the same problems. Thanks for the input though b/c it is something to think about as far as if the product will be needed in future or if it will be short lived.

Oh, and it will be dual purpose. Since it has all natural conditioners in it, you will also be able to use it to wipe down your boat and help keep your seats from cracking.

Thanks again and keep'em coming!

[bridges]

u just dont really see anyone buying it anymore.. maybe if you cud prove it might help with seat cracks and all that then u might be able to sell it better but as far as just lube idk if its going to work out

and do u think people actually care about if its good for the water? the lake is a public bathroom on weekends for everyone.

[flixmaster]

We used to sell cases of lube back in the day. I do not see more than a dozen or so sold in the shop now. Toe jam guy is from austin but he has been pretty quiet so i am not sure what he is doing with his product. I would not recommend trying to start that product now.

[Bambamski]

I agree with the above comments. We used to go through bottles of the stuff every year and with the new bindings out these days you just don't need lube to get in them. My daughter needs some lube to get into her Hyperlite bindings and my buddy has some liquid Force Utra Sucks that he needs a ton of lube to get into. Other than that all the new bindings are great.

[Aubs]

Bambam - Had the ultra's - lube is definitely required for those.

We just buy the $1 Suave shampoo's or body soaps to get in/out of bindings. For my Ronix ones I don't really need it though.

[rc5695]

My family has used a very light amount of the cheapest dishsoap you can find for the last 25 years, and it has worked great & never caused any problems with the materials. just gotta wiggle your feet for a second after you get in the water and it rinses right out. A $2 bottle of Dawn (or Joy, etc.) will last a LONG time.

[Wakeboarder3780]

And as far as "bad for the environment" where do you think the soap goes when you take a shower and it goes down the drain? How about the shaving cream that was on you face and rinsed down the drain. It all eventually ends up in the water supply it's all pretty harmless stuff in the quantities used.

If everyone on the lake used shaving cream all summer I'd be surprised if they measured more than 1ppm in the water of that stuff. All that water that ends up in your mouth when you take a digger - kids p*ss in that. Heck I p*ss in that if I'm too cold. You ever taste p*ss? Nope.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for helping the environment, but I doubt shaving cream presents any amount of a problem.

[vette74]

Wakeboarder3780, It goes to a sewage treatment plant when you take a shower.

[Wakeboarder3780]

[Wakebrad]

Haven't used binding lube since I started using laces back in 04 or so. I wouldn't start a new product in that market.

Wakeboarder3780, it's supposed to go to a septic tank that gets pumped and then treated. Leaky septic tanks that never need to get pumped are bad for the environment.

[STANG KILLA SS]

i remember when my grandparents got there first color TV set.

[harenheadpaul]

I also haven't used lube since getting lace bindings. I never spent money on the lube anyway, Always found it too expensive for its use.

Also,

Look up how a septic system works. The sludge gets pumped out of a septic tank and then treated. Anything liquid goes to a disposal field/pit, where it goes through filtering through sand/natural soil, then eventually disperses back into the ground.

[Chocoholic]

I only used lube for my new bindings until I broke them in, but now they've loosened up there's no need for it. Again, I don't know anyone that uses it, and if they do it's normally just a squirt of washing up liquid.