Burton launch new strapless step in binding

We’ve all been waiting years for a step-in snowboard boot-to-board connection system that really works, and now Burton, no less, has launched one that you can ride this season – and pre-order now.

Called the Step On – no doubt for the fact that you do just that, placing your foot on top of the strapless, open platform and highback – Burton’s system delivers completely hand-free clipping that takes just seconds.

The product is the result of five years of product development, after Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards threw down the gauntlet to his engineers to solve the snowboard binding problem.

“Personally, I was sick of sitting down to strap in,” said Burton, “and knew we needed more convenience, which is one area where skiing has been ahead of us. I had very high expectations and didn’t want to compromise at all on performance or the ride feel. After hundreds of prototypes and thousands of hours of testing, Step On has exceeded everything I thought it would be. The convenience, comfort and feel is next level. It’s the only thing I rode last season, and you won’t see me sitting down to strap in again.”

The binding uses three connection points to lock your boot in – a curved lug either side of the toe and a serrated flange above the heel, which slots into a groove in the highback and then self-tightens with a ratchet mechanism. By doing so, the binding retains the same flex characteristics of Burton’s popular strap bindings.

Finer adjustments to tightness are done within the boot courtesy of a pair of Boa cable tightening dials – one on the front of the tongue and another on the front of the outside ankle.

In a welcome nod to compatibility – both backwards and cross platform – the baseplate is fully compatible with all current snowboard mounting systems, including 4,4, 3D and The Channel.

To release the binding, there is a sprung lever on the outside of the platform by your heel, which releases the rear connection point so you can raise your heel and step out of the front.

According to Burton engineers the development of the new binding owes much to the latest prototype 3D printing methods, where engineers could tweak, reprint and reride prototype evolutions within the space of hours. In the past, they would have had to commit to a design after the first few prototypes.

The Step On men and women’s bindings retail for £220. Riders can choose between the men’s Ruler Step On boots (£290) and men’s Photon Step On boots (£350), or the women’s Limelight Step On boots (£290) and women’s Felix Step On boots (£330).

The boots are available to pre-order from today at www.burton.com/at/en/StepOn . And check out the full list of Step On™ test centres at select retailers that will offer complimentary demos this upcoming winter.