Wondering what you guys would say about the difference in riding you may have found between bindings with an "old style" toe strap (the one that goes over the toes and over the foot) vs the newer style toe strap which has been dominant for about 10-15 yrs I guess (the one that tucks in the tips of the toes or front of the foot). I rode old equipment for a long time (almost 20yrs) and got used freeriding with the old style toe strap. I've upgraded my equipment and been riding the newer straps for a couple of years but I don't get the same responsiveness or board control and wondering if the change in toe hold has something to do with it?
I've found it depends on the boot. My old forum boots had a very rounded toe box that fit perfectly with burton's toe cap while my unions would frequently slip off. This year I switched to 32 which have a more squared off toe box (if that makes sense) which the unions "bite down" into, while the burtons don't feel quite as secure.
I've upgraded my equipment and been riding the newer straps for a couple of years but I don't get the same responsiveness or board control and wondering if the change in toe hold has something to do with it?
Toe caps are pretty awesome. Your issue could simply be with the equipment itself (the new board or bindings are just less responsive than what you had previously) or compatibility (board and binding are a poor match OR toe cap is a poor fit with your boots). There are a lot of variables obviously, but I doubt it's the toe cap unless it just doesn't fit with your boots. What was the old set up and what new equipment did you all get?
The old toe strap was one piece that went across the bridge of the foot, whereas the cap strap is more of a two (or more) sectioned strap that was designed to "cup" the toe box of the boot!!!!!
except you have to make sure the binding is properly sized for your boot, and that the boot is properly centered on the binding. if your toes stick out too much you might not get enough vertical pull for it to work properly.
How's that different than old school bindings? If your boot doesn't fit your binding and you're not centered on your board you're going to have problems either way.
old-school bindings will still pull your foot down even if the strap is at the wrong place. and I wasn't talking about being centered on the board, I was talking about being centered on the binding i.e. adjusting your heelcup accordingly. but obviously if stuff isn't fitted it won't work as it should.
Another vote here for toe caps as superior to toe straps.
I tried Flow bindings a few years ago, before they developed their hybrid strap option. While I was okay with the binding, I didn't like not having a strap cradling the toe box of my boot. It just feels more locked in with a toe cap imo.
I'm curious to try the new Flows with the hybrid strap and the supposedly improved toe cap.
I can relate with the OP as I have finally begun riding toecap last year. You definitely had a level of fine control at slower speeds with toe strap. To get anything similar with cap you have to use different muscles in your feet and its not as precise....BUT.....the comfort is well worth the loss of a little fine control to me.
On a piste performance course a few years ago we were told by the instructor that you get more control from straps rather than caps, however I have the same problem with union straps that they have a tendency to slip down the front of your boot, I am a fan of my ride toe straps the rubber webbing sits pretty much on the end of you boot and doesn't go anywhere.
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