Fastec - K2 vs. Gnu - Page 2 - Snowboarding Forum

geolemon · 10-10-2012, 08:12 AM

The highbacks were another thing scaring me away from the GNU bindings - I'm picturing them clamped right against your leg, which isn't how I ride.

There are two local resorts here, neither has big vertical, and I have a season's pass to the one that's got the shorter runs. "Mountain" would be too strong a term to use.
Essentially it's all ridden like a park, even outside the park areas.... it's all groomed, never soft stuff, lots of jibbing and hitting things skate style.

I'm going to Colorado late January, but that's a few and far between thing. Last time I was at a resort of that scale, it was Vermont, somewhere around '98 or so.
I want to make sure that I've got something right for daily use in my area, and I'll make due in Colorado - I'll have to adjust everything for that trip regardless.

The Flux's are intriguing, the RK30's. And still defaulting back to the Burton Custom Restricted's. I found there's a shop near the 2nd resort that carries Flux's... it's a small resort town, maybe I'll take a date down there for a little B&B overnighter, and I'll check out the bindings while we're walking around checking out the shops.

geolemon · 10-10-2012, 08:17 AM

I found this deal online - thoughts on last year's DS30 compared to this year's RK30? Normally the DS30 is much more expensive.. that doesn't necessarily translate into "better" when it comes to a flexible freestyle binding, I know.

Flux Ds30 Bindings Black Gradient | Mountain Outhouse

KIRKRIDER · 10-10-2012, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geolemon

I'm intrigued by these Fastec bindings. Who's got these who can comment?

I ride with a big group of people, one of the girls in my group has a hookup with Roxy and scored a set of their bindings. She loved them.

I've seen Gnu Park bindings (2012 model) going for $160-$200, and they are the closest to functionally identical to the Roxy's of these two.
No Park model this year, but this Choice (2013 model) is the same chassis, and similar straps.

In researching the Gnu's online, I found the K2 Cinch's are also built by Fastec.
Tonight, I stopped by a local shop that carries K2, and they had some of the 2012 K2's I could get for about $180 locally.

But there's big differences - these definitely aren't just rebadged versions of the same binding:

GNU binding has a buckle on the ankle strap that flips up if you want to relieve tension on the lift. When you lower the back, it releases automatically, making it easy to get in and out.
K2 binding has a totally different mechanism. No tension relief, but when you lower the back the chassis tilts up, still making it easy to get in and out at least.

The K2's seem solid as a rock in person, but while I'd like to spend my money locally, I was a little psyched on the idea of the tension relief feature the GNU bindings have.
That makes me lean towards the GNU bindings, but I haven't seen them in person.

Also- [before the road goes there] I'm not interested in Flow bindings. Another buddy of mine has a set, I've ridden them - definitely no tension relief, not even when the highback goes down.
And they feel different when riding. Even he hates them, and he's used to them. I'm not going down that road.

I'm a veteran rider, I've been riding traditional 2 strap bindings since the early 90's.
What intrigues me about the Gnu and K2's is that they look to hold just like a 2 strap binding, and still offer highback adjustment (I dial mine back).

Thoughts on the K2 vs GNU?
Or any females with experience with their Roxy's?

Love my K2 CTX. The GNU quick release is a good idea, but you can do the same flipping the front upper strap when you get on the chair, and tighten it back before you get off. One quick hit of your glove will do it. As for flex I can't complain. I like to carve and ride powder, never ad an issue with the bindings. The use of a low profile boot ( Driver X in my case) makes getting in and out of the bindings really fast. No need to sit.

Nivek · 10-10-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geolemon

I found this deal online - thoughts on last year's DS30 compared to this year's RK30? Normally the DS30 is much more expensive.. that doesn't necessarily translate into "better" when it comes to a flexible freestyle binding, I know.

Flux Ds30 Bindings Black Gradient | Mountain Outhouse

I liked DS30's more than the RK's. Pretty close in parky feel but the DS30's are lighter and the frame was just a better feel overall.

lisevolution · 10-10-2012, 02:00 PM

Do yourself a favor and avoid the Cinch's worst bindings I ever owned. At first I really liked them but as the season wore on they showed themselves to be real big turds. The lateral flex in them is terrible and I had issues keeping the guide cable in the clip on the high back because I rotated them etc. Just a big waste of time that really wasn't any faster to get in or out of.

I hear you on the flows and although I agree they've got the best of the rear-entry set-ups, if you're not into the way the feel it's a moot point.

I went from the Cinch's to the Ever's with the auto tech from K2. If you're looking for a traditional binding with a quicker in and out I suggest looking at this line because it really does give you the best of both worlds.

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10-10-2012, 08:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
geolemon Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 34	The highbacks were another thing scaring me away from the GNU bindings - I'm picturing them clamped right against your leg, which isn't how I ride. There are two local resorts here, neither has big vertical, and I have a season's pass to the one that's got the shorter runs. "Mountain" would be too strong a term to use. Essentially it's all ridden like a park, even outside the park areas.... it's all groomed, never soft stuff, lots of jibbing and hitting things skate style. I'm going to Colorado late January, but that's a few and far between thing. Last time I was at a resort of that scale, it was Vermont, somewhere around '98 or so. I want to make sure that I've got something right for daily use in my area, and I'll make due in Colorado - I'll have to adjust everything for that trip regardless. The Flux's are intriguing, the RK30's. And still defaulting back to the Burton Custom Restricted's. I found there's a shop near the 2nd resort that carries Flux's... it's a small resort town, maybe I'll take a date down there for a little B&B overnighter, and I'll check out the bindings while we're walking around checking out the shops.

10-10-2012, 08:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
geolemon Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 34	I found this deal online - thoughts on last year's DS30 compared to this year's RK30? Normally the DS30 is much more expensive.. that doesn't necessarily translate into "better" when it comes to a flexible freestyle binding, I know. Flux Ds30 Bindings Black Gradient \| Mountain Outhouse

10-10-2012, 02:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
lisevolution Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hicksville, NY Posts: 1,824	Do yourself a favor and avoid the Cinch's worst bindings I ever owned. At first I really liked them but as the season wore on they showed themselves to be real big turds. The lateral flex in them is terrible and I had issues keeping the guide cable in the clip on the high back because I rotated them etc. Just a big waste of time that really wasn't any faster to get in or out of. I hear you on the flows and although I agree they've got the best of the rear-entry set-ups, if you're not into the way the feel it's a moot point. I went from the Cinch's to the Ever's with the auto tech from K2. If you're looking for a traditional binding with a quicker in and out I suggest looking at this line because it really does give you the best of both worlds.