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Advantages of rear entry bindings

21K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  edlo 
#1 ·
I've been kicking around the idea of getting flow nx2-se's and besides the convenience/speed of them being rear entry, which is not a bad thing, what are the real advantages they would have over side entry bindings? The closest resort to me is about 2 hours away, so when I go I'm usually on the hill from open to close for the entire weekend. During the end of each day, I would love to just step in, lock up, and go! I've narrowed it down to nx2-se's & malavitas, but my LBS does not carry flow, so no hands on comparisons. The malavitas reputation kind of speaks for its self. So, what are the pros and cons of the two?
 
#2 ·
For me, it's the speed and consistent fit every time you strap in. Allows me to keep up with my skier buddy who forgets that I have to strap in after the lift.

I also got into the habit of sitting down to do my straps. Now its impossible with Flows. No more wet behind.
 
#3 ·
with rear entry's I really do think you lose performance. Its not a perfect fit everytime. i feel like with traditional bindings you naturally ratchet them tighter or looser depending on what your doing, and you can always just do one or two more ratchets if need be.

my opinion?

if ease of entry is a big thing for you, the new flow lineup is pretty beast.

if you want a great performing binding, definitive to a style (eg park, freeride, etc) traditional systems cant be beeat.
 
#4 ·
^ Totally agree.
Ive had rear entry bindings and went back to traditional bindings because its just so much easier to get a really good and tight fit, or run loose if you want that.
 
#8 ·
I own Flow NXT-ATs and Rome 390s. I use the Flows, and the Romes are gathering dust. That's dependant on my local mountain and my riding style as much as the bindings themselves.

Rear entry bindings suck to get into in deep powder, because you tend to just force the snow into the boot area then compress it while trying to close the binding. They also suck to get into on the side of a significant slope, because you have to face uphill to strap in. However, for normal off-the-lift situations they can't be beat. I can literally kick in while skating from the lift to the beginning of the run. Where this matters most is when you're coming off the first chair with 3 other people and the fresh snow is waiting for the first person onto the run (I've been there more than once).

I can also unstrap without stopping when I come to a point where I need to skate (like coming out of Brockton Bowl onto Manning), then strap back in again without stopping at the end of the flat. So I guess it's a question of how much that matters to you.

As to any loss of control, if there's a difference it's not enough to make your eyebrows go up. Not like the difference between a camber and rocker board, for instance.

As to getting the bindings adjusted properly, I had a lot of trouble with my first pair of Fives because I wanted them tighter than they're supposed to be. Once I got over that, things went much better.

It really comes down to personal preference. Some people try them and go back to traditional bucklers, some people stick with them. Same as with rocker/camber, boa/lace, paper/plastic...
 
#12 ·
TLDR: Short answer, equivalent performance, more convenience... like others said. So it comes down to how much this convenience means to you. To me it's HUGE.

Secret to success? Invest the time to set them up properly at home first or you will hate them. More later...

I started out with Ride EXs and bought a pair of Flow the Fives (the traditional power strap). Really liked the ease of strapping in. I'm a first chair to last call kind of guy and I don't stop for lunch (pack and eat on the lift). So I think I get 2-3 extra runs a day using Flows :thumbsup:, and no wet butt :thumbsup: (in CO and UT. The more you lap, the bigger difference the Flows will make).

Went back and forth between the EXs and Flows just to see if I could detect a difference in performance. Couldn't identify any difference in responsiveness, so I sold my EXs. Then I got some NX2 ATs - the 2013 models that lift the strap when you unbuckle. Amazing binding, even more responsive and adjustable than my older T5s (obviously). You can even set the strap tight to where it even "feels" more like a traditional binding, yet just as easy to step in and strap up :yahoo: (kinda leery of the SEs, have heard mixed messages on the toecap).

With the T5s and the NX2 ATs, it took me a couple of hours each (maybe I'm slow :D), to get them properly adjusted to my boot and cant... a good bit more than your average traditional bindings. But this is a one-time deal. Don't invest in this somewhat careful/cumbersome setup and adjustment process, and it may be hate at first sight :dunno:.

Flow fan boy now, so take this with a pinch of salt... actually, I hate vendor lock in and am a value shopper with little to no brand loyalty. So I'm "stuck" with Flows until something better comes along :giggle:. End rant.

Hope this helps.
 
#13 ·
I found the Flows to not have the heel hold that I like ( I think my feet are just weird). But I do LOVE the fact of Flows that I can slap my foot in and go. For me I have a normal binding (Ride Capo) on the front and Flow on the rear. The Capo provides the heel support I need for my front foot. I am a little old school where most of my weight is on the front foot.

So mainly I take the time to get my front foot strapped in, then on the slopes I can just put the back foot in and go.

I have had some people say this set up is absurd, but it works for me. I get the heel hold I need for my front foot and the quickness for the rear foot.
 

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#24 · (Edited)
Falling into a tree well, deep powder, or caught in an avalanche, sucks even with traditional straps:
It sucks just as much with GNUs rear entry
It sucks a little more with K2 Cinch and newer Flows
Sucks the worse with older Flow locking power strap

now the NX2 SEs and ATs. Is this done to help overlap or bridge the gap between from riding preferences?
I'm guessing you are right about bridging. Some people really like the Flow I-strap. I like the look of the hybrid strap, it is similar to the contra band, 3 points and the strap doesn't piviot and drop down to the board or behind the highback.

My secret decoder ring says:
NX2= N.A.S.T.Y lifting top strap
AT= 1 piece I-Strap
SE= Hybrid with toe strap.

Just when I though I figured it out I see the NX2 RS - I-strap and NX2 GT- Hybrid and older Flows had SE with I-straps . Props to Flow for trying to provide a binding for every rider

I have had some people say this set up is absurd, but it works for me. I get the heel hold I need for my front foot and the quickness for the rear foot.
absurd is changing it because someone called it absurd, my guess it was your friends anyways. I was doing the same thing with a contraband in the front and cinch in the back. Then I turned by cinch into contraband, talk about absurd.


Cinch Fanboy deciding bindings : Autos, CTS, or NX2-SE , I need 3 pairs, but want only one model.
 
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