Should I upgrade my board/bindings/boots? - Snowboarding Forum

caunyd · 01-28-2013, 09:21 PM

Hi guys. I'm a new snowboarder, but I have ski-ed before and I think skiing has helped me pick up snowboarding quickly. I'm also eager to improve and plan to snowboard every Saturday for the rest of this season. So after a total of 8 hours over 2 Saturdays, I feel somewhat comfortable on a snowboard. I'm still falling sometimes, but I think, I'll be very comfortable after another 4-8 hours.

Right now, I have new equipment: 2011 Ride Agenda (new), 2013 Burton Freestyle bindings, and Thirty Two Summit boots. This gear set is for beginners, and I just bought this stuff about a week ago at Sports Chalet. Should I return this stuff, and upgrade to stiffer/longer gear (considering that I'm eager to improve and will be snowboarding a lot, and already feel somewhat comfortable after a total of 8 hours)?

scrotumphillips · 01-28-2013, 09:51 PM

The best advice I could give you is to upgrade those bindings. I had some Freestyles a few years ago and they were horrible.

I don't know how much you are trying to spend, but I think it is definitely worth it to upgrade to a $200 pair of bindings like Union Forces or Rome 390s. When I went from Freestyles to Forces it was like night and day.

dubstatic · 01-28-2013, 11:31 PM

as long as your comfortable with your set up why change it. having a 1000 dollar set up wont make you a better rider

RJRJRJ · 01-28-2013, 11:39 PM

Thats not a beginner set. Its "entry level", i.e. the least expensive of the good quality gear.

But I agree that the bindings are the weakest link. I havent heard much good stuff about them.

The board is beyond good enough, particularly if youre just learning.

Boots are only as good as you think they are. If they fit well and are comfy, then theyre good. If not, definitely get something that you like more.

Rookie09 · 01-28-2013, 11:42 PM

No need to return anything unless you want to upgrade the bindings. You've ridden for 8 hours. you're a beginner. Riding 4 hours once a week is not riding a lot at all really. At that pace it will probably take you at least a season to progress out of that gear.

Also, longer/stiffer boards are not always an upgrade. A shorter/flexy board will help you improve better since those boards are easier to control. A high-end freeride board will hurt your progression, not help it.

caunyd · 01-29-2013, 04:04 PM

Does stiffness or flexibility of the boot matter? Or is it purely comfort?

Sudden_Death · 01-29-2013, 04:17 PM

A stiffer boot is will transfer energy more efficiently so it would be more responsive. It may be less comfortable but I have been in really soft boots that caused my feet to hurt way more than some stiffer pairs. However if they both fit exactly the same the softer ones would be more comfortable for walking around the parking lot and that.

Rookie09 · 01-29-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sudden_Death

A stiffer boot is will transfer energy more efficiently so it would be more responsive. It may be less comfortable but I have been in really soft boots that caused my feet to hurt way more than some stiffer pairs. However if they both fit exactly the same the softer ones would be more comfortable for walking around the parking lot and that.

I agree. And softer boots are better for beginners. They don't react quite as sharply as stiffer boots which will make your mistakes not have as many consequences. For example, if you get lazy for a second, your board won't turn and catch an edge quite as quickly with soft boots than it would with stiff boots. Same principle can be applied to board and bindings as well.

EatMyTracers · 01-29-2013, 05:27 PM

I'm just curious how it is possible for skiing to help you snowboard, they are hardly similar.

RJRJRJ · 01-29-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatMyTracers

I'm just curious how it is possible for skiing to help you snowboard, they are hardly similar.

Maybe just familiarity with the snow...being comfortable on it and understanding how it reacts with with certain inputs. Maybe not being afraid to fall.

I agree though, that the actual acts are not similar. I skiid before snowboarding and it helped me about 0%.

01-28-2013, 09:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
caunyd Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 31	Should I upgrade my board/bindings/boots? Hi guys. I'm a new snowboarder, but I have ski-ed before and I think skiing has helped me pick up snowboarding quickly. I'm also eager to improve and plan to snowboard every Saturday for the rest of this season. So after a total of 8 hours over 2 Saturdays, I feel somewhat comfortable on a snowboard. I'm still falling sometimes, but I think, I'll be very comfortable after another 4-8 hours. Right now, I have new equipment: 2011 Ride Agenda (new), 2013 Burton Freestyle bindings, and Thirty Two Summit boots. This gear set is for beginners, and I just bought this stuff about a week ago at Sports Chalet. Should I return this stuff, and upgrade to stiffer/longer gear (considering that I'm eager to improve and will be snowboarding a lot, and already feel somewhat comfortable after a total of 8 hours)?

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01-28-2013, 09:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
scrotumphillips Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 77	The best advice I could give you is to upgrade those bindings. I had some Freestyles a few years ago and they were horrible. I don't know how much you are trying to spend, but I think it is definitely worth it to upgrade to a $200 pair of bindings like Union Forces or Rome 390s. When I went from Freestyles to Forces it was like night and day.

01-28-2013, 11:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
dubstatic Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 54	as long as your comfortable with your set up why change it. having a 1000 dollar set up wont make you a better rider

01-28-2013, 11:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
RJRJRJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: L.A. Posts: 134	Thats not a beginner set. Its "entry level", i.e. the least expensive of the good quality gear. But I agree that the bindings are the weakest link. I havent heard much good stuff about them. The board is beyond good enough, particularly if youre just learning. Boots are only as good as you think they are. If they fit well and are comfy, then theyre good. If not, definitely get something that you like more.

01-28-2013, 11:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rookie09 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 282	No need to return anything unless you want to upgrade the bindings. You've ridden for 8 hours. you're a beginner. Riding 4 hours once a week is not riding a lot at all really. At that pace it will probably take you at least a season to progress out of that gear. Also, longer/stiffer boards are not always an upgrade. A shorter/flexy board will help you improve better since those boards are easier to control. A high-end freeride board will hurt your progression, not help it.

01-29-2013, 04:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
caunyd Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 31	Does stiffness or flexibility of the boot matter? Or is it purely comfort?

01-29-2013, 04:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sudden_Death Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ottawa, On Posts: 659	A stiffer boot is will transfer energy more efficiently so it would be more responsive. It may be less comfortable but I have been in really soft boots that caused my feet to hurt way more than some stiffer pairs. However if they both fit exactly the same the softer ones would be more comfortable for walking around the parking lot and that.

01-29-2013, 05:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
EatMyTracers Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 224	I'm just curious how it is possible for skiing to help you snowboard, they are hardly similar.