true_richard

personally i ride the flow FSi pro model bindings - i selected them based on peer reviews for the right combo of stiffness, flex, and range of motion for snowkiting. they suit me just fine on the slopes, too. i'm a heavier rider at about 230lbs these days & they're not too soft for me, nor are they highly rigid. here's a google link i found to the ones i sport on my deck: Flow Pro FSi 2006 - Mens Snowboard Bindings @ ABC-of-Snowboarding

my bro rides with one of their carbon fiber models from a couple years ago & he doesn't seem to mind that they're super stiff... but from online reviews, i'd steer clear of full carbon fiber - from a couple horror stories i read, they're so stiff that some people have broken their ankles on landings! nooot my cup of tea.

really, it just depends on how high of a back & how stiff you want to go - which is determined by the type of riding you do. if you're a powder guy, go for a higher back. if you're a park jibber, go low so you can moooove. if you're on a tight budget, go with a plastic model - even they hold up pretty damn good. if you buy used, just don't bother with the oooold school aluminum backed ones - the backs tend to bend/warp out of shape under load from a bigger guy, which is so not cool in my books.

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http://www.truesnowboards.com

RadmarkNJ

Thanks for the help guys. I will take a look at the Ride Concept and the flow bindings. I am still trying to determine if I should upgrade my bindings and boots and stick with my Ride Havoc board or upgrade the Board+Bindings and keep my Salomon boots.

Tough call.

Sierracrew

Actually Lib Tech is where you should go for help in the ice. They came up with a tech a 2 seasons ago called magne traction which is made specifically for icy conditions. Instead of 2 contact points near the nose and tail, magne traction gives you 7 all throughout the sidecut of the snowboard. Its freaken legit. You can really feel the difference while riding too. You have so much more control in your turns and after riding this on ice you most feel comfortable without the magne traction. Dont get me wrong you can do perfectly well on other boards but after riding this last year I am really sold on the tech. For bindings I'd stick with ride. Their aluminum base tray I feel is the most responsive and durable which is what you need while riding in the ice.