I had my first issue with the Burton step on's. This is my second season on them and my enjoyment of them has been slowly declining after the first season. This season I noticed my ruler step on's were a bit to flexy for my liking. Not a big issue, I just planned on buying some photon step on's or ion so's next season. After my latest experience, I think it's back to regular bindings.
My pants must have come out of the boot clip at some point and covered the heel cleat. I stepped in and when I got to the bottom of the run (luckily without issue), i could not step out. The mechanism was clamped tight in the disengaged position (yet it was holding the cleat completely I guess due to the added thickness of my pants covering the cleat). I had to friends with me and we proceeded to try and pry the mechanism open with ski poles and yank/pull/twist in every direction to no avail. I also couldn't take my foot out of the boot because my pants we holding me in/too tight to get to the liner laces, and I couldn't take my pants off because I had a huge boot and board stuck to my foot. Eventually we got out a screw driver and unscrewed the high back from the base. The high back still would not let loose off my boot though. After some more prying, kicking, and twisting the split high back adjustment part came loose, and finally we removed the cleat portion.
Not a big deal this day because hey we just lost 45 minutes of our day and gained a story, but I have to wonder: what if that was an emergency? I've lost faith in the product.
Of course the simple answer (an I'm sure what burton would say) is: they have already solved this issue with the pants holder clip on the back of the boot. Well, I'm not sold on that solution anymore. The convenience goes out the window if I need to stop and check to make sure my pants are clipped in before every run.
My pants must have come out of the boot clip at some point and covered the heel cleat. I stepped in and when I got to the bottom of the run (luckily without issue), i could not step out. The mechanism was clamped tight in the disengaged position (yet it was holding the cleat completely I guess due to the added thickness of my pants covering the cleat). I had to friends with me and we proceeded to try and pry the mechanism open with ski poles and yank/pull/twist in every direction to no avail. I also couldn't take my foot out of the boot because my pants we holding me in/too tight to get to the liner laces, and I couldn't take my pants off because I had a huge boot and board stuck to my foot. Eventually we got out a screw driver and unscrewed the high back from the base. The high back still would not let loose off my boot though. After some more prying, kicking, and twisting the split high back adjustment part came loose, and finally we removed the cleat portion.
Not a big deal this day because hey we just lost 45 minutes of our day and gained a story, but I have to wonder: what if that was an emergency? I've lost faith in the product.
Of course the simple answer (an I'm sure what burton would say) is: they have already solved this issue with the pants holder clip on the back of the boot. Well, I'm not sold on that solution anymore. The convenience goes out the window if I need to stop and check to make sure my pants are clipped in before every run.
