Good
They are significantly better than the Nidecker Muon-X Snowboard Bindings that I took off my board, I much prefer the strap system, the releasing of the buckles is actually far easier than the Nideckers, overall they felt higher quality to be honest.
Pretty easy to release and step in to, I was even able to clip in while exiting a chair lift.
Board is crazy light when you release both high backs from them -- the indoor place I was in has magic carpets for a lot of the runs, so this was a win.
The heel stirrup doesn't feel weird at all to walk on - in the snow.
Not needing specialised boots is also a win, I have weird hobbit feet and I'm pretty happy with my current boots
Bad
It's hard to tell if you are fully clicked in to both points (there's two stages to the click in) I didn't really feel it when I was riding and had no issues getting in securely, but I was never sure if I was all the way in. I suspect though that once they break in this will be less of an issue, but we will see.
Reduction in board feedback vs the Nidecker's, wasn't a big issue as the Clews feel very responsive, but I just felt there was something missing.
When walking with the highbacks on it's pretty easy to kick your buckles and accidentally loosen them off.
I bought the white ones, already they are not super white haha
Closing thoughts
They're allright, step in bindings on short runs are an absolute win, I don't think they are worth their RRP, but as I only paid $200 for them and even without the step-in they are an upgrade over my entry level bindings without costing much more, I'm pretty happy with them.
I'll keep an eye on them and their future products, equally I'll look at other step in options - a lot of the riding I'll do in a year is indoor (hard to have snow in South East Asia!) apart from a few trips to Japan, China or maybe Italy/Switzerland a year so for me some kind of step in system is the way forward be it the Clew's or another system.
Any quick entry binding is going to be a major advance over traditional bindings on a short hill. I moved to quick entry because my local was a short hill (100-200 ft vertical) and it made a huge difference.
Well I have a cheaper pair of Nidecker bindings at the moment and not entirely happy with them (ride great but frequently very hard to unbuckle)
The Clew’s were roughly the same price so when they arrive I’ll see how the stack up, will keep the Nidecker’s in reserve either way, no reason I can’t switch back to them when the runs are longer (aiming for Xinjiang over Christmas)
Don’t fancy the Burton’s as I’m super happy with my current boots (I have short but fat hobbit feet so even with wide boots finding ones that fit well is a mission)
In summary kind of hoping that for USD$200 they’ll do what I want!
I've only held them, but not ridden in them; but talking to other people, and looking at them and how they're supposed to work, I think they're overengineered and clunky. Step in bindings are a good idea for short slopes, and well, can't fault you for wanting to save money. Hell, you might even like them.
Personally, I'd rather stick to regular bindings, or if I'm going step in, I'd go with Burton or Nidecker. Flow, too, if you like the feel of those. I just think the Clews are an unnecessary implementation of the concept.
Edit: Also, they're doing the Dope approach of getting Instagram "influencers" to use them, and I just dislike that for snowboarding gear. I was talking to Malcolm Moore a couple of months ago, and he said they approached him to partner with him, but it was kinda all about the branding, and not about the riding.
Went to the Alps for the first time this Easter and it completely reignited my love for snowboarding. Thinking about returning with UCPA next season and hopefully getting some lessons to improve :) I'm finding deep snow intimidating as a person mostly used to prepped slopes.
Great to hear! I was just in the French Alps in April as well, and got really lucky with three snowfalls during the week I was there. People said it was some of the best conditions all season :D
I'm finding deep snow intimidating as a person mostly used to prepped slopes
The key to riding powder is speed, and leaning on the back foot. Pretty much any board will be able to float as long as you do both of those things. Also, you won't be able to dig your edges in pow, which makes for a very different turning feel, compared to groomers. You basically turn by pressing your board against the snow under it, not by engaging the edges. Like everything in snowboarding, it takes practice.
I have been snowboarding in Chile & Argentina twice and one big downside is just how stupid expensive the lift tickets are… Bariloche and the big ones around Santiago easily cost as much as a major European resort for a tiny fraction of the infrastructure :( Big snow coming this year with the El Niño though.
Yeah, I think Europe has an amazing cost-quality ratio for lift tickets. But when a day ticket in North America is like $200 dollars, $70 for Valle Nevado doesn't seem that crazy.
Other Pittsburgh stores: Willi's (several locations) and Fox Chapel Ski and Board. Both have good people and are locals. One of the Willi's branches is also the on-site store at Seven Springs (Epic hill).
I'll put those in when I do an update of the map. Although, you commented on the wrong post, haha. The one with the snowboard shops is the OTHER map post :P
Well, there you go. I dunno what will happen with r/snowboarding, as I've left that decision in the hands of the other mods. I'm pretty much set on deleting my Reddit account this month, so I don't feel I should have as much of a say in what happens to that sub, as the people who still want to stay on Reddit.
But hey, if Kbin and the Fediverse keep growing, I'm sure we'll find other people who like to strap pieces of wood to their feet and fling themselves off a mountain, lol.
I actually don't practice other board sports, haha. I enjoy playing basketball, which I do regularly throughout the year, and last year I started scuba diving, so I'veb been doing some more of that this year.
Also, going to Chile for snowboarding, in a couple of months!
Shreddit but on the Fediverse
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