i’m still usin the first generation of flow on a older biard, these where using a strap to pull the high backs!

Just returned from a trip (I’m in Oz, so it’s our winter now) where my boot came apart after getting caught on the highback too many times while exiting.
(I should point out that the boots were 6 year old Burton IONs, and the glue holding the sole on was probably nearing the end of it’s life anyway; but I’m the third person I know who’s flows have eaten their boot).

I think the newer flows have a higher cutout section in the high back anyway, so there’s less chance of it catching the boot.

Taken me two days to get them sorted but now they spot on, if you buy some keep trying, it takes a while but once they tuned into your feet they absolutely great. IMO of course ;-)

1.) Travel: If you are traveling with your board and you finally have them all adjusted you are going to have to undo it all to have them fit into a car or a travel bag since your not able to put the highback down.

2.) Tightness: I was snowboarding at Snowbird in UT and to get the binding tight I had to ratchet it down but then I couldnt get my foot out. If I didnt ratchet down then I have no control. So the whole benefit of easy in easy out is lost if I have to ratchet just like people with straps. Its only worse since the ratchets are so small vs. the traditional strap binding.

3.) Highback: to be able to kick my foot in the high back needs to be all the way down. Even on a flat service the ratchet on the back of the binding is going into the snow. If I am on an incline at the top of the mountain that I cant stand up I need to kick in knealing and facing the slope on my toe edge. Again I personally would rather be sitting than knealing when I have bad knees. And if you are stuck in the POW your screwed trying to reach for that highback and pull it all the way down…. you start feeling like a contortionist…. I am speaking first hand on that one.

4.) Weight: I am not doing crazy jumps so weight isnt a really big deal… but let me tell you they are a beast.

5.) Quality: Its all plastic…. I personally like an alluminum base and heal cup…

This season I have been riding on RIDE ALPHAs and let me tell you the moment I put them on my snowboarding ability went through the roof. So much better response….Flows were my first set of bindings after renting for a few years…. They were better than the rental stuff…. however, it was a bad decision to purchase them… and a waste of $

Stay safe on the slopes and wear a helmet!

-RJK

First thing I did when I got the Flows was to inspect them. See how they work, where the attachment points are etc. The one major problem I found with the design, at that time, was the attachment point of the lock-in to the high back. It was attached by a screw and that screw would not secure very well. So I could definitely see the lock coming off on a hard fall and popping off the board. There is a fix. I bought 2 “star washers” and put it in between the head of the screw and the lock-in. I’ve never had a problem of them releasing on their own or even the screw coming lose.

Cons:

1: Major thing, what everyone says, set up, set up, set up. Go over the instructions and learn what each adjustable piece does. These are by far more versatile than straps or clickers. This is the biggest problem, getting the adjustment right! if it is not right, you will hate them. Read the instructions and after they are attached to your board put your boot on, get in the bindings and snap the sleeve on, get it as tight as possible. Now adjust the angle of the high-back. Lock it in. If its not tight then take your boot out and adjust the sleeve lower and lock it in again. Repeat until comfortable, good news in there will be very minor changes on the mountain.

2: There is a screw which adjusts the angle of the high-back when its locked in. On my bindings this can adjust by itself, they should have put some sort of “lock” on this screw. Not a big problem because this is easily adjust on the mountain and I have only had to do it like 5 time, however you could also consider this a minor adjustment for the current conditions.

3: When I am pushing along, I have a tenancy to step on my bindings, this can accidentally push down the sleeve, losing the adjustment for that part. This has probably been fixed in the newest model, at least from what I can see. This is my biggest problem and its half my fault because I ride goofy but leave my back foot in when I push on the flats and my back foot is almost angled between 0 and 15, closer to 0. Don’t ask. Its comfortable for me.

4: Slight problem with the heel catching on the high-back as I lock it in (probably due to minor adjustment issue). Really only caused minor wear on a useless rubber accent on the boot. I will bring in my old boots when I go to purchase new ones. I want to get the same overall size.

5: I had to make adjustments after I got my board tuned. They had to take the bindings off to put the board on the machine, because the high backs don’t go down unless you move the sleeve.

5: Waiting for friends to strap in!

Pros: self evident!

1: Fast, Fast, Fast. I can keep up with the skiers off the lift if I want to and strap in on the go.

2: Stability and control, people say they don’t have control. I have not found this. I’m using old Airwalk Sonar boots. If you don’t know these, they don’t have the internal lace which really gets the boot to your foot. The only thing that keeps these boot snug to your foot is the outside lace and Velcro strap. 8) (I have had these for 10 years now). When the adjustments are in the sweet spot, the control is better than when I used straps.

3: no pressure points to cause irritation. I had several pressure points with straps.

4: less parts to break, like straps. On my old K2 bindings, I had to replace the straps on each one 3 times. Both lower and upper straps broke. the ratchets broke from use. Part of the reason I got flows. I’ll probably eventually break the flows from stepping on them =)

Thoughts on Deep snow.

Yes, they are hard to get into in deep snow because of the rear entry but just angle your board to your toes and squad down a little and they come right on/off. Or you can do as someone others have said and get on your knees. Either way I haven’t had a problem with deep snow, the few times that I have had the pleasure of riding some.

Cinch vs Flow.

I have not tried the Cinch personally but I was talking to rider that used only Cinch and looked at Flow. He said that the Flow were much easier to get into. I looked at what he was talking about and I saw that the Cinch High-back did not go all the way down like on the Flow but instead it worked with the Top strap. The high back came down some to almost a 45 degree angle and the top strap moved up. You would then slide your boot in and when it locks the high back comes up and the top strap comes down. I can definitely see why it would be easier to get into Flows. You can put the High-back perpendicular to the board and the put your boat in and lock it up. One and done!

Would I buy Flow again?? I would look at them first before I looked at others. They have changed a lot since I bought mine and I would need to inspect the new design. The order of which i would buy bindings, by design: Flow, cinch, straps, clicker (hopefully I will never have to buy these)

cheers

This year I’ve decided to use Flows since that way I don’t get left behind if peeps want a quick getaway from the lift (catching em up can be hard work) - and I’m hoping that the comfort factor helps for the longer days. Totally see the advantages straps can give - but overall Flows look like a winner. I might think differently in a month’s time :-)

sure, there’s some initial faffing to get them set up to suit your riding style, but once that’s done you’re sooo far ahead of the guys cranking in after the lifts, maybe having to get gloves off in that minus 27 degrees ridge wind and squall…

years ago, i popped out of one side whilst riding ( not fun at speed ) but fixed this by switching to a bulkier boot - i was using burtons and went for thirty two’s - i believe thirty two’s and flows to be a good marriage.

done plenty of backcountry days in deep pow with the flows; the trick is to pack down a flat section with your board so you can perch upright on it and click back in, or try kneeling and clicking in that way. some times you just have to try and move away to a better position on foot - never found this to cause real concern though.

I’m on my 2nd pair of now, I had problems with the heel catching with the first pair but it subsequently materialises that I was wrongly sold a set too small for the boot size (!!) I tried a friends bindings which were a size larger and hey presto! No more heel catching, no more overtightness!

I found that tweaking the forward lean a bit and resetting the boot strap after reduced any (slight) heel lift. I guess the thing to remember is to make sure you get the most appropriate/suitable size and it’s worth trying two sizes if you feel there may be issues.

As far as having difficulty getting into them on a slope, simple. Flip over onto your toe edge and get into them like a set of blocks! no fuss.. dead quick!

I personally wouldn’t go back to straps…. but again it works for some and not for others.

Winter’s coming!! :)

Not stopping when I get off the lift while my friends all sit down to make love to their straps has become the standard. I’m not willing to give it up. The only person who keeps up with me rides K2 Cinches.

But everyone else I ask says to get Flows instead of K2’s. Reading all of this is the first I am hearing about a weight difference or them popping open in the park…

Can anyone comment on the up/down-sides of Flows vs. K2 Cinches?