Complete Guide To Burton Step On Boots and Bindings

What is the Burton Step On system?

The Step-On system are a group of specific boots and bindings, that mean you are able to quickly and easily get in and out of your bindings, without the need for traditional straps.

Pros

Quick and easy to get in and out of the bindings at the top and bottom of every run.

Cons

Price. You do pay a extra for the convenience. Even when there is the same model in the regular line, and in the Step-On – the Step On version costs more.

Here is a real con – You spend a lot of time waiting around for your friends to strap in. This one seems obvious, but it actually does take everyone a long time to get ready with regular bindings for each run, and Step-Ons really highlight that.

Once you get into the Step-On system, you are locked in. If you have Step-On boots, you have to have Step-On bindings. You can’t mix and match the boots with regular bindings, or vice versa.

Is it like the old Step In system?

The much older Step-In bindings from years ago used a metal connection on the bottom of some very chunky boots. Having the connection to your board on the bottom or sides of the boots did make it easy for the system to get jammed with snow and ice, so you did have to make sure it was clear.

How do they work?

They work a little differently than you might first think – the method to get in seems a bit unnatural at first.

There are three connection points from your boots to the bindings. There are two connections on the outside at the toes of the boots, and one on the heel.

The heel connects in two positions – position 1 and position 2 depending on how hard you push your heel down. You are safe to ride in either position, but if you can get to position 2 (with two clicks) that is ideal. There are two positions so that you can still clip in and ride if there is snow on the footbed.

If you are stepping into the bindings, you will click your heel in, then your toes. If your heel only got to position 1, then you will normally get it clicked to the second position on your first heelside turn, where your body weight can properly force it in.

For mine, I found that 9 times out of 10 I would get both clicks on the heel in one shot, so I could just jam my foot down, hear the 4 clicks and go and ride.

Once you get over the odd feeling heel then toe connection, it becomes quite easy.

To get out of the bindings, pull the little release level on the outside of the bindings, then just walk out.

Have I used Step Ons?

I originally rode one of the early versions of the Step On, which I think was for the 2017 season. It was a good introduction to the system, though it was just for a couple of runs during a product demo.

A couple of seasons later I bought the Photon boots, with Step On X bindings. I have since ridden with them quite a lot. My full detailed review on them can be found here.

Who are Step Ons made for?

Step Ons are going to be good for people who want to try and squeeze more laps in by saving a little time, people with bad flexibility, or even just people who want to try something new and different.

For me, I bought them because they were new, though they also had the benefit of making things a little quicker where I was hiking a feature in the park over and over.

Do you sacrifice performance?

The performance of your Step On setup will completely depend on what level you buy, but for most people you are going to be able to get similar performance as your regular bindings.

If you need a stiff and responsive setup, then you will have to go with the Ion boots, and the X bindings. The non Step On equivalent would be something like the regular Ion boots, and the Cartel X bindings.

I go into a bit more detail in my review (linked below), but I was pretty impressed with how my medium-stiff Step On setup rode.

Can you still adjust the forward lean?

Step On bindings do have forward lean adjustment. They are adjusted with a couple of philips head screws, that increase the angle of the highback as you turn them.

How have Step Ons changed over the last few years?

When I first bought my Step Ons (review here), my only real complaint was the clicking noise that they made in some certain temperature and snow conditions. Since that review was written, the toe cleat/connection has been changed, so that they don’t make the clicking sound any more.

There is an easy way to tell the difference between the old and new versions of the bindings. The old ones, have a clear or empty window where the toe cleats of the boot connect to the binding. The new versions have a flexible plastic sections, that block the window.

Cuff Clips

The cuff clips are an important part of the boots. They make sure that the back of your pants can’t get mashed into the heel connection of the binding. They have been updated to be a bit taller, and have a better grip on your pants.

Recalls

In some of the early versions of the system, there was a recall and the heel cleat was updated. This ended with the 17-18 season boots.

What boards are compatible with Burton Step-On bindings?

Burton Step On bindings use the Re:Flex system, which means that you can mount them on pretty much all boards. The included discs let you mount them on boards with a regular 4×4 pattern, as well as boards with the Channel (mainly Burton). You can also order a separate Re:Flex 3D disc, so you can mount them on an old Burton board with the 3D mountain pattern if you need to. I doubt that is going to happen very often though, I can’t imagine too many people are going to be spending a bunch of money to buy the latest boots and bindings combination, only to mount it on an very old board.

Can you come out of Step Ons?

Once you ride Step Ons in real life, you’ll see that you aren’t coming out.

Binding options

On normal bindings with straps, there are a few main features that vary. The flex of the baseplate, flex of the highback, and the style of the straps.

Seeing that there are no straps with Step-Ons, the differences are limited to the flex of the baseplate, and the flex of the highback.

Burton change the flex of their bindings, by changing the percentage of materials that are mixed for their baseplate and highback.

Step-On Bindings (mens)

Step-On Bindings (womens)

Step On Boot options

For the first couple of seasons, there many options for the boots. If you have feet that suit regular Burton boots then you would have been fine, but more specific fits were harder to deal with.

In either Step On or regular setups, the boots are by far the most important part of your riding gear. Getting the right fit is extremely important.

Now there is a fairly wide range of Step On compatible boots from Burton, Nitro and DC. All of them will have slightly different fits, so it is much more likely there is a suitable and comfortable boot, whatever type of foot you have.

There are boots with all the different lacing types: Burton Speed Zone, BOA, regular lace and Nitro TLS (twin lacing system).

As well as the different lacing systems, there are specific wide models in the mens and womens, as well as specific soft flexing options or their higher end boots.

What are the differences between Step On boots?

There are a few things that change on boot as they price goes up. Compared to regular laces or Speed Zone, boots with BOA cost more.

In general, the more that you spend on boots, the stiffer the overall flex gets. The exception to this is the Photon Soft (mens) and the Felix Soft (womens).

As well as the boots having a stiffer flex, there is more noticeable differences in the liner of the boot. As a rough rule, the higher the cost of the boot, the better heel hold you will have. When someone is talking about heel hold, they are referring to how well your heel or ankle is locked down to the bottom of the boot. The better it is held down, the more efficient every single toe side turn on your board will be.

Mens Boots

Womens Boots

Which Step-On boots for wide feet?

If you have wider feet, you might have a bit of luck with any of the DC options. The safest choice overall, would be to go for the Burton Photon Wide for men, or the Burton Limelight Wide for women.

Step On for kids

For kids, or youth, there are the Zipline Step On, that match with the Kids Step On bindings.

Burton Step On Boot to Binding Size Chart

There is no wiggle room at all with the boot to binding connection, so you have to follow the size guide exactly. You can’t swap between mens and womens, so if you need a mens Large Step-On binding, it isn’t compatible with a womens Large.

Men

Binding Size	S	M	L	XL
Men’s Boot Size	6-8	8.5-10.5	11-13	14-15

Womens

Binding Size	S	M	L
Women’s Boot Size	5-6	6.5-8.5	9-11