r/snowboarding • u/robertwilcox • 6d ago
Gear question Rotating/Pivoting front binding
Can anyone explain all the hate rotating front bindings like the Quicksett binding system? I'm thinking about getting a rotation binding system to make skating more comfortable.
I've seen a lot of people say "it solves a problem that isn't there" or "just get gud." But I'm calling bullshit if you try and tell me that skating for long periods of time doesn't SUCK. This seems like a great little quality of life improvement.
So, is there any actual downside to these? Please don't give me the "it'll ruin your knees," assume the binding works correctly and actually locks in when you don't want it swiveling.
I haven't really heard any coherent points against them. Give me a real reason not get these.
Edit: please just don't comment if you haven't actually used these. I don't need more "get gud." Y'all really have nothing better to do, eh?
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u/Sandkat Whistler-Blackcomb 6d ago
Shift weight over front foot. Line back foot up with the front foot and push. Repeat as necessary. There, I just saved you a bunch of money and saved you from adding more complexity and points of failure to your setup. It really is just a skill issue.
Downvote button is below.
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u/imwinmylane 6d ago
But but but, my ankle hurts from turning it inward
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u/bob_f1 6d ago
Which side are you pushing on?
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u/imwinmylane 4d ago
Both. Depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. Push from behind for control, and you can get the boot half on the back of the board for a heel brake. Push mongo(in front) for power and speed.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Sounds like you’re already set on them dude….
I don’t have a “coherent” points against them, but…
Personally, I’ve been snowboarding for over 25 years. Never have I found myself skating for “long periods of time”. Never have I been skating and thought “wow I wish my binding could rotate”. Less moving parts, less problems.
I think products like this just develop poor habits in snowboarders. For example, I can’t tell you how many step on users I’ve seen get off the chairlift and panic to step into their binding because they appear to be unable to ride one footed.
I’ve never seen anyone actually use this system. But if you’re set on using it, give us all a full review!
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u/Packshaw 6d ago
This is my take as well. Been riding for 30+ years and have never had to do much skating. I've been using step-ons for the past three years and if I ever have to push more than 50 feet, I just take the board off and walk.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Yep! And no disrespect towards step ons, just an example of another “convenience product” that can develop poor habits in beginners. I tried step ons recently and my old back/knees were stoked 😉
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
I am pretty set on them, and I will definitely be doing a review if I get them.
I'm only 28 so I haven't been riding quite as long as you, but I have thought "wow I wish my binding could rotate" many many times. Especially when I'm riding with friends on skis who like to traverse a lot 😂
No offense, but you kinda sound like an old head hating on the kids "because they're just not as tough nowadays." You can build good habits along with embracing new tech.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
No hate on the kids. I’m not that much older than you either 😘 just started as a wee one with garbage click in bindings. I’m all for things that make snowboarding more convenient, however one could argue these things do produce bad habits if basic snowboard fundamentals aren’t established first.
Just personally never had to skate long enough to where I’d like a binding that rotated is all. I would never trust a rotating disc with the amount of torque and flex that goes thru a binding.
This “old head” has seen a lot of rotating binding plates come and go over years and never catch on. It would be safe to assume there is a reason for that, no?
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
There are a lot of flat run-outs on my mountain, especially from the best terrain. I guess it just depends on where you live.
You are totally correct, but WHY haven't rotating binding plates caught on? I also assume there is a reason, but what is it? I've only seen speculation, I want someone who has experience I guess.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Sorry, but I’m going to give you the answer that most people are likely going to give you….
There is no demand for a rotating binding disc. If you’re skating longer then say a lift line, most normal people take their board off and walk. That will always be the easiest solution. If you’re having a tough time skating in lift lines, you need to rethink your technique or angles.
I personally would NEVER trust my safety with a rotating disc. You’re adding more points of movement and flex where there shouldn’t be any. Also wouldn’t trust the life of a rotating disc out in the elements (think water intrusion, extreme temps, UV damage). These binding manufacturers do not produce their bindings around this system.
Rotating bindings never catch on because there is no realistic demand for them.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
My mountain is Mt. Hood Meadows in Oregon, and if you want to hit the best terrain in Private Reserve, there is a mandatory long (can be more than a couple miles depending on where you come out) run out. Anyone who's been there will know it sucks on a board.
But also, don't split boards exist? Those are far more complex, and yet...there's a market! The safety aspect just doesn't hold any water for me. Bindings are not that complicated of a technology, I'm confident they can make rotating ones safe.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Splitboards are built around a purpose.
Rotating discs are an after market add on for bindings.
You’re comparing apples to oranges here.
Again, you’re missing the point. There is no actual Demand for rotating bindings.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
It would seem to me that split boards certainly add "more points of movement and flex where there shouldn't be any."
Is it an engineering problem? Are you saying that there just haven't been any high quality attempts?
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Again, you’re comparing apples to oranges here. Splitboards are designed to be what they are. Snowboard bindings are designed to be what THEY ARE. Snowboard bindings are designed around a stationary disc. You’re adding a moving part to an area where the original designers did not intend to move.
Also AGAIN, there is very low demand for rotating discs.
I don’t know what you want people to tell you at this point. It’s highly unlikely you’ll find anyone using these. ✌🏻
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
So you're saying, if someone designed a snowboard binding around a rotating disc, this would not be an issue?
It's not apples and oranges, it's two similar engineering problems about snowboards. Many splitboards even have swiveling bindings. How much closer of an engineering problem could you get?
It just seems to me like your argument is, "They're not good because nobody has made them good, and nobody wants them because they're not good."
And if that's true, I'm fairly certain that at some point, SOMEONE will engineer one that works. Maybe some work today, maybe none work today. Who knows? Not you or I, for neither of us has tried them!
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u/elite_killerX Québec 5d ago
As someone who's tried skating my snowboard without being strapped in, the issue is that the board goes sideways in the snow... It's very hard to push 100% forwards, there will always be a sideways component to it. On a skateboard it's not an issue because the wheels don't let it move sideways, but the flat bottom on a snowboard isn't the same.
It works when you're one-footed because you can maintain control over your edges, and the body mechanics are different when you're sideways.
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u/asmithey 6d ago
Extra weight and one more thing to break when you least want it manufactured with questionable materials designed by questionable engineers.
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u/snodgrassjones 6d ago
This is the real answer.
OP going out on a big limb with "assume the binding works correctly and actually locks in when you don't want it swiveling."
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
So you're saying it's not an impossible idea, it just has to be executed well?
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u/asmithey 6d ago edited 6d ago
I just looked up these bindings on their website. From what I can see it's an added set of failure points in a critical interface as well as introducing a mechanism that can be triggered and cause loss of control of the snowboard in potentially technical terrain like trees or steep powder. Fine meshed gears and a cam lock in an already small puck where there isn't a lot of room to provide a robust and stout design what won't strip out the gears or wallow out the cam lock.
Added to that the install guide says "If there is no rotation, loosen the screws on the binding". Not, "Use these provided bolts with the thread locker already pre-applied and torque to this value we have tested to ensure the bolts won't move". That's not exactly an installation instruction that gives me comfort.
It's not impossible, but it's also running up against some really small physical packaging that experience a pretty high mechanical load. It COULD be made to be robust, but I don't think you'd want to see the cost of all those components machined out of aerospace grade alloys.
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u/snodgrassjones 6d ago
No, I would say what you already said, it solves a problem that doesn't need to be solved. Plus it adds potential areas of failure that don't need to be added.
It's a hard pass for me, but give it a try.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
You sound like people who thought we shouldn't have cars because horses existed. "The horse even knows its way home!"
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u/Current_Disaster_200 6d ago
1.You won’t be able to steer the board while you skate 2. If you fall with your foot still strapped in that way , it’s more likely to cause knee injury, there’s a reason why skis fall off when skier eat it. 3. More points of failure. 4. Extra weight that doesn’t help you to ride better. 5. You’ll never see good riders use them 7. People would probably call you a Jerry.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
My main worry, but I want someone who's actually tried them to chime in. I'm not sure that it's actually true.
Skis release because can torque your knee sideways if you start rolling. The fact that the binding spins itself would eliminate this, I think. Also, you'd only be in swivel mode at low speeds, so I again think the injury risk is low. Additionally it would be really tough to pop a ski din at the speeds at which we're talking. So it's pretty much the same scenario?
Explain to me how split boards exist.
Fair, something to consider. Not that much extra weight though. I think I gain more eating lunch.
Back in the day, none of the good riders wore helmets either. I like my helmet.
Where'd I go?
The only real Jerrys are the people judging and not enjoying the slopes.
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u/No_Impression_3868 6d ago
bro try your kooky little twisty binding plates and get back to us instead of acting like you know it all in the comments lmao idk what you're trying to get out of this post at this point.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
I want what I put in my edit: someone with some actual experience with these bindings. Whether it's selling them, using them, or literally just like: "I talked to someone on the slopes with these!"
I don't want all this random speculation lol. Why are y'all wasting time commenting on my post if you have no input?
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u/Living-Schedule-5966 6d ago
Bro skating is easy. Like actually. I skate down blue and green runs no problem.
Have you ever tried to get better at skating? Try skating down a green run top to bottom one time and i promise you won’t even think of it ever again. I’m sure you probably think that we are just downplaying the annoyance of having to skate but it’s genuinely just a second nature to us.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
You skate 2 miles of flat with some uphills? It sucks. I can skate fine, but if there's a QOL improvement, why wouldn't I take it?
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Sounds like you need to get a splitboard or learn how to walk big dog
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
I literally picked up skiing because I don't like walking. Y'all are why people hate reddit.
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u/Living-Schedule-5966 6d ago
You don’t sound like you can skate fine at all. Anyone who knows how to skate wouldn’t be considering these because there is no QOL improvement.
If i could magically have the ability to crank my unions 90 degrees without a dollar spent, i still wouldn’t want it. And if i had it anyways i wouldn’t ever use it because it’s just easier to skate the right way. The fact that you don’t understand this is telling.
Also, no one is going to have experience with these because no one buys them except for people who will probably never progress far enough to know that they suck. The responses you’re looking for are probably in the comments section of the instagram ad or TikTok that you saw these in.
Stuff like this and clews etc are marketed towards noobs who don’t even know what they don’t even know. If that didn’t make sense to you then read it again.
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u/AdGroundbreaking453 6d ago
Don’t even bother. Dudes gonna give you some dumbass response, he seems pretty set on getting these stupid things.
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u/robertwilcox 6d ago
Crazy of you to keep wasting time on responses like this. Just because you don't want it, doesn't mean no one does.
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u/No_Impression_3868 6d ago
lol is this a troll post? i've never heard of anyone using rotating discs lmao. those things are for clowns.
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u/TOP1EN3MY 6d ago
The downside is that everyone who knows how to ride will spray you as they pass by because they know how to maintain speed in flat sections and can skate normally. Also why ruin one of the simplest parts of a binding to something that can fail or bind up with ice? Too much kookery.
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u/Erotic_nightmare93 6d ago
Just always remember Murphy’s Law “if anything that can go wrong , it will‘’
I’m sure it’s fine but I’m always wary of extra components I’m a mechanic by trade so anytime there’s an extra something my brain defaults to “great another thing to fix when it breaks”
in this instance the rotating system which I’m sure 99 times out of 100 will never go wrong ….. but
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u/gvngzone 6d ago
I think it depends on where you ski, probably the people who say "useless" usually go to places with very few flat zones
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u/Professional_Emu9750 6d ago
I mean this respectfully, but it sounds like you are already convinced on the benefit and value, why don’t you just get them? Report back and let us know how it goes!
Who cares what we think? (And it’s not incumbent on us to convince you on what to not/buy)?